All dancers who would like to perform with the branch at this year's Renaissance Festival or any subsequent performances during 2008-2009 should come to rehearsals. Our goal is to encourage and include all our members who wish to participate to do so. It's a lot of fun, and the money we earn helps keep our treasury full, which keeps our dues nominal.

• At a minimum, the dancer must be able to be in the right place at the right time, recover well from mistakes, and move rhythmically and in such a way as to not be a visual distraction to the audience.
• For 2008-2009: Before rehearsals begin, all dancers are expected to know, and be able to do without prompting, the following formations, which appear in the new performance repertoire: poussette (quick-time), petronella turns, figures of 8, hands across, allemande, reel of 3, set to corners and partner (hello-goodbye), ladies' chain, circles, and set &anp; link. Dancers should also be familiar with Highland Schottische setting.
• By the time of the performance, dancers must be able to perform all dances in the repertoire, with any partner.
• Participation in Renaissance Festival performances is ultimately at the discretion of the rehearsal director. Dancers participating for the first time this year are urged to speak to the rehearsal director as soon as possible if they have any questions about their readiness for performances.
• Participation in performances other than the Renaissance Festival is at the discretion of the FOD (Facilitator of the Day) for that performance. Some performances require higher standards of dancing.
• Performers must be current, dues-paid members of the branch.

• Dancers who are first-year performers with the branch must attend all rehearsals, unless excused with prior approval from a Renaissance Festival rehearsal teacher.
• Other dancers are strongly encouraged to attend as many rehearsals as they can. All dancers should keep in mind that attending rehearsals is not just about learning the dances as individuals, but learning how to perform them as a group. You will be held responsible for everything announced, taught, or discussed at the rehearsals you miss. There will be notes available at the next rehearsal (and possibly via email) for you to read or review, but time will not be provided during rehearsal to read them, so come early. Assuming RenFest comp tickets are again part of our contract, the number of comp tickets you earn this year will be tied to the number of rehearsals attended.

In order for the group to be ready to perform at the Renaissance Festival, we have the following expectations for all dancers:

• By the 3rd rehearsal: Names and order of the dances memorized
• By the 5th rehearsal: Dances memorized.

For most dancers, meeting these deadlines will require some time spent outside of rehearsals studying the dance instructions.

Our goal is to encourage and include all our members who wish to dance at the Renaissance Festival, to do so. In reality, we recognize this is not always going to be possible; some are not interested in performing for an audience and some have not had enough experience. Branch members who are not dancing at the Renaissance Festival are encouraged to explore the option of participating in our performances as a non-dancer helper. Non-dancer helpers can add to the performance by interacting with the audience, marching in the parade, and joining the audience participation dance; and they can assist with carrying banners, getting water for the piper, etc. Please contact the rehearsal director for more information.

Participants must provide their own costumes, which should fall reasonably within the branch costume guidelines. All costumes are subject to approval by the branch Wardrobe Master, Jim Morehouse.

Please don't hesitate to contact the rehearsal director, Dan Grundtner, e-mail: danger [at] surfbest.net, phone 651-487-3068.