Thread: Troupes

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Hi Sylvia,
I am a troupe director so hopefully I can help you out!
You can find local troupes many ways! 1. go to local shows and see performances. 2. Ask around your local community. 3. the internet. Use all your resources.
As far as styles and amount of expereince goes its really up to the director or who is running the troupe. Groups run very differently. I have seen some require try outs, moving up through years of studio classes, on the other hand some that will take younger dancers and mold them. Its best to ask the troupe your interested in.
Also ask about the style the troupe usually goes for. We do many different styles but are geared more toward orientale. I think it will also help if you can go see some of the performances as well.
You might want to ask to sit in on a couple of practices. There is a chemistry involved as well and you might feel better with one group than the other!
Good luck in your search!
xoxo,
-Nadirah

Definitely attend any & all haflas, workshop shows and even restaurant shows in your area. You'll get a feel for local troupes and their styles -- and besides, you'll become good enough to be in a troupe much faster if you see plenty of professional level dancing.

When you decide which troupe (or troupes) are most appealing to you, start taking classes from them. The most direct route into most troupes (often the only route) is to be a student of one of the principals (preferably the director).

Originally Posted by Lauren_

When you decide which troupe (or troupes) are most appealing to you, start taking classes from them. The most direct route into most troupes (often the only route) is to be a student of one of the principals (preferably the director).

At least around these parts, a few of the pro troupes have a student "satellite" troupe that allows students the opportunity to work on group dynamics and stage presentation in a student-friendly environment. I always think it's so exciting when I see a dancer from the student troupe has graduated to the pro troupe!