The following are the teams we intend to run for the 2026-2027 school year. These may change slightly after auditions this year. All placements are determined by the coaches after auditions. Decisions are final, however, student interest in teams will be taken into consideration when making decisions.‍ ‍

Age 4 to 6 (Beginner) **Only attends 2 competitions

• Beginner Hip-Hop/Jazz team ~ Miss Gemma and Miss Bailey

Age 7 to 11 (Novice) **Attends all 4 competitions

• Tap team ~ Miss Alina

• Hip-Hop team~ Miss Gemma

• Open/Folkloric team ~ Miss Gemma

Age 12 & up (Intermediate) **Attends all 4 competitions

• Tap team ~ Miss Alina

• Jazz team ~ Miss Alina

Mixed Ages (Intermediate/Advanced) **Attends all 4 competitions and may be eligible to attend Nationals

• Jazz team (age 13 & up) ~ Miss Gemma

• Hip-Hop team (age 12 & up) ~ Miss Gemma

• Contemporary team (age 13 & up) ~ Miss Gemma

• Acro/Lyrical team (age 10 & up) ~ Miss Alina    

• NEW THIS YEAR: Performance Team (all ages and levels) *Any student accepted onto any team may opt to add this as an additional team. Note, the performance team will do all the same competitions as the other teams plus several more performance opportunities.‍ ‍

We know that predicting the expenses of an activity like dance team can be confusing and overwhelming for families so we have tried to break it down into 3 easy, all-inclusive steps.

Step 1: $200 Deposit per team

Due upon commitment to the team

This is fully refunded at the end of the year upon completion of the team contract.

Step 2: Competition Flat Fee of $_______ Per Team (note the 4-6 year old begining team is lower because they only attend 2 comps.

Due over the summer (can be paid in full or broken into installments)

This includes competition entry fees to all 4 competitions, your costumes, your team jersey and your media fees plus covers the cost of staff attending the competition and the admin hours that go into booking the competition.‍ ‍

Step 3: Tuition Fee of $_______ Per Month Per Team

Due once per month as a subscription payment from August - June

This includes tuition for your team rehearsal and all required classes plus any fall intensives required for your team and all recital/photo fees required for any routines you are in for recital because of dance team or dance team required classes.

The following is required but not included in the fees above and are the responsibility of the student’s family:

• Tights, hair products, makeup, the Team Jacket, dance shoes, any accessories or props needed for your team.

• Recital fees (if you choose to be in additional recreational classes that perform in recital.

• Students MAY be asked to provide their own basics for some events such as plain black pants, shorts, leggings, tank tops, white shirts etc.

• In order to attend the Warriors Game, there is a required number of tickets we need to sell, it may be as high as 10 - 15 tickets per student.

• Advanced teams only: All fees associated with Nationals in June for our most advanced teams. This info will be released ASAP

*Note: we build and budget our program with the knowledge of the number of students accepted on each team and anticipation of those fees throughout the year. A student that withdraws throughout the year for any reason is still responsible for making all payments through the end of the contract period.

If accepted onto a team you are committing to the following weekly commitment per team August - June: (rehearsal calendar and dates for Friday Fun Days coming soon)

• 1 Team Rehearsal per week (included in your tuition)

• The 2 - 3 technique and training classes required for that team (included in your tuition) CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

• 5 Friday Fun Days (we will schedule 7 but understand if you need to miss up to 2) *These are full run throughs of all your comp routines as a team, performed for invited staff and parents and used to build performance skills, teamwork and receive feedback. Afterwards all team members will be invited to join on team bonding activities such as movies, outings, parties, etc.

We do not call any classes or rehearsals on federal holidays and we take 1-2 week breaks for Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break.

We believe that performing a solo, duo or trio at a competition is a valuable learning experience for all dancers at all levels. For that reason, unlike other studios, we do not gatekeep the privilege to do one, instead a team member needs only to purchase a solo/duo/trio package to be allowed to do one. However, we recognize how large of an undertaking it can be and for that reason we DO require that you have been on a competitive dance team for at least a year first. (*incoming students with prior team experience may count that). We will still reserve the right to decide music, themes, costumes, pairings etc but your input is WANTED and WELCOME 

• If you have already completed 1 year on a competitive dance team then you can do 1 solo/duo/trio total

• If you have already completed 2 years on a competitive dance team then you can do 2 solo/duo/trios total

• If you have already completed 3 years on a competitive dance team then you can do 3 solo/duo/trios total

• HOW THE PACKAGE WORKS

  • 1 package includes the entry fees for all 4 comps and 4x1hr lessons to set the choreo with your choreographer (costumes purchased separately)

  • After that you are encouraged to book privates with MULTIPLE coaches and required to work at least once before competing with one who is not your choreographer. Your choreographer will be credited for their work but the solo etc is an evolving piece of art the studio as a whole will help you improve. The staff as a team want to help you grow and to lend a variety of skills to your training and development.  Coaching sessions as well as workshops will be posted long in advance with clear reservation systems.  Package links will be posted soon.

• Later call times : Our plan is to to set your call time to arrive for comps when you are needed, not hours and hours before.  

• Schedules for comp released earlier : No one will be gatekeeping competition schedules from you, when we get them you will get them. 

• Simple more racially inclusive hairstyle and makeups : We want to celebrate all the members of our team and their beautiful diverse hair, bodies, and skin tones.  We also want to make your lives easier, so we will be simplifying the hairstyles and makeup color requirements as well as making more body conscious choices with costumes.  

• No more uniforms, just a dress code and two simple items: Instead of uniforms, dancers will be asked to wear all black.  When we need to match for events they will be asked to wear their Starlight Jacket and/or the Jersey that has been requested instead of a shirt this next year.  

• Costumes come sooner : We are still working on the best way to accommodate streamlining sizes and returns but we promise you will get your costumes MUCH earlier this year.  As well as all communications about shoes, base layers etc.  

• Appropriate Costumes, Lyrics, Songs and Themes:  I (Chelsea) am personally promising to oversee and approve every costume, lyric, song and dance theme.  I have learned in the past few weeks about how many costumes, themes, songs and lyrics were literally hidden from me because I was not as involved in Dance Team because I trusted my management.  I am horrified to learn that parents and students were actually told that ‘Chelsea said we couldn’t do this but she’ll never know if we rehearse when she isn’t here and she won’t be there at dance comps’.  I am sorry.  I stepped back from Dance Team to manage other elements of the business. There are MANY pieces this year that I did NOT approve of and some that I actively forbade that were done without my knowledge and behind my back.   Starlight is better than this and I do not want my company represented by violence and certain kinds of darkness onstage.  This will not happen again.  I will personally oversee and approve everything before it is implemented moving forward. 

• Feedback from judges goes directly to parents : Gemma has taken over the dance feedback and has learned that the feedback can be sent directly to parents! Moving forward, whenever possible, we will provide you with the feedback directly, no more gatekeeping.  

• Photos available to parents as immediately as possible : Gemma has taken over the access to photos and will make sure to release them to you as quickly as possible so you can post them! 

• Partnerships with other studios: we want to develop relationships with 1-2 other studios to be our friends to root for and support and maybe even collaborate with at some events.  Focusing on positivity and kindness and fostering better relationships in the dance world.  

• Showstopper is on theatre We will definitely be continuing showstopper! But we will move it back under the theatre umbrella with auditions alongside JT, Teen, etc.  Showstopper will perform at MTCA and one comp exactly like Teen Comp and Jr Comp Do. We will return to the model from years past of showstopper only having a few long rehearsals instead of a weekly commitment.  These rehearsals will be scheduled over holidays like Christmas Break and Thanksgiving Break.   PLUS, new this year: we will also bring showstopper to some outside performance events TBA like Kidfest or a farmers market.  Details TBA later.  

• Galaxy is no longer a required team in fact its completely restructured -> Performance Team Per your request we are making changes to Galaxy.  It will probably be called “Performance Team” and here’s how it will work.  

  • Anyone accepted onto ANY dance team can CHOOSE to also be on this team too, no dance team member turned away.  

  • This team, just like every other team, will have a regular weekly rehearsal and will go to all comps

  • In ADDITION this team will have a lot more performance opurtunities at events and Farmer’s markets.  

• Separate photo day for dance teams vs recital : Photo days are long! Let’s break it up.  We will do Dance Team’s photo days WAY earlier so you get photos sooner and so we spread it out.  

• Better communication : You’ve already seen this from Gemma.  We are committed to improving our communication, from group chats to Monday Memos and more.  We are working on getting clear and consistent information to you.  

• No more schedule changes: We will not ask you to rehearse on holidays and we will not keep changing the schedule on you. You will know the planned schedule at the beginning of the year and it will stay that way (barring an unforeseen emergency) 

• Age and level based team structure We want our teams to improve this year. We are going to buckle down on strengthening our dancers and this starts with breaking us up into appropriately leveled groups.  Beginner dancers with beginners, advanced with advanced and on teams with kids your own age.  This will create a structure that means no one could be on more than 4 teams max (including Performance Team)  

• Required classes = Focus on Technique

  • Each team will have required classes included in their tuition costs.  

  • These classes will focus on technique that is appropriate to that team’s level.  

  • It will be open to other students to join but focused on the skill level of the team.  

  • These classes will not perform in recital and will not include recital fees

• Extra Classes are discounted

  • Want to take other styles? Be in recital? Have fun? GREAT! 

  • Dance team kids will get a steep discount for other classes 

• Feedback forms at the end of every year 

  • We are excited to introduce something new in our commitment to really helping our dancers improve: Feedback Forms

  • Each year at the end of the year (starting this year that we are still in) the students will each receive a feedback form from the staff, detailing and tracking from year to year how that student has grown and improved, what we are proud of them for and what specific technical goals we want to help them set for next year to improve.  

• Looking for a fundraising manager to take on the lead in fundraising

  • You want fundraising, so do we! Some parents want help offsetting these costs.  Let’s do it! We are looking for someone who can jump in and take the lead on helping fundraise! 

• Transparent, simplified pricing. No more complicated math. 

  • We have tried and learned from a lot of pricing models, it sounds like what you want is simple, clear models. So that’s what we will do.  

  • Pricing will be posted in detail this week but know now here is the plan: To be on dance team you will have 3 separate payments: 

    • 1) Deposit: modeled after many other teams, students will pay a fully refundable deposit when they register for Dance Team.  This deposit will be returned to you at the end of the year if you fully complete your contract.  This is to prevent the struggle we have faced in the last few weeks scrambling with drops midseason.  

    • 2) Comp Fee: Comp fee will be one flat, clear fee based on the number of teams you are on.  Comp fees will be due over the summer so we can order costumes and handle registration WAY early.  

      • 1 team = set price x 1

      • 2 teams = set price x 2  

      • 3 Teams = set price x 3 etc.  

    • 3) Tuition : Tuition fee will be one flat, clear fee based on the number of teams you are on.  

      • 1 team = set price x 1 per month

      • 2 teams = set price x 2 per month

      • 3 Teams = set price x 3 per month etc.  

• Friday Fun Days

  • We will not hold team rehearsals on Fridays but we got amazing feedback about the rehearsal we did last Friday with the whole team performing for each other and getting feedback. We will schedule a few of these Friday fun days (you will know the dates before the year starts) for team bonding and improvement followed by fun activities, movies, outings, potlucks etc for team bonding.  

• Solo/Duo/Trios open to everyone eligible

  • Anyone who wants to do a solo/duo/trio can! This is not a prize tho e gatekept for only a teacher’s favorite. Instead everyone has the same requirement: 

    • If you have already completed 1 year on a competitive dance team then you can do 1 solo/duo/trio total

    • If you have already completed 2 years on a competitive dance team then you can do 2 solo/duo/trios total

    • If you have already completed 3 years on a competitive dance team then you can do 3 solo/duo/trios total

  • We will still reserve the right to decide music, themes, costumes, pairings etc but your input is WANTED and WELCOME 

• Solo/Duo/Trios : New simplified structure and transparent pricing

  • 1 package includes the entry fees for all 4 comps and 4x1hr lessons to set the choreo with your choreographer 

  • After that you are encouraged to book privates with MULTIPLE coaches to work on your piece not just the teacher who choreographed the work. Your choreographer will be credited for their work but the solo etc is an evolving piece of art the studio as a whole will help you improve. The staff as a team want to help you grow and to lend a variety of skills to your training and development.  Coaching sessions as well as workshops will be posted long in advance with clear reservation systems.  

• Warriors Game and More!

  • We want to take you to do fun things! We are working to book the warriors game and hopefully even a workshop with the Warriors dancers.  We also want to see if we can do something like the Turkey Trot in Concord this year!