What are the requirements to be on the drill team?

Drill team advice please?

• I really want to join my high school drill team next year, which is also my first year at a high school. I've never taken any dance classes although I take a cardio/step class multiple times each week. I'm a quick learner and a hard worker. I'm somewhat flexible and not all that tall. I can't do the splits, though I'm working on that. Some major questions I have are: + How does the tryout process go? + What are common requirements/what do will teh judges expect me to do? + Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of making it onto the team? + I've heard that you need to do pirouettes, axels, and chaine turns, but I have no idea what they are? + Any other advice or information you have would be really helpful. Thanks! :D

• Answer:

  The tryout process for me was a long process. We were divided into groups of four. We did our left and right splits, kicked down the floor, performed a kick routine, went back a little later and performed a jazz routine. Most judges expect you to: be able to do Right splits, and be close to getting your left splits. Kick at least to your shoulders with pointed toes and straight legs. SMILE. Do a single pirouette. Maybe even a double. Must be able to do Chaines and Piques. You should be able to do a leap. look like you are having fun! To increase your chance of making the team: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. SMILE! Don't show your mistakes. Look nice. Ask a team member for help. WORK WITH YOUR TRYOUT GROUP, there is nothing worse than a group who hasn't worked together and goes in there with no formations or kick lines planned. Yes you need to be able to do a piroutette and Chaine for sure. We didn't have to do axles when we tried out. But it never hurts to work on it. Pirouettes are a full turn done by rotating on one foot with the other leg in a posse(90 degree hook onto knee) Axles are a turn in the air that starts with a chaine, take your feet off the ground with one knee to your chest and the other in a posse. Chaine turns are simple turns with both feet on the floor. The key with any turn is to spot. Find a place on the wall and don't take your eyes off of it. Have fun. Breathe. Smile. Be positive. Ask for help. Practice. If you make it, HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE! There will be lots of sweat,tears,pain and drama, but it is really a fun experience!