Welcome to Rhythm In Self Expression! We are so excited for you to be a part of RISE Season 3. Classes begin September 3, 2024. 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”.

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: Easiest, ample time to prepare for the next note.

Eighth Note: Moderately easy, requires dividing beats in half.

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 based on the difficulty of the steps and the precision required to perform those steps.

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.

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, 2024 – Labor Day
• October 31, 2024 – Halloween 
• November 26-29, 2024 – Thanksgiving break
• December 23, 2024, through January 3, 2025 – Christmas break

Students are encouraged to practice at home throughout the week.

Our annual season begins September 3, 2024 and will conclude in June with our annual dance recital. The recital date for 2024 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.

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 shoes and dancewear appropriate for each class in which they have enrolled. Costume fees are due in December. Estimate $75 PER 

COSTUME (will include one pair of tights and does not include shoes). 

Recital fees are due in March, approximately $75 per family. Recital fees include access to action photos and videography of the entire show, as well as two free tickets and a recital t-shirt. Professional still photographs of students in their recital costumes will be taken and made available for purchase. Tickets to the recital will be sold to help defray the cost of the venue rental. 

Tuition can be paid with card, check, or cash. Please review Auto-Pay Policies on the Studio Policy Agreement. Any other payments (costume fees, recital fees, etc.) will need to be paid with CASH OR CHECK ONLY to avoid the 3% surcharge

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. Each make-up class for individuals will be charged as a private lesson. 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 dance classes canceled due to inclement weather will be made up at a later date. 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

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.