Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome, or welcome back, to the Los Alamitos High School Dance Program! To
my returning dancers: I am so proud of all of you! We have some wonderful
memories and now have a new year to look forward to for creating new memories
and growing as dancers. I cannot wait to get dancing and performing again
this year!
To new students: Before you start the program, it is very important that you
and your parents understand what you are about to commit to. Students have
made the mistake in the past of thinking this class would be an easy P.E.
substitute. They found out too late that they were wrong. If that is your
motivation for joining the dance program, please rethink your decision. Being
in the program involves much more time, commitment, dedication, and money
than a regular class. It involves performances, after-school rehearsals, dance
clothes, costume deposits, and total dedication. You are asked to dress out
EVERY DAY, participate every day, and put in 100% effort every day. Your grade
in Dance is based on participation. If you are sick or miss school often,
or are just too busy and are already over-committed, then maybe the dance
program is not for you. This program must be a priority. In addition, you
may not miss a required extra rehearsal or performance. So really think about
what you are doing because this is far from the easy way out of P.E.
It is very important that you know and understand my policies, procedures,
and expectations. I hope to answer any questions regarding the course with
the following information.
Class Layout
The focus of the class will be various forms and styles of jazz dance. We
will also have ballet once a week. Upper level classes will require student
teaching and choreography. The Intermediate and Advanced classes are UC approved
for Fine Arts. (You need to let your counselor know if you are taking the
class for Fine Arts credit.) This means there are extra requirements for those
classes in order to meet UC standards. These requirements involve approximately
three written assignments, a critique of an outside dance performance (check
the website for assignment details and format), and a Final involving dance
terminology.
The focus of the first six weeks of the semester will be technique. This involves
warming-up, conditioning, technique across the floor, ballet, and dance combinations.
The focus of the second six weeks will be approximately half technique and
half show preparation. The focus of the last six weeks will be the performance.
Performance and Rehearsals
There will be at least one performance a semester, for three nights, that
you need to commit to. The performance is a huge commitment. Your grade for
the course is determined in large part by your involvement in the performance.
If you are unable to attend all of the following performances and rehearsals,
you should wait to join the dance program until you are able to make the time
commitment. The performances this semester are Thursday, January 20th, Friday,
January 21st, and Saturday, January 22nd, at 7:00 with a 6:00 call time all
three nights. There will be a mandatory show run-through rehearsal on Friday,
January 14th from 2:45 to 5:30, and a mandatory dress rehearsal Wednesday,
January 19th from 4:30 to 8:00. (There will be two optional, extra credit
technical rehearsals Monday, January 17th from 12:00-5:00 and Tuesday, January
18th from 3:00 to 8:00.) Please put these dates, including the extra rehearsals,
on your calendar today! Check with all outside activities such as cheer team
and dance studio shows, competitions, rehearsals, and any other important
events that may conflict with these dates. Also let on-campus groups such
as choir, band and sports teams about these dates. Your commitment to this
performance is required and crucial. Advanced dancers - see your extra requirements
sheet.
THE SECOND SHOW DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Show run-through - May 13th, 4:30-7:00 (note the later time due to AP testing)
Dress rehearsal - May 18th, 4:30-7:30
Performances - May 19th, 20th, 21st, at 7:00 - 6:00 call time
MISC. NOTES REGARDING SHOW/REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE
- You must have a doctor’s note to excuse you due to serious illness
or injury from a performance – the only other excusable reason for missing
a performance is a death in the family. This also applies to the two mandatory
rehearsals. HAVING TO WORK IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR MISSING A REHEARSAL. If you
have a job, let them know NOW about this commitment. If you miss a performance
for any reason other than serious illness or injury, or death in the family,
you will fail the class and will not be allowed to remain in the program.
If you miss a mandatory rehearsal, you will lose half of your show points
and will not be moved up a level the following year.
- As we start preparing for the show, you need to make it a priority to be
at school, dressed out, and ready to rehearse. Missing dance, even for school-sponsored
events, is not okay. Do not plan on sitting out on days when we are intensely
preparing for the show or adding on to your dance.
- You may not miss any dance class 3 weeks before the show (when we are rehearsing
in the PAC) for any reason other than serious illness or death in the family.
If you are absent for these reasons, a parent must call or email me. If not,
you lose 20 points from your grade for every absence.
- If you are injured or seriously ill prior to show week, you must be cleared
to dance by the show run-through date, or you cannot participate in the show.
Monetary Commitment
Being in this class will require you to invest in some dance necessities.
You will need to buy jazz shoes and a few dance clothes. (You do NOT need
to buy school P.E. clothes.) Los Al Dance clothes will be available for optional
purchase next week. It would also be helpful if you had ballet shoes, especially
at the intermediate and advanced levels. Upper level dancers should have knee
pads and have them in class every day. (Also, at the intermediate and advanced
levels you may need to buy other types of shoes for performances.)
In addition, you will need to give a costume deposit at the beginning of each
semester for the performance at the end of each semester. The costume deposit
will be as follows:
Beginning levels - $45.00 first semester, $90.00 second semester
Intermediate levels - $100.00
Advanced levels - $190.00
- Please write a check for the amount of your deposit to LAHS (cash is fine).
Be sure the student’s name is on the check.
- The costume deposit is due on Thursday, October 7th. On October 7th, you
will be allowed class time to go to the Activities Office to make the payment.
- Note that there are no refunds given for any reason once the costumes have
been purchased.
Special Opportunity for shoes TOMORROW! The owner of Diva Dancewear,
Denise Fight, is coming to the dance room Thursday, September 2nd, from 9:00-10:00,
to fit you for jazz shoes. (During class time for Beginners - during nutrition
for everyone else.) The shoes are $32.63 and will be delivered to you at school
within a week. If you wish to purchase jazz shoes tomorrow, you will need
to have the payment with you – cash is preferred, but checks made out
to Diva Dancewear are okay. Taking advantage of this opportunity is optional
– you are welcome to purchase shoes on your own. Beginners must have
shoes by Monday, September 13th or it will affect their grade. All other levels
must have shoes in class tomorrow.
A few side notes about costumes:
• I always try to find the most affordable costumes possible while still
creating a professional-looking show.
• You will have to pay for some costume accessories when we get closer
to the show that are not included in the costume deposit. These include items
such as tights, dance trunks, special make-up, etc.
• Please understand that it is extremely difficult to find for 250 students
and 24 different dances, affordable costumes, that fit the dance, that enhance
the performance, that we will receive by show time, that flatter every student.
I make the ultimate decisions with all of these aspects in mind, but will
obviously not be able to please everyone.
• We try our best with the fit of the costumes but may not be successful.
You may need to alter costumes yourselves.
Required Dress
You are required to wear dance attire and dance shoes every day in class.
Points are subtracted from your grade if you are not fully and properly prepared
for class and if you do not do all of the following:
• For the upper level dancers, dance clothes must be professional and
form- fitting. Dance pants, tights, leotards, and tank tops are acceptable
as long as they are form fitting. They may be any color. Beginning dancers
may wear any work-out type clothes; however, I prefer form-fitting dance clothes
if possible. You must change into some type of workout clothes, though - stretchy
school clothes are not okay. Dresses as a top are not okay either. Your dance
clothes must look like dance or work-out clothes.
• You must wear jazz shoes every day unless otherwise specified. I would
prefer you to have split-sole jazz shoes (no boots). YOU MAY NOT WEAR SOCKS
IN CLASS.
• Hair must be out of your face so as not to bother you or be distracting
while you are dancing.
• Do not wear jewelry.
• Make sure you have appropriate support and that booty shorts and tank
tops cover you completely.
• You need to have some sort of slip-on sneaker to wear when coming
from the locker room to the dance room, and for wearing when sent outside
to work on a dance.
• You need to be dressed on time. You have five minutes from the bell
to get dressed and get to class. (You will be dismissed five minutes before
the bell to have time to change into your street clothes.) That means you
need to be ready to dance at _____________, and you will be dismissed at _____________.
You will need to dress-out for class starting tomorrow.
Non-dancing days
You have three non-dancing days a semester due to illness or injury without
any cost to your grade. (On certain days, if you choose to sit out, it will
count for two days. I will let you know when this is the case.) These should
not be used if you only forgot your dance clothes. On sit-out days you must
still dress-out and you need to take a full page of notes during class. (Please
see the "sit-out requirements" sheet for details.) If you have a
doctor’s note, you will be excused from class without using one of your
three days.
If you do not use these days during the semester, you will receive five points
extra credit at the end of the semester for each non-dancing day you did not
use.
You lose fifteen points everyday you sit out beyond your three days. If your
injury or illness causes you to sit out more than three days I need a doctor’s
note excusing you from class. If you have an illness or injury that causes
you to sit out of class for more than three days, you will be given a written
assignment to make up for the time missed. If you have an illness or injury
that causes you to sit out for more than two weeks or an indefinite amount
of time, you will need to wait and take the dance class once you have healed.
I'd prefer for you not to use these days if at all possible. A slight cold
or cramps often feel better after you have danced. Even an injury to one part
of your body does not mean that you can't move the other parts. Let me know
at the beginning of class if you have an injury or are not feeling well and
need to take it easy.
Please use these days wisely and only if absolutely necessary!
Grading Policy
Your grade for this course is broken into two segments. The first segment
is based on participation. Everyone starts the course with 250 points. So,
the good news is everyone starts with an “A”! The bad news is
you can lose the points very easily. The participation segment of your grade
is based on six areas. Each time you do not comply with the requirements of
one of the six areas, you lose five points. That means if you get six marks
against you, your grade goes down to a “B.” The following are
the six graded areas:
• BEING ON TIME - You must be dressed and ready to dance on time. Your
grade goes down five points with each tardy. You receive a tardy if you are
not ready to dance on time.
• BEING PROPERPLY PREPARED - You must be dressed in appropriate dance
attire and dance shoes. If you forget your clothes, you still need to dance
or you will lose fifteen points.
• HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE - You must have a positive attitude at
all times – no divas, no whiners, no grumps! A positive attitude includes
respect towards your fellow dancers and me.
• SHOWING PROPER BEHAVIOR - You must listen closely and not talk to
others, especially when I’m giving instructions. Disruptive behavior
and talking will result in a lower grade and you will be asked to leave class.
Your FOCUS must at all times be on the instructor and dancing.
• HAVING REGULAR ATTENDANCE - You must attend class consistently. Be
healthy and come to school! (Please see all attendance policies on the next
page.) If your absence is a truancy, THIRTY points will automatically be subtracted
from your grade. If you have more than two truancies in a semester, you will
not be allowed in the program the following semester.
• PUTTING FORTH EFFORT - You must put forth 100% effort at all times.
The second segment of your grade is based on points you earn for other activities. These other activities include weekly combinations, the show (a major part of your grade), and any other extra assignments. (Advanced and Int. 2 and 3 dancers have extra assignments due to the UC Fine Arts standards.) Your grade for this segment is based upon the total number of points earned out of the total points possible. Both segments will be combined for your total grade at the end of the semester.
My grading scale is as follows:
90 – 100% of total points = A
80 – 89% of total points = B
70 – 79% of total points = C
60 – 69% of total points = D
PLEASE NOTE – This class is different than other classes
in that so much of the grade is earned in the last six weeks of the semester
due to the performance at the end of the semester. Because of this, you can
actually go from an “A” to an “F” after the last progress
report. Parents must be aware of this possibility and know that there may
not be time for notification prior to receiving the final grade.
Attendance Policies – Grades and Performance
Let me know in advance of absences whenever possible – I especially
need to know of any unavoidable extended absences ASAP. (Although, as a part
of this program, you are expected to avoid those types of absences.) Communication
from parents and students regarding absences is key. The bottom line is I
need the students in class. Dance is a participation class and the time missed
cannot be appropriately made up in any way.
1) If you have more than 10 absences both semesters and/or lower than a “C”
both semesters, you will not be moved up the following year.
2) If you have seven or more absences, excused or unexcused, you are required
to do make-up assignments. See the chart below for the number of absences
with corresponding required number of make-up assignments. A paper is worth
forty points while an assignment is worth twenty. You will receive notice
if this applies to you with specific assignment details within the last two
weeks of the semester. In addition to the assignments, with ten or more absences,
you will be put on an attendance contract for the following semester, which
will mean that attendance needs to improve or you will not be allowed to remain
in the program.
# of absences
7-9 one paper
10-13 one paper and one assignment/attendance contract
14-16 two papers/attendance contract
17-20 two papers and one assignment/attendance contract
20 or more three papers/attendance contract
3) If you miss too many classes in which we are rehearsing for
the performance, you will not be allowed to be in the show or may be cut from
sections of your dance. This is left up to the choreographer’s discretion.
If you miss choreography due to on campus suspension, you will not be included
in the choreography for that day.
4) It is not okay to miss class for a school-sponsored event such as a field
trip, sporting event, or other performing arts events on a day we are working
on the performance dances. Ask teachers for other options so that you are
not absent from this class for any reason, especially on show days.
5) If you miss show choreography, but are left in the section that you missed,
you are expected to learn what you missed on your own within two days of being
absent or you will be taken out of the section.
6) COMMUNICATION IS KEY! If at all possible, you or a parent, need to email
me when you are sick - especially if you have to miss show choreography. If
you are absent, you must check with me before class starts on the day you
come back to see what you missed. If you know in advance that you have to
miss class due to a school sponsored event, you must tell me as soon as you
know about it (even if you don't have a pink card yet). These things show
me that you are responsible and committed and make it easier for me to work
around absences when possible.
Improving
It’s never too early to think about your goals in dance. It’s
always a good idea to take outside classes and to talk to me about your goals.
Even if you do not take outside classes, regular attendance, 100% effort,
and staying focused are key to mastering the technical abilities you need
to improve and advance to the next level. With this in mind, please note the
following policy:
If you do not get a passing score on the final at the end of the year, you
will not move up a level the following year. Keep this in mind as you focus
and work throughout the year and see me for extra help if you feel you need
it.
Make-up Work & Extra Credit
If work needs to be made up, such as the performance of a combination, you
will need to set up a time with me to make up the work. If your absence is
a truancy, you will not be allowed to make up the work missed. You will have
very few extra credit opportunities, but there will be a few. Extra credit
projects are not given to make up for a poor participation grade.
Some important details and miscellaneous rules…
• Effort – As I have said before, you will be graded on effort.
When I grade you on your combination performance I will be looking for personal
improvement. Improvement will not happen without your full dedication and
effort daily. I cannot stress to you enough the importance of 100% effort
every day and your personal commitment to improvement. You will not succeed
or improve as a dancer unless you put forth 100% effort. Don’t do enough
to get by – do enough to get ahead!
• If you are suspended from school for drug or alcohol use, or if you
are suspended during show time, you will not be allowed in the program the
following semester.
• Advanced Dancers – See the list of extra requirements sheet
for specifics regarding your class expectations.
• Be aware that I always find out what you put on Facebook. (Especially
if you are friends with me or Miss Fight, duh!)
• Put your name on all of your dance attire – especially your
shoes.
• If you are in two periods of dance, please write both periods you
are in on all forms, sign-in sheets, and assignments. Be prepared to possibly
do things twice - always check with me.
• Potty breaks – there are none. With only forty-five minutes
to dance, I cannot allow you to take class time to use the restroom. You need
to use the five minutes given to you to dress to go to the bathroom. If you
have a medical condition that requires you to use the restroom at any given
moment, I need a note from your parents and a physician.
• If you want a locker in the locker room, bring a lock to the locker
room attendants, and they will assign you a locker. Do not change in the restrooms
in the girls’ locker room.
• You may not walk around campus in your dance clothes. You may not
walk around campus bare foot. Have slip-ons or flip-flops for coming from
the locker room to the dance room and for practicing outside the dance room.
• You need something to cover your dance clothes when coming from the
locker room to the dance room or when practicing outside.
• After you change at the end of the period you need to stay behind
the yellow line by the locker room until the bell rings for dismissal. If
you change early, you may not wander the campus.
• Bring water!! You’ll need it, and since time is precious, I
can’t give you specific water breaks.
• Be careful of what you leave behind in the dance room and locker room
– many personal belongings have been lost or stolen. (I do have a lost
and found box you can check if you lose something but I am not responsible
for what you leave behind.)
• I would love to have Kleenx, band-aides, and paper towels donated
to the dance room – we go through these things so quickly!
• No changing in the dance room unless it is a special occasion in which
I have deemed the dance room a dressing room – double check with me
that it is one of those special occasions before you begin changing. Changing
in the dance room will also result in five points being deducted from your
grade.
Dance room rules
1) There is a strict no cell phone rule on this campus - this includes the
dance room. There are absolutely no cell phones allowed in the dance room
at any time. I will take it if I see it or hear it.
2) The atmosphere in the dance room is one where everyone feels respected,
safe, and comfortable. It is a positive, encouraging, and energetic atmosphere.
I expect everyone to help create and keep this atmosphere at all times.
3) We MUST all pitch in to take care of the dance room and our floor. With
this in mind, I am strictly enforcing the following rules:
• No food, gum, or drinks in the dance room. (You should never chew
gum in a dance class anyway.) I will subtract five points from your grade
for bringing food or drinks in the dance room. You will receive a lunch detention
for having gum.
• Help to keep the dance room clean. The dance room gets messy fast.
It’s your dance room. Clean up after yourselves! Be sure to throw away
all empty water bottles and pick up and throw away band-aides.
• Take street shoes off at the door and do not wear shoes that have
been worn outside of the dance room, in the dance room. The cleaner the floor
this less slippery it will be. Absolutely no stiletto pumps in the dance room.
Show Helpers
I will be in need of show helpers for each show and will be sending home a
flyer in December about this. I also am always looking for seamstresses, photographers,
videographers, and people to help with props. (Please email me at rjones@losal.org
if you can help with these specific jobs.) I appreciate anything parents and
family members can do to help out. I could not have performances without volunteers!
LOS AL DANCE WEB SITE
I have a web site with show pictures, a LAHS Dance Program calendar, where
to buy dancewear, class handouts and other important information. Please visit
the site at losaldance.com.
Feel free to speak to me for any reason. You can email me at rjones@losal.org. You can also call me any time at (562) 799-4780, extension 82501 to leave a message, but the best and fastest form of communicating with me is through email. It is going to be another exciting year! I hope you are looking forward to our time together as much as I am!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rikki Jones
***SHOW THIS LETTER TO YOUR PARENTS – KEEP IT TO REFER TO FOR IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. CUT AND RETURN THE SIGNATURE PORTION BELOW TO ME TOMORROW.
____________________________________________________________________________
Parents please initial each of the following:
• We have read and understand all the policies of Mrs. Jones’
dance class. ____
• We understand that performances and rehearsals are mandatory. (Please
review the dates and put them on your calendar today.) ____
• We understand that this class is different than other classes in that
so much of the grade is earned in the last six weeks of the semester due to
the performance at the end of the semester. Because of this, a student can
actually go from an “A” to an “F” after the last progress
report. We are aware of this possibility and know that there may not be time
for notification prior to receiving the final grade. _____
• We understand that there is a required costume deposit and it is due
on October 7th. (Please do not turn it in until that day.) We also understand
that no refunds are given once costumes are purchased. If the student does
not perform in the show for any reason, be it by student circumstance or teacher’s
decision, she can have the costume but money will not be given back. _____
Student Signature __________________ Print Name ____________________
Period(s) ______ Date _______________
Parent Signature ___________________ Print Name _____________________
Email address _____________________ Date ________________
**Be sure to check out the LAHS Dance Program website at losaldance.com.
Last Revised 8/28/2010Copyright 2003, Rikki Jones. All Rights Reserved