2020-2021 Student Handbook
Apr 25, 2024 02:24 AM
DANCE by Eliese Handbook
A Guide for Students and Parents
As a condition of enrollment at DANCE by Eliese LLC, students and their parents or guardians agree to abide by all the policies set forth by DANCE by Eliese LLC, its director, faculty, and staff. DANCE by Eliese LLC reserves the right to terminate any student’s enrollment at any time for misconduct or inappropriate actions by either the student or his or her parent(s).
Welcome to DANCE by Eliese!
This handbook will serve as your guide to DANCE by Eliese and its philosophy of dance education.
We take our roles as a mentors and teachers in your child’s life very seriously. It is our objective to inspire a passion for the art of dance in every child who passes through our doors. In the process, we strive to set the right example and help your child (and you) create memories that will last a lifetime.
Philosophy
DANCE by Eliese LLC is committed to providing high-quality dance classes to enhance the overall development of the child. We provide a safe and child-centered environment to encourage our students to explore dance with qualified, nurturing teachers.
We believe that dance training encourages young people to develop a positive self-image as they increase awareness of their physical being. Along with improving coordination skills and developing muscular awareness, dance classes give children the freedom to express themselves through movement.
The highest educational standards are expected from all DANCE by Eliese LLC faculty members. They are lifelong learners who continue to educate themselves through certification programs, teacher-training schools, conferences, and other learning opportunities.
ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
For more than 6 years, our school has been a leader in dance education. We believe that our success comes as a result of providing solid training and quality service, as well as our underlying belief in the strength of our organization. We have created this handbook to offer our students and their parents a clear understanding of their commitments and responsibility to the school.
Dates and/or expenses listed in this handbook are subject to change. Please check the website and your newsletters for updates.
Key contact information for DANCE by Eliese LLC:
1575 N Sunshine Road Office Phone: 479-935-1045
Fayetteville AR 72704 Studio Cell: 479-957-5709
General Information: info@DANCEbyEliese.com
Billing: billing@DANCEbyEliese.com
www.DANCEbyEliese.com
Eliese Freeman
Ms.Eliese@DANCEbyEliese.com
Key event dates for DANCE by Eliese LLC:
Start of Classes: Monday, August 3, 2020
SWCCA Fall Seminar: October 24-25, 2020 (Virtual)
SWCCA Spring Seminar: March 2021 Dates TBD (Denton, TX)
Recital Dress Rehearsal: Friday, May 21, 2021
Recital: Saturday, May 22, 2021
DANCE by Eliese LLC Season Closure Dates:
Independence Day: July 4, 2020
Labor Day: September 7, 2020
Thanksgiving Break: November 23-27, 2020
Winter Break: December 21, 2020 - January 11, 2021
*Winter Break will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis due to COVID-19
Spring Break: March 22 - 26, 2021
FOR OUR STUDENTS
The first step to becoming a successful dancer is making a solid commitment to your classes. Strong technique is a key ingredient and class is where you develop that technique. Come to each class prepared to learn and without personal distractions. Class time is your chance to focus on yourself, so try to leave your concerns or worries at the studio door. True progress is made when you look at each class as an opportunity to become better at what you love to do. Dance full-out, stretch a little further, become more aware of your technique, and make the most of every class.
Respect for the teachers is essential. Listen to each correction given, whether it’s directed at you or another dancer. A correction is an honor; it shows you how much a teacher cares about your progress as a dancer. Always say thank you when a teacher or choreographer offers you constructive criticism. Nothing can stop those students who apply themselves in every class and appreciate their teachers’ knowledge and experience.
FOR THE PARENTS: “WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER”
We believe that children’s success depends on the support of their parents or guardians. Because your commitment to the process makes an enormous difference, we encourage you to be a part of your child’s dance education.
Our programs rely on a positive atmosphere and educational experience for our faculty and students and their parents. Cooperation between all parents is expected. Showing respect—for other parents, the students, and the faculty—makes an important impression on the children. You are a role model for your child about how to interact with others in a professional setting.
Your child’s presence at all classes is imperative. The spirit of teamwork and the lesson of dedication are a big part of our school’s educational process.
Parents and teachers may look at a child’s learning from different perspectives. However, we believe they share a common goal: to ensure that every child receives the best possible training, both physically and mentally. Mutual respect among our faculty and our students’ parents provides the children with the ultimate care and education.
Special Information for Parents of Preschool Students
Our purpose is to provide the highest-quality preschool education in a secure, nurturing, and stimulating environment. DANCE by Eliese LLC serves the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of the preschool students. We meet these goals with our age-appropriate curriculum and ongoing communication with parents.
The first few weeks of classes serve as an introductory phase to help students become comfortable with the overall dance experience, the classroom, their teacher, and their classmates.
Right from the beginning we focus on your child’s coordination, listening skills, musical awareness, and developing imagination. We accomplish this through age-appropriate music and song, simple stretching exercises, ballet and tumbling basics, and games in an environment of creativity. Some preschool students will incorporate simple tap-dance movement at ages 4 and 5.
Preschool dance is about helping children learn to tap into their imaginations and express themselves creatively, not necessarily about learning steps (although they do get introduced to some basic steps). So don’t be disappointed if your child doesn’t pirouette around the house or look like a budding ballerina right away.
Separation From the Parent
The process of separating from the parent as the child attends dance class is an important accomplishment of preschool children.
As children mature, they begin to identify themselves as independent personalities. In separating from you, the parent, your child is learning
• to develop an interest in the activities of the dance class;
• to feel comfortable with other children in the class;
• to understand that his/her parent will come back and pick him/her up;
• to understand that all parents leave their children and come back for them.
It is important to know that at times young children will explore the limits of attending dance class and say they don’t want to go. This period may occur anytime, but it is usually short-lived. Here are some suggestions that might help you handle the situation:
• Emphasize what the child is doing at the dance class rather than what you do while he/she is in class.
• Before you leave, see that the child is involved in an activity or is in the hands of a teacher.
• Avoid prolonged good-byes.
• Ask the teacher for help in separation. We expect the crying (and usually the tears are for the parent’s benefit).
It May Not Be the Right Time
If your child cries or does not want to take class, don’t panic. If we push children and create more stress than they are already experiencing, they may come to perceive dance class as a bad experience. That kind of negativity could make them apprehensive about dance for a long time, which isn’t good for anyone involved. Never force your child into the classroom.
If your child stops attending class within the first month, the registration fee will be credited to the following year. We encourage you to have your child try again next year.
We recommend that children be encouraged to practice at home but not forced to do so. Repetition is one of the key elements for success with preschool dance students; the more they practice, the more confident they will feel. Practicing with your child allows you to join in the dance experience.
FOR ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS
Understanding Dance Education
As a parent, you play an important role in supporting your student financially, but your emotional support is of equal—and perhaps even greater—value. Encourage your child to be the best that he or she can be regardless of what others may achieve. Dance is an individual art form and children need to be allowed to achieve at a pace that’s comfortable. No two students will progress at the same rate, even if they experience the exact same training. It’s important to encourage children to focus on themselves, give their all, and be satisfied with their own accomplishments.
Not all children will develop into professional dancers. One of the primary goals of our faculty is to teach life lessons and skills that offer children the best chance for success. Dance education encompasses far more than technique and the steps your children learn. We believe the discipline of dance training gives young people a better understanding of commitment through learning, experiencing the spirit of teamwork, and discovering what they can accomplish through hard work. Our goal is to educate the minds, bodies, and souls of our students, teaching them the skills needed for a successful life, whether or not they stay involved in dance.
You play an important role in supporting your student financially, but your emotional support is of equal—and perhaps even greater—value.
Class Placement
The school faculty meets regularly to discuss the students’ progress and/or placement. It is our policy to offer appropriate opportunities to every child.
Placement decisions are derived from many years of teaching experience. Often a child is placed in a particular group or class where he or she will feel confident, in order to promote the development of self-esteem. Some students who are placed in a higher level become discouraged, only to lose their passion for dance. Others respond to the challenge of being in a class with students who are more proficient by pushing themselves to work harder. Placement is highly individual and the factors that go into the decision are complex.
Classroom Observation
Parents may observe classes on closed-circuit TVs located in the school lobby.
Please do not disrupt class. During in-class observation (or at any time if the door to the classroom is open), please refrain from shouting instructions or distracting your child in any way.
Medical Information
Parents must notify the director/and or teachers regarding children who use an inhaler or who may require medications during their time at DANCE by Eliese LLC. It is also important to inform the director and/or teachers about your child’s existing medical conditions or learning disabilities at the time of registration and throughout the school year. Our teachers are trained professionals who are anxious to work with all children and personalities, and the more we know about your child, the better the dance experience will be for all involved. All information about our students is confidential.
Dos and Don’ts
Some may compare progress or class placement to another student’s. Watch for this behavior in your children and encourage them to focus instead on their own accomplishments.
Looking to other students for inspiration is good; however, making negative comparisons distracts children from focusing on becoming stronger dancers. In addition, speaking negatively about your child’s teachers, fellow students, or other parents in front of your child––or other students––could result in problems far beyond your original concerns. Often children will imitate a parent’s behavior with other adults or authority figures.
Children learn important lessons from their teachers and parents, acquiring behavior patterns through their example. Our school’s faculty takes that responsibility seriously. It’s our philosophy to encourage our students to feel, think, and act respectfully toward their peers, the adults in their lives, and themselves.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s dance education (such as progress or class placement), please discuss them with your child’s teacher or the director. Talking only to other parents can lead to misinformation and confusion. Please contact the school office to set up an appointment for consultation; please do not approach your child’s teacher or the director between or during classes or make contact outside of the school.
If you do request a conference, please listen carefully to what your child’s teachers have to say. They spend a significant amount of time with your child and offer expertise in the field of dance education.
Class placement of students is highly individual and the factors that go into the decision are complex.
STAYING INFORMED
We work hard to make the dance experience organized and fun. Keeping you informed is one of our primary goals. Please read all newsletters and other school information.
Newsletters and important updates are printed and handed out to our students at the conclusion of class. The same newsletters and updates are emailed to you and posted on the DANCE by Eliese LLC website and Facebook page.
If you have any questions regarding the information distributed, we encourage you to contact the office at 479-935-1045 during regular studio hours.
We answer e-mail Monday through Thursday, except on holidays. Feel free to email questions to the office at info@DANCEbyEliese.com. During especially busy times e-mail lag can be expected. We strive to answer e-mails within a maximum of two business days.
Website [www.DANCEbyEliese.com]
We are constantly updating our website. News, important parent and student information, contact information, and more are available online 24 hours a day.
Facebook Page [Facebook.com/DANCEbyEliese]
“Like” the DANCE by Eliese page on Facebook to receive daily updates on school events. Please invite your family and friends to “like” the school.
Please do not post questions on the school’s Facebook page. Instead, please email them directly to info@DANCEbyEliese.com
Weather Cancellations
Studio closures due to severe weather conditions will be announced by 2:00pm on that day. Notifications of weather cancellations will be emailed, posted on the website and the Facebook page, and announced on the school’s outgoing voicemail message.
Dress Code Requirements
DANCE by Eliese LLC maintains a dress code to encourage concentration and a sense of inclusiveness (variations in attire can be distracting and contribute to feelings of inequality). Uniformity in dancewear allows the teachers to assess how well the students are implementing the technique being taught, problems with alignment, and other important aspects of dance training.
Students should carry their dancewear, shoes, and other belongings in a dance bag. Please print your child’s name on the bag as well as on all of its contents.
Dancewear is to be kept in good repair and laundered on a regular basis.
Boys age 10 and older must wear a dance belt.
Watches, jewelry, and safety pins should not be worn to class.
Dance shoes should never be worn outside.
Female students should wear their hair tightly secured and styled away from the face; a neat bun is required for all ballet classes.
Students are expected to observe good personal hygiene habits. Deodorant is required for students age 10 and older.
Dancewear and Shoe Packages
DANCE by Eliese LLC makes it easy for parents and students with “all you’ll need” packages. A canvas bag with the DANCE by Eliese LLC logo on it contains everything students need to begin their journey into the wonderful world of dance.
Dancewear and Shoes (Individual)
DANCE by Eliese LLC also offers dancewear and shoes for individual purchase at any time during the school year.
Registration Fee
An annual registration fee of $30 per student ($15 per additional sibling) covers the cost of mailings, insurance, handbooks, extra rehearsals, and so on. Registration fees are not refundable with the exception of preschool students who are determined to be unready for dance and may receive a credit for the following season.
Tuition and Expense Policy
Full monthly tuition is due by 1st of each month. Tuition is preferred to be paid through automatic withdrawal from your credit or debit card account. Tuition will be charged directly to your specified VISA or MasterCard.
We do accept cash, checks, or money orders for tuition payments. Please write your child’s name in the memo portion of the check. If you pay with cash, please ask for a receipt. If you prefer a weekly or an annual payment plan, please check with the school office.
We offer a 10 percent discount on annual tuition that is paid in full by August 1 if paid via cash or check.
Please note: tuition is based on the season regardless of how many weeks are in a given month. Tuition payments average out to four classes each month.
Additional Fees
Tuition does not include the registration fee, dancewear, shoes, costumes, recital tickets, production fee, private lessons, or special events.
Discipline Policy
In order to maintain a happy, healthy, professional environment, students are taught the importance of being a part of the group. We encourage students to have respect for other students, the teachers and staff, and studio property, and we foster the development of good habits and compliance with rules of conduct.
Our staff and faculty are trained to use constructive techniques of discipline to maintain class control and handle individual misbehavior.
Children who exhibit unacceptable behavior or attitudes are told what is wrong and directed to a positive alternative approach or behavior.
If a child strikes another child, the two are respectfully separated and each is asked to explain what happened. They are then asked to help solve the problem, talk to each other, and reconcile with one another.
Children who are disruptive will be respectfully asked to stop the behavior. If the behavior is repeated, they will be reminded of it and told how it affects others. If the disruption continues, the children involved will be asked to sit down for a short period of time (usually three to five minutes) before rejoining the class.
If a child’s misbehavior continues to disrupt the class, the parent or guardian will be called to pick up the child.
Termination of Enrollment
In certain circumstances, when it is in the best interest of one or more students, it may be necessary for the school owner or director to terminate a student’s enrollment. Every effort will be made to correct a problematic situation before terminating enrollment. Reasons for termination of enrollment include the following:
Disruptive or dangerous behavior by students or their parents
Abuse of other children, staff, or property
Inability of DANCE by Eliese LLC to meet the child’s needs
Arrival and Departure
We encourage students to arrive 15 minutes before class starts. DANCE by Eliese LLC opens 15 minutes before the first lesson of the day and closes 15 minutes after the last lesson of the day.
For their safety, children under age 10 should be picked up immediately after class. Students ages 10 and older must be picked up no more than 15 minutes after their class is completed.
Attendance
All students are expected to attend their regularly scheduled classes. Each class offers a step forward in the educational process. A missed class could leave a child one step behind the other students. During the months of February through April, choreography for the recital will be taught and rehearsed. It is important for children to feel completely confident with the choreography and the year-end performance. Missing class during this period could result in frustration for the students and their teachers and classmates.
Tardiness
Dance is a physical activity that requires the body to be warmed up in order to execute movement safely. Late students miss the proper warm-up and/or barre and therefore may sustain injury. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may be asked to observe class for reasons of personal safety.
Class Visitors
Safety issues and legal responsibilities make it impossible for us to allow students to bring visitors into the classroom. Students should not invite siblings, other relatives, or friends to their classes with the exception of special events such as “Bring a Friend Week” and in-school performances.
Make-Up Classes
Students who miss a class will have the opportunity to make it up with another similar class. Please check with the office to determine the best makeup class for your child.
Lost and Found
Please mark all dancewear, shoes, and personal items with your child's name. We will make every effort to locate and return lost items; however, we cannot be responsible for any items that your child brings to class.
Illness
Colds, flu, and other contagious diseases occur frequently and spread easily among children. To help protect your own child’s health and to minimize the possibility of contagion at the studio, please keep your child at home if you observe any of the following symptoms:
• Nasal discharge that is green or yellow
• Complaints of ear pain
• Consistent cough
• Severe sore throat
• Eyes that are pink, burning, itching, or producing discharge
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Fever
If these symptoms or other conditions deemed contagious are observed in your child during a class, you will be called to pick up your child immediately.
When your child has a fever, please keep him/her at home until the temperature returns to normal. If there are any lingering signs of illness, such as glassy or watery eyes, listlessness, and drowsiness, please keep your child at home. This will help to ensure that the illness has passed and that your child will be well enough to resume class activities the following week.
Emergency Evacuation
Although we have never experienced an emergency evacuation at the studio, we are prepared for such a circumstance. Emergency exits are lit in each studio room, as well as the lobby. Students are to evacuate quietly and walk in single file as quickly as possible to the designated area, where teachers will check roll. Students and teachers are to return to classrooms and buildings when the all-clear signal is given.
Parking Lot Safety
The school is home to children of all ages. Please enter and exit our parking lot with extreme caution. Never park your vehicle in any area that is not a designated parking space. If you park in a space that is very close to the building or its windows, please do not leave your car idling. Please do not allow siblings to play in the parking lot.
Student and Parent Use of Social Media
Use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging, and other online social-media vehicles is commonplace. This policy is intended to provide DANCE by Eliese LLC students and parents with guidelines to eliminate any confusion concerning the use of social media.
You DO NOT have permission to reveal any information that compromises DANCE by Eliese LLC. By that we mean you are forbidden to share personal information about the director, other students or their families, or anything that is proprietary and/or confidential to them or DANCE by Eliese LLC.
Students and parents should neither claim nor imply that they are speaking on behalf of DANCE by Eliese LLC.
Never post anything that could compromise the self-esteem of students who attend DANCE by Eliese LLC.
If you post videos of class or rehearsals, don’t post any choreography in its entirety; DANCE by Eliese LLC owns the copyright to all choreography taught at the school.
Respect the law, including those laws governing defamation, discrimination, harassment, and copyright and fair use. As stated in this handbook, parents and students should never post negative comments about other schools or teachers. Also, please do not post negative comments about school activities such as competitions, conventions, and performances or about the directors of those events.
Ensure that your social networking conduct is consistent with all of the policies contained in this handbook.
General Policies
Parent and students should not enter the office space of the school without permission. Please feel free to communicate through the glass windows of the office.
Use of the school telephone is limited to emergencies only.
Parents and students should never interrupt a class in session.
Only water with a screw on lid is allowed in the studios. No food, drinks, or gum.
We love babies and young children and appreciate the chance to meet our students’ siblings. However, our priority is the safety of every child on the school premises. Children must be supervised at all times and are not free to run around the lobby or classroom areas.
No cell phones or computers may be used during class time. (This means no emailing, internet use, or text messaging.)
Students and parents are restricted from contacting teachers by personal phone, email, text messages, social media, etc. All communication with teachers or the director must go through the DANCE by Eliese LLC office.
Never speak negatively about teachers, students, or parents from other schools. All studios are different and have something to offer. It is important that we respect others and teach our students to respect others.
Never recruit students from other schools.
All students must show respect for their teachers at all times. Inappropriate behavior could result in dismissal from the school.
Annual Recital
In-Studio Dress Rehearsal and Group Photos at DBE: May 11-13, 2020
Tech and Dress Rehearsal at FHS PAC: May 15, 2020
Recital: May 16, 2020
Additional rehearsals may be scheduled for students ages 10 and older at the discretion of the teacher/choreographer. Parents and students will be notified of additional as immediately as possible.
All students participate in our annual recital to be held at Fayetteville High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 16, 2020. Dress rehearsal is Friday, May 15, 2020. Please note that all students must participate in the dress rehearsal in order to perform in the recital. There are no exceptions to this policy.
The recital offers our students a professionally directed performance that allows them to present to their families and friends the results of a year’s hard work, dedication, and progress. All students perform one time in each of the styles of dance they are registered for.
A big part of dance training includes learning through performance. Although performance opportunities can help prepare some students for a possible career in dance, they also contribute to children’s success in non-dance activities. The experience helps build self-esteem and confidence, which can result in better in-school presentations, improved social skills, and strong college and job interview skills. The rehearsal process is a tremendous learning experience as well. It helps the children develop retention skills, and by working with their classmates on a group performance, they learn the positive aspects of working as a team to create the best end result.
Recital Handbook
In March of each year we distribute a recital handbook with all the information parents and students need to know to make the recital experience enjoyable for all.
Costumes
We spend many hours determining the correct costumes for each class. They are always age appropriate and of the highest quality possible. Preschool students will need one costume; all other students will need one costume for each dance form they train in. Costumes include all accessories (hats, gloves, hairpieces, etc.), but do not include shoes.
In an effort to ensure that costumes are delivered in time for school photographs and an organized distribution to our students, costume orders are placed during the December holiday break. Costume manufacturers do not accept cancellations or offer refunds; therefore the school does not refund costume deposits.
Costume Payment Schedule
Costumes will not be ordered until they are paid for in full. Parents or guardians accept full responsibility for all expenses, including surcharges and postage for costumes that are ordered late. DANCE by Eliese LLC is not responsible if costumes are not received in time for the recital due to late payments. Costume payments are the sole responsibility of the parent or guardian.
Costumes are always age appropriate and of the highest quality possible.
Recital Tickets
Tickets for the annual recital will go on sale at TuTuTix.com/DANCEbyEliese on April 15, 2020 at midnight. Tickets are $10 each for Reserved Seating or General Admission.
To purchase tickets, accounts must be at a zero balance for all charges through April 15, 2020. As accounts are paid, an access code will be e-mailed to you. This code can only be used once. If you need to purchase multiple tickets, please purchase all tickets at this time. Access codes are granted in the following order: Accounts Paid in Full for the full season, Accounts Paid on Auto-Pay for the full season, accounts with a zero balance and no late payment history, accounts with a zero balance.
After May 1, 2020, tickets will be available for purchase to the general public without an access code. After May 8, tickets will no longer be available online; at this point, tickets may only be purchased at the box office on recital day for General Admission for $12 each.
No one is admitted to the recital without a ticket. Alternative care for infants and children who may have a hard time remaining seated during the entire performance should be considered.
Production Fee
A Production Fee of $100 per student is due March 15. This fee helps cover the cost of the following:
Cost of Venue
Staffing of Venue and Backstage Crew
Lighting and Music Technicians
Security
Finale T-Shirt (all dancers perform in the finale)
One pair of recital tights
Group Photos
Digital Copy of the Performance
Recital Photos
Class photos will be taken on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, May 11, 12 or 13 at DANCE by Eliese. Dates and times are subject to change. Please confirm your child’s time on the updated schedule to be distributed the week of March 1. All students are required to be present for their class picture. Group photos are included in your Production Fee.
Students may choose to have solo portraits made in any or all of their costumes. There is no obligation to purchase individual photos. Please arrive 15 minutes before your child’s scheduled time.
Important Recital Dates
When registering your child at DANCE by Eliese LLC, you commit yourself and/or your child to the following dates and events.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Trial Week
Current students can try unlimited classes during the week after recital and the week of September 9-12, 2020. Non-currently enrolled students may attend unlimited classes during Trial Week for $30.
*At this time, Trial Week has been suspended due to COVID-19.
Summer Program and Camps
Each summer, DANCE by Eliese LLC offers summer programs and camps for both current and new students. Summer activities are for children ages 3 to 16. A complete listing of all summer activities is included in your Recital Handbook.
Studio Rental
The studios are available for rental for meetings, rehearsals, and other activities. Tables, chairs, sound systems, and microphones are available. Whether you’re planning a one-time, weekly, or monthly event, give us a call to determine whether we can accommodate your group or activity.
Birthday Parties
We offer several birthday party options for both boys and girls. Parties are themed and can be dance related or not. Most birthday parties are scheduled for Saturday afternoons or on Sundays; however, limited space is available during the week. Please contact the office for more details.
A FINAL NOTE
WELCOME TO DANCE by Eliese LLC! We look forward to an exciting, rewarding season!