The Dance Connection
Mission Statement, Policies and Procedures
Mission Statement
· To learn the art of dance in a disciplined and loving way.
· To give students strong bodies to take through life by improving posture, strength, coordination and control.
· To give students an appreciation for the art of dance.
· To develop a students pride and confidence in one's self.
It is our belief that dance is a self-disciplined art and as such, each dancer is expected to participate in class with enthusiasm and dedication. Students should come to class prepared to learn, work, and enjoy the experience of dance. The instructor will guide students through exercises and techniques.
As students mature however, it should no longer be necessary to remind them to use common sense and appropriate behavior, in consideration for their fellow classmates and instructor. We would appreciate parents reviewing the rules with their children most especially the dress code (#4), and general studio rules (#6). We look forward to providing students with an educational and rewarding year of dance and through mutual respect we can accomplish this goal.
1.) Tuition and Fee Information:
Tuition is a yearly fee based on the number of classes that the student is
enrolled in, between September and concluding with recital in June. This
yearly fee can either be paid in one lump sum or will be billed in 10 equal
installments (the first payment due the beginning of September and monthly
installments due at the beginning of each subsequent
month).
Payment Schedule:
Installment #1 September 1st
Installment #2 October 1st
Installment #3 November 1st
Installment #4 December 1st
Installment #5 January 1st
Installment #6 February 1st
Installment #7 March 1st
Installment #8 April 1st
Installment #9 May 1st
Installment #10 June 1st
a. We do not reduce tuition for classes missed due to illness or other absence.
b. In the event that tuition payments are in arrears for more than two months, the student will not be allowed to participate until payment arrangements are made. The Dance Connection is always willing to help with a payment plan if needed, please ask.
c. There is a $5.00 registration fee for all students.
d. There is a recital costume fee that will be billed along with Installment #4. The costume cost will be $50.00 per costume. This part of the bill must be paid in full by December 31, 2005. You may make a partial payment every month or pay it in full. If you choose to pay it in partial payments you need to tell us how much goes to the costume. Every class has it’s own individual costume. If your child is in two classes then she/he will need two costumes, if you choose to participate in the recital for both. The recital costume is yours to keep.
e. There is a recital fee of $10.00 per student, which is billed on the February statement. This fee helps to offset some of the many expenses incurred to conduct a full stage production.
f. Any items purchased in the studio store can be billed. You will see any purchases on your statement, even if you pay for them at the time of sale. We track our inventory this way.
2.) Arrival and
Pick-up:
Please have students arrive in order
to be ready when class starts. Due to the progressive nature of the classes,
and the required warm-up to prevent injury, students arriving more than twenty
minutes late will not be allowed to participate. Also note, that once a student
sits out from class for any length of time, he/she will not be permitted to
resume participation due to the need to warm up again once the muscles have
cooled down.
**Please DO NOT leave children unattended at The Dance Connection. If your
child is in class you may leave and return for pick-up. Siblings
and friends (not in a class) may not remain here without an adult. We do not
have the staff or the space to provide a baby-sitting service. Please do not
ask us.
3.) Holidays and Closings:
The Dance Connection will follow the Queen Anne’s County Public School System
for the major holidays and close for Thanksgiving*, Christmas, Easter, and
Memorial Day. Classes will still be held on other holidays such as: Veteran’s
Day, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, and school conference or
professional days. *In 2005, The Dance Connection will close for the week of
Thanksgiving (November 21st –26th).
Weather and States of Emergency Closures: The Dance Connection will also follow
the Queen Anne’s County School System for weather and states of emergency
closings. If schools close early or are closed for the day, we will not
have class. If schools open late, we will have class. If in doubt, call
us at
410-643-8346.
4.) Dress Code:
All Classes- No baggy clothing is permitted. If needed, students may wear leg warmers, fitted turtlenecks, dance sweaters, etc. for warmth. Hair must be secured away from face. No dangling earrings, necklaces, or bracelets. Small earrings, rings, and watches are fine.
Ballet - Pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and any color leotard. Tights are worn on the legs and leotards on the body. Intermediate/advanced students must wear long hair in a bun.
Jazz/Hip Hop - Any color leotard with tights or bike type shorts, tan
jazz shoes, and socks.
Tap- Pink or tan tights, black tap shoes, and any color leotard.
Gymtots- Shorts, t-shirts, and
socks.
5.) Observation:
Parents are requested not to stay inside Studio A or B while classes are in session.
“Observation Weeks” have been scheduled for parents and friends to observe classes
during November 7-12th and February 6-11th.
6.) General Studio Rules:
a. No hanging on barre; talking (holding conversations) in class; no leaving class without instructor’s permission.
b. Food is allowed ONLY in the studio lounge. Please clean up after yourself!
c. Please clean up dressing room if your little one has played with the toys. Thank you!
d. Please use the dressing room for changing clothes and storing your dance gear…the office is off limits to students as it is a staff work area.
e. Tap shoes permitted only in Studio B and ballet slippers in Studio A. Jazz shoes are allowed in both studios.
f.
Please check lost and found regularly! We acquire a lot of stray STUFF!
We do not like throwing away treasures!
7.)
Recital:
We will hold our annual recital on June 10 & 11, 2006 at the Kent Island High
School Auditorium. This year’s recital will be “Cinderella”.
Dress rehearsal will be on Friday June 9, 2006. Each class will have a specific
time for their practice on stage. The class will go directly to a portrait
sitting after their fifteen-minute dress rehearsal. Beginning in January, you
will be notified of all recital plans and information. Please remember that at
The Dance Connection we consider the recital to be a very important
event. The recital showcases your children’s talents and skills learned
throughout the year and for which they have been diligently practicing. This is
a major production with costuming, choreography, scenery, etc. Please
understand that when a costume is purchased, the family is making a 3-day
commitment to this event. We can only hope that you as parents realize your
children’s excitement at being on stage, in costume, and performing along with
their classmates. Observers backstage, can attest to the fact, that the
students love to be on stage and wait eagerly even for the final
bow.
We could not pull off this event without our parent volunteers. However, we always need more than we have. In order for your child’s class to perform this year, we will need three (3) backstage moms per class, for both dress rehearsal and the performance days for all of the age 9 and younger classes. Age 10 and above will need two (2) backstage moms per class. This is necessary for the management of more than 200 students. Sign up to be backstage one performance and in the audience for the other. Otherwise some moms are continually backstage for all three days and are stuck not being able to see the performance. Thank you!
8.) Summer Sessions and Camps: The
Dance Connection is open in the summer for limited times. We usually offer six-
week sessions of Kinderdance, ballet, jazz, and tap. We also offer 5-day
camps. This information will be available February 2006.
9.) Please send all correspondence to our mailing address:
The Dance Connection
P.O. Box 250
· Fax 410-643-6585
· Visit our website for general information at