Season Calendar & Events
2018-2019 Season
Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul
AUGUST 2018
301 . 371 . 4228 | office@dbdance.com
How do I REGISTER for classes?
From the studio homepage (www.dbdance.com), click on “Our 2022-2023 Season” from the menu under our studio name. A drop down menu will appear. Click on “Class Offerings”. Once on the Class Offerings page, you’ll want to click on the icon that corresponds to the class you’re interested in registering for. Options include: Preschool Classes, Classes for 1st & 2nd Graders, Classes for 3rd Graders, Intermediate Classes, Advanced Classes, Acro Classes, and Adult Classes. When you see the class you want click “Register” to the left of that class. From there you’ll be directed to the page where you can enter all your information to enroll. (You will be asked to enter credit card information when you register, but nothing will actually be charged to your credit card at the time of registration. Please refer to “Tuition and Payment Policies” under the “Our 2022-2023 Season” menu for more information.)
What should I bring to DANCE CLASS?
We always want our dancers to come to class prepared to have a fun and successful session! Dancers should come to the studio already dressed in their class uniform; of course easy to remove warm ups or cover ups are fine as long as they are removed at the proper time before class. Dancers should have whatever shoes they need for class packed in their bags; if dancers are in a combo class make sure they have both pairs of shoes packed and ready to go. It’s always smart to come to class with a water bottle and some back up hair ties, bobby pins, and bandaids tucked away in your bag. We would prefer it if dancers could refrain from packing toys from home in their dance bags, they can be distracting and we would hate for them to get lost. We are happy to provide hand sanitizer to your child but if they would like a personal one, those are great little clip ons for their bag. Lastly, we recommend that all bags, shoes, and warm up be labeled with your dancer's name on the inside or tag. That way if it gets misplaced we can easily find its owner.
Where can I purchase my dancer's required ATTIRE & SHOES?
We have our boutique (D’Boutique) available for your shopping convenience! It is in the same building as the studio, located on the side coming into the parking lot on your left at the wooden deck. A member of our boutique staff looks forward to helping you with your dancer's attire, shoes and accessories.
Where do I DROP OFF/PICK UP my dancer for class?
WE WILL USE THREE ENTRANCES/EXITS FOR OUR CLASSES: The Main Lobby for Studios A and B, the Back Door for Studios C and D, and the Studio E Door for Studio E. ALL DANCERS AGES 2 THROUGH THE INTERMEDIATE 2 LEVEL WILL BE WELCOMED AT THE DOOR BEFORE CLASS AND DISMISSED AT THE DOOR AFTER CLASS BY A STAFF MEMBER OR APPRENTICE. Please make sure that you see your child safely in the hands of the assigned staff member at drop-off before continuing around the drive. PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR DANCER OFF MORE THAN 5 MINUTES PRIOR TO THEIR CLASS AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PICK UP PROMPTLY AT THE END OF CLASS. ADDITIONAL PARKING LOT AND DRIVEWAY NOTES: Please avoid blocking the drive at any time. We understand circling the driveway (especially multiple times) during pick-up can be a hassle, but when we back traffic up out on Route 17, we create problems for the next set of families trying to drop off, as well as for other local drivers. Please avoid parking in any area that is not a parking spot and avoid the 4 reserved spots. I know there are certain times of day that this is an immense challenge, but we need to stick to the legitimate parking spots, and once those are gone, we need to resort to public parking on the street. Sometimes both the driveway and lot are quite busy, and it’s essential that we maintain an orderly system of moving through the space because we have lots of tiny bodies coming and going, and we need to keep those little ones safe at all costs. Thanks so much for helping!
What is the MEMBERSHIP FEE for?
The Membership Fee is used for a variety of season preparation items; including prop bags for Tiny Dancers, classroom set up for older dancers, and administrative time to set up for classes, as well as to reserve a spot in your dancer’s class. Membership fee is based on the number of students per family participating in classes.
What is the PARENT PORTAL? How do I set mine up?
The Parent Portal is a wonderful tool that allows you to manage your studio account online at any time of the day or night! From your Parent Portal you can do the following: Enroll your dancer in classes and events View fees & payments posted to your account Make online account payments Update your contact information See & read the Parent Handbook, Studio Google Calendar, Studio Rehearsal Schedule, Current Announcements & much more Here’s how you set up your parent portal… From our website (www.dbdance.com), click on “Parent Log-in” from the menu under our studio name. That will bring you to a page that asks for a Username and Password which you won’t have this first time. So…click under that where it says “Forgot your password/Need to get started”, then enter your email address which you entered when you registered. A temporary password will be emailed to you within an hour that you can use to log into your portal. Once in your portal, you’ll be able to change your password, view any fees that need to be paid, make payments, etc. ***If you do not receive that password within an hour, be sure to check your junk folder as passwords have been known to go there.
Can I OBSERVE my child's class?
Parents who would like to observe class are welcome to do so via ZOOM. When logging onto the Zoom, please make sure your DANCER’S NAME is on the screen, your video is OFF, and your microphone is MUTED. We’ll need to hide non-video participants so that we can see all of our dancers on the big TVs. Specific Zoom links are available on your Parent Portal, or you can CALL the office at 301-371-4228 and Miss Sandy and Miss Lori would be happy to assist you.
What if we register and my child DOESN'T LIKE CLASS?
Please email Miss Sandy (sandy@dbdance.com) or Miss Lori (lori@dbdance.com) if your dancer needs to discontinue classes. They will take care of the class withdrawal, and you will not be charged any additional tuition from the date you notify us. We hope that your dancer will be interested in trying class with us again in the future!
Why is there a DRESS CODE? What are Options 1 and 2?
Having a dress code allows dancers to be prepared to learn without distraction. Not all dance attire is equally dancer-friendly, and some styles/cuts/accessories are challenging to dance in. It also assists with freedom of movement, and shows respect for peers and teachers. Every class has a dress code, and our Tiny Dancer classes, as well as all ballet classes, have specific leotard requirements, including options for varying sleeve lengths. Option 1 for each class is a more feminine choice, and Option 2 is more unisex. We want dancers to be comfortable in their dance attire, and we are happy to permit both options. Note: each option is listed as a full dress code, so pink tights go with pink ballet shoes, black tights with black ballet shoes, as opposed to a mix-&-match.
Do you offer MAKE-UP CLASSES?
Dancers are welcome to make-up any classes they miss due to illness, vacation, required school event, or inclement weather in another class of their same level. We just ask that you notify us via email ahead of time (24 hours in advance is perfect) so we can schedule your dancer for the makeup to ensure the teacher is aware and that we have enough space in the class on that particular date. Please email lori@dbdance.com or sandy@dbdance.com to schedule your dancer for a makeup class.
Is tuition less in MONTHS WITH FEWER CLASSES?
Each class is guaranteed to meet at least 30 times during our full dance season (mid-September thru mid-May culminating with our Spring Recital). We take all holidays into account as well as snow days when designing the schedule and most classes will meet more than 30 times throughout the dance year. Tuition is a fee for the full dance season (based on meeting 30 times) which we divide into monthly installments for ease of payment. So, when you pay your "February" tuition installment fee, you're paying for 1/9 of your dancer's tuition for the season, not the classes your dancer takes in February. Dancers are also welcome to make-up any classes they miss due to illness, vacation, required school event, or inclement weather in another class of their same level. We just ask that you notify us via email ahead of time (24 hours in advance is perfect) so we can schedule your dancer for the makeup to ensure the teacher is aware and that we have enough space in the class on that particular date. Please email lori@dbdance.com or sandy@dbdance.com to schedule your dancer for a makeup class.
When can my dancer go on POINTE?
For dancers getting their pointe shoes can be so exciting, and is often seen as a rite of passage. Because we want our dancers to be safe in all things that they do, and pointe can be dangerous if the dancer is not ready, we have some prerequisite classes to ensure that our dancers are ready and safely prepared to go on pointe. We ask that our dancers successfully pass their Grade I Cecchetti Exam and then take a Pre-Pointe class. The Pre-Pointe class focuses on strength and proper ankle alignment. Once dancers have completed a full year of Pre-Pointe they can be assessed by a staff member to determine if they will be able to safely work on pointe. Every dancer is different and every set of feet/ankles are different so we can’t guarantee a certain time line. If a dancer is not ready for pointe by the end of pre-pointe then they can continue onto Beginner Pointe and work in their flat shoes. Safety is our biggest concern here. We want our dancers to grow and try new things, and we want them to do so at their own pace to keep them dancing safely.
Why do parents have to buy Recital/Nutcracker TICKETS?
Recital/Nutcracker Ticket fees help offset the expense of the performance facility, music licensing for the performances, and onsite staffing. Additionally, the online ticket service we use charges a per-ticket service at time of purchase, and that fee is built into the ticket price.
How is ACRO DANCE different from GYMNASTICS?
The acro dance syllabus we use at the studio is called Acrobatic Arts which trains dancers in flexibility, strength, balance, limbering and tumbling. This program also helps the dancers learn to use these skills in an artistic way to incorporate into their dancing in other styles. Acro can also be a stand-alone class perfect for any dancer who wants to gain strength and flexibility along with acrobatic skills. Gymnastics is more apparatus-based and includes balance beam, bars, etc. We do not train dancers in apparatus work.
What is COMPETITION TEAM?
Our competition team is our team of dancers who travel to different dance competitions and workshops throughout the year. These dancers have specific class commitments and rehearsal time to prepare but there are many different levels of commitment you can choose when you join the team. All dancers 4+ are welcome to join the team. We have yearly auditions in the spring to place dancers for the following year but all dancers who want to join are accepted onto the team. If you’re interested in seeing more of what our team does, you can visit our youtube channel to see some highlights from our previous seasons and you can email abby@dbdance.com for more information.
What is CECCHETTI? Why should my child take Cecchetti?
Actually, the real question is, “WHO was Cecchetti?” Enrico Cecchetti was a master ballet teacher who worked with professional dancers from all over the world. He was also a dancer and a choreographer, but he is best known for his methodical approach to making dancers the best technicians and artists they could be. In the 1920’s a group of teaching professionals who had the privilege of working with Cecchetti, devised a systematic teaching method for students based on Cecchetti’s theories and his teaching patterns. This work developed into the exam system we use today. Grades I-IV are student work, and they prepare students for the four professional levels. The four professional levels (Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced and Diploma) are comprised of patterns taught by Cecchetti himself. In a Cecchetti class, dancers are taught patterns that they eventually perform for two examiners as part of a ballet exam. The dancers study technique, artistry and ballet theory in their Cecchetti syllabus classes, and they prepare for an exam approximately every other year. WHY SHOULD MY DANCER TAKE A CECCHETTI CLASS? We firmly believe that ballet is the foundation for all dance genres. Dancers who have a solid ballet background find great success in other disciplines. In order to be a serious student of ballet, a MINIMUM of two ballet classes per week is necessary. Our Cecchetti syllabus classes offer that second technique class, as well as an opportunity to learn the work of Enrico Cecchetti and to prepare for exams. Additionally, once a female student has passed her Grade 1 exam, she is invited to join the PrePointe class. (Once in that class, the teacher notifies the dancer when she is ready to begin dancing en pointe.) Our teachers are certified through the Cecchetti Council of America to present our dancers for exams. The CCA is an internationally recognized organization. Students cross paths with other students who study the Method at dance conferences held in the metro area. When they add Cecchetti classes to their studies they become part of a legacy that extends across continents and generations of dancers through history. From the Cecchetti Council of America Website: “Cecchetti training is a rigorous method which pays careful attention to the laws of anatomy. It develops all of the qualities essential to the dancer: balance, poise, strength, elevation, elasticity, “ballon”, etc. It is classic in its purity and clear-cut style.”
What is LYRICAL/CONTEMPORARY?
Lyrical is a style of dance that bases its technique off of both ballet and jazz, but it is largely focused on expression and storytelling. In lyrical, our dancers connect to the meaning of a song, they find inspiration in the lyrics and translate it into movement. It’s generally a softer style of dance, relying on strong ballet lines, jazz skills, and a dancer’s ability to convey different emotions. Contemporary dance is also a blend of different styles. It builds off of ballet, jazz, and modern dance. It also depends deeply on storytelling and expression. Contemporary dance is a dynamic style and can take on many different qualities. It can be soft like lyrical, or it can take on a stronger and sharper quality, it can even mimic very casual movements that may not be seen as dance. Lyrical and Contemporary are very similar styles, and are oftentimes confused with one another. Our studio has combined the two styles in one class option because the technical base for each is so similar, and the artist application can easily be manipulated between each style. We want our dancers to experience both styles in this immersive class.