Studio Policies
Parent Handbook
Click here to download and review our Parent Handbook. This details all studio policies and procedures to ensure your experience at TDS is superb!
Class Placement
Dance Shoppe instructors evaluate and place each of our dancers in the recommended classes each season. The strong advantage to our placement procedure is that we attempt to place every dancer in a class that allows them excel and move at an individualized pace. The disadvantage is that in August, when you receive your registration and placement information, you are not given the opportunity to select a convenient night and time. We feel that the advantage strongly outweighs the disadvantage, and most families work their schedules around the recommendations.
Those who pre-registered will have their recommended schedule sent via email. If you have a problem with the assigned class(es), please email Lauren at danceshoppemi@gmail.com. Please note, if you change your recommended class that usually means your child will be put in a second choice class.
Attendance
ABSENCES
The Dance Shoppe feels that it is important for students to gain a sense of responsibility and commitment to themselves and their classmates. It is also necessary that a dancer attend his/her classes regularly to continue progressing with the rest of the class. If a dancer misses more than 4 classes, The Dance Shoppe reserves the right to remove that dancer from recital routines. As we prepare for the June recital, attendance the last month of class is EXTREMELY important for your dancer and for their classmates dancing with them. Special arrangements may be made ahead of time with your teacher if they warrant the situation as an exception.
TARDINESS
Dancers are expected to be on time for class. Important warm-ups are missed if a student is late, and injuries could result; coming in late also disrupts the other students. For this reason, if a dancer is 10 minutes late for class, he or she must ask permission to enter the class. If too many warm-ups have been missed, the student will sit and observe the rest of the class, or the teacher may not give permission to enter. Three tardies are equivalent to one absence. The Creative Movement, Pre and Kinder classes are only 30 minutes in length, so please make every effort to be on time. Please do not send in your dancer more than 10 minutes late to any 30 minute class.
General Policies
WAITING ROOMS
Our waiting room will be open for business at the front desk (making cash payments, asking questions, etc). Our waiting room will be partially open otherwise, as follows: We ask that all students in first grade and up classes be dropped off no more than 10 minutes early, and picked up promptly at the end of class. Drop off and pick up will be at the front door, unless otherwise specified closer to the start of the dance season. Parents of dancers first grade and up will not be permitted to wait inside the studio during classes.
One parent/guardian of dancers in creative movement, preschool or kinder classes may accompany their dancer into the studio and stay in the studio during class if they choose. We ask that no extra siblings (except non-mobile infants) or parents are present during class, to cut down on waiting room congestion. Parents of students in our creative movement, pre and kinder classes that are not coming into the studio should stay on premises in the parking lot – they should not leave, in case we need to reach them quickly!
CLASS OBSERVATION
Each dance room is equipped with an observation window surrounded by benches. Curtains to observe recreational classes will be open every 4-5 weeks, based on a schedule emailed out at the beginning of the season. Please send no more than two adults to observe during each observation week - we ask that you avoid bringing extra siblings when at all possible, unless they are non-mobile. If our waiting room gets too chaotic, we will have to limit the number of adults viewing during observation weeks. Classy Dancer level classes and Dazzling Star performance groups do not follow the curtain schedule. CURTAINS WILL BE CLOSED FOR VIEWING THE 1ST TWO WEEKS OF CLASS! We then begin alternating observation between the rooms.
At TDS, we find value in sharing what your dancer is learning, which is why we invite parents in the studio during observation weeks. We do, however, notice a very positive change in our dancers' focus when they are able to concentrate on what is happening in the classroom, rather than the chaos of the waiting room.
BREAKS
Students 3rd grade and up with breaks in their schedule may stay at the studio, as long as they are not in need of extra supervision and can find a quiet activity during breaks. All dancers are encouraged to leave the premises for longer breaks. If our waiting room becomes too noisy, students will be asked to take their breaks outside of the studio. Eating and drinking is permitted on the TILE AREAS ONLY. The refrigerator and microwave will be available for use.
HOME PRACTICE
Dancers are encouraged to set aside 10 minute practice sessions, 2 or 3 times weekly. Instructors may assign a practice step each week. Stretches that have been taught in class may be practiced at home; this may make television time more constructive. Splitters Club pins are awarded in June for any dancer who can sit in both a correct right and left split for 1 minute. Home practice makes this easier to obtain.
To aid in home practice for the June production, a fee is added to your studio account in January, which will allow you access to all recital music for the season. This is a very valuable tool in for your dancer! After your dancer’s show routine has been taught, there will be a video day, so that you may video the entire dance.
SNOW & INCLEMENT WEATHER
The Dance Shoppe does not necessarily cancel classes when school is cloded. If the weather appears questionable in the late afternoon, please check your email, or check our Facebook page, before leaving your home.
Dress Code
The Dance Shoppe has a dress code for the following reasons:
- Uniformity of dance attire enables the instructor to more easily identify a dancer's problem areas.
- Dressing responsibly for class is part of the discipline of dance
- Our dress code eliminates "fashion parades" in class, thus saving parents the expense of trying to outfit their child in the latest dance craze.
All dance shoes and attire must be purchased by October 1st. In fairness to other students who follow the dress code rules, please do no expect us to make an exception for your child. The first warning for a dress code violation is considered a reminder. If your child is out of dress code a second time a note will be sent home. On the third time your child will not be permitted to participate in class. Note: When dancers have reached advanced or professional levels, the instructors may permit exceptions.
Girls Dancewear
LEOTARD
Solid colored, plain leotard without attached skirts, designs or decorations of any kind.
TIGHTS
Ballet Pink or Suntan tights
HAIR
Hair must be secured neatly up off the neck in a clip or bun. Hairnet and bobby pins recommended. Students in Creative Movement, Pre and Kinder Dance, Hip Hop and Tumbling students are permitted to wear ponytails
JEWELRY
Tiny pierced earrings are the only acceptable jewelry worn in class
SKIRTS
No Ballet skirts unless indicated by the instructor
HIP HOP
Hip Hop students should wear baggy, comfortable clothing. Kneepads are required. No leotards, tights, tight shorts or cheerleader shorts, please.
Boys Dancewear
INTENSIVE PROGRAMS OR PERFORMANCE TEAMS
Please follow the dress code for ballet, jazz, stretch, turns, and choreography classes: Solid colored shorts or dance pants. Solid colored tank top or a tight fitting t-shirt.
ALL OTHER CLASSES
Loose-fitting, class appropriate clothing.
Shoes & Footwear
BALLET
Soft leather split-soled ballet slipper (snugly fit). Bloch or Capezio are recommended. Cloth ballet slippers for intensive dancers of high school age. Pink for girls/Black for boys.
JAZZ
Soft leather split-soled Jazz Oxfords or slip ons (snugly fit). Bloch or Capezio are recommended. Tan for girls/Black for boys
TAP
Black patent leather Tap shoes with elastic and Teletone taps for dancers in second grade or younger, jazz tap shoes for dancers 3rd grade and up.
HIP HOP
Black tennis shoes that are not worn outside the dance room.