Policies

DANCE DEPARTMENT DRESS CODE

Studio Dress Requirements

The dance department requires that all students adhere to a proper dress code to improve attentiveness for class. No outerwear will be allowed in class, including T-shirts, leg warmers, sweat/pajama pants or shorts, head scarves, hats and/or bandanas.

Girls Ballet

  • Black Leotard
  • Ballet Pink or Flesh-tone tights
  • Pink or Flesh-tone ballet shoes
  • Pointe shoes (when required)

Girls Modern

  • Black Leotard
  • Black Tights
  • Black Unitard (optional)

Boys Ballet

  • White Tank T-shirt
  • Black Footed tights
  • White Ballet Shoes (canvas or leather)
  • White Crew Socks
  • Black Dance Belt (supporter)
  • Belt (waist)

Boys Modern

  • Black Leotard or Black Tank T-shirt
  • Black Footless Tights
  • Black Unitard (optional)

Hairstyle for Girls

All hair must be pulled back, away from face in a secure bun.

Hairstyle for Boys

Neatly close-cropped hair

Jewelry and Body Adornments

  • No rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, or earrings will be allowed in studio
  • (small stud only for girls)
  • Nails must be no longer than fingertips

ATTENDANCE POLICY

TARDINESS

You are expected to attend every class in uniform and on time. No one will be admitted to class after the class begins. Late arrivals must ask permission to participate in class. If a student is not allowed to participate, s/he must observe class, write an observation of class and turn it in to the teacher.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Active physical engagement is the work of this course and it is expected students will attend every class. Excessive absences will lower your grade according to the following:

Every third tardy will equal one absence
Every third absence will lower the students earned grade one full letter.

Do not enter or leave class without the instructor’s permission. If you are scheduled to have an early dismissal, tell the teacher before class begins. If you are unable to finish class due to illness or any other reason, inform the instructor to receive permission.

EXTENDED ABSENCES

When injury, extended illness or another crisis cause a student to miss class for an extended period, every reasonable effort will be made to assist the student in completion of the class. It is the student’s responsibility to approach the instructor as soon as possible to discuss his/her status or make up classes. Upon return to class a student must present a doctor’s note confirming that they were unable to participate in classes during that time.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR PERFORMANCE AND STUDY POLICY 

The curriculum of the Dance department at the Chicago High School of the Arts is comprehensive and progressive. Each member of our faculty comes to the department with a professional dance background.

Due to the particular scope and sequence of the Dance Department we ask that students consult and receive approval from the head of the Dance Department before enrolling in any outside artistic endeavor (e.g. dance programs, personal lessons, camps, competitions and exhibitions.)

While outside achievements are important to every student’s life, it is equally important that a student in the Chiarts Dance department maintains a standard of excellence and allegiance within the department.

Please submit the completed Extra-Curricular Policy form to the Head of the Dance Department for approval.

EARLY DISMISSAL

A student’s enrollment in the Dance Department is for the duration of three hours from 2PM – 5PM, each day of the CPS academic school year. Early dismissal for any outside additional class or extracurricular activity will not be allowed.

CLASS CHANGES

A student’s enrollment in a designated department is for the duration of four years. The scope and sequence of the Dance department follows a highly rigorous sequential curriculum that begins with instruction in the traditional foundations and progresses in a designed structure to encompass greater challenge and advanced instruction. Each student must follow this sequence and is not permitted to request changes in his/her class schedule. The program is designed to allow an understanding of other art forms and their relationship to dance. No exceptions will be made.

STUDIO POLICIES

Students are not allowed to hang on ballet barres.

Street shoes are not allowed in the dance studio.

No food or drinks are allowed in the dance studio except for water.

No gum chewing in class.

No guests are permitted in class unless as part of a ChiArts designated day or activity.

Cell phones are not allowed in the dance studio.

Consequences will include:

First Offense:
Confiscated by dance faculty and returned at the end of the day.

Second Offense: 
To be held until parent/guardian personally retrieves them.