Dancin Off Broadway 2014-2015 Information Policies and Procedures Welcome! Thank you for choosing Dancin Off Broadway for your dance education. We have been open since 1988 and we are in our 27 th season at DOB. We offer dance instruction and have studios in Alexandria and Sauk Centre. All of us are committed to instill a love for the performing arts in each student. We strive to provide dancers with a quality dance education in a positive environment. We hope to make our students dance experience fulfilling with life- long memories. Contained in the following pages are guidelines concerning attire, class placement, behavior expectations- just to name a few. We have tried to give you as much information as we begin a new season together. Please feel free to ask us questions if there is something you do not understand. Do not hesitate to contact the director, Jackie, or main staff Teryl, Allie and Mariya. Nothing can be fixed unless we are aware of the problem. Jackie s Cell- 320-760- 1629 Alex Studio- 320.763.7980 Sauk Centre Studio- 320-352- 5710 Studio Email- dancinoffbroadwayalex@gmail.com Studio Website- www.dancinoffbroadway.com Dancin Off Broadway is a dance studio committed to teaching dancers of all ages and abilities. It is our main goal as a studio to develop dance technique and skill, along with self- confidence, poise, and achieving personal goals. We hope that our dancers fully succeed in whatever they do and that dance instruction at Dancin Off Broadway enhances personal development. This handbook will provide you with group schedules and attendance, group registration fees, costume info and fees, general information, and recreational and competitive dance expectations. Our Staff: We are fortunate to have a wonderful staff at both our Alexandria and Sauk Centre studio. They are always ready to help with anything you might need! This year on staff we have: Jackie Noetzelman: Studio owner and director Teryl Kindel: Assistant director, competition line instructor, and choreographer Allie Noetzelman: competition line instructor and choreographer Mariya Lawinger: competition line instructor and choreographer Kole Nelson: competition line instructor and choreographer Brittany Rooney: Administrative assistant and accountant Brooke Mattson: competition line and recreational instructor Jackson Grove: competition line and recreational instructor Abby DeReamer: competition line and recreational instructor Attendance and Attire: Dancers are required to attend weekly group class. At the recreational level, you must always participate in the appropriate age class. Dancers are expected to show up to the studio on time and ready to dance in proper attire according to the class. Recreational Lines: must wear appropriate dance/athletic clothing. Hair must be pulled back and away from their face and they must purchase appropriate shoes. Competitive lines: must wear tight fitting leggings or spandex along with a sports bra or tank top. Baggy clothes are not allowed and you will be asked to change if you are wearing big t- shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants etc. Hair must always be up and out of your face. We would appreciate
your hair in a tight bun everyday at dance class. Competition Team members must purchase appropriate shoes. Shoes: Dance shoes must be worn in every dance class and must be purchased when registered through the studio. We will have a special shoe- fitting day at both studio locations. Just socks are not allowed. Rec. Age 3 and 4: black tap shoes and pink ballet Rec. Age 5 and 6: tan tap shoes and tan jazz shoes Rec. Age 7 and 8: tan tap shoes and tan jazz shoes Rec. Age 9,10, and 11: tan tap shoes and tan jazz shoes Competition Teams: Competition tan jazz shoes, Competition black or tan tap shoes, and practice lyrical shoes or foot undiez. Payments: For your convince you can now pay your tuition online with a credit card, debit card or checking account. Monthly fees are due the first week of each month. If they are paid late there will be a $5 late fee. Please add this amount to your total amount if you are paying late. If your account is more than a month overdue, your dancer will not be able to participate in class until current. There is a $20 returned check fee. Tuition fees: Rec. Age 3 and 4: 45 min/$49 per month Rec. Age 5 and 6: 60 min/ $59 per month Rec. Age 7 and 8: 60 min/ $59 per month Rec. Age 9,10, and 11: 60 min/$59 per month Competition Teams: Pre- Competition and Delta Nu: 75 min/$69 per month Lamda, Omega, Theta Pi, Beta Phi, and Beta: 90 min/$79 per month Delta, Kappa, Gamma, and Sigma: 180 min (includes ballet)/$119 per month Extra Group Fees: To be determined Birthday Parties: Dancin Off Broadway is available for dance birthday parties! If you are interested, we have more information at our desk during regular studio hours. Weather: If classes are cancelled due to weather they will not be made up. When schools in the Alexandria area are called off dance will also be called off. This does include times when school is called off during the school day. If the counties decide it is unsafe to go to school then we do not want to risk the safety of our dancers either. If you are unsure if class is cancelled you can call the studio but you will also receive an email about our decision. Costume fees: Dancin Off Broadway delivers costumes ready to wear with all extras included (tights, accessories, head pieces). Costume fees are due September 30 th, and October 30 th. At the 3 and 4- year- old level, dancers only make one costume payment. Costumes are order between October and December. Once the costumes have been ordered the fees are non- refundable and you are responsible for the balance. Rec. Age 3 and 4: 1 costumes (1 payment of $70) Rec. Age 5 and 6: 2 costumes (2 payments of $75) Rec. Age 7 and 8: 2 costumes (2 payments of $75) Rec. Age 9,10, and 11: 2 costumes (2 payments of $80)
Competition Teams: Pre Comp and Delta Nu- 2 costumes (2 payments of $110) Lamda, Omega, Theta Pi, and Beta Phi- 2 costumes (2 payments of $120) Beta, Delta, Kappa, Gamma, and Sigma- 3 costumes (2 payments of $175) Extra Group Costumes: To be determined Competition fees: 1 st competition payment: Due on November 30 th - All competition lines EXCEPT pre- competition line- $80 per dancer - Extra Groups- $40 per dancer - Duet- $50 per dancer 2 nd competition payment: Due on January 30 th - All competition lines- $70 per dancer - Extra Groups- $35 per dancer - Duet- $50 per dancer 2rd competition payment: Due on March 2 nd - All competition lines- $90 per dancer - Extra Groups- $45 per dancer - Duet- $50 per dancer Professional Class Photos: Professional photos will be taken of your child in all costumes during the early spring. These pictures are a great memory of your child s year of dance. We ask that even if you do not purchase photos that your dancer be there for the group photo. These photos are also used for the spring recital program and other studio needs. Sauk Photo Day: Tuesday, April 7 th Alex Photo Week: April 12-15 th Studio Recitals: Dancin Off Broadway unlike many other studios has two dance recitals a year: one in December, a Christmas recital, and one in May. Working on recital dances is a very exciting time as students will learn discipline by being responsible for remembering their dances and have the opportunity to perform on stage in front of an audience. Attendance is very important during this time. The students work very hard each season to present their final show. We ask that parents be as supportive as possible during this process. In addition to the recital itself, there will also be rehearsal for dancers to practice on stage. Information about rehearsal and show times will be given out closer to the day of the performance. Class Placement: We do our best to place students in the most appropriate class based on age and ability level. When classes have started it may be necessary to move a student to a different class to better meet their needs. We will discuss the potential move with the parents and try out best to accommodate personal schedules. We want your child to benefit from the dance education you are paying for, therefore we need to make sure they are in a class that allows them to excel.
Class Observation Policy: We want you to be involved in your child s dance education as much as possible and we want you to feel you are getting good value for your money. In order to accomplish this, we have closed- door policy for all classes. Several times a year we will hold observational times for you and family to come into the studio to observe your child s progress. Class Etiquette: Dance class is like any other structured learning environment. We expect all students to behave with a level of self- control and respect what appropriate etiquette is for their age. Students are expected to arrive on time, be properly attired ready to learn. Only students enrolled and paying for class can participate in class unless instructed to bring a friend to dance. Please do not let siblings, parents, or friends go into the dance room unless it is their scheduled class time. An extra person in the dance room is distracting and takes class time and teacher attention away from those students who are paying for the class. No cell phones are allowed in the classroom during your practice time. Lobby Etiquette: Because we want your time spent at the studio as pleasant as possible, we ask that noise be kept to a minimum in the lobby. Whoever is at our desk works hard to answer your questions and take care of phone calls. If you have a question or concern, please direct it to the appropriate person rather than sharing your concern with the lobby. Having parents in the lobby is a distraction. You are welcome to leave the studio and be back when your dancers class is over. During competition line tryouts or select group tryouts, no observers are allowed in the lobby. No street shoes of any kind are allowed on the dance floor in an effort to keep it clean unless instructed to wear tennis shoes for hip hop class. Dancers must be respectful of your own property and others. The parking lot is never a place to play. Young children will be asked to stay inside the studio until their ride has arrived. We love our dancers and dance families and want to keep everyone safe. Warm- ups and Wear: DOB offers a purchase of a warm- up jacket. We take the orders here at the studio. We encourage our competitive teams to purchase these jackets but recreational students are welcome too as well. We also offer a variety of dance clothing at both studio locations and also sell merchandise at both dance recitals. Competition Team: Dancin Off Broadway offers competitive dance teams for the serious student. Our competition teams have won numerous awards in regional and national competitions. On average we have 10-12 teams based off of age and ability level. These students have more performance opportunities given that they complete at 3 competitions in the spring. These dancers also perform in our opening and finale performances at our recitals. Auditions are usually held in the summer for the next dance season. If you dancer is interested in becoming a competitive dancer, watch for signs and emails regarding auditions. Competition Dates: Masquerade (Burnsville)- Feb. 13-15, 2015 (All competition groups except Pre- comp) Midwest Starz (Monticello)- Feb. 28- March 1 st, 2015 (All competition groups) Applause (Minneapolis)- March 20-22, 2015 (All competition groups) Competition Team Moms: New this year, we will be selecting a team mom for each competition line. This mom is in charge of costuming, props, lipstick, and practice time before competition, keeping the group together, etc. If any competition parent has a problem at a competition they must first contact the team mom before bring the concern to a staff member. Please let us know if you are interested in becoming a team mom for your child s competition group.
Competition Team Expectations: As a competition student it is a privilege to be apart of this program. We expect the best of you. This is a team sport, but also individual. You must always be trying your best to keep your spot on the team. New this year we will be holding observation weeks for our competitive teams. As we get closer to a competition date we will watch closely to make sure your dancer confidently knows her routine and if not they may not be allowed to compete with her group. This will show our students that hard work does pay off and slacking off is not acceptable for a competition line dancer. What do we expect from our DOB Parents? *We expect every mom to help at our Christmas and spring show in some way. We will send out a list 4 weeks prior to the show for sign up. Please know that a lot of hard work and planning goes into our productions. *Competition parents must know to abide by the rules at competition. We expect dancers to be there an hour and half before dance time and stay for their awards. Again, this is a team sport. *As for all parents, we are a drama- free studio. Extra drama is not needed here. If you have a problem or concern please contact a staff member. Dance can be a competitive sport but we are most importantly here to have fun and give your children a healthy dance experience. Important Dates: First day of class: The week of September 7 First Costume Payment due: September 30 Second Costume Payment due: October 30 First Competition Payment due: November 30 Winter Break: December 21, 2014- Jan 3, 2015 Classes resume: The week of Jan 3 Second Competition Payment due: January 30 First competition: Feb 13-15 Second competition: Feb 28- March 1 Third competition payment due: March 2 Third competition: March 20-22