Level
All
Coach
Kristin Blair, kblair@dist113.org
Dates & Times
Location
Virtual and in-person
Notes
We are so happy that you are auditioning to be a member of one of our dance teams for the 2025-2026 school year! Being a member of Jammers or Pom Pons is a truly rewarding experience and will give you lifelong memories of your high school days. Here is some information to help you with the tryout procedure and to give you an idea of what to expect should you be chosen for one of the teams.
We anticipate that you are as excited for Poms and Jammers to begin as we are. As always, tryouts will be extremely competitive and selecting the team will be difficult. The downside of having so many individuals interested in our HP dance teams is that some fine dancers may not make a team. You will be assessed in a variety of ways during each round of the audition. We want to remind you all that we look at more than just dancing ability, athleticism, skills and technique during tryouts. Factors such as responsibility, attitude, sportsmanship, coachability, performance instincts, potential and team chemistry are just as important in putting together quality Poms and Jammers programs. We also look at improvement for those individuals who have danced in the programs in the past.
We will be using the app Parent/Student Square to conduct tryouts this year. All information will be posted in the app. Please read the information below and if you are interested in auditioning, sign up for the appropriate group. You can audition for Poms, Jammers or both. If you would like to audition for both, you will need to join both groups. The tryout sign-up is posted in Parent/Student Square. If you are trying out for both teams, you need to sign up for both groups but only need to submit the sign-up form once. Preffing will occur on this form. You can try out for Jammers, Pom Pons or both and can indicate your preference on the google form. Rubrics for tryouts are also posted in the groups so you can see how scoring will occur.
JAMMERS Square Group
POMS Square Group
- JAMMERS Tryout Format
- 1st round – VIRTUAL - Dancers will submit a video of a short basic hip hop routine. If dancers have tricks they wish to be considered, they should include them at the beginning or end of their video (headspring, kip-ups, aerials etc.) Instructional videos are posted in Student Square. Videos will be posted by Friday, August 9th. There will be live-streaming opportunities on Saturday, August 10th, to ask questions. Videos are due by 1:00 pm Sunday, August 11th. Instructions for submitting videos are posted in Student Square. Any submissions not submitted through Student Square or not posted by the deadline will not be considered. Emails will be sent out on Monday, August 11th to let dancers know if they are invited to the 2nd round. Their email will include instructions regarding the second round and time slots for dancers to report to HPHS Dance Studio.
- 2nd round – VIRTUAL instruction and LIVE performance - Instructional videos will be posted in Student Square by Monday, August 11th at 4:00 pm. There will be live-streaming opportunities on Monday, August 11th and Tuesday, August 12th, to ask questions. Dancers will be given a time slot to arrive at the HPHS dance studio to perform the routine for judges on Thursday, August 14th. Dancers will try out in groups of 3–4 assigned randomly. Dancers will only be allowed at the dance studio during their scheduled time slot. They may arrive 10 minutes early but must leave immediately after their tryout. More detailed instructions will be posted in Student Square. Emails with team placement will go out on Friday, August 15th, after school.
- Information about scoring
- POMS Tryout Format
- 1st round – VIRTUAL - Dancers will submit a video of their toe-touch and their kicks on their right and left sides. Instructional videos are posted in Student Square. Videos will be posted by Friday, August 9th. There will be live-streaming opportunities on Saturday, August 10th, to ask questions. Videos are due by 1:00 pm Sunday, August 11th. Instructions for submitting videos are posted in Student Square. Any submissions not submitted through Student Square or not posted by the deadline will not be considered. Emails will be sent out on Monday, August 11th, to let dancers know if they are invited to the 2nd round. Their email will include instructions regarding the second round and time slots for dancers to report to HPHS Dance Studio.
- 2nd round – VIRTUAL instruction and LIVE performance - Instructional videos will be posted in Student Square by Sunday, August 11th at 4:00 pm. There will be live-streaming opportunities on Monday, August 12th and Tuesday, August 13t,h to ask questions. Dancers will be given a time slot to arrive at the HPHS dance studio to perform the routine for judges on Wednesday, August 13th. Dancers will try out in groups of 3–4 assigned randomly. Dancers will only be allowed at the dance studio during their scheduled time slot. They may arrive 10 minutes early but must leave immediately after their tryout. More detailed instructions will be posted in Student Square. Emails with team placement will go out on Friday, August 15th, after school.
- Information about scoring
- Team Commitments
- Jammers
- Dancers making Jammers for the 2025-26 school year will be guaranteed a spot for the 2025-26 school year only. Dancers will need to re-audition each year should they want to be on the team beyond the 2025-26 season.
- Incoming freshmen will be able to audition for the 2025-26 season.
- If a dancer does not make one of the teams and would like feedback, the dancer may email the coaches and will receive an email with feedback.
- Practices are usually 2 days a week (Mondays and Wednesdays) after school. There may be additional practices when preparing for a performance. Placings will take place early in the morning before school, prior to performances.
- Jammers perform at the Homecoming football game, the Homecoming Pep Assembly, approximately 10 Varsity Boys and Girls basketball games, and the Snowcoming Pep Assembly. Performances will be on both weekends and weeknights.
- Jammers participating in fall sports will not participate in the Homecoming assembly and will join Jammers after their season concludes. Exceptions may be given to seniors with prior approval from coaches.
- Jammers may be asked to participate in other performance opportunities throughout the year (charity events, college athletic events etc.).
- Jammers will be asked to participate in various charity events and school spirit opportunities throughout the year.
- Jammers will have a financial responsibility to be a part of the team. Fees will be used to purchase uniforms and for other team needs throughout the year. If a student is unable to pay the fee they should talk to their coach as financial assistance is available to those who need it. Fundraising opportunities will be available to defer costs. Fees are subject to change but are anticipated to be between $500–$600 for new members.
- Jammers have been able to participate in other HPHS sports and/or activities as long as prior arrangements have been made with Ms. Blair and the other coach/sponsor.
- Jammers will have to abide by team rules and regulations which will be shared with the team when school resumes in the fall.
- Mandatory Uniform Fitting: Monday, August 18th after school
- Pom Pons
- Dancers making Jammers for the 2025-26 school year will be guaranteed a spot for the 2025-26 school year only. Dancers will need to re-audition each year should they want to be on the team beyond the 2025-26 season.
- Incoming freshmen will be able to audition for the 2025-26 season.
- If a dancer does not make one of the teams and would like feedback, the dancer may email the coaches and will receive an email with feedback.
- Practices are usually 2–3 days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays) after school. There may be additional practices when preparing for a performance. Placings will take place early in the morning before school prior to performances or 8th period on Fridays for home football games (Poms will be excused from school this period).
- Pom Pons perform at all home football games, the Homecoming Pep Assembly, approximately 10 Varsity Boys and Girls basketball games and the Snowcoming Pep Assembly. Performances will be both weekends and weeknights.
- Pom Pons may be asked to participate in other performance opportunities throughout the year (charity events, college athletic events etc.).
- Pom Pons will be asked to participate in various charity events and school spirit opportunities throughout the year.
- Pom Pons will have a financial responsibility to be a part of the team. Fees will be used to purchase uniforms and for other team needs throughout the year. If a student is unable to pay the fee they should talk to their coach as financial assistance is available to those who need it. Fundraising opportunities will be available to defer costs. Fees are subject to change but are anticipated to be between $800–$900 for new members.
- Pom Pons are not able to participate in other fall HPHS sports and/or activities requiring after-school and weekend meetings/rehearsals due to time constraints. Please check with the Pom Pon coach, Ms. Blair, if you are unsure if there is a conflict.
- Pom Pons will have to abide by team rules and regulations, which will be shared with the team when school resumes in the fall.
- Mandatory Uniform Fitting: Monday, August 18th after school
- Practices begin Tuesday, August 19th
- First Football Game: 9/5
