COAST ACADEMY OF DANCE & PERFORMING ARTS

NEWS

FALL 2008 NEWSLETTER

Dear Parents and Students,

Our Academy welcomes you, both new and returning students, to our 2008-2009 season. We look forward to sharing our enthusiasm and pursuits with you and we ask that you read this newsletter thoroughly and keep it handy for future reference.

Calendar
Auditions for Performance Classes: 2 Sept. 4 pm (Tues.)
Registration at the Studio: 4-6 Sept. 9 am-5 pm (Thurs.-Sat.)
Used Dance Apparel Sale 6 Sept. 1 pm–4 pm (Sat.)

Semester 1 … 15 Sepember – 26 January (17 weeks)
Thanksgiving 13 Oct..– school closed (Mon.) make-up 15 Dec.
Remembrance Day 11 Nov. – school closed (Tues.) make-up 16 Dec.
Watching Week 10 – 14 December
Christmas Holidays 15 December – 5 January,
2009 Pre-Professional Program Exhibition: 20 December
Semester 2 … 2 February –12 June (17 weeks)
Watching Week 9 – 13 March
Spring Break 16 March – 27 March
Spring Exam Session dates forthcoming for qualifying students
Victoria Day 18 May–school open (Mon.)
Theatre Performances:
1st show – June 6, 7
2nd show – June 13, 14
CAD Dress Rehearsal : 1st show – May 30 : 2nd show – June 1
Theatre Dress Rehearsals 1st show – to be confirmed : 2nd show – to be confirmed
PLEASE NOTE: * Academy is open for classes on all Academic Pro-D Days.

Used Dance Apparel for Sale – Saturday, 6 September If you have any outgrown dancewear or footwear that is still in good condition and you would like to sell, please bring it to the Academy during our registration days in a clear plastic bag in which you have also enclosed an envelope with your name, telephone number, item description and size, and price desired. We will have them on display for you on Saturday, 6 September, from 1 pm – 4 pm for any interested buyers. Those who have items which sell will be contacted by the office to arrange for payment collection and any items that remain unsold can be advertised on our bulletin board.

Academy Fee Policies

  • All registrants will pay a registration fee of $15. Fees are to be paid for the entire year, either in two semester payments (Sept. and February) or 8 post-dated cheques for the 1st or 15th of each month (Sept. Oct., Nov., Dec., Feb., March, April, May).
  • Performance Classes will require a $50 costume fee paid at registration.
  • Costume fees for June performances depend on the needs of the class, and are generally collected during Semester 2 by Class Mom volunteers. Every effort is made to keep these as low as possible.
  • Should circumstances permit you to only pay for one semester, the second semester must be paid within the first month (February), or the student will not be permitted to return to class until account is up-to-date. Semester 2 fees must be paid in full for students to be permitted to participate in the year-end performances.
  • There will be a $10 charge on all NSF cheques.
  • One full month’s notice is required for withdrawal from any class, otherwise one month’s fees will be forfeited.
  • NO REFUNDS AFTER MARCH 1st, 2009.
  • No refunds are given for missed classes unless there is a valid medical reason verified by a physician.

Academy Etiquette

  • Please strive to arrive punctually with proper dancewear, footwear, and hair grooming.
  • Runners worn in Hip Hop must be clean, and Tap Shoe screws must be securely fastened and checked regularly.
  • All dance shoes must have student’s name in them.
  • No jewelry is to be worn, and no chewing of gum permitted during class.
  • Dressing areas and washrooms are to be kept tidy. No food or drink permitted in studios at any time.
  • It is expected you will adhere to any rules and guidelines set out by your instructors, remembering that respect for all staff, fellow students, their belongings, and academy property, will be in place at all times.
  • Please inform the office when you are absent.
  • Enjoy your classes and work hard!

Ballet Students take note … Style and colour guidelines for purchasing new leotards are listed on our website, or you may ask for a print-out. Basically – Pre-School through Grade 2 is pink - leotard being tank top style, and Grade 3 through Majors is black - leotard being a spaghetti-strap style. Hair must be in a bun, or if not long enough, pinned back off the face.

Tap, Hip Hop, & Lyrical Performance Classes These classes will work on pieces that will be performed here on the Coast and possibly in Vancouver. They will also be invited to perform in the Pre-Professional Program Exhibition Show in December.

Parking Lot Please enter and exit the parking lot slowly and with extreme caution as it is a very busy area. When driving in for drop-offs, please exit via the back lane, turning right, back to the main street. There is to be no parking in front of the Community Services building at the back. Thank you.

Pre-Professional Program We are pleased to be able to continue our Pre-Professional Program which is unique in BC in that it encompasses many dance disciplines and leads to the dancers finishing with Advanced 2 Tap and/or Modern and the possibility of a teaching diploma. This year the Program will take on a new look with classes being held during the evening and regular intense workshops on Pro-D Days. The students will be exposed to many different choreographers and will perform an Exhibition Show in December.

Communication Those of you with internet access may keep current with the latest Academy news by visiting our website. Our telephone answering machine is always available for you to leave messages. Office hours as of 15 Sept. are currently set for Monday through Thursday from 3 – 6 pm and Fridays from 2 – 5 pm. (Subject to change) Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you!
Julie Izad, Director

ISTD Examinations and Dance Competitions; Our Academy recently had 33 candidates examined in a total of 61 examinations in Ballet, Tap, and Modern, with 4 of our senior dancers preparing for their Majors in early May, with 2 of our Pre-Professional students taking their Associate Teacher’s Certificate.  We congratulate them all for their participation in this worthy mark of their progression.

Our Competition Tap and Competition Hip Hop classes recently competed in two events on the Lower Mainland, and came home with excellent placements.  The third, and final event, is the weekend of May 9th.  We wish them well!

Pre-Professional Programme: If you are not already aware, our Academy offers this two-year programme to Grade 11, 12, or Post-Secondary students.  There is an emphasis on strong technique, post-secondary dance career exploration, and could lead to the ISTD Associate Diploma in Ballet, Tap, and/or Modern.  Any students currently at the Intermediate level in dance who aspire to this would benefit from scheduling an appointment with Julie Izad to learn more, and to choose classes which will benefit them down the road.  Also, if you have any family members or friends off-coast who may be interested, they are welcome to approach us, as there is possibility of home-stay.

Looking Towards September: A tentative schedule for next year is now available. ( see Proposed Schedule)
If you have any concerns or queries regarding scheduling, we need to hear from you soon to take them into consideration.  Changes will not be made after 30 June, 2008 until following our September registration week, when slight changes may take place due to enrolment.

September Registration: September 4th, 5th, 6th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Studio. (... that's Thursday, Friday and Saturday )

2008-2009 Dance Classes Start The week of September 15th - 2008

Office Hours: The office will be closed during the summer.  Our telephone answering machine is always available for you to leave messages at 604.8885.2263. OR email: coastdance@uniserve.com