Terms and Conditions

DANCE STUDIO RULES & ETIQUETTE

Policies & Procedures

Information

• If you need to speak to the teacher, please try and do it at the end of the lesson.
• At times lessons may have to be cancelled due to unforeseeable reasons eg the teacher being ill or reasons of necessity eg hall unavailable. If this occurs a refund for that lesson will be issued.
• Students will be given an account for their fees at the beginning of each term. All fees must be placed in an envelope with the students name on the front unless deposited directly to the bank account.
• Payment for fees is due by week 1 of each Term.
• In the event where your overdue account is referred to a collection agency and/or law firm, you will be liable for all costs which would be incurred as if the debt is collected in full, including legal demand costs.
• Students dance at their own risk. Noliability will be accepted by the dancing studio.
• You will receive a newsletter at the start of each term with more frequent notices given out if required. Please ensure that you check your child’s dance bag regularly for any notices that have not been passed on.
• Students are placed into class accordingly to age and ability. If at any time the teacher feels that the placement is incorrect, you will be notified and the situation rectified. The first priority is to place children where they will progress. A student may be moved to a different class if, after evaluation, the teacher finds that the student is not in the proper class for his or her ability
• Personal details given to the studio will remain confidential

Lessons

• All classes begin and end on time. Dancers should be punctual to allow for warm-up and to minimize distractions for other students. At times where it is unavoidable, quietly enter the room and quickly join the class.
• Students should go to the toilet prior to the lesson.
• Except for water, food and chewing gum should not be brought to class
• If you are unable to attend a lesson, please phone or text and advise the teacher. Missed lessons must be paid for, instead, students are encouraged to attend make-up classes on another day of the week.
• People learn at different rates and in different ways.  Students should be patient with other students that may take extra time to learn a movement. When this happens students should practice a movement they have just learned. 
• There will be times during the lessons that students can talk to their friends. At other times they should listen to the teacher and not try to talk to friends while dancing.
• We ask that parents refrain from watching classes. Students perform better without the parents in the room.
• Mobile phones should be turned off during the lesson, unless you are expecting an urgent call.
• When asked by the teacher, Older students should help younger students, but do not BOSS them.
• If you are not sure of something please ask the teacher. It is better than practicing the wrong thing.
• Students should not leave the hall unless the person collecting them has arrived. The teacher should be notified once your parent has arrived. Please notify the teacher if someone else will be collecting the child.
• If you have a notebook or journal, you should bring it to EVERY lesson, and take practice notes in it each week

What to wear

• Shorts and a T-shirt with long white socks are sufficient. Girls are welcome to wear leotards. Until you are ready to buy the “pumps”, jazz/ballets shoes or jiffy slippers will BE ADEQUATE. In winter tights should be worn instead of tracksuit pants as the tracksuit pants restrict the leg movements.
• Hair should be tied back.
• All dancewear, shoes and personal items should be labeled. While every effort is taken to ensure students leave with their belongings, the studio is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged articles or personal property.
• Students are requested not to wear dance shoes to and from classes as this ruins the shoes.
• The studio uniform provides a sense of belonging to a team. Students can purchase the uniform through the teacher. Studio T-shirts should be worn to class and to and from performances when not wearing the kilt jacket. The cape should be worn to cover and protect the kilt. The cape allows the children to sit down without damaging or dirtying the kilt and can also be used as a blanket on the grass.

Behaviour Guidelines

Students should:-

• Abide by studio rules and respect the right of others to work in a class environment
• Respect personal and studio property and promote a clean, safe and healthy environment
• Behave in a polite, responsible and courteous manner at all times
• Be committed to giving 100% effort in all classes
• Be good role models for the school when dancing out

Practice Guidelines

Students should:-

• Practice at home
• Practice all dances but especially the ones that you did not practice in this weeks class
• How long should you practice for?
  Primary … 20 minutes 3 times a week
  Beginner/Novice…45 minutes 3 times a week
  Intermediate/Premier…1 hour 3 times a week
  Championship preparation…45 minutes – 1 hour 5 times a week
• These are minimums for being a successful highland dancer
• Avoid practicing for long periods of time the night before a competition
• Non-competitive dancers still need to practice in order to keep up stamina and learn new dances
• Provide an adequate space to practice. Pre-Premier dancers need a clear space in the kitchen or living room. Not on cement! Premier dancers need a wood floor approx. 10 feet by 10 feet and a mirror.

Competitions

• Find your teacher before each dance at competition so that they can give you some final pointers and watch your performance. See them again immediately following each dance so that you can get feedback.
• Sit with dancers from the school during awards so that you can support one another through clapping and hugs (no cheering or shouting).
• As soon as you step on the platform you are being judged, chin up and smile, don’t look around or wiggle.

• Parents in the audience may not help dancers on stage while they are competing. If you are caught helping your child they can be disqualified.
  
  

  Karen McPhillips School of Highland Dancing
  Publications, Video, Internet Consent and Release Agreement

  Students who attend the Karen McPhillips School of Highland Dancing are occasionally asked to be a part of school and/or District publicity, publications and/or public relations activities. In order to guarantee student privacy and ensure your agreement for your student to participate, we ask that the parent/guardian or the student sign and return this form to the school for each of your children.

  The form referenced below indicates approval for the student's name, picture, verbal statements or portraits (video or still) to appear in school publicity (newsletters etc), videos or on the school’s website. For example, pictures and articles about school activities may appear in local newspapers or publications. These pictures and articles may or may not personally identify the student. The pictures and/or videos may be used by the school in subsequent years.

  AGREEMENT
  Student and Parent/Guardian release to Karen McPhillips School of Highland Dancing
   the student's name, picture, voice, verbal statements, portraits (video or still) and consent to their use.

  The Karen McPhillips School of Highland Dancing agrees that the student's name, picture, voice, verbal statements, portraits (video or still) shall only be used for public relations, public information, school or district promotion, publicity, and instruction.

  Student and Parent/Guardian understand and agree that:

  • Consent and release have been given without coercion or duress;
  • This agreement is binding upon heirs and/or future legal representatives;
  • The photo, video or student statements may be used in subsequent years.

  If the Student and Parent/Guardian wish to rescind this agreement they may do so at any time with written notice.