PROCEDURE AND POLICY: YEAR-LONG DANCE
LEVELS and PLACEMENT
daVinci dance program is sequential. Dancers begin their dance training at daVinci in Dance 1 and move sequentially from Dance 1 ending in Dance 3-4 by their 8th grade year. At the end of each year students must meet or exceed the established skill and effort benchmarks in Tap and Jazz for that level before progressing on to the next level.
Dancers at daVinci train in multiple dance styles. Occasionally, dancers will arrive at daVinci highly accomplished in one dance form, while having not studied, or having very limited experience with others. Due to the structure of our program, we ask that dancers in this situation begin in Dance 1, building the necessary skills in both dance forms before progressing to the next level. Often these students are put in leadership roles or asked to mentor less experienced students in their strongest dance form. Dancers have the opportunity to hone their skills in tap and jazz dance forms so that they can adequately be prepared for the next dance level.
Every dancer is different and while 99% of dancers will progress from Dance 1 to Dance 2, on occasion a child may need to repeat or even skip a dance level. We ask that students and parents trust the combined expertise of our highly skilled staff of trained dance professionals to determine the most appropriate placement for their child.
GRADING:
Our goal is to give students and parents an accurate picture of how the student is mastering the objectives and principals of dance class. Grades will be calculated in the following way:
Term/Explore Dance and Dance 1:60% Daily Professionalism Grade/ 40% Skill
Dance 2: 50% Daily Professionalism Grade / 50% Skill
Dance 3-4: 40% Daily Professionalism Grade/ 60% Skill
DAILY PROFESSIONALISM GRADE:
Dancers receive a daily professionalism grade. At the end of the week, daily scores are averaged to determine the dancers weekly professionalism grade. Dancers must maintain a professionalism grade Proficient or higher in order to remain in his or her current level of dance. Dancers must also maintain a Proficient or higher professionalism grade in order to be considered for promotion into the next level.
Dancer's Professionalism Grades are based on the FOLLOWING:
Illness/Injury Policy:
Students that are ill or injured and unable to participate, MUST bring a note from a doctor or nurse explaining the dancer's circumstances. (A parent note will be temporarily accepted until a formal note can be obtained.) No note will result in a zero for the day.
SKILL GRADES
1.) TECHNICAL SKILL, KNOWLEDGE, COMPREHENSION ASSESSMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS:
Dancers will be periodically be assessed on their dance knowledge, skill and comprehension as they progress towards mastery. Dancers that fall below Proficiency on their skill grade will need to set up lunchtime and/or after school tutoring in order to increase their skill. At the end of the year student's technical skill will be assessed to determine his or her level placement for the next year. Dancers will need to maintain a Proficient or higher grade on his or her overall skill score to be considered for promotion to the next level.
2.) GRADED DANCE PERFORMANCES: The below listed shows are graded. Participation in every show is MANDATORY. Dancers with a conflict need to let their dance teacher know right away so that alternative work can be assigned to make up for not participating.
3.) GRADED REHEARSALS:
In-school/after school rehearsals are graded and MANDATORY!!!
For the Dance 1 (1st semester), Dance 2 , and Dance 3-4 perform in the Winter Dance Showcase on January 19, 2024. In addition to rehearsing everyday in class, each class will have 2-3 after school rehearsals in January (dates/times TBA), and there will be an all-day pullout tech/dress rehearsal (mandatory) during the school day on January 17th.
For the Spring Dance Concert rehearsals begin approximately five weeks prior to the show. All semester and year-long dance classes (Dance 1 - semester 2, Dance 2, Dance 3-4) will be required to attend 3-6 after school rehearsals during this period, plus two possible TBA rehearsals. You MUST attend rehearsals in their entirely, there will be NO special exceptions for leaving early or coming late due to other commitments. In addition, the week of the show, clear your schedule for technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and emergency rehearsals. A packet will come home in March with more details regarding specific dates and times of rehearsals.
FAMILY VACATION:
If your family is planning a vacation when school is in session, please be considerate of the following:
- For the Winter Dance Showcase: in-school and after school rehearsals occur December 4th thru January 19th (off during Winter Break)
- For the Spring Dance Concert: April 1st thru May 18th are crucial preparation periods for all full year dance classes. Students will begin intensive in-school rehearsals and attend at least three to six after school rehearsals.
Each dancer plays a significant role in the dance performances and REHEARSALS ARE MANDATORY! Frequent absences during these times may result in a modified dance part or removal from the dance performances. Thank you for your consideration.
CONTRACT:
Dancers sign a contract at the beginning of the year stating that they agree to the terms listed above for the da Vinci Arts Middle School dance class. If dancers miss excessive classes, rehearsals and/or performances, don’t participate fully in class, or uphold the requirements specified above, dancers will be asked not to participate in the full year dance program.
LEVELS and PLACEMENT
daVinci dance program is sequential. Dancers begin their dance training at daVinci in Dance 1 and move sequentially from Dance 1 ending in Dance 3-4 by their 8th grade year. At the end of each year students must meet or exceed the established skill and effort benchmarks in Tap and Jazz for that level before progressing on to the next level.
Dancers at daVinci train in multiple dance styles. Occasionally, dancers will arrive at daVinci highly accomplished in one dance form, while having not studied, or having very limited experience with others. Due to the structure of our program, we ask that dancers in this situation begin in Dance 1, building the necessary skills in both dance forms before progressing to the next level. Often these students are put in leadership roles or asked to mentor less experienced students in their strongest dance form. Dancers have the opportunity to hone their skills in tap and jazz dance forms so that they can adequately be prepared for the next dance level.
Every dancer is different and while 99% of dancers will progress from Dance 1 to Dance 2, on occasion a child may need to repeat or even skip a dance level. We ask that students and parents trust the combined expertise of our highly skilled staff of trained dance professionals to determine the most appropriate placement for their child.
GRADING:
Our goal is to give students and parents an accurate picture of how the student is mastering the objectives and principals of dance class. Grades will be calculated in the following way:
Term/Explore Dance and Dance 1:60% Daily Professionalism Grade/ 40% Skill
Dance 2: 50% Daily Professionalism Grade / 50% Skill
Dance 3-4: 40% Daily Professionalism Grade/ 60% Skill
DAILY PROFESSIONALISM GRADE:
Dancers receive a daily professionalism grade. At the end of the week, daily scores are averaged to determine the dancers weekly professionalism grade. Dancers must maintain a professionalism grade Proficient or higher in order to remain in his or her current level of dance. Dancers must also maintain a Proficient or higher professionalism grade in order to be considered for promotion into the next level.
Dancer's Professionalism Grades are based on the FOLLOWING:
- Being on time. Dancers must be in their assigned spots ready to dance when class begins (DANCE DEPT. BELL SCHEDULE). Dancers that are late will stand at the door and wait for a teacher to invite him or her in.
- Being in the DRESS CODE daily.
- Having the correct DANCE SHOES.
- Hair UP!! Hair longer than ear level needs to be secured back with a hair tie in a ponytail or bun. If a dancer’s hair is too short for a ponytail, but longer than the ears, it needs to be secured back from the face with clips or an elastic hairband.
- Participating fully in every class.
- Being present and in class. Dancers that are not in class will need to fill out an ABSENCE MAKE-UP FORM in order for their absence not to affect their grade. This includes excused absences. Dancer's missing more than a week of school at a time will need to see teachers for an alternative assignment. It is the dancers responsibility to learn all material taught in class that day from a classmate or peer.
- Being safe, fair and friendly. Dancers in semester or year-long dance are expected to represent da Vinci by being positive role models for others.
Illness/Injury Policy:
Students that are ill or injured and unable to participate, MUST bring a note from a doctor or nurse explaining the dancer's circumstances. (A parent note will be temporarily accepted until a formal note can be obtained.) No note will result in a zero for the day.
SKILL GRADES
1.) TECHNICAL SKILL, KNOWLEDGE, COMPREHENSION ASSESSMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS:
Dancers will be periodically be assessed on their dance knowledge, skill and comprehension as they progress towards mastery. Dancers that fall below Proficiency on their skill grade will need to set up lunchtime and/or after school tutoring in order to increase their skill. At the end of the year student's technical skill will be assessed to determine his or her level placement for the next year. Dancers will need to maintain a Proficient or higher grade on his or her overall skill score to be considered for promotion to the next level.
2.) GRADED DANCE PERFORMANCES: The below listed shows are graded. Participation in every show is MANDATORY. Dancers with a conflict need to let their dance teacher know right away so that alternative work can be assigned to make up for not participating.
3.) GRADED REHEARSALS:
In-school/after school rehearsals are graded and MANDATORY!!!
For the Dance 1 (1st semester), Dance 2 , and Dance 3-4 perform in the Winter Dance Showcase on January 19, 2024. In addition to rehearsing everyday in class, each class will have 2-3 after school rehearsals in January (dates/times TBA), and there will be an all-day pullout tech/dress rehearsal (mandatory) during the school day on January 17th.
For the Spring Dance Concert rehearsals begin approximately five weeks prior to the show. All semester and year-long dance classes (Dance 1 - semester 2, Dance 2, Dance 3-4) will be required to attend 3-6 after school rehearsals during this period, plus two possible TBA rehearsals. You MUST attend rehearsals in their entirely, there will be NO special exceptions for leaving early or coming late due to other commitments. In addition, the week of the show, clear your schedule for technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and emergency rehearsals. A packet will come home in March with more details regarding specific dates and times of rehearsals.
FAMILY VACATION:
If your family is planning a vacation when school is in session, please be considerate of the following:
- For the Winter Dance Showcase: in-school and after school rehearsals occur December 4th thru January 19th (off during Winter Break)
- For the Spring Dance Concert: April 1st thru May 18th are crucial preparation periods for all full year dance classes. Students will begin intensive in-school rehearsals and attend at least three to six after school rehearsals.
Each dancer plays a significant role in the dance performances and REHEARSALS ARE MANDATORY! Frequent absences during these times may result in a modified dance part or removal from the dance performances. Thank you for your consideration.
CONTRACT:
Dancers sign a contract at the beginning of the year stating that they agree to the terms listed above for the da Vinci Arts Middle School dance class. If dancers miss excessive classes, rehearsals and/or performances, don’t participate fully in class, or uphold the requirements specified above, dancers will be asked not to participate in the full year dance program.