Dear Gotta Dance Families:
We are thrilled to kick off another exciting dance season! Our goal is to provide dancers with a solid education in dance while teaching valuable dance etiquette skills that will benefit them throughout life. We’re sharing these expectations and guidelines with you so everyone is on the same page. We appreciate all our wonderful dance families and share the common goal of giving our dancers the best possible experience. Thank you for helping us achieve this in a positive and supportive way.
The Gotta Dance experience is built on five core values: Healthy Fun, Spirit of Dance, Inclusive Family, Always Inspirational, and Passionate Collaboration. This fall, we will be discussing dance etiquette in class with engaging visuals to help our dancers and community get the most out of each class this season.
I wear the required dance attire to class. When everyone is dressed similarly, it creates a sense of unity and camaraderie, making each dancer feel more connected to their class. Our dress code is carefully designed for each level to ensure the best possible dance experience. Loose or baggy clothing and, loose hair can pose safety risks. Wearing the appropriate attire, including having your hair pulled back, shows respect for our art, our peers, and our dance educators. Proper attire allows our educators to see a dancer’s body, enabling them to make necessary corrections in technique and alignment. For more details, please visit our classroom for fun attire guidelines on our website.
I arrive on time and attend consistently. Dancers should arrive 5-10 minutes before their class begins to greet their friends and use this time to settle into the studio hang space and prepare to line up. In the rare event that you arrive five or more minutes after class has begun, you may quietly enter the back of the studio and warm up independently. A proper warm up is crucial for your safety as a dancer.
I respect the dance studio and hang space. Show respect for the dance studio by refraining from chewing gum, using cell phones or wearing street shoes inside the studio. Dancers must change into their dance shoes before entering class and store their dance bags and belongings in the designated area. There are no garbage cans inside the dance studios because we aim to have no waste. Dancers are encouraged to bring a reusable or recyclable water bottle. We kindly request that Gotta Dance families leave the hang space in the same condition they found it to help us maintain a clean and organized environment for our dance community. This way, we can all enjoy a clean, focused, and fun space to dance our hearts out!
I come to class focused and ready to do my best. Always strive to give 110%—practice makes progress! Stay attentive and maintain your posture, standing like a dancer. Present yourself in a way that shows you are eager to learn. Dancers should remain standing during class (unless instructed otherwise) and avoid leaning on or hanging on the barre.
I come to class well-prepared. Dancers should remember class choreography from week to week and apply the teacher’s corrections. These corrections are valuable feedback from educators on how to improve. Retaining and applying corrections in each class demonstrates that a dancer is engaged and committed to their growth.
I celebrate the joy of dance. Gotta Dance offers exciting performance opportunities, including our annual June concerts and additional experiences like the Nutcracker Dance Ensemble, Nutcracker Sweets Troupe, and various dance teams such as Heartbeat Dance Team, Dynamite Dance Team, EDGE Dance Crew, Immortal Dance Force, and Showstoppers Dance Company. We also host fun-filled class events like Halloween Week, Family Observation, Pajama Week, and Spirit Week.
I value and respect my Gotta Dance family. Gotta Dance is committed to creating a safe and supportive community that fosters a lifelong love for dance and creative expression. To ensure all dancers can pursue their passion, we have implemented a comprehensive anti-bullying policy and an “I don’t know what to do” form for our dancers, families and team. If you encounter any instances of bullying or find yourself in an uncomfortable situation where you don’t know what to do, please report it on our website here so that it can be addressed.
I listen attentively and raise my hand to speak. Maintain focus on the educator at all times, and ask questions respectfully by raising your hand without interrupting. Pay close attention to the educator and be prepared for your turn.
I thank my dance educator. Always applaud at the end of class to acknowledge my self for working hard, my team for doing their best and most importantly for my dance educator.
I appreciate my dance educator’s expertise. All of our dance educators are experts in the dance field. You can view all of our bios on the website. Respect the art of dance and those teaching it.
I aspire to learn my weekly syllabus. Dancers receive a syllabus of steps designed to support their growth, with steps and videos emailed for home practice. We provide syllabi for all levels and disciplines, ensuring that our education is aligned across the board. Our educators are dedicated to providing a comprehensive and well-structured curriculum. Each of our 14 levels follows a standardized and developmentally appropriate sequence of movements. These techniques build progressively from year to year, emphasizing the importance of continuous education and growth in dance. Additionally, we offer an optional Syllabus Challenge in the winter to help dancers refine their technique and celebrate their achievements.
I grow as a dancer by watching my peers. Dancers learn by observing others perform. When it’s not your turn to dance, focus on watching your peers, InTurn, and the Dance Educator.
I collaborate as part of the team. Being a member of a dance class or team involves learning to lead, follow, support, and communicate effectively. This means stepping up to guide peers when needed, following instructions and choreography accurately, encouraging and supporting fellow dancers. It also includes maintaining open communication with both fellow dancers and educators, adapting to different roles, and working together to achieve common goals. These collaborative skills are central to everything our dancers do.
I communicate with my dance educator. Dancers and families who wish to discuss their dancer’s progress should email their educator. Each dance educator has an email listed on the bio webpage and holds weekly office hours for parent communication. Due to tight class schedules, it’s challenging for educators to address questions between classes. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
I value our ‘This Week at Gotta Dance’ studio announcements. These weekly updates help build community and keep everyone informed about upcoming events promptly. They include important information about tryouts, auditions, and special weeks such as Halloween, Spirit Week, and family observations.
Thank you for your commitment to making our dance community a place of growth, respect, and collaboration!
Thank you,
The Gotta Dance Family
