Attendance
Make Up Classes
Evaluation & Placement
Class Observation
Classroom Attire
Classroom Etiquette
Production Participation
Scholarships
Tuition Policies

 

  

Southold Studio Policies

Southold Dance Theater Studio Guidelines are designed to ensure a productive environment for all, to prevent injury, to promote excellence, and to make your time with the Southold as rewarding as possible.  Please, take the time to review this information and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

 

Attendance and Punctuality

Regular, punctual attendance is important to a child’s progress. Being on time for class is essential.  Dancers should not disrupt class by entering late or leaving early. Classes begin with warm up exercises to prevent injuries that might result from more difficult moves to follow.  If a student is more than ten minutes late, s/he will be asked to observe the remainder of class, as it will not be possible for them to be properly warmed up to join the other dancers. Dancers who must leave early are required to get prior permission from their instructor. All students must notify the SDT Office at 233-9841 of any absence or tardiness.  Failure to contact the SDT’s office could effect your eligibility for casting of roles in future Southold Dance Theater Productions. 

 

 

Make Up Classes

Students should make up any class missed due to injury or illness.  Make ups must be completed within the same semester at the student’s level or level immediately below.  No refund or credit is given for missed classes.  A credit toward the next semester will only be issued in the case of extreme illness or injury which prevents the student from returning to class during the same semester. 

 

Evaluation and Placement

Students receive an end of the year evaluation which is completed in May and give to the student during end of the year conferences or mailed with the fall enrollment packet.  Teachers may recommend advancement of a student at any level during the course of the year.  Placement recommendations are entirely at the discretion of teachers and the Artistic Director.  The Artistic Director will make a final decision in the event of a disagreement concerning appropriate placement.

Students transferring from other schools will attend a placement class at the earliest possible time.  The teacher will make a placement recommendation and classes will be assigned accordingly.

 

Class Observation
Parents may observe a regularly scheduled class by contacting the administrative office in advance to request to observe the class.  We must limit the number of parents observing class on a given day due to limited seating in the studios.  There are scheduled observation opportunities two times each year.  Please consult the school calendar.

 

Attire

The School of SDT maintains a dress code to encourage improved concentration.  The dress code further enables muscles and physique to be seen clearly, and defines and continues the lines of the body. 

All uniforms should be kept clean and neat. Holes and frayed edges must be mended. Dance and Pointe shoes should never be worn outside the building. Warmers may not be worn during class. Watches, jewelry and safety pins should not be worn in the studio. A female student’s hair should be confined in a bun so that it is immobile, does not distract the audience, hit other dancers or impede turns. 

Students who are not properly attired will be required to leave class so they may change into appropriate dance clothing.

Attire Requirement by Class Level

Creative Dance I
Girls – All pink leotard, tights and canvas ballet shoes.
Boys – White t-shirts, black tights or shorts and black canvas ballet shoes.

Creative Dance II
Girls – All pink leotard, tights and canvas ballet shoes.
Boys – White t-shirts, black tights or shorts and black canvas ballet shoes.

Primary I
Girls – All pink leotard, tights and canvas ballet shoes.
Boys – White t-shirts, black tights or shorts and black canvas ballet shoes.

Primary II
Girls – All pink leotard, tights and canvas ballet shoes.
Boys – White t-shirts, black tights or shorts and black canvas ballet shoes.

Ballet I-VII
Ladies – Black camisole or tank leotard, pink tights and pink canvas ballet shoes.
Gentlemen – Solid color t-shirt, black tights, dance belt and black canvas ballet shoes.

Open Division (Non-Ballet Classes)
Ladies and Gentlemen should wear comfortable dance clothing and soft-soled dance shoes.

Tap
Black leotard, black tights and black tap shoes.

Modern
Ladies – Any solid color leotard and tights without feet.
Gentlemen – Solid color t-shirt, any colored tights and unitard without feet or jazz pants.

Company Classroom Dress Code

  • All students must wear their hair pulled neatly into a bun.  Student’s with hair too short for a bun must have hair secured away from the face.
  • Any style black leotard.
  • Pink tights.
  • Pink leather or canvas ballet slippers.
  • Warmers and/or skirts may only be worn at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Students may wear any color leotard of their choosing on Saturdays.

Company Performance Requirements

(not all items will be required for every performance, but should be available if necessary)

  • Black camisole leotard (simple single strap, scoop back – ex: Capezio ABT Camisole Leotard style #1468)
  • Black wrap skirt (ex: Capezio ABT Black Wrap Skirt style #1471)
  • Ballet pink tights (Block or Capezio convertible tights preferred)
  • Pink canvas ballet slippers (no leather allowed for performances)
  • Nude Camisole Leotard
  • One pair of pink bloomers
  • One pair of white bloomers
  • Black character shoes
  • Black jazz shoes

 

Class and Rehearsal Etiquette

  • Dancers should be respectful of the instructors and their fellow dancers at all times.
  • The office should be notified immediately if an instructor has not arrived.  Students are not to leave the building until excused by an instructor or SDT office staff.
  • Students should not disrupt class by talking, entering late or leaving early.
  • Students may not enter the studio if a class other than their own is in session.
  • Students may not “warm-up” in a studio when another class is in session.
  • Students may not wait in the studio for their class to start if another class is in session.

Students may not chew gum, carry food or drink into the studio.  The exception to this is WATER – if needed due to extreme weather or by instructor recommendation.  Chewing gum is not allowed in the Colfax Cultural Center or in any performing venues.

Costumes should be handled with special care.  They are expensive and costly to repair.  Please make it a habit to return all costumes in the manner in which they were found – on hangers, etc.  Students must not sit on the floor in a costume either in the studio or in the theater.

 

Participation in Productions

SDT produces two major productions annually, including “The Nutcracker.” Our status as resident dance company at the Morris Performing Arts Center is a special honor and testimony to the talent in the organization. 

Please note that attendance at the School of SDT does not guarantee participation in ALL productions/competitions and students will be required to audition. If selected, a performance fee will be required for all participants. SDT students participating in the production must continue to attend classes regularly in order to maintain technique.

Casting for all roles is entirely at the discretion of the Artistic Director. Only the Artistic Director can select and determine which students deserve to represent the Southold at any competitions, festivals, etc. The Artistic Director will provide rehearsal and casting information at the earliest possible date. 


Students and parents must be fully committed to attend all rehearsals and performances as scheduled. Dress rehearsals are mandatory.  Students who miss more than two rehearsals or a dress rehearsal will not be allowed to perform.

 

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

Scholarships are intended to provide financial assistance to talented dance students so that they may further their knowledge of, and abilities in ballet and allied dance forms, and to promote the development of dancers for SDT.  Awards vary according to student circumstances.

Completed financial aid applications for continuing students must be submitted to the Southold Office with the students registration.    The Finance Committee will review all applications based on financial need. Awards up to 66% tuition reduction may be granted.

Scholarships will be awarded annually and may only be used for tuition.  Scholarship-sponsored training cannot be postponed for more than one session.  A student must apply for a new scholarship each year.    The SDT Board of Directors reserves the right, upon advice of the Artistic Director, to cancel any scholarship commitment in the event the student is not making a sincere effort to benefit from the training. 

 

Tuition Policies

Tuition is paid at the beginning of each semester and is non-refundable.  A former student whose tuition is past due will not be allowed to register for additional sessions.  Tuition must be current in order for the student to attend class and participate in productions. Students entering the School of SDT (within four weeks of the beginning of the semester) will pay tuition for the full semester.  Payment for the summer sessions and special workshops is due on the first day of class.

Payment Schedule

Open Division through Ballet II
If a student is enrolling for only one semester a two part installment plan is available.  The first of two equal installments is due by the end of the first week of classes, and the second installment will be due before Thanksgiving Break.

If a full year of classes is taken, both fall and spring semesters, a three part installment plan is available.  The first of three equal installments for the year is due by the end of the first week of classes.  The second installment will be due before Thanksgiving Break, and the third installments will be due by the end of the seventh week of spring classes.

Late payment of installments will result in 1.5% per month service charge.  Late charges will be incurred after ten days when the account remains unpaid.

Ballet III and Ballet IV
For Ballet III and IV students making a full year commitment a nine month installment plan is available.  Payments are due by the first of each month.

Company
Please refer to your contract for payment options.

Family Discount

For families with more than one student, there is a one time $25.00 discount for each additional student.