The Ensworth After-School Dance Teams are year-round performance groups for students who not only have a passion for dance but who seek to train in a more advanced environment and pursue dance at a higher level. Both teams require a high level of commitment throughout the course of the school year and perform at various community events, such as football and basketball halftimes, assemblies, regional competition, and our annual spring dance concert. Dance styles include jazz, hip hop, pom, and lyrical.

    •    Junior Dance Team (Paws & Stripes) - For rising Grades 4-5 students
    •    Middle School Team (Claws & Fangs) - For rising Grades 6-8 students

Teams are leveled out into two sub-groups as determined at the time of their audition according to their current skill level. These groups perform within their team separately as well as together throughout the season (August-May). See each team's description page for more information.

If the higher commitment level is too much for your schedule, don’t worry! We offer recital dance classes in all styles for Grade 4-8 dancers that are also fun and engaging. In other words, it depends on the child's interest level. Dancers who want a more intense experience can participate in the team and take recital classes. Dancers who want a less intense experience can take only recital classes instead of the team.

    •    Auditions are open to currently enrolled Ensworth students who have had     
previous experience in dance performance/competition or at least two years of prior training. 
    •    Students who are new to dance and/or who are unable to make the team time commitment are encouraged to sign up for recreational recital dance classes instead. Recreational classes meet once per week and perform in our annual dance concert.
 

Audition Process and Dates

Students must pre-register to secure their intent to audition. The audition process includes a clinic day where students will learn the material to be performed at the tryouts, followed by a formal tryout date. Students will be taught across-the-floor skill combinations as well as a short jazz/hip hop dance routine that will be performed in small groups. Students do not need to prepare anything in advance, but should attend the clinic day to receive the material needed for the tryouts. All tryouts and clinics will take place in the Red Gables Campus Inman Gym.

Attire: Please wear all black fitted dance attire. (Top: leotard, tank, shirt. Bottom: dance shorts or leggings. Jazz shoes are preferred. Hair should be styled neatly and pulled away from the face. 

* Informational Parent Meeting - Wednesday, May 7 (6:00-6:30 pm) Ensworth Frist Campus - High School Upper Library

2025-2026 Dance Team Pre-Registration Form

• Junior Team Clinic- Wednesday, May 14 (3:00-5:00 pm) Red Gables Campus - Inman Gym
• Junior Team Tryouts - Friday, May 16 (3:00-5:00 pm) Red Gables Campus - Inman Gym 
• Middle School Clinic- Tuesday, May 13 (5:30-7:30 pm) Red Gables Campus - Inman Gym
• Middle School Team Tryouts - Tuesday, May 20 (5:30-7:30 pm) Red Gables Campus - Inman Gym

*All clinics and try-outs are closed to the public. No videotaping or photography permitted. Parents may drop off and pick up their child for these events. 
 

Team Skills

Below is a list of skills frequently used in dance team choreography for your reference, though not all skills are required. Students will be able to showcase any other additional dance skills during their audition window.

• Technical Skill Examples:  grand jetés, leap in second, toe touch, sissone, firebird, single/double/triple turns, calypso, leg holds, kicks, splits, a la seconde turns, tilt leaps or jumps
• Hip Hop Tricks: Kip Up, Headspring
• Tumbling (standing skills or passes)
• A la Seconde Combination: A series of 4 a la seconde turns into a double.