TABLE OF CONTENTS
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is essential to the development of your student, and it also plays a key role in issues such as casting, level placement, or scholarships. We cannot stress enough the importance of regular attendance in the classroom.
- If you know ahead of time that your child will be missing class notify NPDA so that his/her absence will be considered excused. Excused absences will permit the student to attend a make-up class.
- An absence that is not reported before the start of class will be considered unexcused until the student's parent speaks directly with the Academy Director. Unexcused absences cannot be made-up in other classes and will count against the student's attendance record.
- If a student is not able to attend class due to illness or family emergency they are encouraged to take a make-up class (see make-up classes).
- Please notify the office or your child's teacher in person, by phone or by email at admin@npb.org.
- Ask your instructor or Director for any questions you have concerning a prolonged illness or more than one absence in a month.
Punctuality
All students should arrive on time for each class. Class will start at the designated time whether the student is in the dressing room, bathroom, or in the hallway talking. It can be very distracting to both the students and teacher when other students are walking in late.
- If a student arrives 15 minutes late to class he/she must sit out and observe the class. This is for the safety of the student.
- Students may not enter class late or leave class early without the teacher's permission.
- If you are having a hard time getting your child to class on time because of another activity, please notify the studio of your problem and we will do our best to work around conflicting schedules.
Make-up Classes
Making up missed classes is an option, not a requirement. Make-up classes are available to students who have excused absences or if for some reason NPDA had to cancel.
- You may make up a class up to four weeks following the absence. Missed classes must be made up in a similar class. For example, you cannot make up a missed ballet class in a jazz class.
- Your child's instructor can best give you the day and time of an appropriate make-up class.
- It is the student's responsibility to obtain a class pass from their teacher to be presented when taking a makeup class. This pass allows the student to maintain his/her attendance record.
- Attendance in the make-up class will not be counted without the pass.
- Missed classes may be a factor in casting choices and class placement.
- Tuition will not be reimbursed for any absence.
Class Cancellation by Teacher
All classes will be held at the scheduled time with one exception. A class may be cancelled by a teacher if only one student is present.
PLACEMENT
Great care is taken in the class placement process as well as the construction of class schedules and the assignment of teachers. Each level contains students within a particular range of development so there will naturally be an upper and lower ability in each level. Students are placed according to their current stage of ability, physical and psychological development and age. Students progress faster by spending the length of time necessary to master these fundamentals, rather than rushing ahead to the complex and faster paced steps of a more advanced level.
- Class placement for new students is at the discretion of the faculty and the school director.
- New students six years old and younger will be placed by age. New students seven and older must take a placement audition in one of our regularly scheduled classes.
- Placement of returning students is always a collective faculty decision. The faculty of NPDA reserves the right to re-evaluate a students placement at anytime, based on factors, including but not limited to, performance and attitude. Questions regarding placement should be directed to the School Director.
- NPDA reserves the right to place students in a higher-level class than age dictates. Such placement is based solely on the recommendation of the NPDA staff.
- Summer program experience, as well as mental and physical maturation over the summer, can result in dramatic changes in a student's progress. Therefore, evaluations and placement changes will occur during the first two weeks of the year.
DRESS CODE
Why does NPDA have a dress code? The dress code exists for a variety of reasons: (a) It is part of the tradition and etiquette of dance. (b) It instills discipline. (c) It builds self-esteem. (d) It builds class unity. (e) It makes it easier for the teacher to see and correct mistakes. (f) It makes NPDA students presentable to outside observers.
- All students must wear the proper dance attire for each class. A dress code handout is given out at registration.
- Students not meeting the required dress code will be asked to observe class and take notes on the Class Observation Sheet.
- All students must enter the classroom ready to dance. Do not come into the classroom with your street clothes or cover-up still over your leotard and tights and then proceed to get ready for class. The dressing rooms are for getting dressed; the studio classroom is for dancing.
- Do not go outside without something over your leotard and tights.
- Do not wear your dance shoes outside. Always carry them to and from the studio.
- Hair must be neat and fixed securely out of the face.
- No large, ornate bows, headbands or barrettes in student's hair for class.
- No t-shirts, sweats, shorts, etc. may be worn over your leotard or tights in class. No warm-ups are to be worn during class or rehearsal under any circumstances, but are recommended for break times.
- Do not wear panties with your leotard or tights.
- Do not wear jewelry to class. It can injure you or your instructor, and when she asks you to take it off, you might misplace it or forget to take it home with you when class is over. We are not responsible for lost items.
- Dancewear is to be kept laundered and in good repair.
- Please mark clothing and shoes with the student's name.
- Dancewear can be purchased through NPDA's Dance Shop
Hair
- A professional appearance should be maintained throughout all levels of our school.
- All girls in Creative Movement through Ballet 4 must wear their hair in a neat bun for every class. Bangs and "whispies" should be controlled with hairspray, gel, and barrettes as needed.
- All other classes hair must be secured back completely off of face into a bun or ponytail.
Dress Code Violations
All sections of the dress code policy will be enforced unless NPDA has been notified by written note or by phone call from the parent as to why the student is not properly dressed. Excused violations will be handled in the following manner: the student will be loaned proper dancewear from the "studio leotard basket." These items must be laundered and returned by the next class period. Studio dancewear is secondhand, but always freshly laundered. It consists of all the unclaimed dancewear that is collected each year from Lost and Found. Unexcused violations will be handled in the following manner: students will be asked to observe class and take notes on a Class Observation Sheet but they will be counted at present.
Dress Code By Class
- CREATIVE MOVEMENT:
- Girls: leotard, pink ballet shoes, skirts and tights are optional
- Boys: black shorts or jazz pants, fitted top, black ballet shoes
- BALLET 1+2
- Girls: leotard, pink-footed tights, pink ballet shoes
- Boys: black shorts or jazz pants, fitted top, black ballet shoes
- Ballet 3 & 4:
- Girls: leotard, tights, pink ballet shoes, skirts optional
- Boys: black shorts or jazz pants, fitted top, black ballet shoes
- Tap: jazz pants, fitted solid color top or leotard, black tap shoes
- Jazz 1-3: Fitted black jazz pants, fitted solid color top or leotard, black jazz shoes
- Hip Hop: Comfortable clothing, clean sneakers worn only to dance class (No jeans)
- Jungle: Comfortable clothing (No jeans)
- Lyrical Jazz: Fitted black jazz pants, fitted solid color top or leotard, foot thong or dance paws
Resale Shop
NPDA has a resale shop in addition to its existing retail shop. We will buy back student's gently used leotards and dance shoes and resell them to other students. NPDA has the right to decide what will be purchased and what will not. Purchase price will be dependant on the condition of the apparel.
ETIQUETTE
Classroom Etiquette
NPDA students are expected to behave in the mannered tradition modeled by dancers throughout the history of dance, with a palpable dignity and respect for the studio, the study of dance and all teachers. Please encourage the students to treat every instructor with the same respect. It is essential for students to display a professional attitude every time they enter the building. We encourage a feeling of mutual respect between our students and instructors, as well as between our students and each other. A good working relationship based on mutual respect is necessary for the well-being and progress of the student. These rules should serve as guidelines for proper behavior, but must be supplemented by proper behavior by parents and other guests. Courtesy and good manners are expected and encouraged.
- Do not enter a studio without being invited by your instructor
- Come to class prepared to learn
- Please raise hand to ask a question during class (Students are encouraged to ask questions pertaining to what they are learning)
- Students must ask permission before leaving classroom
- Students are responsible for the disposal of their garbage and are expected to treat the facilities, furniture, and equipment with respect.
- Please check the space you use for discarded toe tape, tissues, water bottles, clothing, etc., when leaving the studio. The trashcans are located in the dressing rooms, bathrooms, and most studios. Litter will not be tolerated.
- Barres are not to be hung on or sat on as they might break or cause injury.
- Mirrors are breakable and easily smudged; they are not to be handled.
- Students should not sit down to "rest" during dance classes. This causes the muscles to cool down and may result in injury by resuming exercise when cold.
- Parents must wait in the lobby. Students must wait for class to begin either in the dressing room areas or by QUIETLY warming up in the hallways. Students must be silent and working to warm up, not engaging in conversation as there is another class going on at the time. The main lobby is for parent or student waiting only, and small children will not be permitted. Parents should meet their children there after class.
- Siblings of students should never be left unattended to roam the building.
- Food and beverages may be enjoyed responsibly in the lobby only. No gum, candy, cough drops, etc. in class.
- Northern Plains Dance Academy will no longer provide cups for water. Students must provide bottles that are to be kept in their mailboxes or in the dressing rooms. Only bottles of water are permitted in the studios, no cups will be allowed.
- Dance bags should be brought into the studio, but neatly stacked, leaving space to enter and exit the room. NEVER LEAVE A BAG or belongings IN THE HALLWAY. Always keep wallets and purses in the studio, not in the dressing room.
- Do not bring valuables into the building. NPDA assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen property.
- Theft of property by an NPDA student will result in immediate expulsion with no refund of tuition given.
- No parties or events that are to take place outside of NPDA and are not official school or company events are to be discussed at the studio.
- Older dancers are role models for younger students and must place high value on this awesome responsibility to help model behavior for those who follow. Younger students make it their business to know EVERYTHING about their role models. Please behave the way you would expect others to behave and the way you would want your own children to behave.
- Cellular phones must be turned off throughout all classes. Phone usage during class will result in dismissal from that class with an unexcused absence. Students may check for messages from parents during breaks between class and rehearsal or at the end of class.
- If a student or employee is suspected to be under the influence of drugs, they will be asked to leave and appropriate actions will be taken.
- NPDA will not tolerate emotional outbursts or swearing in the studio. If there is a problem that must be dealt with, please make an appointment with the office to arrive at a mutual understanding or to resolve any conflict that may arise.
- An NPDA dancer is polite at all times, looking adults in the eye and responding with "please" and "thank you".
- During class time, students are expected to pay attention to the instructor and maintain suitable composure for their age.
- For a student who continually disrupts class, parental involvement may be called upon.
- Talking is not permitted during any class or rehearsal. Dancers must devote their concentration to their personal performance.
- Any violation of classroom etiquette will be addressed by the Director in a telephone call or email to the parent of said student. Repeated or extreme violations could result in expulsion from NPDA.
Performance Etiquette
NPDA strives for professional standards in performance guidelines for rehearsal and performance:
- Casting is to be determined by the NPDA professional faculty. Decisions are not up for discussion or negotiation. Students may or may not be in the same piece as classmates.
- Performing students are expected to attend all rehearsals. Rehearsals will be posted on bulletin boards and will be handed out on paper one-week prior to rehearsals. Rehearsals frequently fall on Saturday afternoons and close to performance may occur on Sundays. If students miss two or more rehearsals they may be removed from the piece.
- The theatre atmosphere is comparable to that expected in a sanctuary. Dancers are expected to behave accordingly. No running, eating, yelling or loud talking will be tolerated. No gum chewing is allowed. Student dancers are expected to respect others and to obey adults or theater personnel.
- All students are expected to respect their costumes and to replace them on hangers after each use. This should be a dancer's job, not that of the parent of the dancer. At no time should students eat or drink in costumes, sit in costumes, or place their hands on the waist of a costume while waiting for performance. Any abuse of costumes will be fined with a dry-cleaning fee of $30.00.
- Makeup guidelines will be provided before performances and must be followed.
- Do not bring valuables to the theater. NPDA takes no responsibility for lost or stolen items.
COMMUNICATIONS
Please read the bulletin boards carefully. This is an important resource for students and parents. Time changes, rehearsals and important notices are placed here daily and the answers to many of your questions can be found here.
- Student mailboxes are located on the wall outside of the restrooms. Each student will have an assigned mailbox. All tuition bills will be placed in your mailbox before the 1st of every month.
- It is necessary that we have your updated email address so we can send you updates and important notices. If you change your email address or switch service providers it is your responsibility to notify us.
- The bulletin board is located on the wall outside of the restrooms. There are 2 bulletin boards for communication. One of the bulletin boards features production rehearsals and information. The other bulletin board features updates, notices, and upcoming events. It is your responsibility to check these bulletin boards on a regular basis.
Parent-Teacher Communication
If you are wondering about your child's progress in class, you may make an appointment to speak with the appropriate teacher through the school director. It is often difficult due to time constraints for a teacher to speak to a parent in between classes, so we ask that you please refrain from doing so. To speak with your teacher please leave a note or message with the School Director. Parents are asked to direct any comments, problems or questions to the front desk that will contact the director, general manager, or appropriate teacher if necessary. The front desk staff are not allowed to give out student or teacher phone numbers, therefore, we ask that phone numbers be exchanged on an individual basis.
TUITION
Monthly tuition fees are due on the 1st of each month in advance. Tuition not received by the 10th of the month is considered late. A reminder notice will be sent home with the students whose accounts are overdue. When paying by check please write your child's first and last name in the memo line. All returned checks will be routed to Check Control who will be collecting checks on behalf of the organization and additional fees may apply.
No tuition reductions in monthly fees are made due to absences. If class was held as scheduled and your child was not there, a place was still being reserved for your child. Any class with an enrollment of less than 5 will be cancelled by NPD. NPD will issue a refund due to low enrollment unless the child chooses to enroll in another class of equal or lesser tuition price.
Tuition must be paid on the following due dates:
- Quarter 1: Monday, August 13, 2007
- Quarter 2: Monday, November 12, 2007
- Quarter 3: Monday, March 3, 2008
Class cards are now available at the front desk for all open classes. Present class cards to the instructor at the beginning of each class. Punch cards are only good on classes that are classified as "open classes". Punch cards cost the following:
- 6 punches: Buy 5 get 1 free ($8.33 per class) = $50.00
- 12 punches: Buy 11 get 1 free ($9.16 per class) = $110.00
- 15 punches: Buy 15 get 1 free ($9.33 per class) = $140.00
All punch cards will expire 24 weeks after the purchase date.
Recital Costs
- Deadline for Recital: Friday, January 25 at 5:00 p.m.
- Recital fee includes: $60.00 recital fee and $100.00 for 10 tickets. Each student agrees to pay a fee of $160.00 to enroll in the recital. Each student will receive 10 general admission tickets that you may sell for $10.00 each to recover the $100.00 ticket fee.
- The recital cast list will be posted on January 31, 2008 followed by the recital rehearsal schedule, which will be posted on February 1, 2008.
MISCELLANEOUS
Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol
Smoking and tobacco use is prohibited for all NPDA students on school property. Students disregarding this policy will face suspension and/or expulsion from NPDA. Any student found using drugs, consuming, or under the influence of alcohol (including providing drugs or alcohol to another student) will face expulsion.
Cameras
Photographing or videotaping class requires advance permission from the director. Photographing or videotaping performances is strictly prohibited.
Lost and Found
Items left in the studios will be collected at the end of the day and placed in the lost and found bins located in the lady's and men's dressing room. The lost and found is emptied monthly. We encourage all students to label their shoes, tights, etc., to insure that the proper items are recovered. Students must not leave personal items unattended at any time.
Dressing Rooms
Student dressing rooms are located in the middle lobby area and are for the use of all NPDA students. If students wish to keep dance clothes at the studio they must provide their own plastic container to keep them in. Any items found on the dressing room floor at the end of each week will be placed in the lost and found.
Orientation
New students are entitled to an orientaition meeting and tour with a faculty or staff member of NPDA.
Parent Observation
Parents may observe class only during the 10th week of the quarter which falls on:Parking
Parking for Northern Plains Dance Academy is available on both sides and the back of the building. Please do not park up against or in front of Turitto's Dry-Cleaning, your vehicle will be towed.