2018-2019 - auroragov.org · City of Aurora Cultural Program Aurora Dance Arts STUDENT HANDBOOK AuroraGov.org/Dance ADA Continuous Dance Program Calendar 2018-2019

City of Aurora Cultural Program

Aurora Dance ArtsSTUDENT HANDBOOK

AuroraGov.org/Dance

ADA Continuous Dance Program Calendar

2018-2019 Aug. 27 Continuous Dance Program begins

Sept. 2 & 3 Labor Day – no classes

Oct. 14-20 Fall Break – no classes

Oct. 21-27 Autumn Parent Observation Week

Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving Break – no classes

Dec. 2-9 Show Week for “Nutcracker”

Dec. 22-Jan. 6 Winter Break – no classes

Jan. 7 Winter Classes Resume

Jan. 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – no classes

Feb. 18 President’s Day – no classes

March 29 Final Costume Balances Due

Mar. 24-30 Spring Break – no classes

Apr. 7-13 Spring Parent Observation Week

Apr. 21 Easter - no classes

May 4 Class Pictures

May 18 Pre Level Dress Rehearsals and Recitals

May 25 Last Day of Continuous Dance Classes

May 29-June 1 Beginning-Advanced Level Dress

Rehearsals and Recitals

June-August Summer Dance Camps, Intensive

and Classes

Partially funded by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.

Welcome to

Aurora Dance Arts,

a service of the City

of Aurora’s Cultural

Services Division.

Please carefully

review the following

information and keep

this handbook for

future reference.

Parent ObservationTwo formal parent observation weeks are scheduled throughout the year, during which parents, family members, and special friends are invited to observe classes. Please be a respectful observer. Give your full attention to the class, remain quiet, and silence cell phones and other electronic devices. Observation weeks are scheduled in the fall and spring. Please see the calendar for the specific dates. Instructors may also, at their discretion, schedule additional observation days during the year.

Annual Recitals Additional detailed information will be provided during the Spring Parent Observation Week, the week of April 7.

Please see the calendar for dates. You will be told your specific recital date and time the week of April 7.

Instructors set the choreography and select the costumes for their classes. Instructors will measure students for costumes in December. Costumes are ordered in January.

Costumes range in price from $30-$60. A deposit of $30 per costume/per class is due at time of registration. All costume balances, if any, will be placed on your account in early February and due by March 29. Costume balance payments may be made at the facility where your child takes class or with the Dance Office. In the 2018-2019 dance year, we can also accept automatic payments for your costume balance payment. You will need to sign up for this automatic costume balance payment at the time of registration for your child’s dance class.

Recital tickets will go on sale May 1. Tickets are $10 per person. Discounts apply for multiple recital dates. Family four packs are also available at a discounted price.

If for any reason your child will not be performing in the recital, please notify your instructor and the Dance Office as soon as possible.

Class PicturesIndividual and class photos will be taken on Saturday, May 4 at a facility to be determined. Additional information will be available the week of April 7.

Welcome To Aurora Dance ArtsHerein contains very important information regarding our Continuous Children’s Dance Program and all policies and procedures of this program. Please read all information very carefully and inquire with the Dance Office or your instructor if you have any further questions.

The Aurora Dance Arts office is located on the second floor of the Central Library.14949 E. Alameda ParkwayAurora, CO 80012Office: 303.326.8308E-mail: [email protected] Website: AuroraGov.org/Dance

OFFICE HOURS Walk-in and Phone-in HoursMon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Dance ProgramAurora Dance Arts (ADA) offers professional dance instruction in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, modern/contemporary, musical theater, hip hop, and poms for all ages. Classes are held at city of Aurora facilities: Meadowood, Beck, Expo, Village Green, ACAA and Meadow Hills (Visit AuroraGov.org/Dance or check the “Aurora Recreation Guide” for exact addresses).

The Continuous Dance Program, for students ages 3-20, is a comprehensive, 9 month program giving children the opportunity to take a plethora of classes in many different dance genres. The year culminates with student recitals in late May and early June. Highly qualified and dedicated instructors implement an established dance curriculum and syllabi for beginning through advanced level classes designed to grow with your child.

Performance Opportunities Dance is a performing art! ADA offers a variety of performance opportunities for students such as the annual Spring Dance Recitals, the student Performing Groups, and the 2018 production of “The Nutcracker.” Participation in the student Performing Groups and “The Nutcracker” is by audition only. Public performances of “The Nutcracker” will take place on Dec. 7-9 in the Robert L. Troutman Theater at Aurora Central High School.

Please call the Dance Office for details.

Registration and Class PlacementRegistration for the Continuous Dance Program is done through the Dance Office ONLY. Children are placed in classes based on age, ability, and/or technique level. Classes are arranged sequentially so that dance students progress through the program safely, without gaps in their training, and are well prepared for the next technique level. Instructors may recommend a transfer to another class (up or down a level) based on ability and the best interest of the student. Careful assessment of each student is done in the final month of the Continuous Dance Program. Teachers recommend level placement for the following season for every student based on their knowledge and ability to execute the movement and technique goals of their current level’s syllabus. All dancers progress through their training at a pace that is unique to their learning and their body. It should be

expected that most dancers will spend 2-3 years in any given level in the Continuous Program before being moved up. Teacher recommendations for your child are available by calling the Dance Office after June 15.

FeesRESIDENT ● Sun.-Mon. - $30/ month for 45

minute classes; $31/month for 1 hour classes; $36/month for 1.25 or 1.5 hour classes

● Tue.-Sat. - $32/ month for 45 minute classes; $33/month for 1-hour classes; $37/ month for 1.25 or 1.5 hour classes

NON-RESIDENT ● Sun.-Mon. - $38/ month for 45

minute classes; $39/month for 1 hour classes; $46/month for 1.25 or 1.5 hour classes

● Tue.-Sat. - $41/month for 45 minute classes; $42/month for 1-hour classes; $47/month for 1.25 or 1.5 hour classes

● Discounts apply for students registered in multiple classes and for families with multiple children enrolled.

● Financial assistance may be available to residents with limited incomes.

Call 303.326.8700 for more information regarding application and qualification for Financial Assistance.

ILLNESS For the protection of your child and others, please do not bring a child to class who has experienced a fever in the last 24 hours or appears to be ill. Children who appear ill will be separated from the rest of the class and their parents will be notified. Please inform the Dance Office if your child contracts a communicable disease (chicken pox, measles, pink eye, etc.) so that we may notify others as necessary.ABSENCES ● Please notify the Dance Office or

your instructor if your child will be missing class and why.

● Missed classes may be made up within 30 days of the absence in another class of the same level. Please contact the Dance Office to arrange for a makeup class.

● Missed classes are nonrefundable.

● Students should make every effort to attend all classes. Excessive absenteeism impedes your child’s progress and delays the progress of the entire class.

● During the months of April and May, NO UNEXCUSED ABSENCES are allowed. If a student must miss class they will need to receive permission from their teacher. This class time is imperative because of the rehearsal process for recital. If your child misses class without permission from their teacher, the student may risk not being allowed to participate in the recital or may be required to have a private lesson to catch up on choreography at the parent’s expense.

If your child has an emergency please contact the Dance Office, 303.326.8308. TARDINESS Students are expected to arrive on time for their classes, dressed appropriately in their dance attire. Excessive tardiness is disruptive to the structure of the dance class, is disrespectful to the instructor and fellow students and does not allow for students to be properly warmed-up. If a child arrives more than 10 minutes late to a dance class, it is up to the instructor’s discretion as to whether or not to allow the student to participate. Students that are more than 10 minutes late may be asked to sit out of the class and observe instead, so as to avoid injury. Occasional tardiness will be handled on a case by

case basis. However, if perpetual tardiness becomes an on-going problem, parents will be notified that this is unacceptable and expected to take steps to remedy the issue.

INJURIES Great care is taken by ADA and city of Aurora staff members to ensure the safety of your child while participating in a dance class. Should an injury occur, the following steps will be taken:

Minor: Cuts/scrapes will be cleaned with soap and water and covered with a Band-Aid. A cold compress will be applied to minor injuries of the foot, ankle, knee, or wrists and the student will be seated and monitored for the remainder of class. Parents will be notified of minor injuries.

Major: Parents will be contacted immediately for instructions. In a life or limb threatening situation, staff will call 911. Please also note that students will not be allowed to “sit out” of class due to an injury without a written note from a doctor.

INCLEMENT WEATHER ● Classes are cancelled when Aurora Public Schools OR Cherry Creek School District OR the city of Aurora are closed due to inclement weather.

● Classes cancelled due to weather are considered an act of nature and will not be rescheduled or refunded.

● If Aurora Public Schools or Cherry Creek School District are on delayed start, ADA classes will still begin at their regularly scheduled times.

● Classes cancelled due to city facility closures will not be rescheduled or refunded.

● If possible, students and parents will be notified via e-mail, the Aurora Dance Arts website and our Facebook page (facebook.com/CityofAuroraArtsEducation) in the case of dance class cancelations.

It is highly recommended to always tune into local media for weather closure information, especially in the event that the Dance Office must also be closed due to severe weather.

PAYMENT Payment for the first month of classes is required at the time of registration.

A $30 costume deposit per class must be paid in order to register. This fee is refundable until Dec. 1, 2018. After Dec. 1, if a child is withdrawn from a dance class the costume deposit is forfeited.

Payments for classes are due by the last day of each month (i.e. payment will be due September 30 for October classes.)

You can set up automatic bill pay for the 15th of each month. Call the Dance Office to set up automatic bill pay. To pay for several months at a time, please also call the Dance Office.

A late fee of $10 will be assessed to accounts not paid by the last day of the month. A second late fee of $10 will be assessed by the 15th of the month if your account is still not paid in full.

Students whose accounts are not current will not be allowed to participate in classes or performances.

If you have questions about your account, please call the Dance Office, 303.326.8308.

MAKING YOUR PAYMENT Payments may be made in person in the Dance Office, at the facility where your child attends class, by phone with the Dance Office, by mail or online.

Instructors do not accept payment for class registrations, tuition or costume fees.

Attending ClassesStudents should arrive for class on time dressed in the appropriate attire. Please wait with your child until class begins. Parents of younger students are encouraged to remain in the building during class.

● Personal hygiene is very important.● Students may enter the dance

studio when the instructor opens the door at the beginning of class.

● Parents may wait for students in the lobby areas of the building. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, parents are not allowed in the dance studio during classes except during Parent Observation weeks. Parents should not interrupt classes for any personal reasons except in the case of emergency. We have a closed door policy in Aurora Dance Arts to reduce outside distractions, to be courteous to the rest of the programs in the various centers where our dance classes are held and to make sure that children’s complete focus is on their dance training and their instructor while they are inside the dance studio. This policy is in the best interest of the instructors and students to ensure the highest quality of dance learning environment.

● Students must be picked up promptly at the end of class. Any person picking up a child must be 18 years of age.

● Students may bring a small bottle of water to class with them. Other food and beverages are NOT PERMITTED in the dance studios.

● A substitute for your child’s instructor may be necessary from time to time. Substitutes are almost always instructors from the ADA staff and should be treated with the same respect given your regular instructor.

Dance Attire Proper, form fitting dance attire is required for all classes. It is imperative for dance students to be able to see their body lines for proper technique and alignment. Failure to dress appropriately may result in the student being unable to participate. Instructors will inform students of any additional details.

FEMALE BALLET STUDENTS Black leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes

MALE BALLET STUDENTS Black leggings/tights, white/black T-shirt tucked in, white socks and white/black ballet shoes

TAP STUDENTS Dance or capri pants, shorts, leggings, a form fitting top or leotard and black tap shoes

JAZZ STUDENTS Dance pants or leggings, a form fitting top or leotard and black jazz shoes

LYRICAL STUDENTS Dance pants or leggings, a form fitting top or leotard, jazz or ballet shoes or foot undies

HIP HOP STUDENTS Dance or sweat pants or leggings, form fitting top and sneakers

CONTEMPORARY STUDENTS Dance pants or leggings, a form fitting top or leotard, jazz or ballet shoes or foot undies

POMS STUDENTS Dance or sweat pants or shorts, a form fitting top and sneakers. Practice poms are provided during class but will be included in the costume price for recital.

Hair MUST be pulled back away from the face. Absolutely NO jewelry. NO baggy clothes, jeans, or overalls will be permitted at any time. Correct dance shoes need to be purchased by Sept. 30. Make sure your child’s name is inside all of his/her shoes and other belongings. Please do not wear dance shoes outside.

WHERE TO GET DANCE ATTIRE: Leotards and tights • Ages 3-18 available at Target, Walmart, Dance Xtreme Bodywear or Discount Dance Supply Dance Shoes • Payless Shoe Stores (styles and selection may vary; call first) or Discount Dance Supply RESOURCES:Dance Extreme • 6860 S. Clinton (I-25 & Arapahoe Road), 303.708.1592 Discount Dance Supply • (online catalog), www.DiscountDance.com

Conduct & DisciplineStudents are expected to participate fully in every class, to follow the directions of the instructor and to be respectful of themselves and others at all times. Hitting, kicking, pulling hair, disrespectful language or actions and abusing the facility will not be tolerated. Students engaging in disruptive behavior will be told their behavior is unacceptable and redirected to appropriate behavior. If the unacceptable behavior continues, the child may be asked to sit down or to leave the class. Parents will be notified of inappropriate behavior and are expected to address problem behavior.

YOUNG STUDENTS AND RESTROOM PROCEDURES● Take your child to the restroom

prior to each class. Please know that students asking to go to the bathroom at the 3-6 year old age range can be highly influential to other students and can cause disruption that affects the flow of the class. So we ask you to please help us counteract the disruption by proactively taking your child to the restroom.

● Remind children to let the instructor know if they need to use the restroom during class.

● Remain near the dance studio during class if think that your child might need to use the restroom during their dance class.