PERFORMING ARTS POLICIES
WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS
The Madison Area YMCA School of Performing Arts strives to provide a fun, safe and educational experience for all. We incorporate the values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility in everything we do and we ask you to follow the same principles. The following policies allow us to do so.
COVID-19 PROCEDURES
Due to the increase in positive COVID cases, recent executive order and guidance from our local health department, we find it necessary to continue to update our Youth Programs Health and Safety policy to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of our participants and staff remain our highest priority. Included in our current protocols attached to this document please note the following enhancements as well as ongoing procedures:
DROP OFF & PICK UP
If you are new to the Madison Area YMCA, on your first visit, please remember to bring your state or government-issued identification.
Masks/face coverings are to be worn by anyone over the age of 2 who is not fully vaccinated and masks/face coverings are recommended for those who are fully vaccinated. All staff regardless of vaccination status will wear masks while teaching youth programs.
Please ensure to bring a water bottle for your child. For the safety of all, we have refill stations for water bottles only (water fountains are not in operation at this time).
Participants check in at the Welcome Center then proceed to their assigned classroom.
The floor is marked with circles every six feet as designated spots for our dancers during class to ensure proper social distancing. At the conclusion of class, instructors will meet all adults picking up right outside the classroom.
Participants must present membership cards when entering the facility. Failure to present your card at check-in will create delays and you may be late for class. At this time parents are not permitted to stay and observe classes. However, the SOPA team are showing classes through our Facebook Page at the end of each session.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Please arrive on time with your child prepared to participate and fully dressed with appropriate attire. Please ensure you leave your cellphone number with the instructor if your child is a preschooler. You will be called if your child needs to use the restroom and they require assistance as we cannot assist them at this time. Dance is a physical activity that requires the body to warm up in order to execute movement safely. Students who arrive late may be required to warm up before they are permitted to participate with the rest of the group. It is important for participants to use the restroom before class as bathroom breaks disrupt the flow of the entire class. Please note: Children under the age of 11 are not permitted to go to the restroom unattended.
PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY
Please respect the Madison Area YMCA’s photography policy that does not permit any photo or video to be taken in or out of the class at any time unless it is a scheduled observation week. This means you may not take pictures or video with your phone during regular class time from outside the classroom.
MISSED CLASSES
Make-up classes are only held for classes canceled by the department. There are no make-up classes for inclement weather, vacation, illness or holidays. Our program sessions run back-to-back and it is nearly impossible to make up a lesson without affecting student to teacher ratios.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
We encourage positive ways for students to express themselves and their individuality, but in order to maintain a healthy, professional environment, students are also taught the importance of being part of a group. We strongly encourage students to have respect for other students, teachers and classroom property, and we foster the development of good habits and compliance with rules of conduct.
ATTIRE
Participants should be dropped off at their classroom door in proper attire. We ask that you hold on to your child’s belongings (Coat, Bag etc.) to ensure we have enough space in the class.
Creative Movement
Comfortable "stretchy" clothes, bare feet.
Dance Kids I, II
Girls: Pink or black leotard and tights, pink leather ballet shoes and black tap shoes with elastic or velcro ties.
Boys: Comfortable “stretchy” clothes, black leather ballet shoes and black tap shoes with elastic or velcro ties.
Pre-Ballet, Beginner Ballet I, II & Ballet I, II & III
Girls: Pink or black dance leotard and tights, pink leather ballet shoes.
Boys: Comfortable “stretchy” clothes, black leather ballet shoes.
Lyrical Beginner/Intermediate
Leotard and dance shorts, half-sole lyrical turners.
Modern
Leotard with footless tights or yoga pants, bare feet.
Tap I & II
Pink or black leotard and tights, black tap shoes with elastic or Velcro ties.
Or Comfortable “stretchy” attire, black tap shoes with elastic or Velcro ties.
Mini Hip Hop, Hip Hop I, II & III
Comfortable street clothes and sneakers.
Jazz
Comfortable “stretchy” clothes, jazz shoes.
Mini Musical Theater, Musical Theater, Drama, Acting
Comfortable street clothes and sneakers.
WITHDRAWALS
If you decide to withdraw from class for any reason, you may do so before the third class of the cycle. Refunds are only issued in the event of Madison Area YMCA cancelation of the class or for a valid medical reason documented in writing by a doctor. If you need to make a permanent class switch, there will be a $15 switch fee if the class has availability.
TERMINATION OF ENROLLMENT
In certain circumstances, when it is in the best interest of one or more students, it may be necessary for the school director to terminate a student’s enrollment. Every effort will be made to correct a problematic situation before enrollment is terminated. No refund or credit will be issued.