RHYTHM IN SELF EXPRESSION

Welcome to Rhythm In Self Expression! We are so excited for you to be a part of RISE Season 4. Classes begin September 2, 2025. Please read this handbook and keep it for reference throughout the year.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to encourage self expression through dance. We will strive to build confidence through love, hard work and dedication to the arts.

OUR EXPECTATIONS

We expect our parents and students to be respectful to staff as well as other parents and students. If a child’s behavior is inappropriate during class, they will be asked to have a seat in the waiting area until they are ready to rejoin the class. We will not tolerate foul language, horseplay, or bullying at RISE. We hope to create a positive and inviting learning environment for all students. Speaking negatively about our students, staff, or faculty will not be tolerated.

PARENT/GUARDIAN ETIQUETTE

Under no circumstances will criticism of our students, teachers, scheduling, costumes, or choreography be tolerated. If there is a concern, we ask that you contact Miss Stephanie calmly and professionally, and we will address the situation accordingly. Inappropriate confrontation will result in the expulsion of both the student and the parents from the programs offered at RISE.

PARENTAL VIEWING

We have a great viewing area with a large monitor for parental viewing. Parents who bring children other than the dancer with them to class must keep the children near them or in the children’s play area at all times. Unsupervised children may interfere with class and pose a danger to themselves and the dancers.

PARENTS OF TOTS AND PRESCHOOL AGED DANCERS

If you are enrolling a preschooler for the first time, please be aware that sometimes classes may not go as expected. This is typical of this age group, as it is the first time in a structured classroom setting. The more time they spend in the dance studio, the more comfortable they will become with their instructor and environment. If your child is at risk of injuries due to misbehavior or is disruptive to the class, they will be asked to sit out until they can safely return to class.

COMMUNICATION VIA EMAIL

All parents MUST have an email address on file. We distribute all RISE information via email. You can also use email to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the studio. Our studio email is rhythminselfexpression@gmail.com. We also send communications through noreply@jackrabbittech.com and aliciaslabby88@gmail.com. Please, check your trash or spam folder if you do not see these emails. From your trash or spam folder, you should be able to mark the emails as “safe”. 

We also have a Parent Squad Facebook Group that you're encouraged to join, as well as a Band App group, where our Parents In Charge will communicate important updates with you.

CLASS PLACEMENT
Guidelines for placement in classes include the student’s age as well as their dance experience. We will place students in classes we believe best fit their abilities and offer the best opportunity for their growth. If your student is not satisfied with their class, please email rhythminselfexpression@gmail.com, and we will do our best to find a class that suits your child’s needs.

We use music terms for our class leveling. In general, difficulty level varies based on the duration and the precision required to perform the note accurately.

• Quarter Note I
  Easiest level. Provides ample time to prepare for the next note.
• Quarter Note II
  Slightly more challenging. Still allows ample time to prepare for the next note.
• Eighth Note I
  Moderately easy. Requires dividing each beat in half.
• Eighth Note II
  Moderately more challenging. Also involves dividing beats in half with slightly increased complexity.
• Sixteenth Note
  Moderately difficult, demands faster and more precise playing.
• Thirty-Second Note
  Most difficult, requires very fast and highly precise execution.

Our dance curriculum is structured around the difficulty and precision of each movement, as well as the maturity level of the dancer. This ensures that each student is placed in a class where they can grow confidently and safely while being appropriately challenged.

Class Enrollment Policy

At Rhythm In Self Expression, LLC, we strive to offer a wide variety of classes that meet the needs and interests of our dance families. To ensure the best experience for all students, the following enrollment policy applies:

• All classes are subject to change based on enrollment and instructor availability.
• A minimum of three (3) students is required for a class to remain active.
• Classes that do not meet this minimum may be canceled or rescheduled at the discretion of the Studio Owner and Director, Miss Stephanie.
• In the event of a class change or cancellation, affected families will be notified promptly and offered alternative options when available.

RULES FOR STUDENTS

• No talking while the teacher is talking.
• No chewing gum in class.
• Keep your hands to yourself, do not touch other students.
• Ask permission before leaving the dance space.
• No running.
• No food or drinks allowed in the dance rooms. Water is allowed, preferably in a spill-proof or lidded container.
• Follow the teacher’s directions and wait in line.
• Always be kind to classmates and respect items that belong to others.
• No cell phones or smart watches during class times. You will be asked to put them away.

RULES FOR PARENTS

• Please keep all conversations appropriate for little ears.
• Make sure your child uses the restroom before class.
• As a courtesy to the teacher and the other students please have your child arrive at class on time.
• For the safety of your children, we ask that you always escort them to and from the building.
• All students under the age of 5 are required to have a parent/guardian in the viewing area during class. Parents of older students may stay in the viewing area during class or drop off their students and return to pick them up at the end of class.
• Please be respectful of the professional decisions of our staff.

TIME COMMITMENT

Classes are typically held weekly, with occasional closure for holidays. RISE will be closed on the following dates:

• September 2, 2025 - Labor Day
• October 31, 2025 – Halloween 
• November 25-30, 2025 – Thanksgiving break
• December 21, 2025, through January 4, 2026 – Christmas break
• May 25th, 2026 - Memorial Day

Students are encouraged to practice at home throughout the week.

Our annual season begins September 2, 2025 and will conclude in June with our annual dance recital. The recital date for 2025 depends on venue availability. The recital is typically held on a Saturday evening in June, with a dress rehearsal one day prior. Rehearsal is mandatory for participation in the recital. Recital will be split into 2 shows this year.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

The annual enrollment fee will be due when the student enrolls for fall classes. 

Updates to our payment policies. Effective February 13, 2025: 

● All card transactions—including tuition payments—will incur a 3% processing fee. 

● To avoid this fee, tuition may be paid by cash or check by the last day of the month prior (e.g., March tuition is due by February 28). 

● A $35 fee will be charged for any returned checks. 

● Please make sure to pay on time to avoid the $10 late fee. 

Each student is responsible for providing the appropriate shoes and dancewear for every class they are enrolled in. Costume fees are due in December and are estimated at $85 per costume. This fee includes the costume and one pair of tights per dancer (not per costume) and does not include shoes.

Professional still photos (not action photos at recital) of dancers in their recital costumes will also be taken on Picture Day and made available for purchase with the photographer. 

Recital fees are due by March 31st. The fee is approximately $75 per family with one dancer. For families with multiple dancers, there is an additional $15 fee per extra dancer.

The recital fee includes:

• Access to action photos and full videography of the entire show
  
• Two free recital tickets
  
• One recital t-shirt for each dancer
  
• Additional recital tickets will be sold to help cover venue rental costs.

Tuition, registration fee, costume fees, and recital fees should be paid by cash or check to avoid a 3% credit card processing fee.

Card payments are still welcome if preferred—just note that the 3% fee will be added to those transactions.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance to all classes is necessary to maintain progress.

If a student is more than 15 minutes late to class, the student will not be allowed to participate due to missing warm-up, which puts them at risk for injury. We request that you please contact the office if your child will be absent from class.

Dance students who miss more than three classes following Christmas break will be required to schedule a make-up class with their instructor to ensure they do not fall behind with recital choreography. If a student fails to schedule a makeup class, it may bump them from the recital line up. Each make-up class for individuals will be charged as a private lesson($45). The instructor and the parent will arrange make-up dates and times.

SICK POLICY

Regular attendance to all classes is necessary to maintain progress.

If a student is more than 15 minutes late to class, the student will not be allowed to participate due to missing warm-up, which puts them at risk for injury. We request that you please contact the office if your child will be absent from class.

Dance students who miss more than three classes following Christmas break will be required to schedule a make-up class with their instructor to ensure they do not fall behind with recital choreography. If a student fails to schedule a makeup class, it may bump them from the recital line up. Each make-up class for individuals will be charged as a private lesson($45). The instructor and the parent will arrange make-up dates and times.

BAD WEATHER POLICY

There will be times when the studio closes due to inclement weather. Please check our Facebook page for updates on canceled classes. Please note that we do not close in conjunction with area school districts. If classes are still being held, it is up to each family to make a reasonable decision whether to attend classes depending on the distance you are traveling and the current weather conditions. Safety is always our top priority. All dance classes canceled due to inclement weather will be made up at a later date. The instructor will set a date and time when the class will be made up.

INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE
If the instructor will be absent, we will either provide a substitute teacher, or class will be canceled and made up at a later date. The instructor will set a date and time when the class can be made up.

NOTES REGARDING DRESS CODE

• RISE is a family-friendly environment. We ask that all dancers be modestly covered outside the dance room.
• Dancers should have shoes by the first week of class. Dance shoes should NEVER be worn outside.
• Dancers must be dressed appropriately to participate in class.
• Shoes and tights must be the correct brand/color to participate in the recital and pictures. Any brand or color may be worn for class.
• Small earrings, jewelry, and ballet skirts may be worn during class. However, if these items become a distraction, the teacher will confiscate them until the end of class.

NOTES REGARDING MUSIC

Song choices for class and recital will be respectful of age, psychological development and free of profanity. Merely using the “clean” version of a song that is otherwise filled with profanity is not appropriate either, as it is still quite possible to know/feel the words that were removed, therefore the impact often remains.

Keep in mind the meaning of certain song lyrics may be cryptic and or filled with innuendo, so we take great care to truly understand what the song is actually about and whether it is appropriate for minors to be listening to it. 

NOTES REGARDING MOVEMENT

Movement choices including gestures, freestyle, floor work and props will be respectful of and safe for each dancer’s age, body and psychological development. They will be free of sexualized content and any adult concepts that may be inappropriate for minors.

NOTES REGARDING COSTUME
Keep in mind this is a family friendly studio and all costumes will be age appropriate. All costume pieces should adequately cover a dancer and their undergarments and must be secured to eliminate any possible wardrobe malfunction.