Hi :)

I have formed and worked with several different troupes over the years. The first thing I be came aware of is each troup has it's own personality depending on it's core members. I always sat down with the members and formed the operating organization (rules), yes it is a good idea to write the agreed on system down right then...type them up and make sure every member has a copy. I require a certian number of rehersal hours *together* and that the troup members come to an advanced class designed specificaly to them. If they go to a workshop I ask that all of them go to the same workshop if at all possible. With some troups we put together a rater convoluted system to enable all members to attend outside workshops. When they got back we rehearsed extra hours to absorbe the new ideas. The only restriction I placed on outside performances was that the first few times they went proffesional that they come in for a 5 hour rehersal during which we tweaked thier routine and they take someone with them to the venue. Yes, I expected them to be able to travel and most of them looked forward to travelling. If someone told me they could not travel I took that into consideration when making plans...with no recriminations ( *grin* as you may have noticed I'm not the best at spelling). We would decided ahead of time on each costume what we could afford...band together and go and buy supplies...lol FUN OUTINGS...and get together for sewing sessions to make said costumes.

Biggest lesson I learned was....Don't choreograph a routine requireing every single troupe member to work...because...the number of times every single member will be able to be there will be rare...just because life gets in the way. This does depend to some degree on the personality of the group. important..do not allow a pecking order to develop within your troup...important.

I don't run troups any more or teach beginners. I just work with advanced dancers so feel free to ignore anything I have said as it may not be current.

Dandy

Do you have written guidelines or rules for your troupe members or do you go with verbal expectations?
I go with verbal expectations but have considered a formal contract. I did send out an expectation email with a number of shows that were happening over the summer (large paying shows so needed to make sure they did not see them as student shows).

Do you have requirements for a certain number of additional workshops/learning opportunities outside of troupe?
This is a great idea. I am lucky that I do not have to require it...most of my girls go to workshops offerred by others or by me....which is great. They are eager to learn. They also practice another night of the week on their own outside of class. We did have to discuss this as there was some issue with changes being made or someone stating 'no I think she wants this' when I was not there (I teach at another location the night they all get together). So we did set guidelines -- now they only practice what they know and if any questions come up...they are written and we discuss in class next time rather than them learning it wrong. If we do need additional practices for a show...then we just work it out.

Do you place any limits or restrictions on what and where your students can perform outside of troupe? No...I encourage them to perform as much as they wish.....I want to see them grow and do not want to hold them back in anyway. I have discussed professionalism so that if they do something without or with the troupe....they represent the dance, troupe and themselves in an ethical and professional way.

Do you expect your student troupe to be prepared to travel at times? I do not require it due to money but we did our first away gig this past fall and they loved it. So we may discuss more...

What do you consider reasonable costuming expenses? It varies. I do try to keep the cost down and we work with what we have for some shows. They do have two matching costumes (the beaded sets do not match but skirt and accessories do). In general...I just feel they are students and pay to learn. I do not want to force them to spend past what they are able to......they do have to have their own swords, veils, zills and such if they want to do those routines. Since they are not making a lot of money...then I just do not see it is fair to make them spend too much especially with the economy lately. I have seen some troupes require a couple of outfits....I think that is great if the girls can afford it and if it looks good on all body types but that is also a factor there. Then if you require them to buy ....do you allow them to wear it for solos and such or only troupe stuff. I am just not comfortable with dictating that much to them.

What are the biggest lessons you've learned about leading a student troupe?
The practices without me - ensuring they understand to not waste their time or get frustrated with questions by trying to figure them out when I am not around. I wish I could be there the night they can all get together outside of class but I teach so cannot. So we just have the agreement to put it on hold for the following class or even call me between my classes. Now they set at the end of class what they will practice ...so that they know they have down what to practice and have questions answered.
I know that contracts and uniforms do work for some troupes but I discussed with my girls and could see in their faces that it would not work for them. They like the feeling that it is not like work and they verbally agreed to all. I think one thing I have seen is to access what you want first...do you as a teacher want a formal troupe with a contract and rules or verbal rules and more open forum style troupe. My troupe is more open forum - they get to add creative ideas, costume, which shows, and more...it is my troupe but they have a voice and I personally feel better this way. They do know that I am the teacher and I will make the final decision but our style is more of a 'lets vote'.
I think this comes from my personal style but also the girls that have formed the group .... they respect my opinion but have told me how much it means to them how I support them and just not sure that this set of ladies would feel the same way if a written contract was handed to them and things were so formal.
I do feel the formal contract woudl be needed for some troupes....it more so depends on the goal I think (both the teacher and student goals).

Just one more note...my student troupe was a class that just was always wanting to perform and they became very close. So we created the troupe out of the class participation. When we did this...we sent guidelines to all and one chose that it was too much and disappeared (which is understandable). I think if I had set out to form a troupe (not just kind of happened over time) then I would be more formal.....we will see if it continues to work as well as it has over the past year but it is working now and we having a blast so not going to change it now.

We've had to make our guidelines pretty formal as the group grew and as our venue became a little higher end. We require members to sign upon entering.

1.) We've had to make written guidelines for public behaviour. We've had some kooky experiences that made this move a must. Mostly things that seem common sense like not getting tanked at family events. No heavy making out w/ S.O.'s in front of little kiddies at the fairs, etc. lol!

2.) We require the student troupe take continuing int/adv classes but do not make any requirements about workshops. They tend to be expensive and ours is a hobby group w/ no monetary compensation so we have to minimalize what financial requirements we can ask of members.

3.) We don't place any limits on where members can perform outside the troupe but it is requested that members not do our material or use our name w/out talking w/ the troupe director for approval.

4.) We keep our venues close to home so don't have much cause to travel. Again, I think this will depend on monetary comp. If the troupe gets paid, then yeah, I could see where travel requirements could be required.

5.) We've only started doing real troupe costuming in the last 3 years but boy does it make a difference on our overall appearance so we've added a stipulation that a troupe requirement is approx. 1-2 troupe costumes a year. We've managed to keep the prices under $300. One thing we've found is that trying to get the whole group involved in picking the costume has caused some of the hugest e-mail wars! We elected a "costume mistress" to take on the responsibility of finding the right look, cheapest place to get the costume, measuring, & ordering (after final approval from Director). She's a brave lass for taking this crazy task on but it has really been a boon to the professional appearance of our troupe. We're about to trot our new costume next weekend and all I have to say is YEEEEHAAAAWWW! It is so fine!