Student and Parent Handbook

Student and Parent Handbook 2019-2020 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 1

BRITZA STUDIOS STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK Amanda Hahn Jill Kunstle Director and Owner Founder and Owner ABOUT THE STUDIO BritZa Studios was founded in 1985 by Jill Kunstle under the original name, Music in Motion. Amanda Hahn began teaching full-time at BritZa in 2006 and was named director in January of 2018. Both Miss Jill and Miss Amanda love teaching and understand that our responsibility as role-models is more than choosing music and creating choreography. We strive to create a safe and positive environment for our students to be able to challenge themselves, develop their own self-confidence, and find their joy in movement. Values Miss Jill instilled from the beginning are foundational to our commitment to our students today. These values include choosing age-appropriate movement, music, and apparel for classes and performances. The safety of our students and their continued growth through dance is our highest priority all the way down to our professional grade studio floors. We offer a wide range of dance styles: Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Clogging, and Musical Theatre. During the summer, BritZa offers a variety of camps and weekly classes including a week-long dance intensive taught by industry guest artists. We enjoy sharing our work through recitals at the Washington Pavilion, parent showcases, and special requested venues. Come join us. Dream. Discover. Dance. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 2

MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to encourage our students to DREAM creatively, DISCOVER their possibilities, and experience the essence of joy through DANCE. 2019-2020 STAFF Amanda Hahn Lead Instructor, Discover Dance Instructor Jill Kunstle Lead Instructor Emily Smith Lead Instructor, Discover Dance Instructor Gretchen Spars-McKee PBT Instructor Maddisen Barness Instructor, PBT Instructor, Assistant Teacher Sarah Bell Assistant Teacher Melissa Nesdahl Family Classes Teacher Mary Beth Davis Account Executive 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS BRITZA STUDIOS STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK 2 ABOUT THE STUDIO 2 MISSION STATEMENT 3 2019-2020 STAFF 3 STUDIO POLICIES 5 COMMUNICATION 5 REGISTRATION 5 TUITION AND ADDITIONAL FEES 5 OBSERVATION OF CLASSES 6 DROP OR CHANGE CLASS 7 CLASS ABSENCES 7 TARDINESS 7 STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICY 7 INJURY 8 HEALTH 8 INCLEMENT WEATHER 8 LOST ITEMS 8 CLASS STYLE DESCRIPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 9 ADVANCED LEVEL CLASSES 10 EARNING A SENIOR SOLO 10 DISCOVERDANCE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION (WALKING-AGE 5) 11 PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES 11 CHRISTMAS SHOW 11 END OF YEAR PERFORMANCE 11 STUDIO SUMMER PROGRAM 12 CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE 12 DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE 13 SHOP THE BRITZA STORE 13 PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO RELEASE 14 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 4

STUDIO POLICIES COMMUNICATION BritZa Studio s primary communication source is through email. We also post reminders on Facebook and in the BritZa Chat Facebook Group. Unfortunately there is not sufficient time between classes for instructors to address concerns properly. If you wish to speak with your child s instructor please send an email to britzastudios@gmail.com. You may also leave a message on the studio phone (605) 371-8888. Please note, the fastest way to get in touch with us is through email. REGISTRATION Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. All registration for classes at BritZa Studios takes place online through our website (www.britzastudios.com). We require a minimum of 5 students be enrolled in a class to run a class. TUITION AND ADDITIONAL FEES Registration Fee is a one time fee each year and is non-refundable. $68 + Tax per student, per class. This fee secures your spot in the class and covers the cost of the costume for the spring recital. Babes & PreK Classes have only one registration fee as they wear the same costume for both their Ballet and Tap dances. Performance Fees **New This Year** Performance fees are charged for each registered dancer and are non-refundable. Holiday show: The select students performing in the holiday show will be charged a $30 performance fee to cover the cost of costume rental/cleaning and you will receive a digital file of the performance recorded by MPI Video. This fee will be added to your account Sept. 30th, 2019. Spring show: Each registered dancer will be charged a $50 performance fee. Each student will receive a Recital T-Shirt, digital video file of the performance recorded by MPI Video & a pair of tights for recital or $15 merchandise credit. This fee will be added to your account January 31st, 2020. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 5

Class Tuition August tuition will be ½ of the monthly installment price, September-May will be full monthly installments. 30 minute classes -- $437 paid in 9.5 monthly installments of $46 45 minute classes -- $465.5 paid in 9.5 monthly installments of $49 60 minute classes -- $513 paid in 9.5 monthly installments of $54 1 hour 15 minute classes -- $560.50 paid in 9.5 monthly installments of $59 Multiple class discount applies to our Fall/Spring season and are per student. Take 1 Class Pay Full Price Take 2 Classes 5% Discount Take 3 Classes 6% Discount Take 4 Classes 7% Discount Take 5 Classes 8% Discount Take 6 Classes 9% Discount Take 7 Classes 10% Discount Take 8 Classes 11% Discount Payments are to be made in full and are due the 1st of each month. Payments can be made through your online BritZa account, or via check. Checks may be dropped off in the check box attached to the side of the desk. Returned checks are subject to a return fee of $30.00. A $10.00 late fee will be charged to all accounts not paid in full by the 25th of the month. A $20 late fee will be added to all accounts 55 days overdue. Accounts more than 60 days overdue are subject to the removal of class. OBSERVATION OF CLASSES BritZa Studios encourages parents to observe their child s dance instruction. Please keep the lobby noise to a minimum. Keep in mind that for the students in class to do their best, they need to be able to focus on the teacher. Young children MUST be under the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 6

DROP OR CHANGE CLASS All class changes must be submitted by email to britzastudios@gmail.com. Once a request to change a class has been received an adjustment will be made. Students are considered enrolled and tuition charged until the student is dropped from the class. Teachers are not responsible for informing the office about students dropping or changing classes. CLASS ABSENCES We encourage consistent attendance. We understand conflicts or illness may cause dancers to miss a class. If a dancer needs to miss class due to illness, vacation, school event, etc. an email should be sent to britzastudios@gmail.com informing the studio of your child s absence. TARDINESS All students are expected to arrive on time and in the appropriate class attire. We understand that an uncontrollable circumstance may delay you. Classes are designed to warm up muscles slowly and properly. Jumping into a class that has already begun may cause injury. If you are tardy, please see the instructor, apologize for your late arrival and ask whether you can join the class or need to sit and watch. Respect your instructor s decision in this matter, they are only looking out for the student s best interest. STUDENT PLACEMENT POLICY We try our hardest to keep students enrolled in the same level classes as the grade they are in school. There are circumstances in which a student may need to dance up or down a level to encourage the most progress. Student placement is at the discretion of the Studio Director. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 7

INJURY In the case of an injury which prevents a student from dancing, a note from a doctor is required. Parents are expected to send an email to britzastudios@gmail.com to explain the situation and inform the teachers of actions taking place for a full recovery. The instructors at BritZa Studios are not doctors and should not be placed in the position to determine if it is safe for your child to dance with an injury. HEALTH We encourage our dancers to be healthy. Dance is a sport just like any other sport and dancers should be aware of how they treat their bodies as athletes. A dancer s body is his or her instrument. Please encourage your child to make healthy eating choices and follow proper nutrition guidelines. If a student is sick, running a fever and/or contagious, please do not attend class. Finally, be sure your dancers gets the appropriate amount of sleep. Muscles are repaired during the REM cycle. Additionally, lack of sleep reduces the blood flow to muscles and can lead to injury. INCLEMENT WEATHER The safety of our students, teachers, and parents is of utmost concern. If the weather is bad (snow, ice, or dangerously cold), we may cancel classes. Generally we follow the Sioux Falls School District closures. Sometimes, however, the weather and roads may clear in time for our afternoon and evening classes. A make up schedule will be made and emailed to classes that were canceled. In the event of the studio being closed due to weather, an email will be sent out. We will also post updates on our Facebook Page, and BritZa Chat Facebook group. LOST ITEMS Please label all belongings with first and last names. All lost and found will be placed in the bench across from the water fountains. The studio cannot be held responsible for lost items. The lost and found box will be emptied in May after the conclusion of the recitals. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 8

CLASS STYLE DESCRIPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Ballet - A classical dance form demanding grace and precision and employing formalized steps and gestures set in intricate, flowing patterns to create expression through movement. Tap - A dance style in which dancers create rhythms with their toe, heel, or entire foot. Jazz - A dance form matched to the rhythms and techniques of jazz music. Students enrolled in jazz must also be enrolled in ballet. Starting in the 7th grade, Lyrical may be substituted for Ballet. Musical Theatre - A dance form that combines many styles of dance and allows dancers to explore expression and storytelling, not only through movement but also through facial expression. Hip Hop - A dance style usually danced to hip-hop music, that evolved from the hip-hop culture. BritZa Studios always uses clean music and will only teach age appropriate movement! Lyrical - Lyrical dance challenges dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempt to show the meaning of the music. Clogging - A dance form somewhat similar to tap dancing, but which uses heavier rhythms. The shoes also contain two sets of taps on the toe and the heel, creating a jingle sound. Pre-Pointe - Before a student may dance en pointe, they must further develop and strengthen the muscles necessary to go en pointe. Many factors are involved in pointe readiness, including the strength of the legs, feet, and ankle. Correct alignment and correct classical ballet technique is imperative. Pre-pointe allows the instructor to assess readiness, offering a safe atmosphere for proper 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 9

evaluation of the important skills. Completion of this class is required prior to qualifying for Pointe class the following year. Pointe - A part of classical ballet technique that concerns pointe work, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes. Students may not miss more than 5 classes throughout the year. Pointe requires intense dedication to improve and perfect skills, as well as to reduce the chance of injury. ADVANCED LEVEL CLASSES Students going into the 9th grade need to participate in summer classes and/or the N- House Productions camp in order to move up into the Advanced Level classes. We highly encourage 9th graders to stay at the 7th-9th grade level of classes, unless dance is their priority extra curricular activity. We understand that students are encouraged to try out for school activities as freshman to help them create friendships at school. We agree, which is why we offer the 9th graders to continue to dance without the stress of being at the Advanced Level. We expect a lot out of our Advanced dancers and attendance is of the utmost importance! EARNING A SENIOR SOLO All senior students who have participated in at least 3 classes per week for 5 consecutive years (8th-12th grades) will earn a Senior Solo. All other seniors will be honored at the end of the spring performance. We have compassion for students who are trying to make decisions on where to delegate their time. If a student drops for 1 semester during their 8th-12th grade years, he/she may earn a solo back by; participating in 5 weeks of Summer Ballet Classes (10 classes total) and/or by participating in the entire N-House Productions Dance Camp. No Exceptions. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 10

DISCOVERDANCE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION (WALKING-AGE 5) The DiscoverDance Early Childhood Program is a series of movement classes designed to introduce children to the creative and expressive world of dance. Each program offers children the opportunity to develop their natural movement ability in a multi-sensory environment. Music, movement, visuals, and props will enhance your dancer s love of the art form and the unique conceptual approach to dance education will provide the opportunity for cognitive growth. These classes do not perform in either recital and are not subject to the registration fee. PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES CHRISTMAS SHOW Only classes noted on the schedule perform in the Holiday Performance, at the Washington Pavilion, December 8th. This is a shorter show which allows us to hold Dress rehearsal that same day at 1:00pm. Performance time is 4:00pm, and the show is usually a little over an hour in length. Tickets are to be purchased by each audience member. Ticket sales cover the cost of the theater rental, stage technicians, program printing and much more. END OF YEAR PERFORMANCE We conclude each year with our year end recital. We begin choreography after returning from Christmas break in January. Consistent attendance is vital to the choreography of the piece and to developing a strong working relationship with the other dancers in the piece. Students will perform both Friday and Saturday evening, May 8th & 9th, 2020. If a conflict arises and you are unable to perform in the recital, please email britzastudios@gmail.com ASAP as this affects the entire class. Dress Rehearsal is held at the Washington Pavilion Thursday, May 7th, 2020. Dress rehearsal is designed to help the dancer understand the expectations for the performance 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 11

and build theater skills, to help dancers understand the stage layout and to develop a level of comfort in front of an audience. It also allows teachers to set lights, finalize blocking and address any costume issues. Dress rehearsal is mandatory for every dancer performing. Tickets are to be purchased by each audience member. Ticket sales cover the cost of the theater rental, stage technicians, program printing and much more. STUDIO SUMMER PROGRAM N-HOUSE PRODUCTIONS DANCE CAMP (NHP): This is a one-week camp held at BritZa Studios that brings in guest teachers from around the country to teach master classes. CHILDREN S SUMMER CAMPS: We offer an array of camps over the summer for students of all ages. Many camps that we offer are a good time to try out a new style to see if it is a good fit for you. 6 WEEKS OF SUMMER DANCE: We continue to offer weekly ballet classes through the summer to help students maintain their skills. DISCOVERDANCE EARLY CHILDHOOD DANCE EDUCATION: We offer a sneak peak into what the DiscoverDance program will look like in the fall holding 4 classes for each age level. FAMILY CLASSES: At BritZa we seek to nurture the family bond. Family classes focus on coordinated dance movements, directed conversation and growing relationships. Beautiful take home treasures and priceless memories will be created along the way. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE There is to be no unsolicited talking in class. There is no hanging on the barres in class at any time. There will be no food, gum, or beverages allowed in the studio. Students are to treat their teacher and peers with respect at all times. Students are to clap with teacher at the end of class as a Thank You. There is zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior inside the classroom. If the classroom etiquette is not followed, the teacher has the right to dismiss the dancer from class. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 12

There is zero tolerance for bullying inside or outside the classroom. If a dancer is discovered as bullying another dancer the dancer bullying will meet with the Studio Director. Possible dismissal from the studio may result. The use of alcohol, cigarettes, illegal substances, and weapons is strictly forbidden at BritZa Studios. Students in violation will be dismissed immediately. DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE Dressing rooms are provided for both boys and girls. There will be no dressing in the bathrooms. All students are required to wear their hair in a ponytail, braid, or bun. Students in ballet in the 5th grade and above are expected to have their hair in a proper ballet bun. Proper hair is part of ballet etiquette. No jewelry or watches are to be worn to class with the exception of stud earrings. No visible undergarments under the students uniform. Underwear should not be worn under tights. Students MUST wear the required attire with appropriate hair in order to participate in class. For specific class dress code visit www.britzastudios.com SHOP THE BRITZA STORE For the convenience of our families at BritZa, we have stocked a size run of shoes and leotards. We are able to order anything from the Capezio website and have it ready for you to pick up at the studio! (www.capezio.com) This allows you to pick out the style of leotard or shoes and know your size with confidence. We always have tights in stock and they may be purchased through your online BritZa account. Once your order has been placed, we will prepare your items and they can be picked up at the desk. We will do an open house a couple of times a year to try on sizes. Those dates and times will be emailed. For a private fitting during the year email Miss Emily at britzamerch@gmail.com to set up a time to try on sizes in the yellow studio. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 13

STORE POLICIES To pay with a credit card, we will place the charge onto your online BritZa Account under the following criteria: Account must be current and in good standing Account custodian authorizes BritZa Studios to run charges to the account s current payment method upon posting the charge to the account Account has valid payment information If charges are unable to be paid at posting, they will be added to monthly tuition and will follow the BritZa Studios Payment Policy including subsequent late fees if not paid promptly. RETURN AND EXCHANGE POLICY If you are not satisfied with your purchase, with the original sales receipt you can return it for a refund within 30 days of purchase. All items must be returned in new, unused and unwashed condition with the original tags and receipt. Include all original packaging and paperwork received with your purchase. Tights are not returnable. All sale items must be exchanged or refunded within 7 days of purchase. All sales on clearance items are final and non-returnable or exchangeable. All refunds will be posted to your online BritZa account, and applied toward future tuition or purchases. PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO RELEASE By registering for a class at BritZa Studios, Inc. you give permission to BritZa Studios, Inc. to use photos/videos of your child for advertising purposes, social media platforms and/or on the BritZa Studios website. Please email britzastudios@gmail.com if you prefer not to grant permission. 3400 S BEDFORD AVE. SIOUX FALLS, SD 57103 WWW.BRITZASTUDIOS.COM 14