Studio Philosophy
At Peacock’s Performing Arts Center we offer dance, music, and art instruction in a wide variety of styles. Our goal is to provide quality instruction in a positive and encouraging environment. Students will follow a structured sequence of classes intended to increase a student’s technical skills, stamina, and discipline in accordance with their age and physical development. Our focus is to prepare our students for their future in the arts and in life.
Studio Environment
Peacock’s Performing Arts Center is committed to providing a safe environment. PPAC is a drug free zone. The discussion, use or possession of drugs, tobacco or alcohol is strictly prohibited. Any person who does not adhere to this policy will be banned from Peacock’s Performing Arts Center and all connected events and subject to legal action.
Teaching Staff
The teaching staff at Peacock’s Performing Arts Center is chosen with great care. All our instructors have experience and education in their field. All Teachers have completed a background check and Georgia Mandated Reporter Training. We believe that teaching is an art and we encourage and support our teachers in the classroom. Our teachers strive to give each student the individual attention and instruction he or she needs to reach their potential. Each of our teachers brings a unique perspective, personality and skill set to the classroom environment. At Peacock’s we have a mentoring program for students who are interested in pursuing a future in teaching dance. These students work one on one with a qualified teacher to learn skills such as developing lesson plans, classroom management and implementing correct terminology in a fun and positive environment. Our teachers make Peacock’s Performing Arts a great place to learn!
Studio Design
Our studios are designed with the dancer, musician, and artist in mind. Our facility has 3 dance studios, each with suspended wood floors to help prevent injury. We also offer 3 private music rooms, a dressing room, 2 bathrooms, 2 waiting areas and a lost and found bin. We convert one of our spacious dance studios into our art room for art class. To keep up to date on studio announcements please look for our monthly email newsletter, information on our bulletin board, scrolling tv announcements, and social media posts. We also offer a closed-circuit observation television.
Waiting Area & Parking Etiquette
We ask that parents and siblings who are waiting in the lobby area do not run, yell, or chase. Please be courteous with personal cell phone calls. No parking is allowed at the front door as it disrupts traffic and affects the safety of others.
Sickness Policy
For the protection of all students and staff, as well as parents and siblings of students, please follow this policy. If a student becomes sick during class, your student will be isolated and placed in a separate room and the family will be promptly notified. Sick parents/guardians or siblings are not permitted in the studio. Please keep your student home for any of the following reasons: covid-19 symptoms, fever 99.9 degrees or higher, cold with green/yellow discharge, constant runny nose, phlegmy or persistent cough, persistent sneezing, stomachache, stomach flu, diarrhea, pink eye, head lice, or other contagious illnesses. Students must be free of fever and contagious symptoms at least 24 hours before returning to class. Peacock’s Performing Arts reserves the right to ask students, parents, or siblings to leave the facility for the health of others.
Absence/Make-up Classes
We encourage consistent attendance. The curriculum is ongoing and cumulative. If a student misses too many classes, he/she will fall behind. We understand that conflicts or illness may cause students to miss a class and we have established a make-up policy to address this situation.
● Make-up class for dancers:
a. Students can attend the same or lower level on a different day if space permits. Please check with the office before attending a make up class.
● Make-up class for musicians
a. Parents of music students would need to discuss a make-up class directly with the student’s instructor.
● If your dance or music student has excessive absences (Feb – May) they may need private lessons in preparation for recital. Parents will be notified, and an additional fee will be paid to the instructor.
Parental Involvement
We encourage parents/guardians to stay up to date with all studio news and events. Please be sure to read our monthly newsletter that covers all pertinent information about the studio. You may also receive text messages periodically. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be notified of studio news. Parents are required to pick up your student if they have a break longer than 30 minutes.
Registration
Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Returning students are given priority. All registrations are processed in the order received. Class size limitations will be strictly observed, and we do not hold spots for returning students, so please register as soon as possible. After the priority registration, all registrations (for new and returning students) are processed in the order received. We require a minimum number of students to run a class.
Lost Items
Please label all belongings. The studio will not be responsible for lost items. If an item was left, please check the lost and found. All valuables should be taken into the classroom with you. All items in the lost and found will be donated to Goodwill at the end of each month.
Dance Class Structure
All of our classes have a consistent structure, whether it is ballet, tap, jazz, modern or other styles. The instructor begins with barre work or center warmups. Each step incorporated in the warmup is used later in the class as part of the center work or part of the work across the floor. For example, pliés are done at the beginning of each ballet class. Pliés are then used each time the dancer jumps and as preparation for many types of turns. If pliés are done incorrectly, the dancer risks injury. We use the beginning of each class to establish correct placement and execution of pliés. From barre work or center warmups, the class will then begin work across the floor. This portion of the class allows students to take the information they were given at the beginning of class and put it into action in space. Finally, the class will end with center floor choreography. Here dancers are challenged to take the skills they have learned and perform them through choreography. Musical Theatre classes will have a more varied class structure as they will work on dance, vocal and acting skills. We give our teachers the autonomy to vary from this class structure as needed. It may be that dancers need additional time for stretching or recovery. Our teachers are aware of the needs of our students and make the necessary adjustments.
Dance Class Placement
Classes are divided into levels based on a student’s ability and age. Unlike grade levels in school, students do not necessarily move to the next level each year. We have a great deal of curriculum to cover in each level and we want to make sure that the student is comfortable, strong, confident, and technically proficient before moving up. Some students may train in a level for a greater length of time, while others may move through a level more quickly. The determination of advancement is made on an individual basis by the instructor. Each student progresses at his or her own pace. Students advance to more challenging levels as they safely master the skills and techniques, not specific combinations. Please be patient and encouraging with your child. Dance is an art form and cannot be rushed. We believe that it is important for a student to be placed appropriately so that he/she can get the most out of the class. Our instructors take a personal interest in each student. Initial student evaluation involves determining a student’s present ability considering previous dance experience, individual skill, and muscle development. New students age 8 and younger should register for a class according to our age guidelines. All placement decisions are made final by the Artistic Director.
Class Discipline (all class styles)
Teachers are responsible for handling disciplinary issues with students in class. First, our teachers will give students a warning to correct behavior. Second, students will be asked to sit and take a break. Lastly, students will be excused from class. Students who are asked to leave will not be offered a refund or make-up class.
Tardy Policy (all class styles)
All students are expected to arrive on time and in the appropriate attire. Classes are designed to warm up muscles slowly and properly. Jumping into a class that has already started may cause injury. If you are tardy, please see the instructor, ask him/her whether you can join the class or need to warm up independently. Please respect your instructor’s decision in this matter.
Inclement Weather
The safety of our students, teachers and parents is our primary concern. We typically follow the recommendation of the National Weather Service; however, the weather and roads may clear in time for our afternoon classes. We will do our best to schedule a make-up class on a Friday, Saturday, or Virtually for classes missed due to weather closures. Refunds will not be offered for classes canceled due to weather. Please check social media sites or call the front desk for inclement weather updates.
Tuition and Payment
As of PPAC all families will make their monthly payments the first week of the month or on the 15th.if set up for auto draft. Should you fall behind, parents are required to schedule a meeting with Chris to discuss the payments missed. If families are 2 payments behind your dancer will not be able to attend class until the account is up to date. Should continuous late payments occur, students may be removed from participation. Parents will still be required to pay the balance in full for the items and classes taken prior to the date of dismissal. All fees must be paid prior to the dress rehearsal in May in order for students to perform in the recital.
Unenrollment
Should you decide to unenroll from classes at Peacock’s Performing Arts Center you will need to notify studio owners in writing. Once we have received notice of your student(s) unenrollment, the student account will be noted. A tuition payment will be required for the following 30 days after receiving notice. If a dancer decides to unenroll before November 15th, your costume and production fees will be refunded. Should you unenroll after November 15th, your production fees and costume fees are nonrefundable.
Peacock’s Performing Arts Center is committed to providing a safe environment. PPAC is a drug free zone. The discussion, use or possession of drugs, tobacco or alcohol is strictly prohibited. Any person who does not adhere to this policy will be banned from Peacock’s Performing Arts Center and all connected events and subject to legal action.
Dance and Musical Theatre Costumes
Costume and production fees are due by November 15th to give the Artistic Director the flexibility to order costumes when the time is right. Your costume fees will be non-refundable after the costume is ordered. Students will be measured in November to ensure the correct size is ordered.
When costumes arrive, students will be asked to try on their costume(s) in class. Once all costumes have been tried on and approved by the Artistic Director, they will be sent home. The Artistic Director needs to be notified of any issue with costume(s) within one week of the costume being sent home. Every effort will be made to exchange costumes, however, we can only exchange costumes based on the availability of the costume company. Any and all alterations that need to be made are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Dance and Music Recital
We conclude each year with a performance showcase. The performance consists of short dances choreographed from steps that the students have been working on throughout the year. We will also have musical performances from our music students that choose to participate in the showcase. Students begin learning the dances and music in January. Once your child has committed to the recital, we expect the student to attend class on a regular basis. Good dance classroom attendance is vital to the choreography of the piece and to developing a strong working relationship with the other dancers in the piece. This relationship helps the student feel comfortable, confident, and relaxed on stage. Only a portion of class time is dedicated to learning the recital dance. If you choose not to participate in the recital, please continue to attend class as we will continue to introduce new material from the curriculum. Additionally, those students who choose not to participate in the recital will still learn the dance with the entire class. Learning choreography helps the dancer understand sequencing and timing. While participation in our showcase is not mandatory, we find that the chance to perform is a rewarding and confidence building experience. Please notify the instructor and the office in writing by November 15th if your dancer will not be participating in the showcase. Music students use the class time to prepare and polish their performance pieces to ensure confidence when on stage.
Dress Rehearsal is scheduled the Saturday prior to the recital and is designed to help the dancer/musician understand the expectations for the performance. It helps the student get his/her bearings on stage, develop a level of comfort in front of an audience and allows teachers to set and finalize blocking. Dress rehearsal is mandatory for every performer. You will have a scheduled arrival and performance time. Parents are allowed to watch during the rehearsal. After your student has performed, they will need to be signed out by the parent or guardian who brought the student. Parents/guardians will not be allowed backstage.
Performance for the end of the year showcase will be the Saturday before Houston County School System graduation. Students will be asked to arrive one hour before the performance in costume. A parent or guardian will need to sign in student(s) at drop off. Students will stay backstage during the entire performance. Once the performance has been completed, parents/guardians will need to sign their student(s) out for dismissal. Parents/guardians will not be allowed backstage. Tuition must be paid in full in order for students to participate in the recital.
Dance Dress Code
Our dress code was established to promote the students’ freedom of movement and the instructor’s observation of correct technique. We have differentiated the ballet levels by the color of the leotard. This color distinction gives the student a sense of accomplishment as the dancer moves up in levels and graduates to a new color of leotard.
Hair must be worn off the face and neck for all classes. A bun is required for ballet class. For all other classes, a ponytail or braid is acceptable. Please use hairspray to secure flyaways and ensure hair stays out of the dancer’s face. This enhances the dancer’s vision and enables the instructor to observe proper alignment of neck and shoulders.
Dress Code Details
● Hair must be secured in a ponytail or braid for class
● A bun is required for Twinkle Tots, Broadway Babies, KinderStars, Combo Classes, Primary & Ballet Level 1 - 4
● No jewelry, costumes or play clothes may be worn in class.
● Tights are required in all classes unless otherwise noted.
● Leg warmers and other warm up clothing may be worn for the first few minutes of Level 1 - 4 classes. Students will be required to remove warmups at the instructor’s discretion.
● No food or gum is allowed in dance rooms. Only water or sports drinks are allowed in class.
● No dance shoes should be worn outside of the studio.
● Be sure to label all shoes, clothing, water bottles and dance bags.
Dress Code Requirements by Class:
Parent Child
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● Pink Leotard
● Skirt must be attached (skirt is not required)
● Pink footed tights
Shoes:
● Pink, leather full sole or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
Parents need to wear workout clothing so they can move easily.
Twinkle Tots
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● Pink Leotard
● Skirt must be attached (skirt is not required)
● Pink footed tights
Shoes:
Pink, leather full sole or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
Broadway Babies
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● Purple Leotard
● Skirt must be attached (skirt is not required)
● Pink footed tights
Shoes:
● Pink, leather full sole or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
KinderStars
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● White Leotard
● Skirt must be attached (skirt is not required)
● Pink footed tights
Shoes:
● Pink, leather full sole or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
● Tan, slip on Jazz Shoes
Ballet/Jazz and Ballet/Tap
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● Blue Leotard
● Skirt must be attached (skirt is not required)
● Pink footed tights
Shoes:
Ballet/Jazz
● Pink, leather full sole or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
● Tan, slip on Jazz Shoes
Ballet/Tap
● Pink, leather full sole or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
● Black, patent leather Tap Tyettes (Capezio N625C)
Primary (Ballet, Tap, Jazz)
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● Black Leotard
● Ballet Wrap Skirt or Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Pink transition tights
Shoes:
● Pink, leather or canvas or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
Ballet (Level 1 - 4, Teen Ballet and Pointe)
Hair: must be properly secured in a bun
Attire:
● Black Leotard (Level 4 may wear any color)
● Ballet Wrap Skirt or Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Pink transition tights
Shoes:
● Pink, leather or canvas or split sole Ballet Shoes with NO drawstrings
● Tan, slip on Jazz Shoes
● Black Oxford full sole tap shoes. Shoes may be one of the following:
● SoDance TA 47
● Bloch Audeo Tap
Jazz (Level 1 - 4)
Hair: must be properly secured in a ponytail or braid.
Attire:
● Black Leotard
● Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Tan transition tights
Shoes:
● Tan, slip on Jazz Shoes
Tap (Level 1 - 4 and Teen Tap)
Hair: must be properly secured in a ponytail or braid.
Attire:
● Black Leotard
● Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Dance Top
● Tan transition tights
Shoes:
● Black Oxford full sole tap shoes. Shoes may be one of the following:
o SoDance TA 47
o Bloch Audeo Tap
o Capezio Roxy
o Bloch Jason Samuels
Hip Hop (Level 1 - 4)
Hair: must be properly secured in a ponytail or braid.
Attire:
● Any color or style leotard
● Dance or Workout Top
● Athletic pants, hip hop pants, leggings or shorts
● Tan transition tights
Shoes:
● Black, Dance Hip Hop Sneakers. Brands may be (Capezio, Bloch, or SoDanca)
Contemporary, Lyrical or Modern
Hair: must be properly secured in a ponytail or braid.
Attire:
● Any color or style leotard
● Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Tan transition tights
Shoes:
● Bare feet or Foot Undeez
Musical Theatre
Hair: must be properly secured in a ponytail or braid.
Attire:
● Any color or style leotard
● Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Fitted Capri or Leggings
● Dance or Workout Top
● Tan transition tights
Shoes:
● Tan, slip on Jazz Shoes
Boys
Hair: must be properly secured away from face.
Attire:
● Fitted White Shirt
● Fitted Biker Shorts (any color)
● Black Dance Pants
Shoes:
● Ballet: Black, leather full sole or split sole (Level 1 and up) flats with NO drawstrings
● Jazz/Musical Theatre: Black, Slip on Jazz Shoes
● Tap: Black Oxford full sole tap shoes. Shoes may be one of the following:
o SoDance TA 47
o Bloch Audeo Tap
o Bloch Jason Samuels
o Capezio Roxy
● Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical: Bare feet or Foot Undeez
2023 -2024 Important Dates
The studio will be open, and classes will be in session unless stated below.
** All events are subject to change.
o August 7: Classes Begin
o September 11 Week: Parent Orientation
o October 9 - 13: Closed for Fall Break
o October 30 – November 3: Costume Dress Up Week
o November 6 – 10: Costume Measurements Week
o November 23 – 28: Closed for Thanksgiving
o December 11 – 15: Christmas Dress Up Week
o December 18 – January 5: Closed for Christmas
o January 8: Classes Resume
o January 22 – 26: Parent Watch Week
o March 18: Summer Registration Begins
o March 25 – 29: Bring a Friend Week
o March 25: Picture Day Schedule Published
o March 27: Dress Rehearsal Schedule & Recital Assignments
o April 1 – 5: Closed for Spring Break
o April 20: Picture Day
o May 2: Recital Tickets on Sale
o May 11 & 12: Dress Rehearsal
o May 18 & 19: Recital
o May 20 – 24: Try a Class Week (current students only, can try new style same or lower level)
o May 22: Competition Team Auditions
Tuition Payment Weeks
Aug. Tuition - at registration Jan. Tuition - week of Jan. 8
Sept. Tuition - week of Sept. 4 Feb. Tuition - week of Feb 5
Oct. Tuition - week of Oct. 2 March Tuition - week of Mar 4
Nov. Tuition - week of Nov. 6 April Tuition - week of April 8
Dec. Tuition - week of Dec. 4 May Tuition - week of May 6