DKSD offers an opportunity for dancers who are interested in the competitive dance arena. This program is open to dancers between the ages of 7 and 18 who have had at least 2 years of dancing experience with concentration on ballet technique. An audition is held in May of each year to select the DKSD Dancers, competitive dance team. The team is divided into 4 groups: Prep, Junior and Sr. Prep and Senior. Senior team is made up of advanced students 8th grade and older. In some situations younger students compete with the Senior team, but must be on the same level as the Senior students and only upon teacher recommendation. The Junior team is made up of students ages 4th-8th grade. The Prep team includes 3rd-8th grade students with less than 3 years dance experience and students 5th grade and under. The Junior team requires a higher technical level than the Prep Team and usually includes students with at least 1-2 years of dance team experience. Sr. Prep team includes students in grade 6-8 who are working toward advancement to the senior level with at least 2-3 years dance experience. Senior team is the most advanced and highest level dancer in our studio. Junior team is  a younger group of advanced level team. Concentration is on developing a higher level of technique and performance experience before being placed on Senior Team. Senior team members are usually high school students. New team members are often placed on a Prep team.

    Serious classroom discipline, focus and a willingness to work very hard are required for team participation. Team members are required to take 4-7 hours of dance each week, which includes at least 1-2  ballet classes, group technique class, tap and jazz. All team members are required to take at least 4 hours each week. A serious commitment by parents of team students is also required. Sr and Jr members are eligible for the Company team which is a more intense dance experience which includes more class time, choreography and performance/competitions experience.

    Team requirements also include attendance at 3 workshops per year. DKSD holds a fall workshop with guest teacher, Shea Sullivan from Broadway Dance Center in NYC and one other master teacher. Team members are required to attend this workshop. The team also travels to at least one workshop/competition that requires overnight stay. A  third workshop requirement is made for a workshop held in Memphis with no overnight stay requirements. Students are encouraged to participate in other workshops of their choice in addition to the required ones.

    Additional costumes and expenses are required of the team members. Fundraising opportunities are available, but must be initiated and carried out by the parent group. The studio will gladly provide lists of fundraising opportunities and contact persons, but the parent group will be responsible for carrying out any fundraising events. Fundraising individually is not allowed.

    An attendance policy is followed. Summer team practice is required in order to participate on team. Team is required to dance year round.