RISE Handbook

Welcome to Rhythm In Self Expression!

We are so excited for you to be a part of RISE Season 5. Classes begin September 8, 2026. 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. We recognize our students & their families are the most important asset we have at our studio. If you have any concerns please bring them to our staff's attention immediately so we can work with you.

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 large monitors for parental viewing. Parents who bring children other than RISE students 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

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.

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”. BAND App We will utilize the band app for all class communication & the calendar feature for posting important dates and events throughout the season. In addition, class videos will be uploaded directly into your BAND group to help students practice at home and stay performance-ready.

Each age group has its own group within the BAND app, where your class Parent-In-Charge (PIC) will share announcements, updates, and reminders. We also have a Parent Squad Facebook Group that you're encouraged to join.

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.

At RISE, we place a strong emphasis on building a solid technical foundation and ensuring our dancers are learning safely. Taking Ballet (Barre & Technique) alongside our specialty classes helps reinforce the proper technique and skills they need throughout the season.

Ballet is where dancers learn the terminology, proper body placement, and fundamental skills that are then applied in all of our specialty classes

Any of our specialty classes—including Acro, Pom, Modern, Jazz, and Pointe—require Ballet (Barre & Technique) to be taken alongside them.

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 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 five (5) 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. ● Hair must be up and out of face.

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.

● Please clean up any mess your child makes in the waiting area.

● If you have concerns please come to a staff member right away.

TIME COMMITMENT

Classes are typically held weekly, with occasional closure for holidays.

RISE will be closed on the following dates:

● September 7, 2026 - Labor Day

● October 31, 2026 – Halloween

● November 26-29, 2026 – Thanksgiving Break

● December 17th-Studio Closed

● December 22, 2026, through January 3, 2027 – Christmas Break

● March 26-28th - Easter Break

● May 31th, 2027 - Memorial Day

Students are encouraged to practice at home throughout the week. Our annual season begins September 8, 2026 and will conclude in June with our annual recital. 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. The recital will be split into 3 shows this year. For more detailed information about our 2027 recital, please view “Recital Information” at the end of this handbook.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT

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

● 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-$100 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 students 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 $100 per family with one student. For families with multiple dancers, there is an additional $20 fee per extra student. The recital fee includes:

● Access to action photos and full videography of the entire show

● A keepsake printed program

● One recital t-shirt for each student

● 2 free recital tickets Note: You must log in through the ticket vendor website to claim your free tickets during the parent early access period. Once tickets open live to the public, there is no guarantee you will have tickets if you wait.

● 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.

Tuition, registration fee, costume fees, and recital fees are non-refundable.

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.

We do not prorate or do make up classes if a student is absent.

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 ($50). The instructor and the parent will arrange make-up dates and times.

SICK POLICY

Please do not send students to class if they are sick or showing signs/symptoms of illness including any of the following: discharge from the eyes or nose, fever, chills, stomachache, diarrhea, etc. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to class.

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 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.

● Students should have shoes (if applicable) by the first week of class. Dance shoes should NEVER be worn outside.

● Students 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 student and their undergarments and must be secured to eliminate any possible wardrobe malfunction.

RECITAL INFORMATION

Recital Venue Our Season 5 Recital will be held at: R-7 Performing Arts Center Jefferson R-VII Fine Arts (Performing Arts Center)

7 Blue Jay Way

Festus, Missouri 63028

Blocking Week June 14–17, 2027

Blocking will take place at the R-7 Performing Arts Center during each student’s normal class time.

During blocking, students will become familiar with the stage, entrances and exits, spacing, and performance areas. Attendance during Blocking Week is important and expected.

Friday Dress Rehearsal & Saturday Recital Shows Friday, June 18, 2027 Saturday, June 19, 2027

Students will be assigned to one or more performance times depending on the number of classes they are enrolled in. The dress rehearsal time on Friday will match the student’s recital performance time on Saturday.

NOTES REGARDING MOVEMENT

NOTES REGARDING COSTUME

_____________________________________________________________

RECITAL INFORMATION

Recital Venue Our Season 5 Recital will be held at: R-7 Performing Arts Center Jefferson R-VII Fine Arts (Performing Arts Center)

7 Blue Jay Way

Festus, Missouri 63028

Blocking Week June 14–17, 2027

Blocking will take place at the R-7 Performing Arts Center during each student’s normal class time.

During blocking, students will become familiar with the stage, entrances and exits, spacing, and performance areas. Attendance during Blocking Week is important and expected.

Friday Dress Rehearsal & Saturday Recital Shows Friday, June 18, 2027 Saturday, June 19, 2027

Show Times & Call Times

1:00 PM Performance ---- Call Time: 12:00 PM

4:00 PM Performance ---- Call Time: 3:00 PM

7:00 PM Performance ---- Call Time: 6:00 PM

Your student’s assigned show time will be announced at a later date. Once assignments are finalized, families will receive their specific Friday dress rehearsal time and Saturday recital performance time. Please plan accordingly, as students will be required to attend both their assigned dress rehearsal and recital performance.

Students should arrive at their designated call time, one hour prior to their performance. On Friday June 18th, students will practice the full recital experience in costume and makeup. The show will run from beginning to end.

RHYTHM IN SELF EXPRESSION

2026-2027 HANDBOOK

About Us

RHYTHM IN SELF EXPRESSION

2026-2027 HANDBOOK

About Us

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