Student Expectations

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

We have developed guidelines that promote an environment where dance is central and everyone can reach maximum potential.

It is important to arrive at the studio a few minutes prior to class to prepare your mind and body for the training ahead.
Arrive with your body fueled. We recommend complex carbohydrates with moderate protein to energize the body and stimulate focus.
Take the time to use the restroom prior to class to alleviate distractions during class time.
Once ready, grab your sealed-lid water bottle and head into the studio and begin warming up your body.
If you are late, please do not distract from class. Check with each teacher about how to join that particular class: some teachers may ask you to stand quietly at the entrance of the studio until invited to join; other teachers may have a standard set of exercises that you are expected to do before joining. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, you may be asked to observe for that day.

When we feel good about the way we look, we dance better. Arriving in dress code with your hair done signals to yourself and the teacher that we have shifted modes and are ready to dance. Make sure dancewear is clean and mend ripped tights and leotards.
Hair can impact your ability to execute dance moves with correct technique. Dancers who do not have their hair pulled back appropriately run the risk of creating bad habits, like unknowingly flicking their head to get their bangs out of their eyes, or not spotting because their hair hits them in the face when turning. If you have questions, please ask your teacher before or after class.
No jewelry or smartwatches are allowed to be worn during class.
For more detailed information, please refer to our Dress Code.

Leave cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, etc. at home. Even a quick glance at notifications sends you “zooming” out of the process of fully experiencing dance. Time at the studio is an opportunity to unplug and be in the moment.

Conversations with classmates are welcome before (even during personal warm-ups) and after class and during breaks. All discussions during class are led only by the teacher. Therefore, there is no talking during class unless the teacher opens up the discussion.

Questions and feedback are essential to our learning in the studio.
When teachers offer you a correction, it is because they see an opportunity for improvement and are asking you to work towards your highest potential.
We welcome you to ask questions about classroom topics as it shows you are engaged in what we are learning. If you have a question, raise your hand and wait for the teacher, unless it is an absolute emergency. Refrain from asking teachers personal questions unrelated to the content matter of the studio or current exercise.

You are expected to attend if injured. You will work the parts of their bodies that are not impaired. Teachers will assist with necessary adaptations. If no movement is possible, you are expected to take notes to build adaptability, sharpen observation skills, and ensure continued engagement with the work and up-to-date familiarity with the material.
You should not attend classes if you are sick or have flu or covid symptoms. If you feel up to it, you have the option of attending via Zoom. Contact the school and we will provide a link.

Discard all water bottles, clothes, food wrappers, etc. when leaving the studios, dressing rooms, hallways, and bathrooms.
As leaders in the school community, FYE students model good citizenship by performing additional stewardship duties that help maintain the facilities, such as preparing the space for events.