Developing Whole Dancers. Preparing Whole Humans.
Our competition program develops strong, versatile dancers through the Whole Dancer Method — building technique, artistry, resilience, and professionalism for success in dance and beyond.
The Whole Dancer
Strong foundational training across styles, settings, and performance demands.
Performance quality, expression, confidence, and adaptability.
Resilience, accountability, discipline, and growth through challenge.
Preparation for industry dance pathways and success in any future professional environment.
Auditions are in the spring, but you don't have to wait
We hold placement auditions once a year, in May. If your dancer is thinking about competition — whether that is next spring or a few seasons from now — there is plenty you can do in the meantime, and we would rather meet you early than have you find us in April.
Come and see us
Email us and we will set up a meeting or a studio tour. You can ask whatever you like about hours, cost, travel, and what each team actually asks of a family. No audition involved, and no commitment.
Start in Audition Lab
If your dancer is keen but nervous about auditioning, this is the best place to begin right now. Audition Lab runs Friday evenings and works on picking up choreography quickly, performance quality, presentation, and audition etiquette — the things that make an audition feel manageable rather than frightening.
Come to placement prep workshops
We run prep workshops in the four weeks leading up to auditions. They are designed to make the audition feel familiar rather than new, and dancers who attend them consistently walk in more confident.
Auditions: May 2027, date to be confirmed. Workshop dates are announced roughly two months ahead. Email us and we will make sure you hear when they are set.
What competition actually involves
If your dancer has only taken regular classes, competition can sound like a different world. It mostly is not. Here is what it means in practice.
Routines
Your dancer is cast in a small number of pieces — one or two on our Novice team, four on Company. Each is choreographed in the autumn and then rehearsed and refined all season. Competition entry fees are charged per routine, which is the main reason two dancers on the same team can pay different amounts.
Competitions and conventions
A competition is a weekend where teams perform their routines and are scored by judges. A convention is a weekend of classes with visiting industry teachers, usually with a competition attached. Conventions cost more because your dancer is training all weekend, not just performing.
The weekly commitment
Novice is two to four hours a week, which is close to what a committed recreational dancer already does. Team is four to six. Company is eleven to fifteen — most weeknights, and it will shape your family's schedule. We would rather say that plainly than have you find out in November.
Where most new families start
If competition is new to you, Echo is designed for exactly this. Two routines, two to four hours a week, three competitions — all in Spokane, none requiring travel. It is a real competitive season at a scale you can actually assess before committing to more.
Find the Right Pathway
Our competition program runs three tiers. Each one is a real step up in hours, cost, and travel, and we would rather you see all of that before you audition than after.
Echo — an entry point for dancers building consistency and confidence. Local competitions only.
Coalition — an intermediate team with a real but manageable commitment.
Pulse, Fusion and Synergy — our pre-professional teams, by audition, with the highest commitment in hours and cost.
| Tier | Team | Ages | Hours/week | Competitions | Summer | Routines | Tuition | Supply | Deposit | Audition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Synergy | 13+ | 11–15 | 3 group conventions + 1 additional convention, 2–3 local competitions | Surge, Ascend & Team Camp | 4 | Unlimited season classes — $432/mo | $200 | $1,000 | $75 |
| Company | Fusion | 14+ | 11–15 | 2–3 conventions + 2–3 local competitions | Surge, Ascend & Team Camp | 4 | Unlimited season classes — $432/mo | $200 | $1,000 | $75 |
| Company | Pulse | 7–14 | 11–15 | 2–3 conventions + 2–3 local competitions | Surge, Ascend & Team Camp | 4 | Unlimited season classes — $432/mo | $200 | $1,000 | $75 |
| Team | Coalition | 13+ | 4–6 | 3 local competitions + 1 convention | Flow 20 classes, or 2 weeks of Surge, Ascend & Team Camp | 4 | Tiered by class load | $100 | $800 | $75 |
| Novice | Echo | 8+ | 2–4 | 3 local competitions | Flow 10 classes | 2 | Tiered by class load | $50 | $400 | $50 |
Synergy
Pre-professional team · ages 13+
Fusion
Pre-professional team · ages 14+
Pulse
Junior pre-professional team · ages 7–14
Coalition
Intermediate competition team · ages 13+
Echo
Novice team · ages 8+
Teams we add as we grow
We also have two teams ready to run once we have the dancers for them: Alliance, a younger Team-level group, and Nova, a novice team for dancers seven and under. If your dancer would fit one of these, tell us — it genuinely helps us decide when to open them.
What a full season costs
These are realistic all-in ranges for the 2026/2027 season, based on what our current families are actually paying. They include tuition, registration and recital fees, audition and supply fees, team gear, group choreography, costumes, Team Camp, summer requirements, and the entry and convention fees for every event the team attends.
Synergy
$13,000 – $17,500
Fusion
$12,000 – $15,500
Pulse
$11,000 – $15,000
Coalition
$7,500 – $10,500
Echo
$3,500 – $5,000
Where a dancer lands in the range depends mostly on how many routines they are cast in, since competition entry fees are charged per routine. Solos, duos and trios are optional and add roughly $200–$1,200 in choreography plus entry fees. Taxes are additional.
Travel is not included in these figures. Entry and convention fees are, but flights, hotels, and meals for events outside Spokane are separate and paid directly by your family. How much that adds depends entirely on the team — see below.
Fees are reviewed each spring and may change for the following season. We publish these ranges because we would rather you plan properly than be surprised in February — and we are glad to build a specific estimate for your dancer before auditions.
Where each team competes
This is the part families most often underestimate, so here it is plainly. Our Novice team competes entirely in Spokane. Team travels once. Company travels three or four times a season, and that is where the real difference in family cost and time sits.
| Event | Where | When | Who goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUVO | Anchorage — travel | Oct 16–17 | Synergy |
| NUVO | Bellevue — travel | Jan 29–31 | Synergy, Fusion, Pulse |
| 24 SEVEN | Long Beach — travel | Feb 12–14 | Synergy, Fusion, Pulse |
| GROOVE | Spokane — home | Feb 19–21 | All teams |
| VELOCITY | Portland — travel | Mar 19–21 | Synergy, Fusion, Pulse, Coalition |
| ENERGY | Spokane — home | Apr 30–May 2 | All teams |
| ORO | Spokane — home | May 21–23 | Coalition, Echo |
Echo dancers never leave Spokane. All three of their competitions are local, which makes Novice a genuinely manageable first year for a family testing whether competition suits them.
JUMP (Portland, March) and RADIX (Portland, late April) are optional and not required for any team. Dates are current for 2026/2027 and occasionally shift.
Final cost varies by team placement, number of routines, choreography assignments, competition schedule, and convention participation. We are glad to walk a family through an estimate for their dancer before auditions — just ask.
The deposit is applied to competition fees and secures your dancer's place on the team — it is a prepayment, not an additional charge.
Standard studio fees such as registration and recital fees also apply. Applicable taxes will be added to tuition and fees.
Surge may be replaced with an outside intensive, with prior approval.
What you would be joining
If your dancer is already competing elsewhere, you are not asking what competition is — you are asking whether we are better. Here is what we would want to know in your position.
The circuit we compete on
Our Company teams compete at NUVO and 24 SEVEN, alongside VELOCITY, GROOVE, ENERGY and ORO. JUMP and RADIX are available as optional additions. It is a serious national convention circuit, and our dancers train in those rooms as well as compete in them.
Who our dancers work with
Our routines are set by faculty and by visiting choreographers, so dancers work with a range of voices rather than one. Our teaching faculty includes training from Juilliard, Bolshoi, Complexions, Limón, Millennium and The Edge.
How dancers are treated
Our faculty do not comment on a dancer's body — not weight, not shape, not line, and not as praise either. It is written into our staff handbook rather than left to good intentions. No dancer is encouraged to push through unsafe pain, and every instructor is coached and reviewed at least twice a season.
If you are leaving somewhere for reasons like these, we would rather you ask us directly than hope. More about how we teach.
Joining partway through
Placement happens at auditions in May, and that is the cleanest way in. If your dancer is mid-season somewhere else, email us anyway — we can talk about where they would fit, what next spring would look like, and whether taking class with us in the meantime makes sense.
Training, Teamwork, and Growth
Competition at 509 Collective is about more than results. We develop dancers who are confident, adaptable, and prepared to work well in any environment.
Required Classes by Level
Each pathway includes required weekly training to build strong technique, versatility, and performance readiness.
Company
Our highest-commitment track, for dancers pursuing advanced training and pre-professional preparation.
- Ballet
- Jazz
- Hip Hop
- Turns & Leaps
- Strength and Conditioning
- Company classes (2–3 hours/week)
- Additional specialty classes based on assigned routines
Team
A balanced competition experience with clear expectations, technical growth, and performance opportunities.
- Ballet
- Jazz
- Team classes (1–2 classes, 2 hours/week)
- Additional specialty classes based on assigned routines
Novice
A supportive entry pathway for dancers developing consistency, confidence, and foundational technique.
- Echo: Ballet, Jazz, and Novice team class (2 hours/week)
Nova, our team for dancers seven and under, runs a team class plus an all-style technique class when we have the numbers to open it.
Season Commitments
Alongside classes, competitions, and summer training, dancers may be asked to take part in other events across the season.
- Half-time performances
- Workshops and master classes
- Dress rehearsals
- Community events
- Team appearances
Additional Fees
Families should plan for team-related costs in addition to tuition and standard studio fees.
- Team backpack: $200
- Team gear: $300
- Group choreography: $330–$1,950 for the season, depending on team and number of routines
- Costumes: $150–$300 per routine
- Competition fees: $100–$150 per routine
- Convention fees: $300–$600
- Workshops and community events: $30–$500
- Team Camp: $50 per day
- Summer requirements: varies by commitment level
Your deposit is not an extra cost. It is applied to your dancer's competition fees and secures their place on the team.
Standard studio fees such as registration and recital fees also apply.
A Positive and Professional Process
Our audition process is designed to be fair, supportive, and focused on growth.
- Auditions are held once a year, in May, for placement across all competition levels
- Dancers who are not placed on Company may still be selected for Team or Novice
- Placement is based on technique, performance quality, work ethic, and overall readiness
- We prioritise placing dancers where they will be both challenged and supported
Dancers are evaluated by experienced outside adjudicators, which keeps the placement process fair and objective.
Prepared for the Stage and Beyond
Our dancers build versatility, discipline, and professionalism that support future dance opportunities, college pathways, and life beyond the studio.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are interested now — is it too late for this season?
Our teams are placed at auditions in May, so this season's teams are set. That does not mean you have to wait quietly until spring, though. Email us and we will arrange a meeting or a studio tour, and if your dancer wants to start preparing, Audition Lab is a good place to begin now.
When are auditions?
Auditions are held once a year in May. We run placement prep workshops in the four weeks beforehand, and dates are announced roughly two months ahead. Email us and we will make sure you hear when they are confirmed.
How does tuition work?
Company teams receive unlimited season classes for $432 per month.
All other tuition is based on each dancer's required class load. We use a multi-class discount structure, so the per-class rate decreases as dancers take more classes.
What will a full season actually cost us?
It depends on the team, the number of routines, and which conventions the team attends, so we do not want to quote a figure that turns out to be wrong for your dancer. What we will do is sit down with you before auditions and build an estimate for the specific team your dancer is aiming at, including tuition, deposit, gear, choreography, costumes, and competition and convention fees.
We would much rather have that conversation early than have a family be surprised in February.
Is my dancer good enough to compete?
Probably more often than families expect. Our Novice team exists for dancers who are ready to commit but are not yet advanced, and placement looks at work ethic and readiness as much as current technique. If you are unsure, come and talk to us rather than deciding on your own — we would rather tell you honestly where your dancer sits.
How much travel is involved?
Echo competes entirely in Spokane — no travel at all. Coalition travels once, to Portland. Company teams travel three or four times a season, which for 2026/2027 means Bellevue, Long Beach and Portland, plus Anchorage for Synergy.
Flights, hotels and meals are paid directly by your family and are not included in the season cost ranges above.
We are with another studio. Can we switch?
Yes. Placement happens at our May auditions, so that is the natural point to join. If your dancer is mid-season elsewhere, email us anyway and we will talk through where they would fit and whether taking class with us before auditions makes sense.
Is the deposit an extra cost?
No. Your deposit is applied to your dancer's competition fees, and it secures their place on the team. It is money you would be paying anyway, just paid up front.
Do you offer sibling discounts?
Yes, sibling discounts may apply for eligible families. Please reach out with questions about your family's tuition structure.
What if my dancer cannot attend auditions in person?
Please reach out to us in advance and ask about video audition options.
What if my dancer auditions for Company and is not placed there?
Dancers who are not placed on a Company team may still be placed on Team or Novice. Our goal is to place each dancer in the environment where they will be challenged, supported, and able to grow.
What ages are the teams generally for?
- Synergy (Company) — our advanced teen team
- Fusion (Company) — 14+, our intermediate teen team
- Pulse (Company) — 7–14, our junior team
- Coalition (Team) — about 13+
- Echo (Novice) — 8 and up
Alliance and Nova open when we have the numbers for them.
What are parent expectations?
We ask families to support attendance, punctuality, communication, and preparation throughout the season.
- Use the Parent Portal for absences, updates, and communication
- Communicate conflicts as early as possible
- Help dancers stay organised and prepared
- Plan ahead for performances, rehearsals, workshops, and competitions
- Attend meetings and support team needs throughout the season
Why does this training matter beyond competition?
Our dancers build confidence, accountability, teamwork, discipline, and professionalism — skills that support success in dance, school, work, and life.