Please remember that “we are in this together.”  We believe that the dancer’s success depends on the support of their parents or guardians.  Because your commitment to the process makes an enormous difference, we encourage you to be a part of your child’s dance education.  Decisions in regards to dance training will ultimately be made by the teacher(s) and the director.  Decisions regarding every dancer are carefully examined and made with expertise from having years of training and experience behind them.  This will help ensure the dancer’s safety and will enrich the dancer’s training experience.

COPELAND DANCE relies on a positive atmosphere for our faculty, dancers and their parents.  Our program promotes a positive learning experience for all participants.  Cooperation between all parents is expected.  Showing respect for the other parents, along with the students and faculty, makes an important impression on the child.  Parents must show all faculty and staff the proper respect they deserve.  Please remember that you are a role model for your child in how to interact with others in a professional setting.

Students and families must report all absences to COPELAND DANCE prior to class time in order to be excused.  If an absence is not reported it will be considered unexcused.  The dancer’s presence at all classes is imperative.  The spirit of teamwork and the lesson of dedication are a big part of our school’s educational process.

Good attendance is critical to consistent progress and advancement.  Poor attendance will jeopardize a student’s placement.  Classes can be made-up during the current session.  No student is permitted to make up in a class more advanced than the class for which they are registered.

Students entering class ten minutes late are prohibited from taking class.  Injuries can result when a student has not had a proper warm up.  If a student is leaving class early please notify the teacher at the beginning of class.  Special exceptions will be considered by the Studio Manager.

If there is a substitute teaching class, it is unacceptable not to attend class.  Taking class from a variety of teachers is extremely beneficial to a dancer’s training.  Experiencing different styles and techniques is critical to the training of a dancer.  All students are expected to show the substitute teacher the same respect.

Proper dance attire promotes respect for the art and confidence in the student.  Dancers should not wear their dance shoes outside.  Any student wearing their shoes in from the street to the studio will not be permitted to dance in those shoes.  Hair should be secured off the face.

Ballet:  Dark leotard, tights and pink ballet shoes (Boys: white t-shirt, black tights, black ballet shoes).

Cecchetti Ballet:  Black leotard, pink tights, ballet shoes, hair in a bun.

Jazz:  Leotard, camisole or tight fitting t-shirt with tights, Capri’s or jazz pants.

Modern:  Leotard, camisole or tight fitting t-shirt with tights, Capri’s or jazz pants.

Tap:  Comfortable clothing with heeled or low heeled tap shoes.

Hip-Hop:  Light weight t-shirt or camisole and jazz pants.  Jazz sneakers or clean gym shoes.

Food, gum and drinks are not permitted in the dance studios.  Students are responsible for the disposal of their garbage and are expected to treat the dance school with the utmost care.  Trash cans are located throughout the school.   Please keep the waiting are quiet and no running allowed in the hallways.  There is a designated waiting area located in the hallway outside the studio.  Please turn off all cell phones when in the office and studios.

Classes are ALWAYS held on President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Columbus Day and Pulaski Day.  We are open during School Institute Days, unless it is a schedule holiday at COPELAND DANCE.  We will follow the St. Charles School District 303 for any closings due to weather.

COPELAND DANCE staff is not allowed to give out student or teacher class information, phone numbers, email addresses or home addresses.  Therefore, we ask that phone numbers be exchanged on an individual basis.

Students who are injured or sick and unable to participate are asked to come and observe class.  Observing class is important to the development of the students dance education.  Once a student has stopped participating in class they may not resume class at any point during the session.

Respect is the act of giving particular attention or consideration.  Both students and parents are required to show respect to all students, parents, teachers, and staff at all times.  Disrespect will not be tolerated to any extent or in any situation.  The discipline of respect is essential with regard to proper dance class etiquette, which will in turn instill respect in the dancer’s life outside of dance class.  Children learn important lessons from their teachers and parents, acquiring important behavior patterns through example.  Our school’s faculty takes this responsibility extremely seriously.  It is our philosophy to encourage students to think, feel and act respectively towards their peers, the adults in their lives, and themselves.  Please report any disrespectful behavior to the director.

Students are expected to treat COPELAND DANCE staff with respect and a positive attitude.  There is to be no talking during dance class.  Dance class is not a time for socialization; it is a time for focus, dedication and learning.  Excessive talking is distracting and disrespectful to the teachers and classmates.