Dancenter Student Handbook
Thank you for entrusting your childs dance education to us. We take pride in encouraging our dancers, whether they be recreational or competitive, to do their best, learn the discipline that dance offers, strive to perfect their technique and become a confident performer.
The Dancenter is located at 1609 Cross St in Streator and 321 N. Plum in Pontiac.                            Preferred mailing address is:  137 W. Third St, Streator, Illinois  61364.                              We can be reached at (815) 673-2120 (Streator) and (815)844-2120 (Pontiac) or by email at :  dancentercers@gmail.com
Schedule - Our regular dance season runs from Labor Day thru Memorial Day. Summer classes are available as well.  We do take a Thanksgiving break as well as a Christmas/New Years break.  These specific dates will be announced in our monthly newsletters , which are emailed to parents at the early part of each month and also available on your parent portal on our app.  If you do not receive a newsletter, please contact the office to make sure we have the correct information.  Hard copies are available at each studio.  Monday school holidays, teachers institutes and spring break holidays are NOT celebrated by the studio.
Attendance - Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class.  Suggested arrival is no more than 15 minutes prior to the beginning of classes and students should be picked up in a prompt manner at the end of their classes.
Students should make every effort to attend all of their classes.  Students who attend classes on a regular basis are those that experience the most from their dance education.  Habitual absences hinder a student from advancement.
If your child is ill, please use discretion when deciding whether the student should attend class.  Should a student be injured and still mobile, we do, however, encourage them to attend so as to not fall behind and should come prepared to take notes if needed so that they can review material when they are able.  Please note that the Dancenter does NOT give out Tylenol or any other medications to students.
If your child needs to miss class for any reason, we ask, out of courtesy, that the studio be contacted in advance, when possible.   We have the capacity to have the student watch/participate in class at home via our band app.  This is only arranged by contacting the studio PRIOR TO 3PM on the day of the class.  Should a student need to discontinue classes for any reason, it is their/their parents responsibility to inform the studio.  You will continue to be billed for classes until we receive notification.  Non attendance is NOT considered proper notification. Any student with 3 unexcused absences from class will be dropped from the class roster.    
Cell Phones should be silenced or left at home.  At NO time should a student leave a dance class to answer their cell phone and NO cell phones are permitted in the dance room. Should a parent need to contact the student in case of emergency, please use the studio number and we will be happy to relay the messages.  Should a student need to leave class early, we ask that we be contacted directly or a note be sent so that the instructor can dismiss the student with the least disruption to the class.  We do not encourage this but we do realize that circumstances may warrant this from time to time.  For safety, we will keep all students in the classroom unless we have prior notification.

Dance Attire - Female students are required to wear a dance leotard to all classes.  Many students opt for dance shorts (no sport shorts), tights, skirts, leggings or yoga pants as well, as these items are permitted but optional.  T-shirts, tank tops, or any other shirt over a leotard is not accepted. Form fitting clothing allows the teachers to view proper body placement and alignment in order to best assist the dancers in the learning process .  In colder weather, students are permitted a form fitting long sleeved shirt  for warmups only and students should remove as soon as they are warm or if the instructor calls for this to happen.  Hoodies, fleece jackets, sweatshirts or any type of baggy clothing is NOT accepted.  Male students should wear stretch clothing (mesh/gym shorts and a fitted t shirt are ideal)  Again, no baggy clothing or denim will be accepted
females:  pink split sole ballet shoes, black tap shoes (for kinderdance and 1st grade combo) or tan tap shoes, tan jazz shoes , black hip hop shoes and lyrical sandals are required for the proper classes.  For musical theater, any soft dance shoe will work fine, but a specific shoe may be required when recital comes around. This is up to the teacher.
males:  Black ballets, taps, jazz and hip hop sneakers.  
Please that this is a Student Dress Code. Teachers may be dressed differently. 
Class Observation - The classroom door is open at the instructors discretion.  Sitting or standing in doorways and distracting students with conversation is not accepted as it can take the attention of the entire class and blocks the entranceways in case of emergencies.  Parents should silence is their phones as well when in the studio to avoid the distraction of them ringing during classes.  An adult must supervise siblings while in the waiting room. Quiet conversation is welcome.  Be sure to respect others and the classes that are in session.
The Dancenter is NOT a social gathering place.  Friends of students do not need to be in attendance unless they get permission from staff ahead of time.  Extra people loitering can made students uncomfortable, make extra work for staff who need to supervise them and can be a major distraction.  We strive to make dance class a fun and safe learnig place for all.  
Food and Drink - All food and drink, with the exception of water, must be kept in the dressing room and waiting areas.  Please clean up any spills that may occur promptly.  No chewing gum, candy or other food is permitted in the dance rooms at any time.  If you need to bring snacks, please choose wisely.  Because of allergies, we insist that NO NUTS be brought into the building.  Please clean up after yourselves and use the garbage cans located throughout the studio.  No snack sharing.  Bottled water is available for purchase in the office and this must be taken care of in between classes.
Communicaiton - Our newsletters are available the first week of each month via email and on the parent portal.  They containg updated  information that is not included in this handbook. . This can be holidays, schedules, outings, performance and other studio happeninigs. If you have a concern or question about your childs class, why we do a 'plie' at the beginning of each ballet class, why we choose the costumes we do or even something at home that is affecting your child, please talk with your instructors.  We cannot know there is a problem if you do not communicate with us.  We promise to do the same.  Should there be an issue that would take more than a few seconds between classes, please call, email or leave a note and we will be glad to schedule a time when things can be discussed.  
Commitment - By enrolling in our program, you and your child are making the commitment for the complete dance season.  Part of the dance education includes teaching the idea of commitment and finishing something you start.  We do also realize that situations can change and sometimes dropping classes is not something that is in your control.  We do ask, that if you need to cancel, that you contact us directly.  Email is an acceptable way and we will respond to let you know that the message was received.  Sometimes schedules can be adjusted and things can be changed and things that may have seemed impossible can be worked out. Please stay in communication with us.  Please join our facebook page or follow Dancenterfamily on Instagram.
Tuition - Tuition is based on the season and can be made in montly, three month semester or annual payment.  Our season is 36 weeks in length and tuition rates do not adjust whether there be 3, 4 or 5 classes in the month.  All tuition is due by the 15th of the month. Any tuition that must be billed will be subject to a $5 per month billing fee.  Sixty days of non-payment will result in the student being removed from classes.  Tuition can be paid by dropping payment in the tuition box located at each studio near the office or on the parent portal. If you are paying by cash, please use an envelope with the students name on it so that proper credit can be given.  You can also set up automatic payments via debit/credit card. Please see the office for more information.  No refunds or discounts are given for missed lessons.  There is a $30 fee for NFS checks.  
Holidays and Bad Weather - Please check your newsletter or portal calendar for holidays that the studio will observe.  They will be announced in advance.  Should schools be cancelled because of bad weather, that does not necessarily mean classes will be cancelled.  Should classes be cancelled, we will have information on our answering machines, we will email students as well as post info on our Facebook and Instagram pages.  Decisions will be made by 1pm.  Please check if you have any doubts.
End of year recital - an annual production will be held at the end of our dance season, normally the weekend after Memorial Day.  We pride ourselves in putting on a professional, entertaining and family friendly producation. Participation is not required. More information will be given as time nears.  

Classroom rules:
*be prompt. dress properly with hair up and limited jewelry
* leave gum, food, drink and phones outside the classroom
* stay away from the mirrors for your safety
*pay attention and be a good listener in class
*no running or horseplay in the studio.  Keep your hands to yourself. the only time a student should touch another student is if the teacher or the choreography calls for it.
*monkey bars are on the playground. Don't hang on the ballet barres.
*wait quietly and attentively when others are taking their turn
*put trash where it belongs
*keep belongings in their place.  Dance bags are recommended and should be kept to house personal items.  Please keep the floor free of clothings and dance shoes. Please label all your shoes with your name.
*wear a cover up to and from the studio and do NOT wear dance shoes outside
*no street shoes on the dance floor
*do not bring valuables into the studio. the Dancenter is NOT responsible for lost or misplaced items
*be courteous and encouraging of your fellow dancers.  these are your team mates
*show respect to your instructors. they are here to help and teach you.  Leave your personal issues at home.