L.A.H.S. DANCE PROGRAM, 2008-2009
Mrs. JonesDear Parents and Students,
Welcome, or welcome back, to the Los Alamitos High School Dance Program! To my returning dancers: I am so proud of all of you! We have some wonderful memories and now have a new year to look forward to to create new memories and to grow as dancers. I cannot wait to get dancing and performing again this year!
To new students: Before you start the program, it is very important that you and your parents understand what you are about to commit to. Students have made the mistake in the past of thinking this class would be an easy P.E. substitute. They found out too late that they were wrong. If that is your motivation for joining the dance program, please rethink your decision. Being in the program involves much more time, commitment, dedication, and money than a regular class. It involves performances, after-school rehearsals, dance clothes, costume deposits, and total dedication. You are asked to dress out EVERY DAY, participate every day, and put in 100% effort every day. Your grade in Dance is based on participation. If you are sick or miss school often, or are just too busy and are already over-committed, then maybe the dance program is not for you. In addition, you may not miss a required extra rehearsal or performance. So really think about what you are doing because this is far from the easy way out of P.E.
It is very important that you know and understand my policies, procedures, and expectations. I hope to answer any questions regarding the course with the following information.Class Layout
The focus of the class will be various forms and styles of jazz dance. We will also have ballet once a week. Upper level classes will require student teaching and choreography. The Intermediate and Advanced classes are UC approved for Fine Arts. (You need to let your counselor know if you are taking the class for Fine Arts credit.) This means there are extra requirements for those classes in order to meet UC standards. These requirements involve approximately three written assignments, a critique of an outside dance performance (check the website for assignment details and format), and a Final involving dance terminology.
The focus of the first six weeks of the semester will be technique. This involves warming-up, conditioning, technique across the floor, ballet, and dance combinations. The focus of the second six weeks will be approximately half technique and half show preparation. The focus of the last six weeks will be the performance.
Performance and Rehearsals
There will be at least one performance a semester, for three nights, that you need to commit to. The performance is a huge commitment. Your grade for the course is determined in large part by your involvement in the performance. If you are unable to attend all of the following performances and rehearsals, you should wait to join the dance program until you are able to make the time commitment. The performances this semester are Thursday, January 22nd, Friday, January 23rd, and Saturday, January 24th, at 7:00 with a 6:00 call time all three nights. There will be a mandatory show run-through rehearsal on Friday, January 16th from 2:45 to 5:30, and a mandatory dress rehearsal Wednesday, January 21st from 4:30 to 8:00. (There will be two optional, extra credit technical rehearsals Monday, January 19th from 12:00-5:00 and Tuesday, January 20th from 3:00 to 8:00.) Please put these dates, including the extra rehearsals, on your calendar today! Check with all outside activities such as cheer team and dance studio shows, competitions, rehearsals, and any other important events that may conflict with these dates. Also let on-campus groups such as choir, band and sports teams about these dates. Your commitment to this performance is required and crucial. Also keep in mind that as it gets closer to the performance, you may be asked to come to after school rehearsals. Upper level dancers must plan on having extra rehearsals.AN IMPORTANT HEADS UP FOR THE SECOND SHOW - IT IS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. IF YOU ARE GOING OUT OF TOWN THAT WEEKEND, THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO DROP DANCE SECOND SEMESTER. THOSE DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Show run-through - May 15th, 4:30-7:00 (note the later time due to AP testing)
Dress rehearsal - May 20th, 4:30-7:30
Performances - May 21st, 22nd, 23rd, at 7:00 - 6:00 call timeNote: Show policy - you must have a doctor’s note to excuse you due to serious illness or injury from a performance – the only other excusable reason for missing a mandatory rehearsal or performance is a death in the family. If you miss a performance or rehearsal for any other reason or cannot provide a doctor’s note, you will fail the class.
Another note: As we start preparing for the show, you need to make it a priority to be at school, dressed out, and ready to rehearse. Missing dance, even for school-sponsored events is not okay. Do not plan on sitting out on days when we are intensely preparing for the show or adding on to your dance.
Another, another note: You may not miss any dance class 3 weeks before the show (when we are rehearsing in the PAC) for any reason other than serious illness or death in the family. If you are absent for these reasons, a parent must call or email me. If not, you lose 20 points from your grade for every absence.Monetary Commitment
Being in this class will require you to invest in some dance necessities. You will need to buy jazz shoes and a few dance clothes. (You do NOT need to buy school P.E. clothes.) It would also be helpful if you had ballet shoes, especially at the intermediate and advanced levels. Upper level dancers should have knee pads and have them in class every day. (Also, at the intermediate and advanced levels you may need to buy other types of shoes for performances.)
In addition, you will need to give a costume deposit at the beginning of each semester for the performance at the end of each semester. The costume deposit will be as follows:
Beginning levels - $45.00 first semester, $90.00 second semester
Intermediate levels - $100.00
Advanced levels - $190.00Please write a check for the amount of your deposit to LAHS (cash is fine). Be sure the student’s name is on the check.
The costume deposit is due on Thursday, October 9th. On October 9th, you will be allowed class time to go to the Activities Office to make the payment.
**Please note that there are no refunds given for any reason once the costumes have been purchased.
BEGINNERS - Special Opportunity for shoes – The owner of Diva Dancewear is coming to class tomorrow, September 5th, to fit you for shoes. The shoes are $32.33 and will be delivered to you at school within a week. If you wish to purchase jazz shoes at tomorrow, you will need to have the payment with you – cash is preferred, but checks made out to Diva Dancewear are okay. Taking advantage of this opportunity is optional – you are welcome to purchase shoes on your own. Beginners must have shoes by Monday, September 15th or it will affect their grade. All other levels must have shoes in class tomorrow.
A few side notes about costumes:
• I always try to find the most affordable costumes possible while still creating a professional-looking show.
• You will have to pay for some costume accessories when we get closer to the show that are not included in the costume deposit. These include items such as tights, dance trunks, special make-up, etc.
• Please understand that it is extremely difficult to find for 260 students for 24 different dances affordable costumes, that fit the dance, that enhance the performance, that we will receive by show time, that flatter every student. I make the ultimate decisions with all of these aspects in mind, but will obviously not be able to please everyone.
• We try our best with the fit of the costumes but may not be successful. You may need to alter costumes yourselves.Required Dress
You are required to wear dance attire and dance shoes every day in class. Points are subtracted from your grade if you are not fully and properly prepared for class and if you do not do all of the following:
• For the upper level dancers, dance clothes must be professional and form- fitting. Dance pants, tights, leotards, and tank tops are acceptable as long as they are form fitting. They may be any color. Beginning dancers may wear any work-out type clothes; however, I prefer form-fitting dance clothes if possible. You must change into some type of workout clothes, though - stretchy school clothes are not okay. Dresses as a top are not okay either.
• You must wear jazz shoes every day unless otherwise specified. I would prefer you to have split-sole jazz shoes (no boots).
• Hair must be out of your face so as not to bother you or be distracting while you are dancing.
• Do not wear jewelry.
• You need to be dressed on time. You have five minutes from the bell to get dressed and get to class. (You will be dismissed five minutes before the bell to have time to change into your street clothes.) That means you need to be ready to dance at _____________, and you will be dismissed at _____________.
You will need to dress-out for class starting tomorrow.
Non-dancing days
You have three non-dancing days a semester due to illness or injury without any cost to your grade. (On certain days, if you choose to sit out, it will count for two days. I will let you know when this is the case.) These should not be used if you only forgot your dance clothes. Please see the "sit-out requirements" sheet for details. If you have a doctor’s note, you will be excused from class without using one of your three days.
If you do not use these days during the semester, you will receive five points extra credit at the end of the semester for each non-dancing day you did not use.
You lose fifteen points everyday you sit out beyond your three days. If your injury or illness causes you to sit out more than three days I need a doctor’s note excusing you from class. If you have an illness or injury that causes you to sit out of class for more than five days, you will be given a written assignment to make up for the time missed. If you have an illness or injury that causes you to sit out for more than two weeks or an indefinite amount of time, you will need to wait and take the dance class once you have healed.
Please use these days wisely and only if absolutely necessary!Grading Policy
Your grade for this course is broken into two segments. The first segment is based on participation. Everyone starts the course with 250 points. So, the good news is everyone starts with an “A”! The bad news is you can lose the points very easily. The participation segment of your grade is based on six areas. Each time you do not comply with the requirements of one of the six areas, you lose five points. That means if you get six marks against you, your grade goes down to a “B.” The following are the six graded areas:
• BEING ON TIME - You must be dressed and ready to dance on time. Your grade goes down five points with each tardy. You receive a tardy if you are not ready to dance on time.
• BEING PROPERPLY PREPARED - You must be dressed in appropriate dance attire and dance shoes. If you forget your clothes, you still need to dance or you will lose fifteen points.
• HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE - You must have a positive attitude at all times – no divas, no whiners, no grumps! A positive attitude includes respect towards your fellow dancers and me.
• SHOWING PROPER BEHAVIOR - You must listen closely and not talk to others, especially when I’m giving instructions. Disruptive behavior and talking will result in a lower grade and you will be asked to leave class. Your FOCUS must at all times be on the instructor and dancing.
• HAVING REGULAR ATTENDANCE - You must attend class consistently. Be healthy and come to school! Please go over all attendance policies on the next page. If your absence is a truancy, THIRTY points will automatically be subtracted from your grade.
• PUTTING FORTH EFFORT - You must put forth 100% effort at all times.The second segment of your grade is based on points you earn for other activities. These other activities include weekly combinations, the show (a major part of your grade), and any other extra assignments. (Advanced and Int. 2 and 3 dancers have extra assignments due to the UC Fine Arts standards.) Your grade for this segment is based upon the total number of points earned out of the total points possible. Both segments will be combined for your total grade at the end of the semester.
My grading scale is as follows:
90 – 100% of total points = A
80 – 89% of total points = B
70 – 79% of total points = C
60 – 69% of total points = DPLEASE NOTE – This class is different than other classes in that so much of the grade is earned in the last six weeks of the semester due to the performance at the end of the semester. Because of this, you can actually go from an “A” to a “F” after the last progress report. Parents must be aware of this possibility and know that there may not be time for notification prior to receiving the final grade.
Attendance Policies – Grades and Performance
Please let me know in advance of absences whenever possible – I especially need to know of any unavoidable extended absences ASAP. (Although, as a part of this program, you are expected to avoid those types of absences.) Communication from parents and students regarding absences is key. The bottom line is I need the students in class. Dance is a participation class and the time missed cannot be appropriately made up in any way.
1) If you have more than 10 absences both semesters and/or lower than a “C” both semesters, you will not be moved up the following year.
2) If you have seven to nine absences, you must turn in a written make-up assignment. This is worth forty points – if you do not complete the assignment, forty points will be subtracted from your grade. You will receive notice of this within the last two weeks of the semester. After nine absences, excused or unexcused, your grade for the class will be based on the following scale:# of absences GRADE
0-6 possible A
7-9 possible A if write paper
10-13 one grade lower than what you earned
14-16 two grades lower
17-20 three grades lower
20 or more four grades lower3) If you miss too many classes in which we are rehearsing for the performance, you will not be allowed to be in the show or may be cut from sections of your dance. This is left up to the choreographer’s discretion.
4) It is not okay to miss class on a day we are working on the performance dances for a school-sponsored event such as a field trip, sporting event, or other performing arts event. Ask teachers for other options so that you are not absent from this class for any reason, especially on show days.Improving
It’s never too early to think about your goals in dance. It’s always a good idea to take outside classes and to talk to me about your goals. Even if you do not take outside classes, regular attendance, 100% effort, and staying focused are key to mastering the technical abilities you need to improve and advance to the next level. With this in mind, please note the following policy:
If you do not get a passing score on the final at the end of the year, you will not move up a level the following year.Keep this in mind as you focus and work throughout the year and see me for extra help if you feel you need it.
Make-up Work & Extra Credit
If work needs to be made up, such as the performance of a combination, you will need to set up a time with me to make up the work. If your absence is a truancy, you will not be allowed to make up the work missed. You will have very few extra credit opportunities, but there will be a couple. Extra credit projects are not given to make up for a poor participation grade.Some important details…
• Effort – As I have said before, you will be graded on effort. When I grade you on your combination performance I will be looking for personal improvement. Improvement will not happen without your full dedication and effort daily. I cannot stress to you enough the importance of 100% effort every day and your personal commitment to improvement. You will not succeed or improve as a dancer unless you put forth 100% effort. Don’t do enough to get by – do enough to get ahead!
• Advanced Dancers – See the list of extra requirements sheet for specifics regarding your class expectations.
• Put your name on all of your dance attire – especially your shoes.
• Potty breaks – There are none. With only forty-five minutes to dance, I cannot allow you to take class time to use the restroom. You need to use the five minutes given to you to dress to go to the bathroom. If you have a medical condition that requires you to use the restroom at any given moment, I need a note from your parents and a physician.
• You may purchase a lock through ASB for $5 or bring your own lock if you wish to have a locker in the PE locker room. Bring the lock to the locker room attendants, and they will assign you a locker.
• Do not change in the restrooms in the girls’ locker room.
• You may not walk around campus in your dance clothes. You may not walk around campus bare foot.
• After you change at the end of the period you need to stay behind the yellow line by the locker room until the bell rings for dismissal. If you change early, you may not wander the campus.
• Bring water!! You’ll need it, and since time is precious, I can’t give you specific water breaks.
• Be careful of what you leave behind in the dance room – many personal belongings have been lost in the dance room. (I do have a lost and found box you can check if you lose something but I am not responsible for what you leave behind.)
• I would love to have Kleenx donated to the dance room – we go through it so fast!
• No changing in the dance room unless it is a special occasion in which I have deemed the dance room a dressing room – double check with me that it is one of those special occasions before you begin changing. Changing in the dance room will also result in five points being deducted from your grade.
Dance room rules
1) There is a strict no cell phone rule on this campus - this includes the dance room. There are absolutely no cell phones allowed in the dance room at any time. I will take it if I see it or hear it.
2) We MUST all pitch in to take care of the dance room and our floor. With this in mind, I am strictly enforcing the following rules:
• No food, gum, or drinks in the dance room. (You should never chew gum in a dance class anyway.) I will subtract five points from your grade for bringing food or drinks in the dance room. You will receive a lunch detention for having gum.
• Help to keep the dance room clean. The dance room gets messy fast. It’s your dance room. Clean up after yourselves! The cleaner the floor this less slippery it will be.
• Take street shoes off at the door and do not wear shoes that have been worn outside of the dance room, in the dance room. Absolutely no stiletto pumps in the dance room.Show Helpers
I will be in need of show helpers for each show and will be sending home a flyer in December about this. I appreciate anything parents and family members can do to help out. I could not have performances without volunteers!LOS AL DANCE WEB SITE
I have a web site with show pictures, a LAHS Dance Program calendar, recommended dance studios, where to buy dancewear, class handouts and other important information. Please visit the site at www.geocities.com/losaldance.Feel free to speak to me for any reason. You can email me at [email protected]. You can also call me any time at (562) 799-4780, extension 82501 to leave a message, but the best and fastest form of communicating with me is through email. It is going to be another exciting year! I hope you are looking forward to our time together as much as I am!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rikki Jones***SHOW THIS LETTER TO YOUR PARENTS – KEEP IT TO REFER TO FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION. CUT AND RETURN THE SIGNATURE PORTION BELOW TO ME TOMORROW.
____________________________________________________________________________Parents please initial each of the following:
• We have read and understand the policies of Mrs. Jones’ dance class. ____
• We understand that performances and rehearsals are mandatory. (Please review the dates and put them on your calendar today.) ____
• We understand that this class is different than other classes in that so much of the grade is earned in the last six weeks of the semester due to the performance at the end of the semester. Because of this, a student can actually go from an “A” to a “F” after the last progress report. We are aware of this possibility and know that there may not be time for notification prior to receiving the final grade. _____
• We understand that there is a required costume deposit and it is due on October 9th. (Please do not turn it in until that day.) We also understand that no refunds are given once costumes are purchased. If the student does not perform in the show for any reason, be it by student circumstance or teacher’s decision, she can have the costume but money will not be given back. _____
Student Signature __________________ Print Name ____________________
Period ____Parent Signature ___________________ Print Name _____________________
Email address _____________________ Phone number ___________________
Last Revised 9/2/2008Copyright 2003, Rikki Jones. All Rights Reserved