Evolve Dance Company
Fall 2024/2025
Parent and Student Handbook
Contact Us:
Hayley Bender-Owner and Director
misshayley@evolvedancecompanyllc.com
518.460.5678
Due to teaching schedule, please be patient when sending messages/emails/phone calls. We will get back to you!
Studio & Mailing Address:
1130 Lincoln Avenue
Fennimore, WI 53809
COMMUNICATION
Please be sure we have a valid email address and phone number. This will ensure you are receiving all up-to-date communication. All information from Evolve Dance Company Staff will come through your email; Facebook and other social media will also be updated from time-to-time. If you are not receiving emails, please contact Hayley Bender.
CLASS PLACEMENT/POLICIES
Student placement for classes at Evolve Dance Company is strictly at the discretion of the instructors and directors, not by parent request. The teacher will inform families where they think their child will be the best, years of dance experience does not guarantee placement. Every child learns differently-instructors take several factors into consideration when placing students. Students who miss multiple lessons are less likely to advance with their peers. Parents should ensure their children are attending as many classes as possible, encourage their child to focus on their own growth and to always trust in their teacher’s opinions.
Evolve Dance Company reserves the right to combine or cancel classes, change times, and provide substitute or replacement teachers.
Please have your child arrive at class five minutes prior to the start of their class. Your child should have the proper attire, shoes, and hairstyle for class. Parents, please be prompt-without proper warm-ups, a student can be seriously injured.
Evolve Dance Company staff is responsible for the dancer only during lesson time. An adult must accompany young children until class begins and must be picked up promptly when class ends. Most classes run back-to-back, therefore allowing no time for the instructor to monitor the children after class.
For children under five, a parent or guardian must stay in the waiting area, outside of the dance room in case of an emergency. If you can’t stay with your child, please make arrangements.
Students should stop at the bathroom before class begins!
IN THE STUDIO
-Chewing gum/candy in not permitted during dance class
-No running in the dance studio, except under the teacher’s direction and supervision
-No hanging or climbing on the barres
-No touching or smearing the mirrors
-No touching, knocking, or banging on the viewing glass, windows, or entrance door
-No running, rough play, or loud talking in the dance room or waiting room
-No climbing in/on the furniture
-Water bottles are allowed. Small snacks are allowed for children who spend extended periods of time in the studio. All snacks should be picked up and disposed of properly.
-Student phones should be left in the waiting room and should be silenced
-No street shoes allowed on the dance room floor at any time…All tennis shoes should be clean and worn only for dance class
DRESS CODE
Attire that is worn should allow for the instructor to observe and critique body alignment and positioning. To keep shoes and the floor in good condition, please, all dance shoes should be worn indoors only. Please do not wear dance shoes in the parking lot or outdoors. Evolve Dance Company carries tap, ballet, jazz, and apparel for purchase. Specific style and color shoes are required for spring performance.
-Practice wear is required for all classes
-Student’s hair must be tied back off neck and secured before class begins
-Shoe styles, colors, and prices vary by class (specifics given at registration)
-Remove all unnecessary/distracting jewelry before class
-Write your child’s name inside their shoes
-No pajama pants, jeans, or jean shorts allowed
If your child does not follow these requirements, they will be asked to sit and watch class.
*Ballet Class-Leotard/tights (any color) required. Ballet skirts/dance shorts optional. If shoes have strings, please be sure to have them tucked into shoes. Specific shoes will be required for each class and must be purchased through the studio.
*Tap/Clogging Class-Dancewear, no loose-fitting clothes or pants that cover the ankles or feet. Black tap and clogging shoes. Specific shoes will be required for each class and must be purchased through the studio.
*Jazz/Lyrical Class-Dancewear, warmups may be used at the beginning of classes, but then must be removed after stretching. Specific shoes will be required for each class and must be purchased through the studio.
*Hip Hop Class-Dancewear, shorts/tanks/t-shirts/leggings…any comfortable fitted and movable clothing. NO JEANS! Clean sneakers that have only been worn indoors. Sneakers with smooth soles work best. NO street shoes! No socks or bare feet!
VIEWING & WAITING AREA
Information for Parents/Guardians/Siblings of Dancers
-Students and families entering through the studio need to use the rear entrance for drop off and pick up
-Dancers need to hang coats and remove shoes in the entryway of the studio and place bags in the cubbies. This will eliminate chances of mix-ups and/or loss of property.
-Be aware the loud activity/conversation in the waiting area is a disruption to the dancers and instructors
-Do not block the viewing area, this is the entrance/exit of the dance room
-Do not bring in food/drinks to the dance room. Drink breaks where dancers can go to the waiting room and get a drink from their water bottle will be periodically given.
-Be respectful in the common areas, this is for all the dancers and staff of Evolve Dance Company-pick up after yourselves
-Climbing/playing in/on furniture is not allowed
PARENT OBSERVATION
-We will have a formal parent observation night during the month of April for all classes. During this time, you are welcome to videotape class and take photos
ATTENDANCE
Good attendance is imperative, as absences and tardiness can hold back an entire class, and the studio cannot jeopardize its responsibilities to the rest of the class for one student. Please make every effort to have your child to class on time. Repetitive tardiness may result in your child not participating in the show, regardless of your costume purchase. It is also important that you pick up your child promptly.
STUDIO PARKING
Parking for the studio is in the back parking lot next to the building.
WEATHER-RELATED CANCELLATIONS
Snow Days and other cancellations are announced on the Evolve Dance Company social media pages and will be emailed out. You will not be charged for these days; snow days are built into the dance calendar.
HOLIDAYS
There are no dance lessons during holiday weeks. These scheduled days off are available on the Evolve Dance Company calendar.
TUITION/COSTUME PAYMENTS
Tuition payments are paid in four installments, one per quarter. Costume fees are to be paid in one payment between October and November. All bills can be found on your parent portal. Payment reminders will be sent out via email, so please make sure that we have your correct email. Checks must be made out to Evolve Dance Company, LLC. VENMO:hayleybender
Payment Schedule
1st Quarterly Tuition Payment-September(registration)
2nd Quarterly Tuition Payment-November
3rd Quarterly Tuition Payment-January
4th Quarterly Tuition Payment-March
Costume Fee-October/November(one payment)
If someone else is paying for your child’s lesson, please be sure to have them write your child’s name in the memo of the check or in the notes of the Venmo! You may be required to cover the cost of any other additional costs, such as tights and props. All costume fees and quarterly payments must be up to date before your child will receive his or her costumes for recital.
Tuition Breakdown per Class
*This amount does not include costume fees, those fees will come separately.
First Registered Class-$80 per quarter
Additional Registered Class:
$45 per quarter (30 minute class)
$55 per quarter (45 minute class)
Each additional sibling gets a $5-$10 discount per quarter
PRIVATE LESSONS
Parents may request a private lesson for their child at any point during the year. These must be paid and set up directly with your coach/instructor. Please contact your instructor/coach for available time slots. Typical Private Lesson Price: $35/hour. If you do not show up for a scheduled lesson or provide 24-hour advance notice, you will be charged that fee. If you cancel with only 48-hour notice, you will owe ½ of the required fee.
SOLOS, DUETS & TRIOS
If you are interested in a solo/duet/trio, please let us know during registration. Once the fee is paid, the student is obligated to practice with their instructor 5-10 times. Most lessons will be scheduled on Sundays. You must be willing to work into the instructor’s open time slots and you must understand that any lesson canceled less than 24-hours in advance will be charged accordingly. ALL students must be enrolled in at least one regularly scheduled dance class.
Recital Solos: $550
Recital Duets: $450 each
Recital Trios: $350 each
RETURNED CHECKS
There will be a $50 fee for any returned checks. If this were to happen, there will only be cash accepted from that point forward.
LATE FEE
-Late payments will be charged an interest fee of 18% APR
-After 30 days without payment, an additional $25 a month & possible class removal will be applied
RECITAL
Every spring, Evolve Dance Company, LLC will hold an annual recital. This gives your child the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience in full costume with lights and scenery. Every student is eligible to perform, however, it is not required. If you do not wish to participate, you must notify staff by the end of October.
The recital will be held at the Prairie du Chien High School Auditorium. The schedule will be on the Evolve Dance Company calendar. All stage lessons and dress rehearsal dates are mandatory, any student who misses or is late for rehearsals can not perform.
Friends/family will be allowed to view this performance with a purchase of tickets that go on sale in April. Volunteers are needed for recitals in the dressing rooms. It is mandatory for parents of children not volunteering to purchase tickets and watch the show from the auditorium.
Videotaping and photographs are not permitted, except at stage lessons and dress rehearsal. You are welcome to take photos on stage after the recital has concluded.
We will have a scheduled picture day prior to the recital.
RECITAL VIDEOS & CLASS PHOTOS
Please do not videotape or photograph the recital while it is in progress, as it is dangerous for the performers and discourteous to the audience. People cannot enjoy the show with cameras throughout the audience. If you try to video the show, you will be asked to leave. The recital will be videotaped and can be purchased-an order form will be sent home. In April, professional portraits will be scheduled for a day before the recital. The exact date can be found on the Evolve Dance Company calendar. The picture day schedule will be posted in the spring. Group and individual photos can be purchased at this time, ordering information and pricing will be available in the spring.
Please notify staff if you cannot make the scheduled date.
TICKET SALES
Due to the cost of a recital, we are required to charge admission to the performance. Admission to the recital is by ticket ONLY. Recital tickets will be sold online and will be sold in advance in April. A spring newsletter will be available with more details.
WITHDRAWAL & REFUNDS
Evolve Dance Company classes are based on a September-May enrollment. Please register with the intent to have your child enrolled for the full term. Simply not showing up to class does not cancel your child’s registration, and you will continue to be responsible for tuition until we receive notification.
SHOWSTOPPERS DANCE CONVENTION
Students are allowed and encouraged to attend the Showstopper conventions at the Kalahari Resort and Water Park in the Wisconsin Dells in October. Further information will be provided to interested students at the beginning of the dance season. This convention provides students the opportunity to take classes taught by professional choreographers and teachers from around the country. Convention participation is encouraged and left up to each individual student. These conventions are a great opportunity for your child to progress in his or her own dance skills.
AT-SCHOOL PICKUP
Available for Fennimore School families; all students in the 4:00 classes during the dance weeks are eligible to be a part of the at-school pickup program. If this is something your family would like to take advantage of, please contact Hayley. Someone from EDC will be at the school as students are released and take them to the studio. All personal snacks should be provided in a lunch box or dance bag. More information will be provided a week prior to the beginning of the dance season.