A Message From Ms Cathy

 Dear Dancer and Parents:

     I have been teaching dance for over 30 years and can honestly say I love teaching children the same today as when I began.  Each generation may have its own dance style (the twist, disco, hip-hop), but the basics and techniques of the dance do not change.  Parents often ask me which classes their child should take.  Well, it depends on his or her goals. 

·         If your child dreams of becoming a cheerleader, then she needs to enroll in tumbling (acrobatics) and hip-hop.  This combination will give her all of the tools to help her be her best when she tries out. 

·         If your child wants to be on the dance line, she needs jazz, technique and, if you can afford three classes, ballet will help a lot.  If all she takes is hip-hop, she will probably not make the dance line.  Hip-hop is fun and certainly helps with basic coordination and simple movements, but it does not focus on the techniques and difficult skills necessary for dance line. 

·         If your child simply wants to take dance because she enjoys it, likes music and performing, then let her take whatever appeals to her. 

     Ballet is the most structured class with emphasis on strength, flexibility, balance and form.  Tap helps tremendously with rhythm, timing and understanding musical phrasing and counts.  Acrobatics is great not only for learning tumbling skills, but it forces the student to control her entire body and builds strength and control. Jazz teaches quick steps and difficult coordination skills as well as the more advanced turns and leaps necessary for more advanced dancing.  Hip-hop teaches the street style dancing - mostly basic coordination skills and movement while moving your entire body and having fun.  Dance lessons and performing in front on an audience help your child learn the true lessons—those that last a lifetime--that success comes one step at a time from hard work, dedication and self confidence. 

 I hope this helps!

 Ms Cathy

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Welcome to CKDA.  We are so happy that you have chosen our studio and we are confident that you will be pleased with your decision.

Our studio’s main objective is to ensure that your child will learn the art of the dance in a healthy, positive atmosphere.  We truly care about each child at our studio and want you and your child to be happy.

Please go over the following things with your child so she/he will understand what is expected while dancing with us.

Proper Attire:  Proper attire is a must.  Teachers cannot offer proper instructions if students are dressed inappropriately.  Proper attire is also necessary for the safety of the dancer and the other dancers around them.  Acro teachers will not spot children in big t-shirts and baggy shorts.

Respect for Teachers and Others:  Teachers cannot teach children if they are rude, disrespectful or disruptive in class.  Students may be asked to leave the class for disruptive behavior and the instructor will want to speak to the parent if there is a continual problem.

“Lessons That Last A Lifetime”  Discipline and hard work bring rewards.  You can do wonderful things if you believe in yourself and work hard.  Positive attitudes and self-confidence really can make a difference, not only in dance, but in all aspects of life.  These lessons, as do all lessons, begin at home.  Your child cannot learn the lessons that can come from dance training if you do not insist on her/him following the rules, and attending classes regularly.   

No “In & Out” while classes are in progress:  Children must stay in their class while class is in progress.  The teacher will allow for quick “water/bathroom” trips when absolutely necessary, otherwise, the student is expected to stay in the classroom the entire time.  “In & Out” is very distracting to the teacher and the other students.

Studio Phone & Business Counter:  The studio phone is a business phone and may be used by the students only in emergencies.  Please explain to your children that the counter is for the employees only and they should not go behind the counter for any reason.  Should they have an emergency or need the phone they simply need to ask our secretary.

Practice:  Encourage your child to practice at home.  Always use caution, but practice really does make perfect!

Destruction of Studio Property:  Writing on the walls is strictly prohibited.  Students intentionally destroying studio property or the property of others will be dismissed from the studio with no refund.

Student/Teacher Conference:

Should you have a problem concerning your child please call the studio and set up an appointment with us.  The teachers can’t always meet with you between classes as there usually isn’t time, but we are happy to set up a meeting for you.

September – May:  Our business hours are from 4:00 – 7:00 PM Monday - Thursday.  We close with the Calcasieu Parish schools for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mardi Gras & Easter.

Again, thanks for choosing CKDA.  We truly appreciate your business!

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   $$What’s It Gonna Cost Me?$$

Below is a list of all expenses you will incur while at CKDA.  Please read all information carefully.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call us.

There is a $25 Registration Fee (+ $10 for each additional child) due upon registration.

Tuition is charged based on the following scale and is due the first of each month.  It is considered late on the 10^th.  All tuition received before the 10^th receives a $5 discount.  Tuition is the same each month whether the class meets two, three or even five times. 

 ½  hour class is $20,  ¾ hr class is $30, 1^st full hour of instruction is $40   

2^nd hour adds $20 and 3^rd hour or more adds $16 per hour.

**Additional children receive 25% off**

Classes will begin Tuesday, September 8, 2009.  We follow the same holiday as Calcasieu Parish Schools with only one exception:  Regular classes are held on all one-day holidays and all teacher inservice days.  The studio will close for Thanksgiving(Nov 23-27), Christmas (Dec 21-Jan 1), Mardi Gras (Feb 15-16), Easter/Spring break (Mar 29 – April 5) with the Calcasieu Parish Schools.

Costumes are required for our annual dance recital.  The costume prices are as follows: 

**You must choose a costume payment plan upon registering.  Please denote on your registration form which plan you choose.  The 2 options available to you are as follows:

            Plan A:  Pay in full by September 10^th and receive a 10% discount*.

            Plan B:  Pay in 4 equal installments added to tuition from Sept – December. 

There is a $35 Recital Fee (+ $5 for additional children) due with April’s tuition.  General admission to our show is free, reserved seating is $5.00, presale and $7.00 at the door.

All fees and tuition are non-refundable.  Should your child wish to quit, notify the studio at once.  Costumes are custom ordered and cannot be returned.  Once costumes are ordered, you are responsible for them. There is a 2% surcharge incurred on accounts more than 30 days past due.  There is a $25 NSF fee charged on all returned checks.    

Our annual recital is held in June at the Lake Charles Civic Center.  We will give you exact dates as soon as we have them.  Dress rehearsal for the recital is mandatory!  No exceptions.  Our PreK/Kinder and Gala performances are separate.  PreK will not do acro in the recital.

*If paying the year in full by September 10^th, take 10% off.  Please exercise caution, as tuition cannot be refunded.  Costume money can be refunded if child drops and we are notified before December 31^st. 

However, once costumes are ordered, you are responsible for them.

*Discounts cannot be given on credit card payments. 

“What Do I Need?”

Your child will need certain “equipment” for dance classes.

All dancers are required to purchase and wear a studio leotard to all classes.  Bikers are allowed in acrobatics classes.  Bikers or jazz pants are allowed in jazz and tap classes.   Ballet students need black or pink tights.  Ballet skirts are allowed, but no pants or bikers in ballet classes please!

Dancers need a dance bag for their belongings.  Please put your child’s name in all of her belongings, including leotards, shoes, bags, etc.  We are not responsible for items left at the studio, lost or stolen.    

Required Footwear:

Acrobatics:  No shoes or socks

Tap:  Black tap shoes with black elastic for PreK – 5^th Graders.  No ties allowed!

JH & HS Tap students may wear the black tap oxford. 

Jazz/HipHop: Kinder – Pink ballet shoes or tan jazz oxfords

                        1^st Grade & Up:  Black jazz oxfords or black jazz boots (Black Jazz sneakers OK

for 3^rd grade and up)

Ballet:  Pink ballet shoes with pink elastic sewn across instep.  Pointe shoes may be necessary for advanced dancers 11 years of age or more with teacher’s permission.  We will fit your child for pointe shoes at the beginning of the year.

Special Instructions:  No baggy t-shirts, shorts or sweatpants are allowed in any dance or acro class.  Wind shorts are OK.  Studio leotard is mandatory for all dance/acro classes and may be worn only as denoted above.  In order to insure that your child get the most out of each class, please see that he/she comes to class properly prepared and dressed appropriately. 

Hair:  Please keep hair out of child’s face.  Hair should be secured away from face and worn in such a way as not to impede your child or others near her.  For acro, it is recommended that hair not be worn directly on top of the head, as this tends to hinder the child during rolls, headstands, etc.

Attendance:  Attendance is of the utmost importance for any participant in any activity.  Children missing excessively fall behind quickly and become frustrated and disheartened.  Excessive absences are unfair to your child and the other children in the class.  Children missing more than 4 classes in the 2 months prior to recital may not be allowed to participate in the recital without receiving private lessons.  Private lessons range in cost from $50 to $75 per hour and are the sole responsibility of the parent.

Perfect Attendance:  Trophies are awarded to students who have “perfect” attendance at the end of the year.  To receive this award students must not miss any classes and must be enrolled for at least 6 of the 9½ months of classes. 

Solos: Solos are a great way for your child to improve her skill and build self-confidence.  However, we can no longer allow solos to perform in the recitals due to time constraints.  You can perform your solo at competitions and/or pageants. 

2009-2010 Schedule

Mondays

Studio A:                                                 ______                    Studio B:

4:00 – 4:45        3^rd –5^th Jazz I (3^rd and beg 4^th)

4:45 – 5:30        JH Jazz                                                             4:45 – 5:30  3-5 Tap

5:30 – 6:15        3^rd – 5^th Jazz II (exp 4^th & all 5^th)                    5:30 – 6:15 JH/HS Tap

6:15 – 7:00        JH Hip Hop                                                      6:15 – 7:30 TBA Team

7:00 – 7:45        HS Jazz                                                                       

7:45 – 8:45        Adv Ballet

8:45 – 9:30        HS Hip Hop

Tuesdays:

Studio A:                                                               _______      Studio B:

                                                 11:00 – 12:00 Tues AM PreK

4:00 – 4:45        3-5 Ballet IIA (3^rd & beg 4^th)                             400 – 4:45  Boys Hip Hop

4:45 – 5:30        3-5 Hip Hop                                                      4:45 – 5:30 (overflow 3 – 5 HipHop)

5:30 – 6:15        3-5 Ballet IIB (exp 4^th & all 5^th)                         5:30 – 6:30 PreK TBA

6:15 – 7:00        Ballet III                                                           6:30 – 7:30 Kinder TBJ

7:00 – 7:30        Beg Pointe (with instructor’s permission)            7:30 – 8:45 TBA Team

7:30 – 8:45        Adv Ballet/Pointe

Wednesdays

Studio A:                                                                     Studio B:

4:00 – 5:00        Acro I (unable to do stand up backbend unassisted)

5:00 – 6:00        Acro IIB (can do back bend kick over unassisted, but not ready for back handspring)

5:00 – 6:00        Acro IIA (will start in Studio B, can do stand up backbend unassisted, but can’t kick over

6:00 – 7:00        Acro III (can do back bend kick over unassisted and working on back handspring)

**We will move children accordingly during the first few weeks and months of class.  Remember, it is always better for us to need to move your child up than to have to move her down.  Please place her as recommended and we will move her as she advances and progresses. 

Thursdays

Studio A:                                                                     Studio B:

4:00 – 4:30        1^st – 2^nd Jazz/Hip Hop                                      4:00 – 4:30 1^st – 2^nd Jazz/HipHop (OF)

4:30 – 5:00        1^st – 2^nd Ballet                                                 4:30 – 5:00

5:00 – 6:00        Beg Technique (3^rd – 7^th Grade)                       5:00 – 5:30 1^st – 2^nd Tap

6:00 – 7:30        Teams                                                              5:30 – 6:30 Kinder TBJ

7:30 – 8:30        Adv Tech                                                         6:30 – 7:30 PreK TBA

                                                                                                7:30 – 8:45 TBA Team

**Friday and Saturday are reserved for team rehearsals and private lessons**

**Registration each Tues & Thurs from 4:00 – 7:00 PM beginning July 7**

                **Overflow classes offered only if 10 students register for that class**

Registration is first come first served.  Returning students may register any time from June 1 – July 6. 

All students need a studio leotard and appropriate shoes for classes they enroll in.

Acro Classes are divided by ability not age.  If you’re unsure, ask us!  All fees and tuition are non-refundable!