Expectations of Members
Spice Road has high expectations of its dancers; we believe that to have a 
successful performing group it is vital that "all the cards are on the table." Spice Road members are expected to embrace our Code of Conduct, as well as abide by the policies set by the director. New members will receive a membership handbook upon successful completion of the audition. What follows are some of the expectations that Spice Road has of its members.
Our Compass (the Code of Conduct)
As a member, you will enact:
Integrity - acting with responsibility and consideration...
Commitment - to the moment of the dance, be it rehearsal or performance, to your progress, to our shared goals...
Accountability - to yourself, to each other, the group, to Nicola, to the standards & expectations of the dance...
Respect - for yourself, each other, Nicola, the group as a whole, and our art form…
Education - You will seek out new opportunities and resources to improve yourself as a dancer, and take your role in dance education seriously...
This conduct will include:
- regularly attending rehearsals, classes, and workshops
- arriving with your supplies
- arriving on time to everything
- being prepared as requested
- focussing on the task at hand, at any given moment
- listening to all feedback and critiques
- regularly contributing to costuming, rehearsing, developing choreography and show concepts, finding gigs, and troupe well-being
- demonstrating consideration to all members regardless of personal feelings or circumstances
- arranging independently to compensate for missed rehearsals and commitments
- practicing on your own
- leaving all ego and personal issues at the door
- exhibiting an open heart, mind, and spirit to learning
- paying fees on time
- resolving problems and conflicts in a mature, candid, and responsible manner
- stepping up and bringing it, 100% of what you are capable of
Participation & Attendance:
- is mandatory a minimum of 2 rehearsals before a show
- is flexible in times of stress, e.g. extra courses at school, pregnancy, life crisis, long-term illness--dancers may request leave of absence and retain their membership status
- Spice Road members will enrol in a minimum of 2 sessions per dance season in Nicola's Level 3 and/or 4 classes; members may also enrol in other teachers' intermediate classes in addition to Nicola's
- Nicola may invite Spice Road Nomads to appear in performance with the Spice Road--these are guest soloists and/or guests for troupe choreography for a special event or show, but who may not be long-term members
- As a member, your presence and absence does affect and alter what we can accomplish and what progress we make and retain. If you are in, you are in, 100% with no excuses or reservations. You are not wanted on the journey if you cannot make that commitment.
Performance Types & Venues:
- will include paid and gratis shows--these require the same amount of preparation, time, and energy
- will include regular community and charitable contributions
- will require a minimum level of attendance by members
- may include solos and group/solo improvisation at the director’s discretion
- typically involve last-minute changes to staging, line-up, costuming, transitions, etc.
Choreography:
- will primarily be original and will include adaptations of authentic choreography by major-name dancers such as Hadia, Cassandra, Sahra, and more
- will include famous Arabic songs danced to and in the style of the dancers who made them famous
- will include raks sharqi, baladi, shaabi, Ghawazee, Hagallah, melayya leff, debke, Tunisian, Khaleegi, zaar, veil, assaya, Moroccan sheikhat, Turkish Rom, Persian, & more
- will include adaptations to utilize the troupe format and a variety of venues--floor patterns, formation changes, staging, heights & shapes
- dancers will have 2 solos prepared at all times: one slow, one up-tempo