Casting Information

A show number is any of the following:

Numbers That Do Not Require a Tryout

• Grad Feature—For all skaters in their first year of contract ice.
• Large Singles Group—For all skaters after their first year of contract ice. Most skaters will remain in a large group for several years, depending on their skating level and skillset.
• Teen Group—Skaters are chosen based on strength of skating and in consideration of age.
• Sophomore/Junior Number—Skaters who are either sophomores or juniors in high school who have not been included in a feature and have passed preliminary singles or above.
• Senior Feature—Skaters who are seniors in high school who have passed preliminary singles, pre-bronze skating skills, bronze dance or above.
• Axel Number—Skaters who are pre-silver skating skills or higher and/or have strong jumping skills
• Opening/Closing (Finale)—Skaters are chosen by consideration of age, line skating strength or tryout placement. Sometimes skaters earn one of these numbers before they earn a small feature group number.
• Father/Daughter Number—For any girl who is at the pre-preliminary singles or preliminary skating skills or higher on November 5, 2024 (Hiawathaland test session is the last RFSC test session before this cutoff). Dads should be able to skate forward and backward, stop and turn. For more information see the Father/Daughter Information page.

Numbers That Require a Tryout

• Small Feature Group, Duet or Trio—Skaters may earn placement into one of these by achieving a high score in their show tryout.
• High Feature—Includes all the skaters who have a solo.
• Solo, Highlight, or Feature—Skater may earn one of these by one of the following:
  1. Very high tryout placement and/or
  2. Graduating seniors who are skating a minimum of nine free skate units per week at RFSC and who do not have a full or feature solo will be eligible for a senior highlight as determined by the show directors. The type and length of the highlight will be determined by the needs of the show and the skater’s singles test level:
     • Pre-Bronze: highlight in a group number
     • Bronze: highlight approximately one minute in length
     • Pre-Silver and above: highlight approximately one and one-half minutes in length

A skater may be placed in 1 to 4 numbers based on the following:

• Their parent's permission as indicated on the Participation Form
• Tryout placement score
• Singles testing level
• Strength of skating
• Number of units contracted and skated per week (Singles, Skating Skills/Dance, Power, Edge and Synchronized). Units will be determined by registration as of September 30, 2024 with the expectation that the contracting and skating of those units will be maintained throughout the year. Changes in a skater’s contract may affect casting.
• 5 to 8 units per week = 1 number
• 9 to 14 units per week = up to 2 numbers
• 15 or more units per week = up to 4 numbers

A unit is a 15 miniute contracted session of ice time, example 1 hour=4 units

The final decision regarding casting will be made by the artistic director and casting committee.

Previous casting placement does not guarantee similar casting each year.

Senior Soloists and Senior Small Group numbers will work with the artistic director in the selection of music.

Senior Soloists and Senior Small Group numbers will work with the costume committee in the selection of costume/dress options, which include color choices. Costumes must be approved by the costume committee by December 31, 2024.

Costumes will need to be purchased for each number in which a skater is cast. In the past, the average cost per number for costume and accessories has been approximately $90–110. Please consider this cost when selecting the number of numbers in which you are willing to participate.

Skaters who participate on a synchronized team or have tested in dance may qualify for an additional number(s). The Father/Daughter number is considered an additional number and does not count toward the above listed maximums.

Final decisions will be made by the artistic director and casting committee. The cast list is posted around Thanksgiving.