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15 Ararat Street Worcester, MA 01606 508-854-1434 WWW.GreendaleDanceAcademy.Com
Handbook 2005-2006
Please read through this handbook as it will answer most of your questions. We are a family run business and your cooperation is needed to keep things running smoothly. On the back of the registration form you will have to acknowledge and sign that you have read the handbook and agree to follow our rules and policies. This MUST be filled out and turned in on or before the first day of classes or your child will not be allowed to dance.
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Returning students should register by mail. NEW: Returning students have first preference on class selection if they register by August 1. New students are invited to register by mail or attend the annual Open House on Tuesday, August 29th from 4pm-7pm and Tuesday, September 5th from 5pm-7pm to meet the teachers, view the studio, and register for classes. There is a yearly $15 per family registration fee due upon registering for classes. Be sure to include this when registering for classes. Back To Top
Tuition is due the first class of every month, September through May (there is no June payment due) and can be left in the tuition mailbox (in waiting area) or left with the office staff (the1st – 7th of each month) A late fee of $15 will be assessed on the 14th of the month if tuition is not paid in full. This fee will increase to $20 if tuition is not paid by the 1st of the next month. No Exceptions. If a late charge is assessed to any student’s account 3 times, the remainder of the year’s tuition will be due in full and the dancer will not be allowed to dance until payment is made. (*also – see Dropping Classes) All Checks should be made out to Greendale Dance Academy only. Cash and Money Orders are accepted. NEW: Checks that are returned will be assessed a $25.00 return fee. If the tuition and returned check fee are not paid in full by the 14th of the month, the payment is considered late and will follow the fees for late payments. A 5% discount will be given to all families that pay for the year of dance in full by October 1st, 2006. Students in the same household may combine their hours for the greatest savings. Does not apply to solos, duos, trios or private classes.
The office will be open the 1st to 7th each month from October - May. Monday through Friday 4pm-7pm and Saturday 10am-12pm. If you need to contact us between office hours please call the studio and leave a message or email us. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Here is a list of payments you can expect to make during a typical dance year: 1. Tuition- due the first of every month. 2. Recital Costumes- NEW $50 per costume for Creative Movement Classes $55.00 for all other dancers. Due in full BY October 14th, 2006. You may pay this any time before October 14th, including small payments with your tuition. (also – see Annual Recital) 3. Recital Tickets 4. Recital DVD (optional) Throughout the year we may offer the opportunity to buy GDA clothing (Warm-up suits, Jackets, etc) and accessories (Duffle bags, garment bags, etc). Please get your order in on time.
NEW: A one month trial period will be allowed for each student to decide if they want to continue a class or dance all together. After the one month, if a student drops a class or drops out, you will be responsible to pay 50% of the remainder of the tuition for the year. The drop date is October 14th, 2006. PLEASE pay attention to this date so that you may drop classes without penalty.
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Creative Movement Any Colored Leotard ● Any Colored Tights ● Pink ballet slippers (boys – black shoes) ● White Tap Shoes with sewn elastic ties (Boys- Black Tap Shoes) Combo Classes Black Leotard ● Pink or Tan Tights ● Pink Ballet Slippers & Bloch S 0302 Tan Tap Shoes (Ballet/Tap Combo) or Black Acro Shoes (Jazz/Acro Combo) Competition Combo Class Black Leotard ● Pink or Tan Tights ● Pink Ballet Slippers ● Bloch S 0302 Tan Tap Shoes ● Bare Feet for Jazz & Acro Ballet and Pointe Black Leotard ● Pink or Black Ballet Tights ● Ballet skirt that lies above the knees (optional) ● Pink Split Sole Leather Ballet Slippers Pointe Shoes (boys – black shoes) ● Hair must be in a slicked “ballerina” bun Tap Black Leotard ● Black or Tan Tights ● Bloch S 0302 Tan tap shoes (Boys – Black Leather) Competition Level III/IV & V need the Black Capezio CG55 Jazz – Hip Hop – Musical Theater – Lyrical Black Leotard ● Black or Tan Tights ● Black Capezio DS03 dance sneakers for Hip Hop ● Tan Capezio CG15 split sole jazz boots for Jazz and Musical Theater ● Capezio Foot Undeez for Lyrical Acrobatics Black Leotard ● Black or Tan Tights ● Black Acrobatic Shoes (Competition Acro Classes are Bare Feet) Cheerleading Black Leotard ● Black or Tan Tights ● Black jazz pants or black bike shorts ● Capezio Tan Jazz Boot CG15 Boys/ Men (for all classes) Black sweatpants or shorts (no pockets) ● Black T-Shirt (No Pockets and tucked in)
*A dance sweater and/or dance pants are admissible at the discretion of the teacher* *Street clothes will not be accepted, this includes warm up suites, sweats, etc.* *Shoes MUST be worn to all classes which they are required.*
Dancers progress best through consistent attendance. These are our policies regarding attendance. 1. If a student is unable to attend class, please call the studio ASAP prior to the start of class. 2. Missing a class 3 consecutive times with no phone call will result in dismissal from GDA. 3. A missed dance class may be made up in a like class within four weeks until April 1st. 4. There are NO REFUNDS for missed classes for ANY REASON. 5. Classes cancelled due to the weather are not counted against a student’s attendance and can be made up. However, there are NO REFUNDS for these classes. 6. Save absences for illness. Don’t miss a class for birthday parties, Doctor’s Appointments, etc. 7. Students are welcome to watch a class if they have an injury however, students should NOT come to dance if they are too sick to dance or have missed school due to illness. KEEP THE GERMS AT HOME. Students who watch a class due to injury must have a doctor’s note to return to dance. 8. Please be on time. Arriving late is not only a disruption to class, it also prevents the dancer from properly warming up and can therefore increase their chance of being injured. NEW: Dancers will not be allowed into class if more than 10 minutes late. 9. Students who miss 10 minutes or more of class (being late or leaving early) will be marked absent and NO MAKE UP WILL BE ALLOWED. 10. Students missing 6 or more classes in one subject (3 for competition) will not be allowed to dance in the end of the year recital.
Classes maybe held even if school was cancelled for the day. Please call 508-854-1434 and listen to the message or go to our website www.greendaledanceacademy.com. Classes will be cancelled at least 1 hour before the start of class. Classes may be made up in a suitable class, however there are NO REFUNDS for snow days or cancellations. If there is a morning delay for Worcester Public Schools, ALL OUR MORNING CLASSES WILL BE CANCELLED.
To help preserve our family friendly environment, we expect that you will: 1. Treat staff, dancers, and your own family members respectfully. That includes no swearing, yelling, or roughhousing (pushing, shoving, and especially hitting) while in and around the dance studio. 2. No Smoking on the studio premises. 3. No eating or drinking inside the studio (including the waiting area). Dancers may bring a bottled water to class IF 1) they participate in more than one class per night 2) Their name is on the container. 4. Clean up after yourself. If a spill happens and you can’t pick it up, please notify us immediately. 5. No gum in the studio, PLEASE. 6. Bathrooms are available for non-dancers in emergencies only. Dancers are expected to use the bathroom before class. Leaving in the middle of class will be discouraged. 7. Upon arrival to the studio, dancers will wait in the waiting area until the teacher admits them to class. We ask that parents drop students off and pick them up. With a small waiting area there is very little extra room. 8. Students with cell phones MUST turn them off while inside the studio (including the waiting area) 9. Pick your child up on time. After 15 minutes, you will be charged a sitting fee.
Students progress much better if they can focus all of their attention on the teacher. That is why we have installed closed circuit monitoring for each dance room. NEW: The video monitors will be on the first week of every month. The monitors will be on for most of the pre-school and younger classes every week from Sept. – April. Parent Observation- Parents may sign up to sit in on each of their child’s classes once during the year. Two family members may attend, but we ask that children under the age of 7 not attend. Only one family is allowed per week. All parents planning to observe must sign up at least 1 week prior to the week of observation. Observation days will take place between November and March. Please remember that FOOD AND DRINK ARE NOT ALLOWED in the dance rooms.New: We will now be holding 3 recitals. All 3 shows will be held on Saturday, June 9th 2007. ALL NON-COMPETITION STUDENTS WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ALL THREE SHOWS. Times TBA. The studio will hold its annual recital on Saturday, June 9th, 2007. Participation is not mandatory, however once a costume is purchased (flat rate of $50 per Creative Movement costume and $55.00 all other costumes), you have committed to performing in the recital. NEW: Dancers not participating in the recital will end their dance year at the end of December. Recital tickets are approximately $15 and will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Seating is general admission and shows typically sell out (although not every dancer will participate in all 3 shows). Tickets will be available 1 month prior to the recital and each family is guaranteed the ability to purchase 2 tickets. These 2 tickets will be for the show of our choosing. NEW: Tickets will ONLY be sold on May 5 & 6. If there are any tickets remaining they will be sold at the door. Tickets are also non-refundable and GDA will not be responsible for lost or stolen tickets. All persons, regardless of age, need to have a ticket to enter the auditorium. THIS INCLUDES INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND PERSONS IN WHEELCHAIRS due to the strict fire laws. Dancers who are dancing in the recital do not need a ticket, however if they wish to watch the recital, they WILL need to purchase a ticket. No dancer will be allowed to dance in the recital unless their account is paid in full. REHEARSAL IS MANDATORY. Anyone not present at rehearsal will not perform in the recital (with the exception of the combo and creative movement classes who will not be at the rehearsal). Rehearsal is Friday, June 8th, 2007. Costumes are $50.00 for Creative Movement classes and $55.00 for all others. Any costume not paid for in full by October 14th, 2006 will not be purchased. Once costume orders have been placed there will be no refunds. Please note: Costumes are ordered to the dancer’s measurements with room to grow. Costumes are NOT custom made to fit every student exactly. We compare the dancer’s measurements to the company’s sizing chart to determine the size to order. Any alterations are the sole responsibility of the dancer and/or parent. Dancers who planned to be in the recital but drop out beforehand may need to allow another student to borrow their costume to fill their spot in the dance. However, a refund for the costume WILL NOT BE GIVEN. VIDEO CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE AUDITORIUM. Flash photography is only permitted during the finales. A recital DVD will be made available for purchase. Purchased DVDs must be picked up by October 1st.
Competition requires a high level of commitment by the dancer, teacher and parent. In order to get a dance team to the competition level, dancers and parents must follow our rules for competition dances: 1. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY – only 3 absences per dance will be allowed. Dancers will not be absent from the last rehearsal before the competition. 2. At the discretion of the director, the competition experience may be offered by audition only. 3. Competition fees and costs are the responsibility of the dancer. That includes costumes, entrance fees, make-up, travel, instruction, etc. While we take competition seriously, our main goal is for the dancers to have fun, learn, do their best and be proud of themselves. The only other competition experience for the dancers will be through solos, duos or trios. These will be at the discretion of the teachers. These private classes are in addition to the regular classes and will not perform in the recital.
Scholarships are awarded based on report cards and an essay on “How Dance Effects My Life.” Applicants are asked to submit their most recent report card and essay by May 1st, 2007. Dancers must be at least 9 years of age to apply for a scholarship.
The lost and found box is in the waiting area and will be emptied the first of every month. All items will be given to charity.
Warm up suits, jackets, t-shirts, bags, and other GDA attire will be available for order several times throughout the year. If your order is not in by the deadline, you will have to wait until the next order. Orders are placed approximately Oct., Jan., & Apr.
Gift Certificates are available for purchase in any amount. They are good for classes, camps, merchandise, videos, and competition fees.
Awards are presented to dancers for: Dancer of the Month, Most Improved Dancers, Competition Dancers, 5th & 10th Year Dancers, and Overall Dancer of the Year (1-3 dancers will receive a crown and sash…This is the highest award given at GDA.) All award decisions are final. All students will receive a participation trophy if they commit to the entire year of dance (Sept. – June).
Sept: 11th Classes Begin (Mon.) Oct: 7th-9th Closed for Columbus Day Nov: 11th OPEN 22nd – 24th Closed for Thanksgiving (Resume classes on 11/25/2006) Dec: 25th-Jan. 1st Closed for Christmas and New Year’s. (Resume classes on 1/2/2007) Jan: 2nd Studio Reopens 15th Closed for MLK Day Feb: 19th- 23rd Closed for Vacation (There IS dance on Sat. 2/17th & Sat. 2/24) March: 30 & 31 No Dance April: 16th-20th Closed for Vacation (There IS dance on Sat. 4/14 & 4/21) May: 5th & 6th Recital Tickets Are On Sale (Times TBA) 26th- 28th Closed for Memorial Day June: 4th Tentative Last Day of Dance 8th Mandatory Rehearsal 9th Annual Recital - There will be three shows – Times TBA
Answers to most of your questions will be found here in the handbook or online at www.GreendaleDanceAcademy.com. You can feel free to write Melissa or the teacher a note, call the studio or email us at info@greendaledanceacademy.com. We do our best to return messages in a timely manner. We want our studio to run as smoothly as possible, but it is up to you to help us make that happen. It is very important that you do your part by reading the literature we give you, especially the notices during the year.
Thank You for choosing Greendale Dance Academy!!!
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