Information for Parents & Students
How to have a successful experience at the American Tap Dance Center:
Communication of Information: We do require that we have a current address, phone number, emergency phone contact and an email to use for contact for each family. We use Constant Contact, a mass email program, to send information about our Youth Program events & important information for parents—so please don’t opt out of this email program. These emails will alert you to studio closings in bad weather, remind you of holidays when were closed (and when we’re open for class on a holiday) and give you performance information that is essential for you to participate successfully. You may also receive ATDF emails regarding our performance and fundraising events, studio news, etc. which you may discard if they don’t apply to you. But—WE NEED YOU TO RECEIVE AND READ our YOUTH EMAIL UPDATES. We often try to send home hard copy information regarding our youth performance events, just IN CASE parents don’t receive the email. So, if you are not receiving any emails from us, please let us know.
Absences: MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE HERE FOR YOUR CLASS ON A REGULAR BASIS. If you know in advance that you’ll be absent (if your child is sick, or if you are traveling, etc.) please inform us by calling the office at 646-230-9564, or email Susan at shebach@atdf.org and she can relay the information to your child’s teacher. If a student accrues too many absences, it may affect whether she/he may not be allowed to perform in the year end concert; it is up to the discretion of the teacher & Youth Program Director. Chronic absences generally make it difficult for a student to progress in learning, which can make class frustrating, and less enjoyable. So, plan to come for your class every week!
Promptness: Please plan to arrive to your class on time. Every minute of class is valuable and important. Promptness helps students focus and have a successful learning experience.
Bathrooms: Help your dancer focus by reminding her/him to use the bathroom before class.
Classroom Attire: Students should wear dance/athletic type clothes to class, such as dance pants, stretchy workout pants, leggings or shorts, with a t-shirt or leotard. All clothes must be comfortable and allow full range of movement. Skirts are not recommended. If a student wears a skirt to class, shorts, tights or leggings should be worn underneath. Please, no tight jeans or long pants that hang below the top of the shoe, no long sleeves that hang beyond the wrist, no over coats or bulky sweaters, no dressy clothes, and no hats. Long hair should be pulled back away from the face. Teenage girls should wear an appropriate sport/support undergarments as needed.
Tap Shoe Information & Recommendation: Before you buy tap shoes please get information from your teacher about what type of shoes to purchase. We have printed information on shoes we recommend for purchase, you can request a copy at the front desk, or we can email it to you directly. The following tap shoes are not recommended: high heeled tap shoes, jazz/split soled tap shoes, tap sneakers or shoes with nails on the taps rather than screws.
Tap Shoe Exchange: Families may bring out-grown tap shoes in good condition to swap for a pair that fits from our Tap Shoe Exchange Bins. Scholarship students who cannot afford to buy shoes may borrow a pair of tap shoes for the school year and return them in June. Speak to reception team for details.
Food and Water: Help your child have a focused class experience: please make sure they eat breakfast, lunch, or a healthy snack before class. Select snacks are available for purchase at the front desk if you need to fuel up on the fly—for $1. Food is not allowed in the dance studios. Students may bring water bottles into the studio. Please add label with student’s name to bottle in case it’s left behind.
Hallways: Please no tapping, running or loud voices in the hallway. There are other businesses in the building that prefer the halls to be quiet.
Classroom Behavior: Students are expected to show good classroom behavior appropriate for their age. Parents will be consulted if students exhibit ongoing disruptive behavior. Every effort will be made to understand the situation, and resolve the problem. If behavior issues cannot be resolved, the student may be asked to exit the program.
Progress, Concerns: Your teacher is happy to speak with you about your child at any point in the term. As time is often tight between classes, we can help schedule a connection with your dancer’s teacher. Email or speak to Susan Hebach (shebach@atdf.org, 646-230-9564) who will connect you with your teacher to have a conversation. Always speak up and ask questions, just realize it might take a moment to connect with your teacher directly and get a response.
End of Season Concert:
Saturday, June 8th, 2024
Symphony Space, Broadway and 95th Street.
Please note stage rehearsals are mandatory, and held during the day (same day) before the show. In addition, most classes will dance with the live band, which will require an additional IN STUDIO rehearsal at ATDC, the weekend BEFORE each program. Everyone will be given a stage rehearsal schedule closer to the date.
Show time is estimated to be 7:30pm.
The $100 concert fee per family covers auditorium rental, hiring live musicians and our special guest tap artists & vocalist.
The NYC Dance Parade:
All ATDC Students participate.
Saturday, May 20th. Details TBD.
What Not to Bring Into the Tap Studio: Jewelry can be dangerous if it hits another dancer, falls off, or gets caught—please no bracelets, watches, rings, pins or dangling earrings. No chewing gum or eating in the class. For very young students: strollers should remain in the hall and please ask your young dancer to leave toys or stuffed animals outside of the studio.
Valuables and Safety: Please leave anything truly valuable at home. Items such as mobile phones, etc., can be brought inside a backpack inside the studio during class if needed. The American Tap Dance Foundation is not responsible for lost or stolen possessions.
Parent Observations: Occasionally teachers may invite parents into the studio to observe the last 5 minutes of class. We have created a performance opportunity in December to serve for added fun and celebration, which is our “ATDF Youth Holiday Showcase” which is designed to be our “observation” period—so parents, family and friends can some see what students have been working on in class.
Bad Weather/Closings & Cancellation Policies: Tap class is cancelled on the weekdays that the NY City Public schools close for severe weather. On Saturday and Sundays, families will be notified by email by 8:30am if class is cancelled that day due to severe weather.
Health & Medical Conditions: Please notify your teacher of any medical conditions that can affect your child’s participation in dance class. This includes severe allergies, injuries, recovery of injuries, medications that may affect behavior or physical capability of the student, etc.
Emergency Contact Information: We do ask that you fill out and “Emergency Contact” sheet so we have any list of allergies, asthma, etc. as well as an emergency number we can reach you in case of a problem. Please also provide contact #’s for whomever brings your dancer to class most regularly (sometimes a babysitter, grandparent, neighbor, etc.) As we update our records, we may contact you to update this information, so we have current records.
Special Activities for Our Youth Program: To inspire our dancers, we generally encourage that students and families attend tap dance performances and events in the city. We have taken groups of students and parents to The Joyce Theater, City Center, and other venues to see live performances. Sometimes we have live events right at our studio! We will inform you through our Youth Program emails of upcoming opportunities that you might enjoy attending.