Hi! My name is Lynda Davis and I would personally like to welcome you and your child to my dance school. I hope you’ll gain trust and confidence in me.

I also hope you’ll be satisfied and pleased with your child’s acquired skills and abilities this coming year. My goal is to provide a valuable service for your child; one that is professional, one that teaches your child a good quality dance and/or gymnastics foundation, one that encourages self-esteem, and one that helps children develop a love of and appreciation for the art of dance. If you have a problem or concern you may call me at 629-3006. I wish to keep the lines of communication open and will consider your input.

Class Fees

Class Fees are $35 per month, September through May. This is a flat rate and will remain the same regardless of absences or scheduled holiday vacations. I prefer one monthly payment. Tuition is due on the first day of class of every month. I would also ask you to pay with a check each month. This allows you to have a record of your payment. No cash payments will be accepted unless it is personally handed to Lynda and a receipt is written at that time. There will be a “collection basket” at the studio that your child can put their envelope in with the payment. Please write your child’s name on the outside of the envelope and seal it. If you prefer to mail your payment, please mail payment to Lynda Davis, 232 S Washington St., New Bremen, Ohio 45869-1251.

Discounts on Tuition – Per month

2 classes per week per family – $65.00 (instead of $70.00- $5.00 off per month)
3 classes per week per family – $85.00 (instead of $105.00- $20.00 off per month)
4 classes per week per family – $105.00 (instead of $140.00- $35.00 off per month)

Bookkeeper

I will manage all bookkeeping this year. If you have any questions, you may email me at lynda@newbremendance.com or call me at 419-629-3006. A $5.00 late fee will be charged if tuition is over a month past due. Tuition is DUE on the first class of the month. Please pay consistently and on time, so I can devote my attention to other matters besides collecting tuition.

Appropriate Dancewear

For all the classes girls are to wear proper dance attire. Leotard and tights, leotard and biking shorts, unitards, bikatards, dance skirts, etc., are all acceptable. Tumbling classes should not wear tights with feet in them. Leotards and tights can be purchased at most large department stores that carry girls clothing. Target, Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Penneys, etc., Also JC Penney catalog has a selection. Four Seasons in Wapak and Got Dance in Kettering also carry a good selection. A t-shirt and shorts are unacceptable for dance or tumbling class for girls. Also, it’s important that your child’s hair is pulled up and out of her face.

Boys may wear a tank top and biking shorts for dance and tumbling classes.

Dance Shoes

If your daughter is taking a combination or introduction to dance class, she will need both leather pink ballet slippers and black tap shoes-although this year some classes need black jazz shoes or boots instead of ballet shoes. If you have to buy new ballet slippers please buy the ballet pink color. Fabric slippers are not acceptable. It is best to have your child try dance shoes on. However, dance shoes can be ordered online if necessary. Dance shoes should not fit loosely.

If boys are taking a dance class they’ll need black tap shoes and black jazz shoes for the combination dance class.

Here are some stores that have dance shoes in stock:

Four Seasons Sports and Dance Shop in Wapakoneta (by the Auglaize Fair Grounds 419-738-6611) This store carries many different brands of tap shoes starting at $22.99 and up. Their ballet shoes are $15.99 and up. Starting August 22, 2011, store hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM. (This store has adult shoe sizes.) EVERYTHING IN THEIR STORE IS 25% OFF FROM AUGUST 22ND TO SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2011.

Payless Shoe Stores – (Lima, 2100 Harding Highway, 419-229-9911 / Piqua Mall 937-773-2506) Also at Dayton and Fairfield Malls. Spotlight tap shoe, price – $22.99. Spotlight leather ballet shoe, price – $19.99

Got Dance (2210 Andrew Road, Kettering, Ohio (near intersection of Bigger and Whip) – 937-438-1111 - Leather ballet slipper, price – $19.00 and up Capezio black tap shoe, price $42.00 and up Hours are Monday- 12:00 to 6:00 PM, Tuesday- 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Wednesday- 12:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday- 12:00 to 6:00 PM, Friday- 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturday- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This store can ship items.

YOU CAN ALSO ORDER DANCE SHOES ONLINE!

Helpful Hints

#1. For young students, I suggest taking the tie shoelaces out of the tap shoes and sewing in a loop of black elastic in their place. Also there are commercial products (Four Season Dance Shop carries them) that are elastic that work great. Then your daughter won’t have to tie her shoes (which saves time and most younger students can’t tie the shoe tight enough) — your daughter can just quickly slip her shoes on. Make the elastic so it stretches when the foot goes in and snug, but not too tight when the foot is in.

#2. Your daughter will need a carry bag to transport her dance shoes in. She should never wear her tap or ballet shoes outside. Have her come in street shoes and put them on when in the studio.

#3. Mark your child’s belongings, including dance shoes, jackets, coats, etc. Many items get misplaced and I easily can find the owner if their items are marked.

#4. Please have your daughter bring a filled water bottle to class each week. We work hard and need to re-hydrate. The studio has no drinking fountain and water is so important to keep your young dancer healthy and replenished.

Waiting List

Due to more demand than I have openings I have developed a waiting list. It is based upon a first come first serve policy. A phone call is all that is needed to place a potential student on the list. My policy is that previous students and siblings have first priority for registration. After all who wish to retake are registered the available openings are filled in order from the list.

Registration

Registration includes a $15 nonrefundable fee. After registration is complete, (beginning of August) I email a class information letter informing you of the time and date of your child’s classes.

Attendance/Bad Weather/Make up Classes

Please be on time! I will do my best to start classes on time. Please check this website in case I cancel classes because of dangerous road conditions. I will post the cancellation by 3:00 PM on the day in question. (I also will post it on my Twitter account found on my website.) Also, there will be a sign on the studio door on days classes are cancelled.

Classes are not necessarily cancelled when school has been cancelled. A NEW POLICY THIS DANCE SEASON IS THAT: NO MAKE-UP CLASSES WILL BE HELD IF CLASSES ARE CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS.

If a student continues to miss classes often (other than illness) I reserve the right to first call and give a warning, second- if she continues to miss – I will give her notice whether or not she can perform in the recital or not. It is unfair to me and to the other students to have a student consistently absent.

Assistants/Teaching Staff

In my youngest classes I will have an assistant teacher. She will be helping me in various ways. Due to unforeseen events it may be necessary to have a substitute teacher at times, or I may need to cancel classes. If classes are canceled due to personal reasons, a make-up class schedule will be scheduled.

I would like to acknowledge Betty Roetgerman as the tumbling instructor. Joyce Burke will continue to teach ballet/pointe classes. Some high school age students will also be teaching a few classes this year.

Classroom Visits

I would ask that there be no classroom visits, except for the last class of the month. You are welcome to visit on that day to see how your child is doing. However, visiting your child’s class is optional.

I have found that students just do better and have increased concentration when parents are not a distraction. The exception for classroom visits is for parents with very young children– those parents are allowed in class. I would appreciate these parents to respect my classroom and keep the noise level down. If it gets too noisy, I will ask parents to please leave.

Recital

Dates for the 2013 Dance Recital will be May 30, May 31, and June 1, 2013. The recital will be at the New Bremen High School Auditorium. The Dress Rehearsal will be on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

Costumes are the hardest aspect of the recital. There are several ways to get the deposit money and remaining balance due from students and all methods are complicated and hard to keep bookkeeping straight. Parents have requested that I set up payments so the December costume payment isn’t so much all at once. I am asking for a $50.00 deposit on costumes paid by October 15th. The next payment due will be on November 15th, a $40.00 payment for dancers or $15.00 for tumblers. The final balance will be due by December 15th. I work very hard to keep the cost down and I also allow you to spread out payments. The payment will include tights and/or props if needed for the recital.

I am looking forward to working with your child and hope this will be a terrific year for her (or him)!! Thanks for registering and we’ll see you soon!!

Sincerely,

Lynda