The mission of the DbD STAAR Program is to develop and empower our dancers to be the next generation of leaders, not only within the studio, but within our community and greater society. This includes training our students so that they are equipped with problem solving skills, discipline, and knowledge, allowing them to teach and lead with confidence, compassion, and patience.

Overview of our STAAR Levels:

Jr. Assistant: 8-10 year olds, must be on a Performance Team. Eligible to assist in Foundations classes. Requires teacher and parent recommendations.

Assistants: 11-13 year olds (middle school) open to the studio. Eligible to assist in Foundations classes or Spark if assisting for a consecutive year, requires the same dance shoes as style assisting, requires teacher recommendation, requires completion of Google Form plus quarterly trainings. Requires teacher and parent recommendations.

Apprentice: 14-15 year olds (9th-10th grade), open to the studio; comes on studio payroll with assistant pay. Required to be an assistant for 2 seasons, written teacher and parent recommendation, completion of Google Form plus quarterly trainings. Is given the opportunity to choreograph a STAARs dance for the recital.

Student Teachers: 16-18 year olds (11th & 12th grade), must have completed 2 years as an apprentice and/or assistant (1 & 1) and must submit a resume, complete teacher Google form, & interview with the Director. They will come on studio payroll (with contract) with assistant or teacher pay, be required to attend all Teacher Trainings, and will be able to teach classes by themselves, sub, lead birthday parties, co-lead camps. Same requirements as teachers on Team DbD.