CLASS ATTIRE:  Dance families can purchase dance shoes and tights at the studio.  Please be sure to purchase quality dance shoes such as Capezio or Bloch brand.  DO NOT purchase your dance shoes from a big box general merchandise store.  The price point is not very different but the quality is.  We do not carry pointe shoes but will be glad to recommend a reputable fitter.

We have class attire lists for easy shopping at our Nimbly Shop

Our local retailers are:

Competitors Closet in Warwick and LaBrie in Smithfield The Dancer’s Drawer in North Attleboro

• Preschool Class:  Black or Pink Leotard, optional sheer ballet skirt (attached or pull on), ballet pink tights, pink leather ballet slippers, black Mary Jane style tap shoes  – Capezio, Bloch or Revolution brand preferred for shoes
• Ballet/Pointe Class:  Ballet Pink Tights (Capezio, Weissman or Revolution brand preferred), Black leotard, optional short-sheer ballet skirt, Pink canvas or leather ballet slippers (Bloch, Capezio or Revolution brand preferred). Pointe shoes should only be purchased by an experienced dance fitter.  Expect to try on many different style choices before finding “your” pointe shoes.
• Jazz Class:  Black leotard, black cami top or solid color bra top; black form-fitting dance shorts or black leggings; Tan slip on jazz shoes (Capezio, Bloch or Revolution brand preferred).  Young dancers in the jazz/acro combo class do not need jazz shoes.
• Tap Class:  Black leotard, black cami top or solid color bra top; black form-fitting dance shorts or black leggings; Black tap shoes (level 1 & 2 students use Mary Jane style, level 3 and up students wear oxford style)
• Contemporary/Lyrical/Modern/Acro: Black leotard, black cami top or solid color bra top; Capezio, Bloch or Revolution nude footundeez; form-fitting black dance shorts.  Young dancers in the jazz/acro combo class do not need footundeez.
• Hip Hop:  Comfortable clothing, clean, flat-soled sneakers worn only for dance class (black low-top converse or Revolution dance sneakers recommended for class and required for recital)

*Dancers must have proper dance attire to participate in class.  We have a borrow box and hand-me-down area for students that forgot their dance items.

Classroom Rules: All students must wear their hair up and secured for class. Dancers wear hair in a bun or high ponytail. Ballet students must wear their hair in a bun. Dancers should take care and put their hair up at home so that it is secure for class. Please do not wear jewelry to class. Stud earrings are OK. T-shirts are not allowed (except hip hop). Do not bring gum or candy to class. Do not run or hang on the barre. Do not touch the mirrors. Cell phone ringers should be turned off and kept out of the studio. Dancers and family members must use respect and kindness to fellow dancers, instructors and directors. Please do not allow young siblings to run into the classroom or bang on the viewing windows.

All students should wait in the waiting room/stretch room before their class. Please do not drop-off students earlier than 15 minutes before their class unless you make special arrangements ahead of time. Students should arrive 10-15 minutes before class, with their hair up and proper class attire to start stretching and warming up.

Registration Fee: A $30 non-refundable fee is required with registration for the 1st student in a family ($0 for each additional student).  Class space will not be reserved until this fee is paid.  (This fee does not apply when registering for the summer session.)

Snow or Bad Weather: The studio will not necessarily close for snow or inclement weather on those days when area schools are closed, since many times roads are clear and safe by mid-afternoon.  We will send out an email if class is cancelled and we will post on our Facebook/Instagram page.

Holidays: Holidays will generally follow school schedules.  Dates for holidays will be posted on the website and reminders will be posted in the waiting room.  We do not close for teachers’ workdays.

Attendance:

Why Good Attendance Matters

• Does your family prioritize dance classes? What happens when your schedule gets busy? Are you tempted to skip classes from time to time? Let’s talk about why good attendance matters.
• We know just how busy everyone’s schedules can get these days. There’s a lot going on! Between school, homework, family and social commitments, and just feeling tired, it can be a lot to keep up with. With so much going on, it might be tempting to skip a few dance classes—but there are so many reasons why that’s not a good idea.

Why Your Child Shouldn’t Miss Dance Class

• Learning to dance isn’t just about learning the steps; it’s about learning life skills.
• At Extensions, our kids’ dance classes instill your child with a sense of commitment, teamwork, discipline, and structure. These are skills that go far beyond dancing and help build character and positive habits in a child’s life.

An Introduction to the Performing Arts for Kids

• Every single class that we run at Extensions School of Dance in Bristol, RI is essential to the overall tradition of the performing arts.
• We realize that kids dance classes are not the same as university-level classes, but did you know that at the university-level in the performing arts, intentionally skipping more than three classes can actually get you kicked out of the program? Okay, that might sound a little extreme compared to dance classes for kids, but there are excellent reasons for that kind of discipline.
• Remember, in dance, the lessons that your child learns cannot be learned from a book. To learn to dance, you need an experienced teacher watching and correcting the form of the students. Your child also needs the opportunity to try, experiment, and let their body develop with the movement. Every bit of practical dance time is essential.
• Improving as a dancer is a cumulative skill that takes practice and dedication, one class at a time. If your child isn’t attending every class, then they’re self-sabotaging the very reason they enrolled in Extensions’ dance classes in the first place: to learn to dance and become the best dancer they can be.

Dance is an Ensemble Activity

• At this stage in their learning, dancing is all about teamwork. We highly encourage good attendance because missing classes puts an extra burden on your child’s peers and diminishes the value they bring to the group.
• Dance showcases are a vital part of the curriculum here at Extensions. Not only do our holiday and spring showcases allow our students to perform, but the process of preparing for these showcases is a life lesson in itself. The journey is equally important as the destination. The teamwork and preparation that goes into our Extensions School of Dance recital over weeks and months of hard work will build your child’s sense of work ethic, commitment, and achievement.
• When students learn choreography with the intention of putting together a show, they’re building an ensemble — a team.
• Our teachers and choreographers work together with your kids and their fellow students to collaboratively create a show that will challenge them and push forward their dance and performance skills and abilities. When choreographing a number, every single student in the class has an important part to play. If there is a missing student, it creates a gap in the choreography, which creates confusion among the other children, and is even more confusing for the missing child when they come back after an absence.
• Additionally, when a student misses dance class, it takes extra time to re-teach the choreography for the missing students and holds up the progress of the entire group. A student skipping class can mean that a teacher will have to spend an additional 15 minutes or longer re-teaching the choreography.
• Our showcases are also entertaining shows in their own right! We’re incredibly proud of our performances, which are the results of hours and hours or work. From learning and perfecting their choreography to the sensation of performing for an audience, your child will never forget it.

Missing Dance Class for Appropriate Reasons

• Now, we want to specify that we are NOT trying to shame students into showing up to class, regardless of their ability to attend.
• If a student is genuinely sick, then they absolutely should stay home to rest and recuperate. Attending class when sick could mean spreading it to the other kids and teachers, leading to more absences the following week.
• If a student is experiencing some kind of injury, like a sprained ankle, for example, then dancing on it could exacerbate the severity of the injury. In cases like that, we suggest that they attend class to observe but not participate actively. That way, they won’t have so much to catch up on when they’ve recovered.

Bringing It Home

• When we say “good attendance matters,” we’d like each family to consider if the reason for missing classes is an acceptable excuse. Remember, every class missed puts your child behind their peers, and also puts a burden on the other students and teachers.
• Simply put, if a student CAN attend dance class, then they should be in dance class.
• If an absence is unavoidable, please make sure to let the studio know by reporting it on your DSP portal at:  https://dancestudio-pro.com/online/extensions

Trophies/Awards:  We do not give out attendance awards but all students receive participation medals in June.  Trophies are given out to students in years 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17 – we have staggered trophy years to make the trophy more meaningful to the student.

Private Lessons: Private lessons are a half-hour long.  Private lessons may be useful for extra technique or special choreography.  They are also helpful when classes have been missed.  Solos, duets and small group dances require a minimum of 12, 30min. private sessions to choreograph.  Rates are $37.50 for a solo private lesson, $21 per person for a duet or small groups.  Special dances must be approved by the director.  Private lessons do not guarantee a spot in competition.  Please see Miss Michelle for further information.  Solos, duets and small group dances will only be performed in one (not both) of the recitals.

Recital/Costumes: The school holds an annual recital during the month of June .  This is a very exciting and rewarding experience for the students and their parents.  The recital generally has 2 performances – an evening and a matinee.  Both performances are the same except for solos/duets/etc.  Participation is encouraged but not mandatory.  A Family Recital Fee which includes costumes, tights, t-shirt, and digital download of performance will be calculated based on how many recital dances you are in and is due in January.  Recital tickets go on sale during the month of May.  Recital fees and ticket sales are non-refundable.

Waiting Room: It is important for dancers and parents to keep the waiting room quiet while class is in session.  Food and drink are not allowed in the waiting area.  Parents may wait in the waiting room during class.  Please do not tap on the viewing windows at any time.  Do not stand on the benches.  To respect the privacy of our students, videotaping and photography is not permitted without the permission of the director and is never permitted through the viewing windows.

Dismissal:  If the student is leaving with someone other than the parent, a written note should be provided at the beginning of class.  Dismissal takes place during the last 5 minutes of class.  Please be on time when picking up your child.

Liability:  Dance, like any other sport is a physical activity that has inherent risks including, but not limited to, bumps, sprains and bruises.  Extensions School of Dance including its directors and instructors are not liable for any injuries or damage to personal property incurred during classes, rehearsals, seminars, competitions or performances.  Please see our complete waiver on your DanceStudio-Pro account.