The Nitty-Gritty: Equipment, Money, Fees, Etc.
It's important for families to understand the financial commitment involved in being a member of a team like the Kelly Kadets. Below are all the expenses (required and optional) so you get a full picture.
Required Expenses
Dues
The baton coaches and other adults volunteer with the Kelly Kadets because they love baton. They are dedicated to your children and to twirling. They do not receive payment for their efforts.
Required expenses for the Kelly Kadets begin with fees that cover the many team expenses: facility rentals, team entry fees, team costumes, equipment, music fees, and so on. We do everything possible to keep the fees reasonable for families.
First-year twirlers get a special price of $320/year if they join between Sept. 1 & Dec. 30. You may pay $40/month for 8 months, but the fee is a total of $320. Please send the money with your twirler on the first Friday of each month. These fees cover the classes at Glencoe on Fridays all year and the 4 special Saturday classes Jan.-April.
Second-year and above: Twirlers fees increase as they add more routines to their repertoire. Each new routine adds more practice time, more choreography and more costumes. A schedule of fees is shared with team parents at the first parent meeting in the fall.
Required expenses for the Kelly Kadets begin with fees that cover the many team expenses: facility rentals, team entry fees, team costumes, equipment, music fees, and so on. We do everything possible to keep the fees reasonable for families.
First-year twirlers get a special price of $320/year if they join between Sept. 1 & Dec. 30. You may pay $40/month for 8 months, but the fee is a total of $320. Please send the money with your twirler on the first Friday of each month. These fees cover the classes at Glencoe on Fridays all year and the 4 special Saturday classes Jan.-April.
Second-year and above: Twirlers fees increase as they add more routines to their repertoire. Each new routine adds more practice time, more choreography and more costumes. A schedule of fees is shared with team parents at the first parent meeting in the fall.
USTA Membership (Click here for link)
REQUIRED Membership in USTA (United States Twirling Association): $35/year (discount for siblings).
USTA membership is important for all Kelly Kadets. The USTA provides insurance for twirlers and coaches, as well as training for coaches and judges.
USTA membership is important for all Kelly Kadets. The USTA provides insurance for twirlers and coaches, as well as training for coaches and judges.
Gear: Shoes, Tights, Supplies
Twirlers need to buy a baton, plus baton shoes and tights (girls) for performances. The baton costs $30. Shoes and tights can be purchased at Stites or other dance supply retailers. Check with us on style and color.
Twirlers need their own supply of hair pins, bands, gel, lipstick, etc.
Twirlers need their own supply of hair pins, bands, gel, lipstick, etc.
Other Costs
Saturday Practices (Click here for details)
Saturday practices at Stites offer twirlers more time to practice by themselves or in small groups with feedback from the coaches. As twirlers advance in their skills, Saturday practice times are essential for the development of their solo routines.
The cost for Saturday classes is included in the yearly fee schedule.
The cost for Saturday classes is included in the yearly fee schedule.
Solo Event Entry Fees
At the four contests, the team performs its routine. There is also a drop contest and sometimes a game or clinic. These events are all included in your yearly fees.
After team routines, twirlers compete in their solo events. Twirlers are expected (but not required) to enter solo events in addition to the team routine. There is an entry fee for this that you send in to the contest director. It's around $25-35 per contest for beginning twirlers.
In short, team entry fees are already included in your fees, but you pay for solo events. You personally send the entry form in to each contest director.
After team routines, twirlers compete in their solo events. Twirlers are expected (but not required) to enter solo events in addition to the team routine. There is an entry fee for this that you send in to the contest director. It's around $25-35 per contest for beginning twirlers.
In short, team entry fees are already included in your fees, but you pay for solo events. You personally send the entry form in to each contest director.
Solo Costumes
For team routines, the twirlers' matching costumes are provided as part of your fees.
Also, the Kelly Kadets has an enormous wardrobe of solo costumes from which twirlers may choose for their other events. The cost of costume rental is included in your yearly fees, which covers laundering, repair, replacing lost rhinestones, etc. We will make sure your twirler has a costume that he/she likes and that is appropriate for the routine.
Some advanced twirlers buy their own costumes from a dance supply or online. Please check with Shanon before purchasing because there are different styles for different routines. For example, dance-twirl costumes may have a skirt, but solo costumes should not have a skirt.
Most dance studios and other performance groups require that students buy their own costumes. We recommend that families consider borrowing from the Kelly Kadet wardrobe in order to save money.
Also, the Kelly Kadets has an enormous wardrobe of solo costumes from which twirlers may choose for their other events. The cost of costume rental is included in your yearly fees, which covers laundering, repair, replacing lost rhinestones, etc. We will make sure your twirler has a costume that he/she likes and that is appropriate for the routine.
Some advanced twirlers buy their own costumes from a dance supply or online. Please check with Shanon before purchasing because there are different styles for different routines. For example, dance-twirl costumes may have a skirt, but solo costumes should not have a skirt.
Most dance studios and other performance groups require that students buy their own costumes. We recommend that families consider borrowing from the Kelly Kadet wardrobe in order to save money.
Workshops and Clinics
OBC sometimes offers a baton clinic or other enrichment opportunities for twirlers. This is a fun opportunity to learn from different coaches and meet other twirlers. In addition, occasionally a contest director will have a visiting judge at a contest, and that judge will offer a pre-contest workshop. These clinics or workshops are optional and reasonably priced, $10-$20. Kelly Kadets are encouraged to take advantage of this enriching experience.