dsadanceconnection.com

All Classes:

• You only have 5-7 minutes in the locker room, so it is easier if you can, to wear your dance attire under your school uniform (this will allow the maximum amount of time to spend with you dancing). Your grade WILL be lowered if you are late coming into class from the locker room. 
• Hair must be in a secured bun and bobby pins or hair pins DAILY. A dancers instrument is her full body from head to toe. Short hair should be pulled back with clips or a full headband. Make sure your bun is attached to the scalp and will not come out during class. (Specifically floor work and turns).
• Please leave jewelry at home with the exception of studded earrings.
• Finger Nail Polish can be any color.
• Please keep finger nails and toe nails short  and not long and pointy. No longer than a 1/4 of an inch passed your finger tip.  No Press On Nails!!! 
• Body sprays, perfumes, cologne  and scented lotions are not allowed inside our building due to students with severe allergies. Please use these items outside in a well ventilated area away from students.
• Cell Phones and smart watches are to be off and kept in their book bags or in your designated spot in the cell phone holder. NO phones, smartwatches or Ipads permitted inside the locker room. 
• Bathrooms are to be used before entering class or after class. 
• All school wide policies apply in the arts.
• You may bring in a Water Bottle to keep hydrated during class. 

Parent/Teacher Contact

I encourage parent communication and would love to speak with you to answer any questions or concerns. The best and fastest way to communicate with me is through my Goggle Voice @ 321-247-8861 or e-mail at tinamarie.carlow@polk-fl.net. If you would like face to face contact or a phone call, you can make an appointment with me between 7:30am-8:25am M,T,W,F or 2:40-3:30. 

Below you will find my technique expectations and the explanation of the rubric that will be used. 

Expectations for success in Dance Class

As dancers we are required to multitask with every move we perform. There are significant details in each move that cannot be missed if improvements are to be made. There must be a conscious effort each and every day to fix these corrections and maintain them to ensure full success in dance.

Body Alignment: Displays and maintains correct body alignment at the barre and center all of the time. Example: head, shoulders, arms, ribs, hips, legs and feet are all in correct alignment with one another. If one segment of the body is out of line, all others will be affected. Once that happens it will cause strain on muscles and ligaments which can result in injury. Correct body alignment will help not to depend on the barre to balance as you will already have weight equally distributed. The use of the barre is intended to be an aid not a crutch. We only rest two fingers on the barre for our exercises. We never should grip the barre. With proper alignment there is also a counter pull of energy that is felt. Pretend there is a string on the top of your head, down through your feet and out your fingertips. As you lift up you need to also use that energy to press down and extend more energy through your fingertips. Hips never swivel, they are always solid with the pelvic bones facing forward at all times. Pelvis should neither be tucking under or sticking out. Rib cage should be directly in line with the hips. Shoulder, elbows, wrist and fingers are also on the same line. Shoulders are rotated and pressed down and back while lifting from the scapula (shoulder blade) and under the arm for the correct arm placement and port de bras. This happens without pressing the rib cage forward.

Technique: Displays excellent turnout, pointed feet and fully stretched legs. Example:  When proper body alignment is maintained it becomes easier to concentrate on correcting technique therefore achieving positive results. Turn out comes from inside the hip socket and is consciously kept throughout the class. When performing tendu, degage, ron de jambe’ etc.. heel is always facing up and forward to the front and side and pressed down and forward to the back. This is done without lifting or sinking into the hip. Legs never bend when closing to 1st or 5th position unless the exercise calls for it. Feet are fully pointed and stretched from the top of the ankle to the toes. When fully pointing our feet it’s important to also check for a sickled foot. A sickled foot is one where the toes are not in line with the ankle. When performing a saute’ (jump) it’s important to elevate  (jump up) with heel, ball, toe and when descending use toe, ball, heel. All saute’s start and land in a plie’. All demi plie’s are performed with heels pressed into the floor as knees are pressed out over the toes and keeping the correct body alignment.

Corrections:  Whether corrections are made directly to you, to another student or generally to the class, you should always fix and improve what the teacher is expressing. Corrections are not only to help you improve but it also to help prevent injury. Without fixing corrections from one moment to another and from one class to another, it will be hard to achieve success in dance.  

Above are basic elements for achieving success in dance class. If you can master this then all other dance steps and genres will be easier for you perform.

Explanation of Rubric: (Will Post Soon)