Dance Competition Program
Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Tap

2025-26 Program Overview
Toledo Met's mission is to offer high quality, student centered youth performance training. This philosophy is the guiding principle in our competitive dance program. An optional program available to dancers who want to compete, Toledo Met's competition program consists of three tracks with different levels of time and financial commitment. All competition tracks require an audition. Placement into the tracks is determined by the program director and the team and solos coordinators. Rest assured, there is a place for all levels of dancers who wish to compete.
Competition Track #1
Dance Team
2025-26
Dancers in the track #1...
- are placed on age/level appropriate competition teams through an audition
- can participate in competition team dances in the genres of jazz, possibly hip hop, contemporary/lyrical and tap. Not all genres are required.
- must participate in the team production line dance.
- will attend local/regional competitions with the possibility of one travel competition/convention during the season.
- will perform in the January 2026 competition showcase at Owens Center for Performing Arts. (Date of this performance is TBD).
- can audition to perform solos of any genre at local/regional competitions their teams attend.
- are also eligible to perform at regional/local comps in duets and trios of any genre.
- students in this track are required to enroll in choreography classes specific to their team; technique classes specific to the genre of their team; a weekly tumbling class; a weekly conditioning class; one weekly movement class and at least one weekly ballet technique class at their individual level.
- are ages 7+
Audition Details
- Competition team auditions are being held Tuesday, June 3, 2025 beginning at 5:00 pm.
- Parents may wait in Toledo Met lobby during the audition or drop their dancer off.
- An informational meeting will be held for parents during audition at 5:00 pm in the Toledo Met lobby.
- Pre-registration for the team audition is required through our JackRabbit registration software. Register here.
A Note about Required Classes
Please note that many of the required semester classes for these companies/programs overlap both one another and the requirements for track #2 solos program and Toledo Met’s ballet Mini,
Junior and Pre-Professional ballet companies.
When you see a required class listed and it is also listed in the requirements of another program/company think “two birds,
one stone”. That class counts for all companies it is required for. It is not “in addition to”.
Competition Showcase Performance
New This Year
All competitive company and pre-competitive group dances will be performed at Toledo Met’s competition showcase in January 2026.. Competitive and pre-competitive solos and duets will also be performed at Toledo Met’s competition showcase in January 2026. Costuming for the competitionshowcase will be the same as the competitions/conventions.
Competition Track #1, Competition Teams
Teen Competitive Jazz Company - This company is for dancers (approximately ages 11+) with a strong background in jazz and/or ballet technique. An audition is required and company placement will be determined after audition. Dancers placed in this company must commit to the following classes for the 2025 Fall Semester and the 2026 Winter/Spring Semester at Toledo Met.
- one 90 minute advanced jazz technique class a week
- one 60 minute jazz choreography class per week
- a minimum of two ballet classes per week (at dancer’s assessed ABT level)
- one 60 minute conditioning class per week
- one 60 minute movement combination class per week
- one tumbling class per week (at dancer’s assessed tumbling level)
Approximate weekly commitment is 8-10.5 hours per week. Tuition assessed according to Toledo Met volume discount tuition scale for the 2025-26 school year. See tuition scale here.
Teen Hip Hop Company - This company is for dancers (approximately ages 11+) with a strong background in hip hop. An An audition is required and company placement will be determined after audition. Dancers placed in this company must commit to the following classes for the 2025 Fall Semester and the 2026 Winter/Spring Semester at Toledo Met.
- one 90 minute advanced hip hop technique class a week
- one 60 minute hip hop choreography class per week
- one 60 minute conditioning class per week
- one 60 minute movement combination class per week
- one tumbling class per week (at dancer’s assessed tumbling level)
Young Competitive Dance Company - This company is for young dancers with an already developed technique in jazz, hip hop, tap and/or ballet. An audition is required and company placement will be determined after audition. (Approximately ages 7-10) Dancers placed in this company must commit to the following classes for the 2025 Fall Semester and the 2026 Winter/Spring Semester at Toledo Met…
- one 60 minute jazz technique class a week
- one 60 minute dance technique class a week in the genre for which they are competing
- one 60 minute jazz choreography class per week
- minimum of one ballet class per week (at dancer’s assessed ABT Level)
- one tumbling class per week (45 minutes) (at dancer’s assessed tumbling level)
One conditioning class a week (60 minutes) er week. Tuition assessed according to Toledo Met volume discount tuition scale for the 2025-256school year. See tuition scale here.
Track #1, Competitive Tap Program
Advanced Competitive Tap Company - This company is for dancers (approximately ages 11+) with a strong background in tap technique. Dancers placed in this company must commit to
the following classes for the 2025 Fall Semester and the 2026 Winter/Spring Semester at Toledo Met…
- one 60 minute advanced tap technique class per week
- one 60 minute advanced tap choreography class per week
- one jazz technique class per week
- one conditioning class per week
Approximate weekly commitment is 4 hours per week. Tuition assessed according to Toledo Met volume discount tuition scale for the 2025-26 school year. See tuition scale here.
Approximate weekly commitment is 3.5-4 hours per week. Tuition assessed according to Toledo Met volume discount tuition scale for the 2025-26 school year.
See tuition scale
here.
Track #2, Solos Program
Solos Program Overview
Encompassing opportunities to perform solos in ballet, contemporary, jazz and tap, Toledo Met's solo competition program will be sending dancers to both regional competitions and the prestigious Universal Ballet Competition during the 2026 winter/spring semester. Dancers who are accepted into the UBC Solos Competition Program will learn a classical variation and/or a contemporary solo to perform at a Universal Ballet Competition (UBC) event and a yet to be determined additional ballet based competition. Dancers accepted into the Regional Solos Competition program can compete a ballet variation, contemporary solo, tap solo and/or jazz solo.
2025 -26 Solo Coaches
- UBC Classical Ballet Variation solo coach - Jessica Espinosa or Madeline Rick (dancer's choice)
- UBC Contemporary choreographer/coach - Maria Jacoby or Madeline Rick (dancer's choice)
- UBC Contemporary Ensemble Coach - Madeline Rick/Jessica Espinsosa
- Regional Classical Ballet Variations Coach - Jessica Espinosa
- Regional Contemporary choreographer/coach - Maria Jacoby
- Regional Tap Solo choreographer/coach - Maria Jacoby
- Regional Jazz Solo choreographer/coach - Maria Jacoby


Solo Qualifications for Participation
- Interested contemporary and ballet soloists (ABT Level 3 and above) will be invited to attend the UBC Competition or a regional dance competition (chosen by Toledo Met) based on evaluation from designated coaches.
- Auditions for the solos program will be held June 2, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Sign ups will be available soon.
- Interested tap and jazz soloists will be invited to attend a regional competition (chosen by Toledo Met) based on audition. Auditions will be held Tuesday, June 3,2025. Exactt times are TBD. . (Tap and Jazz soloists will compete at the same competitions as Toledo Met's Competitive Jazz Company; Young Competitive Jazz Company and Competitive Tap Company.)
- Ballet soloists must be a member of the Toledo Met Pre-Professional Company, Junior Company or Mini Company as an ABT Level 2B dancer to be eligible for a UBC competition solo.
- All participants must consistently attend their required conditioning class and three ballet classes per week from August 2025 through the date of competition.
- Participants will meet with their assigned coach for a minimum of twenty 30 minute sessions scheduled at times mutually convenient between the dancer and his/her coach.
- Dancers who participate in UBC solos program are not eligible to compete in the regional competitions.
- Dancers who participate in the Regional solos program are eligible to compete in the regional competition program.
- Dancers registered in only track #2 are not eligible to participate in UBC or regional ensemble pieces..
- Dancers in the UBC solos program are eligible to participate in a duet or trio at all ballet competitions including UBC.
- All UBC and regional solos will be performed at the Competition Showcase in January 2026. Exact date and location is TBD.
2025-26 Track #2, Solos Fees Due to Toledo Met
If dancer is accepted into UBC solo program the fees are as follows...
$250 Toledo Met Solo Participation Fee for the first solo entry, $50 for each
additional solo entry. (This fee covers UBC studio registration fee and travel expenses for
Toledo Met coach(s) and additional administrative expenses.)
$110+ UBC Solo Fee (this fee does not include the master classes)
$150+ Master Class Fee - For master class at ballet competition
$450 Contemporary Choreography Fee
- Per Entry and If applicable
- This fee varies based on who the choreographer is and their cost.
- This fee includes price of choreography and time with choreographer to teach the choreography.
$600-Coaching Fee - This fee varies and should cover at least twenty 30 minute private coaching sessions with chosen coach between August 2025 and date of last ballet competition in spring 2026. Please note, all ballet competition dancers are required to complete a minimum of 20 private lessons before competition. Some may choose to complete more private lessons but the minimum is 20. Please Note - Private coaching fees will be paid directly to the coach at the time of the coaching session.
2025-26 Regional Participation Fees Due to Toledo Met
For dancers participating in regional ballet, tap, contemporary, hip hop or jazz solo
$250 Toledo Met Solo Participation Fee for the first regional competition entry, $50 for
each additional competition entry. (This fee covers studio competition registration fee and
travel expenses for Toledo Met coach and additional administrative expenses.)
$150 Regional Competition Solo Fee Per Dance/ Per Competition - (Approximation) (This fee varies by competition and will be applied to your Jackrabbit Account 30-150 days prior to competition date.)
$150- $400 Master Class Fee for one convetion(Approximation) - Price varies per convention and will be posted to your account 30-150 days prior to competition. Toledo Met will only be attending one convention during the 2025-26 season.
*$450 Contemporary/Jazz/Tap/Hip Hop Choreography Fee
- per entry
- *This fee varies based on who the choreographer is and the cost of the choreography.
- This fee includes the price of the choreography and time with choreographer to learn the choreography.
$600 Coaching Fee (Approximation and Pay as You Go) - This includes 20 30 minute private coaching sessions with Jessica Espinosa (ballet) or Maria Jacoby(contemporary, jazz, tap or hip hop) or Madeline Rick (contemporary or ballet) between August 2025 through the date of competition. All private coaching sessions will occur at Toledo Met. Please note - This cost is for the minimum number of private coaching sessions. Dancers may choose to complete more than 20 private lessons before competition. That would increase this cost. All private coaching fees will be paid directly at the time of the lesson.
Participation Expense Paid by Participant
Costumes - Costume must be approved by coach before purchase.
Personal Travel Expenses – Paid for by participant. Hotel arrangements coordinated
through Toledo Met.
Potential Extra Private Coaching Sessions- 20 thirty minute coaching sessions are
included in the above detailed coaching fee. If it is determined by the dancer or the
coach that the participant needs additional lessons to properly prepare for the
competition the fee structure follows the private lesson fees for that coach.
Fee Payment Options
Pay in Full Option – Full fee payment is due on August 31, 2026.
Installment Option - Pay fee in five monthly installments.
Please note - In order to participate in Solos Program, students must have all outstanding studio fees paid prior to August 1, 2026.
Financial Assistance is not available for the solos program. All solos fees must be paid and no outstanding balances are allowed for any other Toledo Met program in order to participate in the solos program.
Track #3, Solos + Teams Program
#1
Track 1 Dancer
Dancer participates on a competitive dance team.
#2
Track 2 Dancer
Dancer participates in the solos program at either the UBC or Regional level.
#3
Qualifies for Track 3
Track #3 dancers are exceptionally dedicated to their study in a variety of genres of dance. This track is the most time consuming and financially demanding competition track and should be carefully considered prior to commitment for the 2025-26 season.
Dancers in track #3 are eligible to perform their ballet and contemporary solos at both regional and ballet competitions.
Dancers in track #3 are eligible to perform in a special ballet/lyrical ensemble that will be competed at both regional and ballet competitions.
Perspective in Competition Dance
A Different Approach
Regarding Nationals
Toledo Met has a different perspective on participation in national competitions. Most of our dancers at the competitive level train seriously during the summer months. As a result, national conventions and competitions are optional for soloists. Teams will not be competing at a national convention.
Why is Competitive Dance Worthwhile?
Toledo Met is always reassessing programs. After our first year in the competitive dance world, we have determined that there is tremendous value when a dancer has the opportunity to perform a work on stage and receive feedback from industry professionals. So, for us, it's not about the double platinum, elite diamond award. It's about working towards a goal; executing under pressure; and reflecting on the result in a manner that leads to a growth mindset.
Keeping Costs Affordable
Toledo Met carefully considers the financial commitments of dancers and their families. When planning the competition season, we carefully discern whether a competition/convention is worth the sacrifice. Toledo Met is committed to our mission of high quality, student centered programming and this applies to our choices on the competition circuit. Return on investment and working to minimize costs is always considered.
To declare desire to participate please email ToledoMet2022@gmail.com