Dear Peachtree Dance Parent, The instructors and I are excited you have chosen to be part of the Peachtree Dance family. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with your dancer and are looking forward to a fun year. Having taught dance at Peachtree for the past four years, I am excited to now transition into the Director of Youth Dance this year. In addition to teaching dance, I have a background in directing educational youth programming for ages three through 18, specifically in the art-based and historic museum nonprofit sectors. I am passionate about teaching children strong dance technique in a fun, creative, and supportive environment. I would love to meet you and your dancer during the first couple of weeks of class. If we have not had a chance to meet yet, please stop by my office and say hello! I will also be visiting at the end of classes to meet dancers and parents. This packet includes Studio Policies, Studio Calendar, Dress Code, and Recital Information. If your dancer needs new leotards, tights, or shoes, you may purchase items directly from us. We will provide you with additional updates and information about the recital over the coming months. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me for any reason over the course of the dance season. Thank you for your continued support of Peachtree Dance and The Gym! Warm Regards, Jessie Matheson Director of Youth Dance The Gym at Peachtree jmatheson@peachtreepres.org 3434 Roswell Rd NW Atlanta, GA 30305 Office 404-842-3156 Fax 404-261-5682
2014-2015 STUDIO CALENDAR August 18 th : Classes begin September 1 st : Labor Day- no classes 8 th : Lunch Bunch classes begin October 1 st : First half of costume fee due 25 th -30 th : Wear your Halloween costume to class! 31 st : Halloween- no classes November 1 st : Second half of costume fee due 24 th -28 th : Fall Break- no classes December 1 st -5 th : Costume measurement week 8 th -12 th : Parent Observation Week: Parents, friends, and family are invited to view classes. 22 nd -January 2 nd : Winter Break- no classes January 5 th : Classes resume April 6 th -10 th : Spring Break- no classes 29 th -30 th : Dress rehearsal at Georgia Tech Ferst Center for the Arts (final schedule TBD) May 2 nd -3 rd : Recital at Georgia Tech Ferst Center for the Arts (final schedule TBD) 15 th : Last day of classes June 1 st -5 th : 2015-2016 Early Registration for returning students: Receive a 10% discount if students are registered for fall classes during the first week of June
DRESS AND HAIR CODE Each class has a dress code. Dress code helps both the student and instructor. When students are properly dressed they feel prepared for class, move with greater ease, and, in turn, dance better. Dress code also helps instructors see students alignment more clearly. Please be mindful of hair as well. Students with long hair must wear hair in a bun for ballet, and in a ponytail or bun for all other classes. Female dancers with short hair should wear a headband or clips to keep hair off the face. Consistent failure to adhere to dress and hair code will require students to sit out of class. Itty Bitty Ballet Any color leotard and tights Pink ballet shoes No skirts unless attached to leotard Pre-Ballet Pink leotard and pink tights Lunch Bunch Ballet Pink ballet shoes Pre-Ballet and Tap: 4-5 years No skirts unless attached to leotard Ballet and Tap: 5-6 years Blue leotard and pink tights Ballet I: 7-9 years Pink ballet shoes Ballet, Tap, and Jazz: 7-9 years Black tap and jazz shoes Ballet II: 10-12 years Black leotard and pink tights Ballet, Tap, and Jazz: 10-12 years Pink ballet shoes (split-sole preferred) Ballet III: 12+ Black tap and jazz shoes Appropriate dance skirts permitted Hip Hop Black dance/athletic shorts or pants Boys Classes Black t-shirt or tank Black dance sneakers Modern Black leotard Black or tan footless tights or black dance shorts No shoes required Tap and Jazz: 12+ years Any color leotard Any color tights or dance pants Black tap and jazz shoes Musical Theatre and Acting: 8-13 years Any color leotard Any color tights or dance pants Black jazz shoes and character shoes
STUDIO POLICIES Attendance and Classroom Procedures Regular attendance is an important factor in the progress of each individual dancer and the classroom environment as a whole. Please bring dancers to class and pick them up within 10 minutes of the scheduled time. Arriving late or leaving early causes dancers to miss important parts of class. Waiting areas are located down the hall from each studio and in the gym front lobby. Dancers must wait in hallway with a parent or guardian until an instructor arrives. They are not permitted in the studio until their instructor invites them in. Parents are not allowed in studios. Please refrain from conversing directly in front of the studio and its entrances, as it distracts both dancers and instructors. Dress and Hair Code Dancers are required to wear the appropriate attire and shoes to each dance class. For ballet, dancers must wear hair in a bun. For all other classes, dancers must wear hair in a bun or ponytail. Consistent failure to adhere to dress and hair code and will result in students sitting out of class. Please see the Dress the Part handout included in this packet. Behavior Issues Students who display unruly or inappropriate behavior will be asked to sit out until they are ready to participate without disrupting others. If behavior problems persist over three weeks, the director will request a meeting with parents. If behavior problems continue after a parent meeting, the disruptive student will be asked to leave class. Studio Closings In the event of inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances, The Gym at Peachtree Pres follows the Fulton County School System s schedule for closings. Make-up Classes Any missed classes may be made up at your convenience in any comparable class.
2014-2015 PEACHTREE PRES DANCE RECITAL This year s recital will be the weekend of May 2 nd and 3 rd at Georgia Tech Ferst Center for the Arts! Dress rehearsals will take place April 29 th through May 1 st. Be on the lookout for a recital contract, which will go home with your dancer and be sent to you via email in September. For planning purposes, please note that a nonrefundable recital fee and half of the costume fee are both due October 1 st. The second half of the costume fee is due November 1 st. We look forward to sharing more details about the recital in the near future!