Fall 2016 Newsletter

Kerri’s Dance Studio
1851 Madison Ave. Suite 500
712-323-7396
www.kerrisdancestudio.com


Welcome to the 25th silver anniversary season of dance at Kerri’s Dance Studio. We are looking forward to a great year and lots of fun. For those of you who are new to KDS, a special welcome and we hope you enjoy your time with us. Of course to all my returning students, I hope you had a great summer and are ready to get back to dance. I am so excited to get back to class after 5 wonderful recitals – Thanks so much for a great weekend. We are so excited about all the new classes we are able to offer this season and looking forward to watching the kids learn and grow too. And of course, welcome Back staff as well!

The following are some of the guidelines and policies of the studio. Please be sure to read this section and discuss these things with your dancer/s, especially if you are planning on dropping your dancer off or carpooling.

The Parking – Main studio (1851 Madison Ave.) There is ample parking RIGHT in front of the studio. We do ask that if your classes are before 6 you do not park directly in front of the businesses on either side of the studio. Also be sure to always watch for little ones entering and exiting the studio. At the Mall of the Bluffs location the best place to park is near the Planet Fitness location. Our bay is just inside those doors near the food court.

The Dress Code – ALL STUDENTS must follow the proper dress code for class every week. The first time there is a violation of the dress code the student will be warned; a card may be sent home with the student. The next time there is a violation the dancer will be asked to sit out of class and a parents will be notified. All dancers in all classes should wear fitted tops that are made for dance and athletics. NO T-SHIRTS. Athletic tops do not say Old Navy or GAP. Please be sure your tops are designed for dance and athletics. The only pants allowed in class are those that are fitted from the thigh to the ankle and do not lie past the anklebone. If a dancer wears long and/or baggy pants to class they will be asked to take them off and borrow a pair of shorts for class. Shorts, skirts, leggings, and fitted capri pants are perfect for class. No denim please, not even stretch denim. Please use your best judgment when helping your student select dancewear, and if you are not sure, just ask. But do have another selection with you in case you are asked to change. All dancers in classical ballet MUST wear a leotard and tights. NO EXCEPTIONS. This is for the dancers’ safety and proper fit of the shoe.

The dress code is in place so that the staff and I can see posture and body alignment and do our jobs properly in instructing your student. This way you are getting the maximum benefit from your class time. Each individual teacher may have a certain part of the dress code they maintain differently, for example teacher may allow tennis shoes for hip hop. Teachers will address these issues the first weeks of class.

Shoes – You will find a list of class times and the required shoes for that class in this packet. Shoes and proper dancewear can be purchased from the KDS “Madison Avenue” dance shop. The dance shop will be open Tues. Wed. and Thurs. in Aug. from 5pm to 8pm. The KDS dance shop carries all the shoes required at the studio in stock and orders take only 5-7 working days. We also have the latest dance fashions in stock so please come in and check us out. Please be aware that the dance shop carries some shoes that are not the “required” shoe for KDS. This is because we supply other studios dancers as well. We would be happy to help you with sizing and fit and show you are new inventory of fun dancewear. 

In the Studio – Dance shoes only should be worn on the studio dance floors. Please no street shoes unless otherwise instructed. Cheer students may wear tennis shoes to class as well as all boy hip hop dancers, just be sure they are clean. There is no gum or candy allowed in the studio during classes. Students may not wear jewelry to class that may be distracting from instruction. Parents are expected to wait in the designated waiting areas and not enter the dance rooms without permission. Parents should refrain from speaking to students during class and should wait until the breaks for changing shoes or the end of class. This is so students can focus in class with minimal distractions. Siblings should only be in the waiting rooms when absolutely necessary and should be kept quiet and not permitted to enter the dance room. If the entryways become distracting screen doors or curtains will be closed and parent viewing will only be allowed the first lesson of each month. I apologize if this sounds harsh but it is the best way to ensure class is worthwhile and rewarding and in the end the students feel confident. There is no food or beverages allowed (other than water) anywhere in the studio. Please do not enter other dance rooms, even if they are not being used at the time. 

In the dancers lounge there are benches, coat hooks & shoe cubbies for dancers to store shoes and personal items during classes. No dance bags or coats should be left in the waiting area or brought into dance rooms. Please be sure to label your dancers shoes with their name or initials. Any shoes or other items left behind will be placed on the lost and found shelf for 4 weeks, after that they will be donated.

Please do not leave valuables in the waiting area. Bring purses into the dance room and leave on the bench in your sight. KDS will not be responsible for any lost, missing or stolen items. It is best just to leave valuables at home!

In climate weather – Kerri’s Dance Studio will follow the Council Bluffs School district in regards to cancelling due to weather conditions. If CBCSD cancels school for day, has early dismissal, or cancels evening activities due to weather, KDS will cancel classes. If you are unsure we will post on Face book, our website, and put a message on our voicemail by 3:00pm. Classes cancelled due to weather will be made up in the spring. A schedule for those make-up options will be passed out in classes. If you are living in a rural or outlying are or you are just uncomfortable coming into class due to weather, please just call the studio and let us know. We understand and do not want anyone to risk themselves or their kids just to get to class.



*IMPORTANT POLICY - Lesson and other fees – Lesson fees are due the first week of every month. You will be required to pay for lessons whether or not your student attends classes. If a student misses three lessons in a row their position in class will be made available to anyone on the waiting list. If you know your student will be absent from class please call and let us know. If your student will be absent three weeks or more please see your instructor to make arrangements for their class position to be held. If you quit and do not notify us, you will be charged for the lessons and possibly turned over to collection until some form of notification is received. If you would like to drop or add classes there is specific paperwork that needs to be filled out and is available upon request at the receptionists desk. You can pay online, through our online registration/parent portal or at our desk in the main location. The desk is open Mon.-Thurs. from 4:00 – 9:00pm and Saturdays from 8:30am – 12:00pm.

Again this year is the pay in bulk discount. We are offering both a monthly fee as well as a bulk trimester fee. The trimester fee saves 10% off the total amount of lesson fees for 3 months. Please understand you cannot receive a trimester discount if you are already late in payment. Example the 2nd trimester (3 months) payment is due on or before Dec. 15th. If you come into pay after the 20th (5 day grace period) you cannot receive the discount. You will owe the full price for December as well as a late fee. You can pay January, February, and March in a trimester and receive the discount. Keep in mind being “off” in trimester months will mean you may have to pay a month or two at regular price. I hope everyone understand this. Please let me know if you have any questions. Also please keep in mind lesson fees are non refundable unless there is a medical problem. Once you have paid those fees your student is guaranteed that position in that class for that amount of time. Lesson fees can be transferred under most circumstances. To receive the trimester discount you must come into the studio and make your payment at the desk. You can pay monthly fees and other fees online but trimester discounts must be paid at the desk so our staff can enter the discount into the system. In the online system lesson fees will be posted 3 months at a time. If you are paying monthly they are not due until the 15th of each given month but you will see 3 months at a time on your account. Do not be alarmed, it is there so you can pay at your leisure and to help with trimester payments for those who choose this route.

If your lesson fees have not been received by the 20th of the month a $10.00 late fee will be added to your account. NO EXCEPTIONS. All lesson fees and late charges will need to be paid in full before the spring recital in order to participate. Postdating a check does not exclude you from late fees. Monthly lesson fees that have still not been paid after the 20th of the next month will be subject to another $10.00 late fee.

Your costume deposits are due by Aug. 31st or at the time of registration if after this date. Some of you may have paid these at the time of registration, if you are not sure you can look at your account online or give us an email or call. These fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE after October 15th. Request for refunds or transfers MUST be received in writing. All costume balances and an itemized costume bill will be passed out as soon as costumes are selected. The costume balances will be due by January 5th. A costume for your student will not be ordered without the balance paid in full. If the balance is received late you take a chance of your students costume will not arrive in time for the spring recital. Recital T-shirts will be included on this bill. Tights WILL NOT be included on this bill and it will be your responsibility to purchase the correct tights for each costume.

On April 15th recital fees will be due. After paying this fee you will receive your reserved tickets for the spring recital. The fee is $50.00 per family. Each family will receive 6 tickets to the show. Additional tickets will be available for purchase on April 17th as well for $10.00 each.

Important dates to mark on the calendar –

August 31st – Costume deposits due
September 6th – Full session classes begin
Oct. 24th – 29th – Halloween party week. Kids ages 8 and under can dress up for classes. All ages will have parent observation and treats at the end of classes. We will also be measuring for costumes this week.
Oct. 31st – No dance classes – Please enjoy the time having fun with your family!
Nov. 21st – 27th – Thanksgiving/Fall break – No dance classes this week. Staff will be in studio working on costume ordering and recital preparation
Dec. 19th – Jan. 2nd– Christmas/New Years Break – No dance classes.
Jan. 5th – All costume balances due.
April 10 – 16th – Easter/Spring break – No dance classes - Staff will be in the studio to prep for recital.
April 17th - Tickets for the recital will go on sale and be available for pick up.
May 15th – 19th – Tentative dates for studio pictures for all classes. 
June 9th – Dance recital rehearsal – schedule will be published at a later date
June 10th & 11th – Dance recitals – More details on times to follow.

I realize that dance is not something for everyone. If you decide to no longer attend classes throughout the season, please call and let us know so the proper adjustments can be made. It is not only difficult for the instructor when a student quits unannounced; it his hard on the other students in his or her class. We encourage that once classes have begun learning their recital routines, students finish the season.

In what class a student is placed is at the sole discretion of Kerri and staff. If your student is not satisfied with their class placement, please feel free to give us a call but in the end Kerri will make the final decision. It is important a class is not too difficult for a student, if so the student will almost always feel frustrated and behind. Sometimes a class may appear to be too easy. This may mean the instructor feels like a student needs to focus on the details of technique and placement before they advance to the next level. Each student is individual in their learning and advancement, so comparing one student to another may not always be the best way to analyze a students’ progress.

Thanks again for registering for classes at Kerri’s Dance Studio. Again, I am looking forward to an incredible season. 

Some adjustments in the schedule may have been made. As stated on the published schedule we reserve the right to make such changes. I feel the changes made are pretty slight but if there are problems as a result please contact the studio as soon as possible.

The KDS open house will be Sun. Aug. 7th from 1-3pm
The first dance classes are Sept. 6th through the 12th.