Recreational Dance Parent Handbook

Select dance academy and performing arts center
Dance Academy Information
Parent/Student Handbook
Provided by Select Dance Academy
2011/2012 Dance Year

 

This handbook includes valuable studio information and policies.  Please keep this handbook and use it as a reference for common questions and important dates throughout the year.

Recreational Dance

Mission Statement

Select Dance Academy and Performing Arts Center is a full service institution providing education in all areas of the performing arts.  By commissioning the works of the most remarkable locally recognized choreographers and instructors, we are able to provide artistically excellent and professional dance, singing, modeling, acting, and music instruction.  We teach our students to be stronger individuals, believe in themselves, be proud of their accomplishments, work to excel and have confidence in any situation.  We believe in our students.

Open Door Policy

We at Select Dance Academy have an “Open Door” policy.  Should you have any questions or concerns with your child’s class please don’t hesitate to address it with us.   We are here to make this a positive experience.  We would like to be informed should you or your child be going through something that may affect their participation in class.  It is our goal to work with you in any way to make the most of each class for you and your child.  The more we are aware of the more we can do to help your child learn.   Likewise, if your child is struggling with something in class such as participation, attitude, or other children, we will let you know.  With open communication, we look forward to a wonderful year!

Student Placement

Dancers are placed into groups based on ability, age and previous dance experience.  We act in the best interest of our students and place them in a group that will allow them to benefit the most from each and every class.

  • Students that are the same age may be placed in different classes based on their ability and dance experience.   We see it more important for a student to be in a class at their level of learning rather than with friends of their choice.  This is our way of preventing students from having a bad experience by being in a class that may be too easy or too difficult for them.
  • If Select Dance Academy sees that a student would benefit more from being placed in a different group, that student may be asked to switch to a different class after the dance year has begun.
  •  Siblings are discouraged from being in the same class.  In most cases, siblings tend to pay better attention, make more friends, and have a more valuable experience if they are in separate classes.

Studio Policies/Information

  • If your child is unable to attend class we ask that you call or email us to let us know so we can plan class accordingly.
  • If your child has missed multiple classes and we feel that he/she is behind we may require you to pay for private lessons in order to catch him/her up with the rest of the group.
  • Students need to attend each class in their required dance attire.
  • Please arrive to class on time.  It is distracting for the entire class to have someone arrive late.  Stretching and barre work are important aspects of dance class and are typically done at the beginning of class.
  • Please encourage your child to use the restroom prior to class.  This will avoid accidents and multiple bathroom breaks.
  • Each month we will email out a newsletter.  We include important studio information in these newsletters and it is important that you take the time to read them.  Printed copies of the newsletter will be available in the lobby the first week of each month for you to take.
  • If you need to use the restroom and a class is in session please feel free to enter the studio and walk against the back wall to reach the restroom.
  • Street shoes are not allowed on the dance floors and must be removed in the lobby prior to walking in.
  • In between classes is a busy time to address questions and/or concerns.  Please email or call us directly to ensure that we give you the time you deserve!

First Day of Class

  • Classes begin the week of September 12th.
  • Students should come dressed in the proper dance attire.
  • Dancers should all bring a small dance bag with their dance shoes and a water bottle.
  • Please label your child’s dance shoes and dance bag with his/hers initials.  This is extremely important as shoes often get left at the studio or placed in someone else’s bag.
  • Please arrive 10-15 minutes early on the first day in order to check in your child.

Class Attire

  • Students in a Tap/Ballet/Jazz combination class must wear tights and a dance leotard to each class.  Tights and leotard can be any color.  Students in the 3-4 year old and 5-6 year old classes are required to have black tap shoes and pink ballet slippers. Shoes will be announced for the 7+ year classes in the fall.
  • Students in a Hip Hop class must wear moveable clothing.  Sweat pants, wind pants, dance pants, shorts, t-shirts, and tanks are all acceptable.   No Jeans and no baggy sweatshirts.  The exact style and color of hiphop shoes needed will be announced in the fall.   Students may wear any type of hiphop shoe or street tennis shoes prior to that point.
  • Students in a Musical Theatre class must wear jazz pants and a dance leotard.  No baggy clothing, sweatpants, or t-shirts.
  • All students must wear their hair back and out of their face.  Jewelry including watches, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces are not to be worn during class. Also, no gum in class!
  • As the weather turns cold, students will be allowed to wear sweatshirts and sweatpants over their dance attire during warm-ups.

Assistant Teachers

All of our creative movement, ¾ year and 5/6 year classes will have an assistant teacher present during class.  This person will be one of our older dance students.  They will assist in bathroom breaks, changing of the shoes, and assisting with dance instruction.   Student teachers will be added to our 7+ classes as needed.

Parent Watch Weeks

For the benefit of our students, we do not allow parents to watch their child’s class.    We have found that if a child is in view of their parent, they are distracted and as a result, cannot get the most of the class.   We do want our parents to be involved and understand that as a parent you are interested in your child’s education.  We have established dates where parents are invited to view class in it’s entirety.

  • Parent Watch Week #1:  October 10th – 15th
  • Parent Watch Week #2:  December 12th – 17th
  • Parent Watch Week #3:  February 13th – 18th
  • Parent Watch Week #4:  April 16th – 21st

No Class Weeks

The dance studio is closed over most holidays.  We close for the entire holiday week to make it fair for all dancers.

  • Fall Break: October 17th-22nd
  • Thanksgiving Break:  November 21st-26th
  • Christmas Break:  December 19th – December 31st
  • Spring Break:  March 26th – March 31st

Class Cancellations

We follow the Shakopee school district for snow emergencies and class cancellations.  In the event that school is cancelled, let out early or after school activities are cancelled, we will cancel classes as well.  In the event of bad weather, we will change the studio voicemail, post class cancellations on our website and send out an email.

Tuition

  • All students are required to pay a $25 registration fee once per year.  Registration fees are non refundable and are used to reserve space in a class and to pay instructors for class preparation for the upcoming year.
  • Dance tuition is billed for the entire year.  You can either pay tuition in full at the beginning of the dance year or you can make nine equal monthly payments September – May.  Regardless of how many classes your child attends in a month, the monthly fee is the same September –May.
  • Monthly payments are due the 1st week of each month.  Each family making monthly payments will receive a coupon book to help them keep track of months paid.  Monthly tuition can be paid via check or cash and placed in the tuition drop box with the corresponding coupon.  This payment can be dropped off during your child’s class time the first week of each month.
  • Automatic with drawl from a credit card or debit card is also available.  Automatic with drawls will be taken out the 1st of each month.  We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
  • Students that are late paying tuition for two consecutive months due to forgetfulness, carpooling, or other circumstances will be required to set automatic with drawl for the remainder of the year.

 

Costume Fees

Each student will be required to pay a costume fee October 15th.  The fee will be used to purchase 1 or 2 costumes to be worn in the dance recitals and any props needed.  For younger students, one costume can be used for both dances.  As students get older they do may need a different costume for each of the dances they will be performing.  Therefore the costume fees vary with the different ages.

  • Creative Movement, ¾ year Combo,  and 5/6 year Combo:  $65 Costume Fee
  • HipHop and 7+ Combo:  $79 Costume Fee

Recital

All students will get the opportunity to perform in a dance recital in late May or early June.  The specific date will be chosen by October.

  • We will be having three or four dance recitals.  Groups will be told in early spring the exact recitals that they will be participating in.
  • Parents and additional attendees will be required to purchase tickets to attend the recital.  Dance tuition covers only the cost of the instruction.  Ticket sales are to cover the cost of the rental of the venue, custodial needs, lighting and sound technicians, and staffing for the dress rehearsal and recital.
  • Dancers regardless of age will be required to wear makeup for the recital.  The stage lighting tends to wash students out on stage.  All students will need to wear mascara, eye shadow, blush, and lipstick.  Specific details regarding makeup application will be covered during a parent watch week closer to the recital date.
  • There will be a dress rehearsal scheduled prior to the recital.  This will give the students an opportunity to practice their dances on stage prior to the recital day.  We will work with lighting, sound, and spacing at this time.  Dress rehearsal is exactly that, a rehearsal.  We ask for your patience as we work with each group as needed on stage.  We can only offer an estimated time that the rehearsal will last.  In some cases it may finish early and in other cases it may go later depending on the each groups needs.  An exact date will be given out in October and the exact schedule will be given out in the spring.  Dress rehearsal is mandatory.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

  • Students wanting to drop out of a class may do so at anytime without penalty.  Registration fees, competition fees and costume fees are non refundable.  Any tuition paid is non refundable but may be applied to another class.

Picture Day

We will schedule a picture day in the spring.  Students will come into the studio and take individual and group pictures in their dance costumes with our photographer.  Picture packages will be available for purchase.

  • Regardless if you are purchasing a picture package or not, we ask that all students attend picture day.  We use the group photos for our studio, other promotional items and as a courtesy to the other dancers that are purchasing a group photo prefer to have all students included in these photos.  The exact day and picture schedule will be included in a future newsletter.

Medical Conditions

If your child has a medical condition that you feel we should know about or may affect his or her ability to fully participate in class please tell us.  The more we know about the condition the more we can help make his or her experience the best it can be.  All information is confidential and we will communicate with instructors on a need to know basis.

 Studio Contact Information

For all questions and concerns please use one of the following contacts:

Studio:   952-233-5297

Jennifer Meeh—Owner                                                                                                                                                                           Cell #:  612-986-0707                                                                                                                                                                           Email: jennifer@selectdance.com

Thank you for enrolling your child in our programs!  We look forward to a wonderful and exciting year!