Micro Minnie, Pee Wee, Juvenile B, and Tiny Tot Corps The corps classes focus on baton and jazz. This class is available for students who have prior experience in baton/dance. When girls participate in a corps, all the girls will be taking both baton and jazz, versus the regular classes in which some girls choose to just take one or the other. The girls in the corps classes benefit by taking both classes. The instructors can use the jazz moves they learn in the baton routines and the baton students get better technique and flexibility from the jazz portion of the class.
Once the girls are in a corps group, this does not mean that they have to remain in a corps for the next several years. Only if they enjoy baton and jazz, will it benefit them to continue in these classes. If they prefer ballet, tumbling, tap, etc., you may switch to one of these classes after this year. The girls who really enjoy baton and jazz will continue in a "corps" group and continue to progress up to the other corps levels, i.e., Pee Wee, Tiny Tot, Juvenile, etc.
Micro Minnies Corps The Micro Minnie's are the youngest group of girls involved in corps. These groups normally range in age from 4-7 years. We have Micro Minnie 1, 2, 3, & 4. The Micro Minnie 1 members have the most experience of these 3 groups and the 2's & 3's are fairly similar.
Pee Wee, Juvenile B, and Tiny Tot Corps The next step up following the Micro Minnie Corps will be the Pee Wees followed by Juvenile B or Tiny Tot Corps. The corps range in age (normally 7-12 years) and ability and students are placed in these groups based on recommendations made by the instructors. However, provided the student is ready (age, ability, and maturity), some girls may skip a corps and try-out for the competitive Juvenile A before participating in Pee Wee, Juvenile B, or Tiny Tot Corps. This is usually done at the suggestion of the instructors with the parent's interest and consent as well.
Omro Competition/Clinics for younger corps students We like having all the girls involved in corps participate in the annual competition held in Omro, normally the second Saturday in May. We also hold a clinic (which is mandatory for the girls competing) in early spring. The clinic consists of a Saturday practice for approximately 2 to 3 hours (depending on the age of the corps members) and the cost is approximately $20.00. The competition fee normally runs $10.00. Every student participating in the competition will receive an individual ribbon or trophy. We do strongly suggest participation in both these events, as it is much easier for all the girls to have the entire class present. If some girls are missing, it is harder for the girls to know their spots and if they are missing from the competition, we will have to "adjust" spots to make the routine look better (the same would be true for the recitals as well).
Summer Session and Competition Summer sessions are not mandatory, but highly recommended for all corps students, especially those girls wanting to move up a level. The summer session concentrates on learning new material as well as continuing with the routines the girls perform in the recitals.
Those students that have chosen to participate in Micro Minnie 1 and Tiny Tot Corps have committed to participating in the summer session during our fall registration. They will be participating in performances and competitions, including the Omro competition, the State competition (held in Milwaukee), the Sendoff Performance, and possibly Regionals.
Costumes/Equipment Girls in all corps will need two costumes, as they will be performing in both jazz and baton routines. The girls will need jazz shoes for jazz class and baton/tennis shoes for baton. (In general, the girls in the younger MM groups will wear their jazz shoes for both routines). Tennis shoes (or baton shoes) are needed for the older girls, as they work on turn-arounds and tennis shoes are much less slippery. All girls in corps classes will need to have their own baton. As always, the girls will have a 6-week "trial" period before needing all their supplies. (Used jazz shoes are often available in the smaller sizes. The Senior competing corps does sell these shoes inexpensively as a fundraiser for the corps)