Glens Falls Guiding Steps

Welcome Packet
www.guidingsteps.com (518-232-7122)

Welcome to Glens Falls Guiding Steps Dance School. We are proud to be celebrating our 27th season, and first one back to a new normalcy. This packet includes various information that is important for students ranging from KinderDancers to Company members. Our fall schedule will remain the same until June, but additional classes may be added in January. Classes and times are subject to change due to the enrollment of students.

For those students and parents who are new to Glens Falls Guiding Steps, we have a few attire guidelines that we require students to follow.

It is important for each student to have proper attire while attending class for safety reasons and to also help the teachers properly correct form and posture. Please be advised that for our recital, you may be required to purchase different colored tights and/or shoes.

• Ballet:

All students must be prepared with tights, leotard, and ballet shoes.
While purchasing ballet shoes, parents should be aware to avoid ballet
"slippers". These are bath like slippers and may even have a satin texture.
They are extremely slippery and not proper for class. Pink or white tights and pink ballet shoes are preferred for class, along with a pink or black leotard.
Warm-ups and ballet skirts are permitted.

• Tap:

all students must be prepared with tights, a leotard and tap shoes.
White, black and pink tights are acceptable for tap. Black tap shoes are required for class. Knit warm-ups are permitted.

• Jazz:

Preferred is a standard black leotard but other colors are acceptable.
Black or tan tights, and a black jazz shoe is required. Knit warm-ups are permitted.

• Hip-Hop:

Any athletic wear, sneakers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats are allowed. However, pants should not be dragging on the ground.

• Contemporary:

Form fitting athletic wear, barefoot.

All Classes please take note of the following:

Gum chewing is not allowed while in class. Any and all jewelry must be removed before starting class, especially hoop earrings and other "dangly" jewelry.

For Parents:

Making you and your child comfortable is our biggest concern. However, while class is in session, we ask that parents remain in our waiting area. This gives the teacher the opportunity to instruct all of the dancers without distractions. If at any point during the class Guiding Steps staff, you, or your child feel as though the student should need their guardian, a staff member will bring your child to you. We will provide many opportunities for parents to view the progress of the class and take videos/pictures. Thank you for your understanding.

Communication

All communication will be posted on our website www.guidingsteps.com. We will post monthly newsletters, announcements, and changes. Our Facebook page - Glens Falls Guiding Steps will also have general postings, and snow day/closing announcements.

Questions are always welcome. Call or Text (518) 232-7122, or email info@guidingsteps.com or ibrownguidingsteps@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

Recitals and Show Dates:

Our Winter recital will TENTATIVELY take place December 2nd-3rd at the Church of the King in Queensbury. Dress rehearsal will be Friday, December 2nd @ 4:00pm.

December 3rd, the show will start @ 7:00 pm, the dancers needing to arrive by 6:00 pm. Both nights, the dancers will need to be dressed and ready to dance when they arrive at the church. For this recital, Guiding Steps will costume the dancers or let the parents know what will need to be purchased or provided! Please stay tuned to our Monthly Newsletters for further information.

Each year we have our recital titled Praise Jubilee. This year our Spring recital will be May 19th-21st at the Strand Theater (Dress Rehearsal May 19th). The exact times are TBD in later newsletters. Costumes for students will be ordered through Guiding Steps after winter vacation. (Details regarding amounts and due dates will be in newsletters to follow). Students MUST attend the dress rehearsal, for last minute details and to prepare them for the evening ahead of them.

Holiday Schedule 

We follow the area school district's vacation calendar. In addition, Guiding Steps may close due to poor winter/ road conditions. If you are questioning a closure, you may call 518-232-7122, or visit www.guidingsteps.com, or our Facebook page - Glens Falls Guiding Steps.

Make-up days will be provided, please refer to the instructor or your email for the day/times. Also, please be advised you will not be reimbursed for any absences as make-up classes are available.

What is the Praise Dance Company?

Company is split into two groups of dancers
- Intermediate and Advanced.

These companies are a dedicated group of dancers who consistently represent Guiding Steps and who dance to inspire with integrity. As well as performing in both shows, Company members will perform at various places throughout the year. They have performed at Aviation Mall, The Glens Falls Civic Center, The Festival of Trees, Disney World, Youth for Christ-Excel & Breakout and Project Dance in Times Square. These dancers are dedicated to advance in the different styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre.

As a member of the Praise Dance Company, you also pledge your loyalty to Guiding Steps by not participating in any other dance studio activities and/or training. Should you be interested in auditioning or looking for more details, please call 518-232-7122 or email
info@guidingsteps.com.

Costumes

Payments for our Spring Recital costumes will be due in January, 2023. We will have le price list posted in the studio sometime in December.

The studio costumes the dancers for the Christmas show. We will notify in advance if something needs to be purchased and/ or provided by the parents. Although, we will keep the cost very minimal if at all. No costume will need to be purchased from catalog for this show.

Payment Policy

> There is a non-refundable $20 registration fee for NEW students. All online fees include Square processing fees. (2.9% + $.30).

> Payments are taken in 4 week intervals. Each class is $14. All Tuition is required to be PREPAID via the payment portal on our website: www.guidingsteps.com.

> Private lessons are available upon request for 30
Minute intervals weekly. They are $100/month.

>Please see the attached schedule for payment due dates.

> If your child is sick, or the studio must close for weather/vacation, the comparable makeup class that your child can attend. Refunds will not be issued.

School vacations have already been figured into the payment schedule when the dance school is closed. We will be operating on Monday Holidays.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call, email, or text.

518-232-7122
info@guidingsteps.com

All Payments are due in 4 week increments and Payment Schedule for 2022-2023 is as follows:

*September 12-17th, 2022
*October 10-15th, 2022
*November 7-12th, 2022
*December 5-9th, 2022
*January 9-13, 2023
*February 6-10, 2023
*March 13-17, 2023
*April 7-14, 2023
*May 5-12, 2023 (Half Payment)

• After 1 week, a $10 late fee will be added to your past due balance. Any balance that remains overdue past that, will be subject to a $20 late fee. Please pay your tuition in a timely manner as it assures that we can keep our studio open to serve our beloved dance families! Thank you in advance!

Important Dates

We will be closed the following days:

*November 23rd-26th, 2022
*December 23-January 2, 2022
*February 20-24,2023
*April 7-14th, 2023

For your convenience, we have outlined our Payment Policy and Payment weeks on this separate sheet. It is required that the bottom portion is signed, dated, and returned WITHIN first month of dance class. We recommend that you keep the top for your records and as a reminder of Payment Due dates. Thank you very much!

Payment Weeks:

September 12th-17th, 2022
October 10th-15th, 2022
November 7th-12th, 2022
December 5th-9th, 2022
January 9th-13th, 2023
February 6th-10th, 2023
March 13th-17th, 2023
April 7th-14th, 2023
May 5th-12th, 2023 (Half Payment)

***After 1 week, a $10 late fee will be added to your past due balance. Any balance that remains overdue past TWO weeks, will receive a $20 late fee. Any balance that is not paid by the following pay period, will need to be satisfied in order to continue for the following month.

 

***PLEASE communicate with the studio if your payment will be late. We appreciate that very much. THANK YOU!

*The studio WILL NOT offer refunds for missed classes. Make-ups will be provided for any cancellations by the studio or closures for weather. If a student is ill or discusses with a teacher ahead of time and plans for a make-up, one may be provided.

*ALL privates MUST be paid in advance. There will be no refunds for missed privates. Make-ups may be provided with PRIOR arrangement w/ instructor.