Student & Parent Handbook

General Policies

Hershey School of Dance & Arts places students by ability with a focus on developing our dancers' potential for advancement.
Teachers of Hershey School of Dance & Arts have the right to verbally and physically correct students as reasonably necessary as it relates to dance technique and instruction.
All communication with teachers should be done through the Hershey School of Dance & Arts email address: hersheyschoolofdance@verizon.net. We are happy to connect teachers and students/parents to facilitate communication as needed. Please do not reach out to teachers on their personal time by way of social media or their personal contact.
Hershey School of Dance & Arts will open 15 minutes prior to the first class of the day.
All classes are 55 minutes unless noted otherwise.
No gum, food or beverages are allowed in the studios.
Water bottles are permitted. A bottle filling station is available.
No cell phones or smart watches in class. Cell phones must be stored and silenced.
No photography or video recording unless permission is given.
You will be notified by email and social media of any cancellations due to inclement weather.

ATTENDANCE:

Parents and students are reminded that attending class on a regular basis achieves the best results.

Attendance, attitude and ability are taken into consideration when determining the appropriate level of dance.
Teachers will direct students to an appropriate alternate class time in order to make up missed class(es).
Students who consistently miss class or fail to make up class may be demoted to a lower level or dropped from a class at the teacher’s discretion.
Teachers reserve the right to reset choreography based on absenteeism.
Classes can not be made up after March 1 due to show preparation.

INJURY POLICY:

Please inform studio staff and your dancer's instructor(s) of injuries prior to the start of class. Injury plans will be determined on a case by case basis.
Extended periods of absence or inability to participate may result in the student being removed from class(es).

ILLNESS:

Students should not attend class if suffering from the following in the last 24 hours:

Fever of 99.5+
Respiratory Symptoms
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Contagious Illness(es)
Positive or Pending COVID-19 Test

STUDENT COMMITMENTS:

I will...

…be on time and prepared for class.

...follow the dress code.

...ask for help when I need it.

...bring whatever my best effort is today.

...welcome all corrections as a chance to grow.

...take pride in my accomplishments.

...celebrate the success of others.

...clean up after myself.

...show respect for our dance family, our studio, our teachers, our fellow students, our bodies, ourselves, and our art.

PARENT COMMITMENTS:

I will...

…make sure my student is on time and prepared for class including the appropriate hair, shoes, dress code.

…encourage my dancer to try their best.

…ask my dancer about class and what they are learning.

…help my dancer practice outside of class time.

…support my dancer with positive messages.

….not compare my dancer's journey to others.

…ask for help when needed from teachers and staff.

…be an active member of the dance community.

PARENT PORTAL:

Create an account.

Check the schedule.

Pay tuition.

Get updates.

All through your Parent Portal

click here

Parent Portal

Dress Code

The discipline of dance requires students follow the dress code for optimal learning. Any student who does not adhere to the dress code will not be able to participate in class.

Restrooms are available to change clothes.
No jewelry or smart watches in class.
No bare midriffs.
No jeans.
When classes are back to back, follow the dress code, including hair, for all classes. For quick transitions, layer your dance wear and wear hair for all styles at the start of your night, there is no time between classes to change clothes, just shoes.
No dance wear or dance shoes in the parking lot. Street clothes and shoes are required when walking to and from our building.
Dress code may be altered at the instructor's discretion.
Please see specific dress code requirements below.

Dance wear or Active wear.

Hair neatly pulled off face.

Level 1-2 Black leather tap shoes.

Level 3+ Black tap oxfords.

Jazz and Leaps & Turns

Mandatory: Leotard- any color, any style.

Tights- any color, any style.

Skin tone split sole slip-on jazz shoes.

Optional: Leggings, dance pants, tight tank tops, dance shorts.

NO baggy clothes.

Hair pulled up in a sleek ponytail or bun. Short hair secured with a headband.

Boys: Dance pants and a tucked in

t-shirt or tank. Black or skin tone split sole slip-on jazz shoes.

Gender neutral: any of the above selections for dance wear and jazz shoes.

Hip Hop

Dance wear or Active wear.

Hair neatly pulled off face.

Black hip hop sneakers (no street shoes).

Advanced levels may wear studio-only sneakers in lieu of hip hop sneakers at teacher’s discretion.

Ballet & Pointe

Ballet 1-2 Leotard- any color, any style. Pink or skin tone tights and ballet shoes to match.

Ballet 3+: Black leotard- any style. Pink or skin tone tights and ballet shoes to match.

Hair worn in a Ballet bun. Short hair secured with a headband.

Boys: Dance pants and a tucked in

t-shirt or tank. Black or skin tone ballet shoes.

Gender neutral: any of the above selections for dance wear and ballet shoes.

Theatre Dance

Mandatory: Leotard- any color, any style.

Tights- any color, any style.

Level 1 Skin tone split sole slip-on jazz shoes.

Levels 2+ Skin tone split sole slip-on jazz shoes & character shoes. Teacher will notify students when character shoes are needed.

Optional: Leggings, dance pants, tight tank tops, dance shorts.

NO baggy clothes.

Hair pulled up in a sleek ponytail or bun. Short hair secured with a headband.

Boys: Dance pants and a tucked in

t-shirt or tank. Black or skin tone split sole slip-on jazz shoes.

Gender neutral: any of the above selections for dance wear and shoes.

Contemporary/Lyrical Fusion

Mandatory: Leotard- any color, any style.

Tights- skin tone stirrup.

Skin tone half sole lyrical shoes.

NO baggy clothes.

Hair pulled up in a sleek ponytail or bun. Short hair secured with a headband.

Boys: Dance pants and a tucked in

t-shirt or tank. Black or skin tone split sole slip-on jazz shoes.

Gender neutral: any of the above selections for dance wear and shoes.

Technique Enhancement

Mandatory: Leotard- any color, any style.

Tights- any color, any style.

Bare feet, ballet, or jazz shoes accepted.

NO baggy clothes.

Hair pulled up in a sleek ponytail or bun. Short hair secured with a headband.

Boys: Dance pants and a tucked in

t-shirt or tank. Bare feet, ballet, or jazz shoes accepted.

Gender neutral: any of the above selections for dance wear and shoes.

Street Jazz

Dance wear.

Hair pulled off face.

Black hip hop sneakers- no street shoes.

No bare legs.

Movement Magic

Dancewear or Active wear.

Ballet shoes, sneakers, or bare feet accepted.

Adult Classes

Dancewear or Active wear.

Hair pulled off face. Appropriate shoes for style of class.