What is CSS Team?

The CSS Dance & Company (Musical Theater) Teams!

Being a part of a team is an honor! You are now representing your school & more importantly yourself in a professional arena! The CSS Dance & Company Team programs are about more than dancing, singing & acting! They about motivating young minds to be the best that they can be!

It’s not just a dance education; it’s a total education. CSS is one of the very few schools that host a complete conservatory program where acting AND singing AND dance is offered to performers at the highest level of training. Team performers learn life skills through performances, attending unique workshops, working as a team and so much more. Performances include charity benefits, community events, competitions and dance recitals.

Team members are encouraged to achieve and set goals. Older performers serve as mentors for younger dancers and all participants are a part of a wonderful team of friends, all of whom are striving to be the best they can be.

What is the difference between the dance & company teams!

DANCE TEAMS Dance Team members take lessons in all dance disciplines including jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, tap etc. Our focus with dance team members is to educate each dancer in the art of dance while performing at competitions with occasional community events as well.

PETITE TEAM : Beginner Dancers Ages 6 – 8 who love their craft! These performers have been dancing just enough to let us know they want to take it to the next level! Again, minimum requirements include; one ballet, one jazz, one tap and one lyrical. They do not have to be at the competitions for the whole weekend, just for their routine! Have fun while you embark on your dancing journey!

JAZZ TEAMS (Juniors, StarBrites, etc) Intermediate to Advanced Dancers ages 6 & up who are expected to complete the maximum requirements in their dance discipline as well as their professionalism. Jazz team dancers are required to take four technique classes; (1) weekly Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, and (1) choreography class. Dancers must be at all competitions, act as mentors for our younger teams, and attend community events upon request.

EXTRA TEAMS: Extra teams are teams that are in addition to their Jazz or Company (See Below) Teams. A performer can be on as many as 5 teams! They include lyrical, hip-hop, Tap & Elite. Extra teams are for the intermediate for advanced performers. No extra requirements are needed as they are already fulfilled on Jazz and/or Company teams!

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. You’re purpose is to give it away” -William Shakespeare

COMPANY (Musical Theater) TEAMS! CSS Company Teams are musical theatre competition and performance troupes created for the "triple threat" performer who crave all things Musical Theater. We want to work hard and bring to life an amazing performance while gaining a well rounded education in dance, acting and voice!

CSS Company members rehearse weekly on short productions that will be showcased at the Junior Theatre Festival in Sacramento & Access Broadway Las Vegas as well as other competitions throughout the year. CSS Company members also perform at various festivals, parades, and local events throughout the season.

Although skill levels range from beginner to advanced, Company performers have requirements including mandatory community events, vocal classes, private vocals and acting classes! Phew! They may seem like a lot but they love it! The love to be at CSS and we love having them here!

The 2019 Company Season breathes new life into the CSS schedule including:

2019 All company teams will be returning for the 3 rd time to Sacramento for the International Musical Theater Competition of the world as well as Las Vegas for regional Broadway Competitions.

NEW: Sr and High School Companies may be going to New York for the “Voices on Broadway” Brightspark Tour. Student will meet Broadway casting directors, take workshops in time square, See a show and perform live on stage with a Broadway cast curtain call!

Production – Possible tour to Disney WORLD for the international Musical Theater and Performance Festival, also with Brightspark.

COMPANY KIDS (Ages 5 - 7) Our youngest soon to be triple threat performers! WOW! Company Kids are at the beginner level in acting, singing and dance. These students take maximum requirements for their dance discipline as well as vocal technique and acting. Private vocals are strongly encouraged, but not necessary. Company Kids will perform one group routine and production at each competition as well as at community events. Company kids will support their older more advanced performers at all events! **Must be at all competitions, attend ALL community events & perform in the team production.

Jr. COMPANY (Ages 7+ ) Beginner/Intermediate Triple Threat performers who have some training in dance, acting and singing. May be invited to do acting and singing solos at competitions as well as their mandatory community events! Again, these triple threat performers are working their way to Broadway! Junior Company members will perform one (possibly two) routines at competition as well as at community events and production. Some will be asked to perform solos at events! **Must be at all competitions, attend ALL community events & perform in the team production.

Sr. COMPANY UNITED (Ages 9+) Intermediate/Advanced Triple threat performers with training in two fo the three disciplines; Acting, Voice &/or Dance. Company members spend 10+ hours at CSS training in their discipline as well as 5 hours on average of choreography time a week! Graduates of the Company include OCSA students, Film/TV personalities (Noah Munck/iCarly) Broadway Performers (Amaya Braganza/Annie, The King & I), Recording Contracts/American Idol (Mary Desmond) and have several CURRENT members in commercials, TV/Film (Mia Kaplan.Charlee Rubino & Aria Spinello) **Must be at all competitions, act as mentors for our younger teams, attend community events & perform in the team production.

The Winners Circle 2017 Junior Theater Festival, Playbill.com & Broadway World “Excellence In Musical Theater” Award Access Broadway “Best Performing Arts School” 2017 In 2016, Gabby McCarthy & Michelle Johnson who’s played “Glinda” in the WICKED national tour as well as “ Sandy” in GREASE, joined the CSS Creative Team leading the Company teams to 1 st place at the Access Broadway Las Vegas Competition as well as top honors at the Musical Theater Competition of America. Mia Kaplan, Charlee Rubino, Aria Spinello, Serena Camacho, Lucy Leahy, Celine Ngo & Sophie Russ all received top awards in their vocal & acting solos. The CSS Starbrights Jazz Team won best overall at the Showbiz national Dance Competition along with our Company Kids Team also placing first overall in their category! BRAVO TEAM CSS