HEARTBEAT STUDIOS POLICIES 2006 - 2007

Our policies and procedures help us uphold our professional standards.  Please take time to read them and explain them to your dancer.  Heartbeat reserves the right to change its policies at any time. 

♥ REGISTRATION

Please read and complete the registration and enrollment information contained in Heartbeat’s class Registration Form or print a copy of the form from our web site, (click here for registrations form) .  A registration form must be filled out for each family member.  Registration fee and first month’s tuition are due with your completed registration form and are non-refundable.  Students are accepted on a first come first serve basis and Heartbeat reserves the right to cancel classes with insufficient enrollment. 

Registration in Person:  Office hours are Monday through Friday, 4:00pm to 8:00pm during the summer.  Saturday hours, 10:00am to 4:00pm, are added starting September 1st. 

Registration by Mail:  Heartbeat Studios, 7661 West 145th Street, Apple Valley, MN  55124

Questions:  952-432-7833, email:  debhtbt@frontiernet.net

♥ MAKE-UP CLASSES

Make-up classes are permitted within two weeks of the date missed and must be selected from a different class of equal length.  Make-up classes cannot be used to extend or delay tuition due dates. 

♥ DRESS CODE

Heartbeat’s Dress Code is established for the safety of the students and to provide the tools they need to learn each discipline.  All of the items listed are available for order at very competitive prices through Heartbeat.  Students’ hair for all classes must not interfere with line of vision and must be pulled back in a bun or ponytail.   Students who come to class in inappropriate attire will be asked to observe the class rather than participate.  

Acting:  BlackJazz sneakers or Jazz shoes, black Jazz pants and black top. 

Ballet:  Pink Ballet tights, pink Ballet shoes and black leotard.  Black wrap skirt optional.   

Flamenco:  Consult instructor first day of class.

Hip Hop:  BlackJazz sneakers and black Jazz pants and black top.  No jeans allowed!

Jazz:  Black Jazz sneakers or Jazz shoes, black Jazz pants and black leotard or form fitting top.

Modern:  Students dance barefoot or can wear a foot thong.  Black Jazz pants and black leotard or form fitting top.

Rockette (Kick Line):  Black Jazz sneakers and tan high-heeled Tap shoes, black leotard. Black jazz pants or dance shorts are optional. 

Stage Dance:  BlackJazz sneakers or Jazz shoes, black Jazz pants and black leotard or form fitting top.

Tap:  Black Tap shoes (flat Oxford-type) for youth through adult classes. Munchkin and Child classes can choose the patent leather Tap shoe that either buckles or ties, or the flat Oxford-type shoe if available in small sizes.  Black Jazz pants and black top.

Boys/Men:  Dancewear in all disciplines is Black Jazz pants and black form fitting top. 

♥ LEVELS

A Beginning Level class of any discipline covers the basic technique and vocabulary of a dance style.  Beginning classes are structured for the absolute beginner through the second year dance student.  Classes are taught to clearly instruct students on correct body alignment, build muscular strength and flexibility, and to teach students the basic dance pattern rooted within the dance discipline. 

A Beginning/Intermediate Level class of any discipline re-enforces the basic technique, alignment and vocabulary of a dance style as well as challenge students’ minds and bodies with more complex patterns, multiple turns, developing leaps and faster foot work.  Beginning/Intermediate classes are structured for the second year beginning student who is preparing to move into an Intermediate level of dance. 

An Intermediate Level class of any discipline is for students who have accomplished the basic technique, alignment and vocabulary of the particular dance style and are capable of handling challenging complex patterns, multiple turns, leaps and fast foot work.  Intermediate classes are taught at a much faster pace for the student who is preparing to move into an Advance level of dance. 

An Intermediate/Advanced Level class of any discipline is for the Intermediate level students who are ready for challenging choreography, physical endurance and flexibility.  Intermediate/Advanced classes are taught at a fast and demanding pace.  Instructors may demonstrate dance patterns only once or twice for the students and will move on quickly to the next pattern.  Intermediate/Advanced levels are for those who are preparing to move to Advanced level. 

An Advanced Level class of any discipline is for accomplished dance students who are ready for the ultimate challenge of tackling professional level choreography, physical endurance and flexibility.  Instructors will move on quickly from one pattern to the next using all special levels.  Advanced levels are for those who are preparing for professional level dance. 

♥ IMPORTANT NOTICES AND NEWSLETTERS

Written notices and newsletters are periodically distributed to students.  It is up to the students and parents to read the information as the information is handed out.  Parents are advised to regularly check their dancer’s dance bag for these important hand-outs or Heartbeat’s website: click here for the announcement page.   

♥ OBSERVATION ETIQUETTE

Observation of dance classes at any time is a privilege that is rarely extended by other dance studios.  Heartbeat is a professional school and must have an optimal learning environment for its students.  Heartbeat reserves the right to remove the class observation privilege if the following etiquette is ignored:

• No food or beverage, including coffee, is allowed in the building.  The only exceptions are bottled water and food necessary for medical reasons.  A water cooler is available; however students must bring their own water bottle. 
• Observation of classes is from the lobby areas only.  No observation is allowed from within the studio.  Talking in the lobbies must be kept low in volume and children in the lobbies must be kept quiet and under their parents’ control at all times. 
• Observers must not walk into a class in session or yell into the studio to get a student’s attention.  This is very disruptive to the class and disrespectful to the instructor.
• Strollers, toys and other large play items are not allowed in the lobby areas as they pose unsafe conditions for building traffic flow.  Over-crowding in the building also poses a hazard in the event of an emergency evacuation.
• Help keep the building clean by remembering to use waste containers. 
• Video taping of classes is not allowed unless specific approval has been obtained by the instructor. 
• Do not allow siblings to run into the studio when a class is in session.  This is disruptive to the class and disrespectful to the instructor. 
• Do not talk negatively about other students in your child’s class.  If you have concerns about another student or an instructor, do not make the error of making assumptions or spreading rumors; rather, bring your concern in confidence to the studio owners for clarification or remedy.

♥ DANCERS’ ETTIQUETTE

• Arrive to class on time.  The first 15 minutes are crucial to a proper warm-up.
• Wear appropriate clothing and come dressed to dance according to Heartbeat’s Attire section.  Students with inappropriate attire will be asked to observe the class instead and will still be charged tuition. 
• No talking during class.
• No gum, food or beverage other than water is allowed in the studio. 
• Respect for your teacher and fellow students is one of the most important lessons in dance class.  Thank your teacher verbally or with applause at the end of each class.  Compliment your fellow students for giving their best effort in class. 
• Attendance in dance class is essential for the development of each student.  Frequent absence of a student is unfair to the other students in the class, to the instructor and to the progress of the class.  Three (3) absences, whether or not consecutive after March 1st will disqualify a student from participating in Heartbeat’s annual dance concert.
• Come to class with a positive attitude ready to learn! 

♥ SAFETY

Students should be walked into the building by their parent or chaperone.  Parents should let the teacher or front desk person know if their child is to go home with someone other than the person who dropped them off. Parents should arrive to pick up their child before the class ends.  Students must be picked up on time and not left in the lobby.  Parents should make sure their child knows not to leave the studio without them and not to wait outside.  Heartbeat’s teachers have other obligations and commitments and are extremely inconvenienced when a student is picked up late.

♥ DISCIPLINE

Heartbeat is extremely concerned about the safety and well being of its students and staff and holds safety in the studio as a very high priority.  Students exhibiting behavior in class that is disrespectful, unsafe or harmful or deemed as unsafe or harmful to any student or staff member will be asked to sit down and observe the remainder of the class.  In some situations, if a student has caused harm to another student or staff member or his/her behavior is grossly disruptive, he/she will be asked to immediately leave the studio and return home with his/her parent.  In these situations, the student may be asked to not return to Heartbeat. 

♥ REFUNDS

Registration Fee and first month’s tuition are not refundable.  Refunds, regardless of the pre-paid amount, are only given for prolonged illness, injury or class cancellation by Heartbeat.  Doctor’s documentation is required for refunds due to illness or injury.  

HEARTBEAT STUDIOS CALENDAR – School Year 2006/2007

♥ Fall Enrollment Begins:                          June 26th 

♥ School Year Session Begins:                 Sept. 11th

♥ Thanksgiving Holiday:                           Nov. 23rd – 26th

♥ Winter Holiday:                                     Dec. 23,  2006 – Jan. 2, 2007

♥ Spring Holiday:                                     April 6th – 8th

♥ June Dance Concert:                            June 15th & 16th

♥ Dance company trips and Academy trip announced as soon as available.