K&S Dance Registration Information

Body suits of any style and colour, tights, unitards, body suits, bike shorts and flare dance pants are all acceptable in tap and jazz classes. For ballet classes you are required to wear tights and body suits with no shirts around waist and hips. Absolutely NO street clothes are to be worn to classes except for Hip Hop.

Tap shoes are required for tap class, jazz shoes for jazz class and pink ballet slippers for ballet class. These can be purchased at the Dance Box or any other dance supply store. White soled runners or jazz runners are acceptable for hip hop class.

Owner/Director of the studio is Sharise Mitzel. Our teachers are well-trained, are experienced with children, and are specifically chosen to best suit the studio needs.

There is to be minimal talking while the class is in session. If you have a problem please ask the teacher not another student. If you have to use the washroom, please try to do so before the class unless it is an emergency. The bars are there to hold for balance while in class not to climb on!

Always try to arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your class time in dance wear so you are ready when your class is called. Please take your dance bag or articles of clothing into the dance room with you. There are benches with cubicles for your use. Things are not so apt to be misplaced and also this procedure leaves more room in the entrance of the studio.

Parents can enter a class quietly if they wish only after they have been invited in by the teacher. Please arrive on time to pick up your child after his/her class(es).

Friends are not to be brought to class. If you have a special request, please speak to your teacher for approval.

Payments for classes are due the 1st of each month and post-dated cheques are required from September until June. The fees are based on a yearly rate and broken down into the monthly payments based on approximately four classes per month. There is no credit for holiday or missed classes unless under extenuating circumstances, and there is also no charge for the months that have an extra class. If you pay cash for your fees, please ensure you receive a receipt for proof of payment. If your account exceeds two months, there will be a penalty fee. There is a $20.00 charge for all NSF cheques.

Solos, duos and trios are available upon request and upon approval of the Director. These classes are mainly for competitions and recital. They are available in tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet and hip hop. Payment for these lessons are due at the end of the month and upon receipt of an invoice and rates vary from instructor to instructor based on individual rates and studio space. If you are interested in private or semi-private work please speak to Sharise for more details.

If you should decide to discontinue with your classes, please contact the office or your teacher immediately. One month notice is required. Credit for cancellations can be made only in cases of extended illness (two weeks or more) or under extenuating circumstances. If you are sick or unable to attend class, please phone and advise the office.

The studio closes for approximately 1.5 weeks for Christmas and Spring Break. Our fees are based on the yearly amount and broken down into monthly payments, therefore, payments in December and March remain the same as the other months.

Al Gilbert graded exams are offered in jazz and tap and are only recommended, not mandatory. The Al Gilbert examination in both jazz and tap dancing are designed as an incentive for the students to strive for their best ability and to be duly rewarded for their efforts. Report cards and certificates are given and medals are awarded for a Grade of 81 or higher. A representative of Al Gilbert attends K&S Studios to conduct these exams.

In September you register and pay for the grade you require. Al Gilbert will then send us your graded, spoken tape and written syllabus of all technique material required for your grade. Also written notes for the exam dances and the oral technique question sheets are received at the same time. Registration for exams must be done no later than October 31st. If you are unsure of any part of your exam, please ensure you ask your teacher or enquire at the office.

In the spring the exams will be held and the examiner will be Al Gilbert of Los Angeles, or his designate. The students are numbered and enter the room with their report cards and hand it in to the examiner. A perfect score is 100 and goes as follows:

100	Highest Honors
95 - 99	Superior
85 - 94	Excellent
81 - 84	Satisfactory
80 & Below	Fail

Medals are awarded for all grades for scores of 81 or higher. Students who fail or are not pleased with their exam results may repeat the exam the following year with the only cost being the exam entrance fee.

With the graded system it is possible for students to progress at their own speed. No student will be held back by the rest of the class not being ready. Students will move on as soon as they are capable of doing so.

It is not expected that the students take an exam each year as most of the grades take two years to complete.

The report card, certificate and medal will be presented to the students shortly after the exam and during regular classes.

You must purchase your graded practice material by October 31st unless you are entering your second year of that grade, as you would have already received it. The students should have this material to work with if they are to progress as expected. Exam entrance fees are included in the price of the exam tape.

The dance exam fees are non-refundable. If a student does not take the exam in that particular year, the entrance fees is still paid and good until the exam is taken.

Exam dates usually fall in April and May. Between February and exam time there will be workshops held at the studio. They are held on the weekend between 9am and 4pm. The cost is kept low for these sessions to encourage more time to be spent on their exam work. The more time spent the better the results Students must attend the workshops in order to be evaluated as to whether or not you are ready to take your exam.

Plain colour body suits and tights are to be worn. Absolutely no t-shirts, socks or baggy clothing are to be worn. Hair is to be neatly off the face and neck and secured so it cannot fly into the face on turns.

There will be a costume required for each group's routine. An annual recital is held in June involving K&S students in at least two performances. K&S will design the costumes and have them made for you. K&S Dance Productions require a $40.00 deposit for every costume at the beginning of the season. Upon satisfactory completion, an invoice will be given for the remainder of the costume amount. All cheques are to be made payable to K&S Dance Productions Ltd. The cost of your costume will be given to you by your teacher. All fittings will be done at the studio and you are not required to do any sewing. Your costume will be handed to you completed. We will do our best to keep the costs down. Please put your name in ALL costume pieces including hats, headpieces, etc., and in all your dance shoes.

Please check with your teacher to ensure you have the correct colour shoes, as it may vary for competition groups.

Nylons WITHOUT underwear. The nylon shade must be the same for the entire group and will be specified towards the end of the dance year. Please DO NOT purchase control top nylons if your costume is a bodysuit, shorts or a skirt.

All students are involved in the year-end recital, which takes place towards the end of June at Terry Fox School Theatre in Port Coquitlam. Students five years and younger will perform during the first half of the show as they may get tired. A non-dress rehearsal will be held at the theatre prior to the recital.

We require several helpers for each dressing room and for several other jobs during recital. The dressing room mothers see that ALL students in your dressing room are dressed properly and 'on time' when their group is called backstage. We encourage the children to bring books, games, etc. to keep them occupied whilst they are to performing. If you would like to help please sign up on the sheet provided in the studio closer to recital time.

Tickets will be made available by the beginning of May t the studio. The current cost is $11.00 per seat and anyone occupying a seat must purchase a ticket. Most students only perform in two shows. This allows them an opportunity to purchase a ticket to view the show at another performance. PLEASE purchase your tickets well in advance of recital as they are sold on a 'first come first serve' basis and we almost always sell our prior to show time.

K&S offer opportunities to take part in several dance competitions. Competition groups are selected by the teachers and the Director and are for those who prefer to pursue their dance training on a serious level. If you have any questions about competitions, please speak with the Director.

Several studio awards and scholarships will be presented on stage during the recital performances.

PLEASE come in to the studio at least once a month to keep up on what is new. Please make sure that you read all notices that come out and check the studio bulletin board. A bi-monthly newsletter is produced to keep you informed and updated. This newsletter is posted at the studio on the office window and can also be located on this website under the link "Newsletter". Copies are available on the office door slot to take home.

If you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. We will try our best to accommodate your needs. Thank you all for entrusting us with your children.