Click here to view our Dress Code
Welcome to Synergy Dance Company 2011-2012.
We are glad you have chosen our studio. We hope your whole family will enjoy our studio. This handbook has been written to describe our program, goals, policies and the details that go into making each lesson as happy and successful as possible. Please study it and keep it for reference, as it will answer many of your questions.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
Our lessons are planned so that dancers will:
1. be safe.
2. feel secure.
3. receive individual attention and encouragement.
4. develop self-discipline.
5. experience success in order to develop a positive self-image.
6. develop dance skills.
COMMON COURTESY
The staff and management of SDC spends countless hours in bringing you the nicest and cleanest studio in the area. Please respect the property and its belongings.
MONTHLY TUITION POLICY
This Agreement is for 31 classes over a one-year period. In no case will classes begin more than 180 days from the date of this Agreement. Tuition is due the 7th of each month. We accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard.. All checks should be made payable to SDC. Tuition is the same amount each month regardless if it a 3 or 5 week month. (Tuition is based on the total of 31 classes per year and then divided into 10 monthly payments.) Money is not refunded for missed lessons for any reason. Account statements will not be sent out unless your account is overdue. There is a $10.00 processing fee for all past due accounts. After the 10th of the month a $10.00 late fee will be added to your account and a past due invoice will be mailed out to you. There is a $25.00 charge on all returned checks. If your account falls behind more than 2 months, you will be asked to pay your balance or your child’s enrollment may be cancelled.
COSTUME PAYMENTS
The first costume payment is due October 15th and the final payment is due February 1st. All students will be measured the first week of November. Every students first costume will be $110 for teens and adults and $100 for kinder dance, combo and all 101 classes. This price includes costume, tights, earrings, and recital t-shirt. If your child has more than one costume the cost will be send in an invoice.
PAYMENT PROCEDURE POLICY
Each family will receive a “Payment Coupon Booklet”. This booklet will include payment slips for lessons and costume payments, etc. All payments for the entire year are listed on the payment booklet along with due dates. Please place your payment, along with the appropriate payment slip in an envelope and deposit it into the “Payment Box”.
REGISTRATION
A registration fee of $25.00 per new student ,$10.00 for additional family members (This fee is nontransferable and nonrefundable.) Class availability is on a first come basis. Registration is not complete until the registration fee is paid along with all proper forms signed.
STUDIO FUNDRAISING
All studio fundraisers are voluntary. If you decide to participate, you will receive a list of what to sell and how much money will go into your own account. Each student who participates will have their own account for their own earning. All earnings can be used for lessons, recital tickets, dancewear, costumes, shoes etc…. You decide where you want your money to go. We will be offering a variety of fundraisers for you to chose from, if you wish to participate.
HEALTH
You are the best judge of your child’s health and we trust you will not bring a sick child to the studio. However, if in the opinion of the teaching staff your child is sick, we will call you to come and pick up your child. The following criteria will be considered in determining if your child must go home:
1. Fever of 100 degrees or more
2. Inflammation of the eyes
3. Vomiting
4. An incidence of diarrhea
5. Communicable disease
6. Poison ivy on the hands
MISSED CLASS MAKE UP POLICY
If a student misses a class it can be made up during the month in which they were absent. . No refund will be given for missed classes.
DROP CLASS POLICY
If your child can no longer attend class and you need to withdraw. A Drop Class form must be filled out to prevent further billing. Class space is limited and there is often a waiting list of students to get in.
SNOW OR BAD WEATHER POLICY
If at any time it is necessary to cancel lessons due to bad weather such as snow and ice, there will be a recorded message on the answering machine after 2:30 P.M. for the evening classes that will say “Classes have been canceled”. If Hampton Schools are closed all classes will be closed for the day. SDC website will have closings posted on the home page. We just don’t have enough time to call everyone back. There will be NO reduction of tuition. There are no scheduled make up classes for snow days. You can make up your time in another scheduled class.
INSURANCE
SDC does not carry medical insurance for its students. It is required that all dance students be covered by their own family insurance policies and if injury occurs it is understood that the student’s own policy is your only source of reimbursement.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are available at an extra charge. These may be used for extra practice if you have missed several lessons and need to catch up. Enrollment is very limited.
STUDIO BULLETIN BOARD
A bulletin board is available with announcements for you to view and read. Please take the time to scan the Parent Board regularly to keep informed of studio happenings and/or announcements.
DRESS CODE POLICY
All short hair must be secured back off the face. All long hair must be secured in a ponytail, bun, or braid. Absolutely no T-shirts, shorts of any kind, or jeans permitted. Shorts must be SDC or black Dance Shorts. No Soccer Shorts. Proper shoes must be worn to all classes. If you come to unprepared to class you will asked to observe. Please refer to the dress code breakdown to ensure your child is dressed properly. This year we are strictly enforcing this.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. It is important that your child attends dance class every week. Good attendance is imperative, as absences and tardiness can hold back an entire class, and the studio cannot jeopardize its responsibilities to the rest of the class for one student. If a student misses too many lessons they may fall behind the rest of the class and may be asked not to perform in the recital.
DRESS REHEARSAL POLICY
A mandatory dress rehearsal will be held May 31st at Sparta High School. Accounts must be up to date in order to participate. All students must rehearse all of their numbers at the dress rehearsal or they will not be permitted to perform in the recital. Students must bring their entire costume including tights, make-up, and shoes. Dress rehearsal is considered a lesson.
RECITAL
To be held June 2nd at Sparta High School
RECITAL AND RECITAL TICKET POLICY
All studio fees must be paid in full or your child will not be permitted to participate in the recital. Tickets will go on sale in April. Seating is first come, first served.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS
A newsletter will be sent home with your child the first week of each month. If your child does not come home with one, please pick one up at the studio. You can also view the monthly newsletter on our web site www.synergydancecompanynj.com Please read every newsletter. Very important information is located on these newsletters. Please keep them for further reference, as they will answer many of your questions.
WAITING ROOM CONDUCT
All parents are asked to wait in the lobby quietly and respect one another. SDC does not tolerate gossiping behavior. Please remember we are all here for the same reason and that is for our children to dance.
1. Students must wait inside the building to be picked up.
2. No student is permitted to leave the building without an adult.
3. All students must use the restroom before they enter class.
4. Please try to keep the lobby as quiet and clean as possible.
5. Students must use the hook for their belongings, please do not set them on the lobby chairs.
6. Please do not interrupt the teacher while the class is in session. If you need to speak to the teacher, please do so before or after the class. If necessary, you may make an appointment.
7. Running and Tapping on the tile floor are not permitted in the lobby.
8. We are not responsible for unsupervised children!
CLASSROOM CONDUCT
1. No food or drinks other than water of any kind are permitted in the dance rooms. You must keep all food and other drinks in the lobby,. Please bring water with you to class, the water at SDC is not drinkable. Students are not permitted to chew gum in the dance room!!
2. Absolutely no street shoes on the dance floor!!!! That means everyone! (street shoes are what you wear into the building)
3. Dance shoes are not to be worn outside for any reason!! They are to be worn inside only!!
4. All students must be in proper dress code while attending class. Appropriate shoes must also be worn to all classes. If you are not dressed appropriately you will be excused from class.
5. Short hair must be secured off of the face. Long hair must be in a Ponytail, bun, or braid.
6. All tap shoes must be tied in double knots securely!!
7. Parents are not permitted to walk their children into the dance room. The teacher will greet them at the door and bring them into the classroom. Please do not go into the classroom to pick them up. After the class is over the teacher will bring them out to the lobby. We want to keep our dance floor new and clean for as long as possible.
8. Class will be conducted with the doors closed. This will avoid any distraction from the lobby. Parents can view class on the closed circuit tv in the lobby
9. Please make sure you arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to class.
10. Children should not touch the mirrors or the glass doors.
11. Absolutely no running in the classroom or in the lobby.
CHRONIC DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR POLICY
We will make every effort to work with the parents of children having difficulties in child care. We are here to serve and protect all of our children, although; children displaying chronic disruptive behavior which has been determined to be upsetting to the physical or emotional well being of any other child, or teacher, may require the following actions:
Initial Consultation
The director may require the parent(s) of any child who attends the studio to meet for a conference. The problem will be defined on paper. Goals will be established and the parent will be involved in creating approaches towards solving the problem.
Second Consultation
If the initial plan for helping the child fails, the parent(s) will again be required to meet with the director. Another attempt will be made to identify the problem outlining new approaches to the problem, and discuss the consequences if progress is not apparent.
Suspension
When the previous attempts have been followed and no progress has been made towards solving the problem, the child may be suspended from the studio indefinitely. The studio may immediately suspend a child at anytime he/she exhibits a behavior, which is harmful to him/herself or others. A parent may be called at anytime the child exhibits uncontrollable behavior that cannot be modified by the instructor. That parent may be asked to take the child home immediately.
Discard Policy
The studio reserves the right to cancel the enrollment of a child for the following reasons:
1. Non-payment or excessive late payment of fees.
2. Not observing the rules of the studio child or parent
3. Child has special needs which we cannot adequately meet with our current staffing patterns.
4. Physical and/or verbal abuse of staff or children, by a parent or child.
2011-2012 Dress Code
SDC requires that each student is properly dressed for their appropriate class. As this new season starts the staff will be strictly enforcing this policy. We are aware that the uniforms will not be delivered until the end of October, so this will be in effect November 1st. Any student not prepared for class will be asked to sit out and observe.
Being prepared means the child must have :
1. Hair pulled hair secure and neat
2. No jewelry (except post earrings)
3. Correct leotard and tights
4. Proper dance shoes
5. No sweats, shorts or t shirts (unless SDC shorts or dance shorts). No gym, soccer or street attire shorts.
6. Troupe members must be in their Troupe leotard in all classes
7. No chewing gum
8. No toys and or stuffed animals in the dance room
-All Boys for any Class: White t shirt, black pants or shorts, black slip on Jazz shoes, black Hip Hop sneakers, black ballet shoes and black tie Tap shoes
-Baby Dancers (Mom and Me): Any leotard, tights and ballet shoes or soft soled shoes. Optional: tutu or dance skirt
-Kinderdance: Pink SDC leotard, pink tights, Illinois Theatrical Ballet shoes (ordered from SDC) or Payless Ballet shoes, Illinois Theatrical tan tie Tap shoes (ordered through SDC). Optional: Pink tutu or dance skirt
-Combo Classes: Pink SDC leotard, pink tights, Illinois Theatrical Ballet shoes (ordered through SDC) or Payless Ballet shoes, For Saturday combo class: Illinois Theatrical tan tie Tap shoes (ordered through SDC). Thursday Combo: Capezio Laceless Pull on Jazz in Tan (sold online at www.onlinedancewear.com) Optional: Pink tutu or dance skirt
-Ballet 101, 102 & 103: Pink SDC leotard, pink tights, Bloch Pump Split Sole Canvas in Pink ( sold online at www.onlinedancewear.com). Optional: Pink or black solid ballet skirt and Ballet wrap sweater.
-Tap 101, 102 & 103: Black SDC leotard, tan tights and Leos Giordano Tie Tap in Tan (ordered through SDC) Optional: Black SDC shorts, black dance shorts, or black dance pants.
-Jazz 101 & 102: Black SDC leotard, tan tights and Capezio Pedini in Tan (ordered through SDC) Optional: Black SDC shorts, black dance shorts.
-Lyrical/ Contemporary 101 & 102: Black SDC leotard, tan footless or convertible tights and Capezio Foot Undeez in Nude (ordered through SDC or online at www.onlinedancewear.com). Optional: Black SDC shorts or black dance shorts.
-Acro/ Tumbling: Black SDC leotard, tan footless or convertible tights, Capezio Foot Undeez in Nude (ordered through SDC or online at www.onlinedancewear.com). Optional: Black SDC shorts or black dance shorts
-All Hip Hop Classes: Black SDC leotard, tan tights and Leos Wave Hip Hop Sneaker in black. Optional: Black SDC shorts, black dance shorts or black dance pants.
-All Troupe Classes ( Minis, Jr.‘s, Sr.’s and Technique): SDC Troupe Leotard, tan tights and appropriate shoes for that class (please bring ALL shoes with you to each class). Optional: Black SDC shorts or black dance shorts
-All Adult Classes: Black SDC tank or t-shirt, black shorts, pants or capris, Leos Giordano Tan Tie Tap (ordered through SDC) and Dance Class T-Strap in Tan (sold online at www.onlinedancewear.com)
