1 Parents: Please read the following pages of the BET/BET Too manual carefully, noting especially our new revisions indicated by an asterisk*. When you are sure you can agree to the rules and regulations of the team, please print and sign the contract below and return to Miss Jenny for BET no later than Saturday, July 26 th, 2014. 2014-2015 BET/BET Too Parent and Dancer Contract I, the parent of, have read the terms of membership, and I agree to comply with the rules listed therein. I understand that the two requirements for parental support this year include an annual BET Spirit Club Fee, as well as ten hours of team service. Please indicate your decision below: I agree to join the BET Spirit Club (BETSC) for an annual fee of $50 for one dancer and $25 for each additional dancer. To read about BETSC benefits, please see page 5. This is not optional. Service Participation: I agree to contribute *ten hours of service to the BET Team, which may include help with booster club activities, props, costumes, and etc. This IS optional. If opting out, please check the box below instead. Service Opt-Out: I will not be able to contribute ten hours of service, and instead I will contribute $50 to BETSC in addition to the membership fee. To pay your membership fee to BETSC and also opt out of service participation, the total due to BETSC will be $100 for one child, $125 for two children, $150 for three, and so on. Parent Signature: Date: I, dancer, have read the BET terms of membership, and I agree to comply with the rules listed therein. Children ages 10 and under do not need a signature. Dancer Signature: Date:
2 BET and BET Too Dancer/Parent Terms of Membership Core class requirements: o BET/BET Too dancers: Two ballets and two jazz technique classes (leaps/turns/tech) for a total of four core classes per week. In addition, if any of these dancers is cast in a tap or a hip hop dance, he/she must take an according tap or hip hop tech class during the week as well. o BET/BET Too Hip Hop Only Dancers: One hip hop class and one elective (jazz, tap, ballet, or etc.) for a total of two core classes per week. o Dancers must be able to attend the weekly company classes assigned, or a class that is appropriate to their age and ability (an advanced dancer cannot take a low-level class, for example). Private lessons in lieu of weekly classes are insufficient. Absences: BET dancers may not have more than three absences (regardless of the reason) per semester in each class; in addition, dancers may not have more than TWO absences in each rehearsal. Each absence for weekly classes must be made up in a class appropriate to age and ability. Absences from choreography will be made up with private lessons only if the choreographer deems it necessary. If a student does not make up his/her absences or continues to be excessively absent or tardy, probation or dismissal could result. *Injury: If an injury occurs that requires them to sit and observe rehearsal for two or more weeks, then their two absence allowance may become void at the director s discretion. Reporting Absences: If there is a time conflict or you need to report an absence, please notify the teacher and the assistant director immediately via email (do not call the studio, or *text the director/teacher). Absences during mandatory Events: Absences during mandatory events, such as choreography week, week-before-competition rehearsals, mandatory master classes, national rehearsals, and so on will be dealt with at the choreographer s discretion. In fairness to other teammates, dancers will likely be made alternates or removed from dances entirely if not present during mandatory events regardless of the reason (illness, other commitments, etc.) Each dancer must attend ALL team competitions/conventions, no exceptions. Alternates are not on stand by to fill in so that teammates may participate in other events during competitions. Alternates are only there in case of a medical emergency or other unforeseen events. Conflicts of Interest: BET members may not compete with another dance team outside of the studio, and if they choose to take occasional master classes at another studio during the year, they must notify the director.
3 Big/Little Program: BET members must do their best to achieve the goals of the Big/Little Sister/Brother Program. *Participation is Voluntary. Dress Code: For ballet, dancers will wear pink tights covering the feet, and black leotards, with hair in a bun. Dancers may not change clothes between classes if it makes them tardy. For all other regular classes/choreography, dancers must wear a black leotard and black tights/black tight jazz bottoms (any length), or other tight-fitting black attire, with hair pulled up and away from the face, bun optional. No other colors will be acceptable in classes or rehearsal, and no large distracting bows/decorations on the head. For hip hop: Sweat pants and t-shirts are acceptable as long as they are all-black. Dancers will be asked to leave class or change if they are not dressed accordingly. Shoes: Dancers are required to wear the appropriate shoes for each class and rehearsal, i.e. jazz shoes for jazz class, tap shoes for tap class, hip hop shoes for hip hop, and so on. Conduct: BET members must maintain a positive, supportive attitude towards teammates, parents, and teachers at all times. They must demonstrate courtesy and respect towards all non-bet members, parents, and teachers in and out of the studio. BET members may not post negative comments about our studio or other competitors on any social networking site (Facebook, Twitter, and so on). Only polite and positive commentary is acceptable on the BET Facebook webpage. Cleanliness: BET members must clean up after themselves in the studio, especially after class. Except for water, no food and drinks are allowed in the rooms. Each week, a crew of two or more dancers will be designated to clean up the locker room after rehearsals. Labeling of Belongings: Members must label all belongings with his/her name and BET so that they are easily returned if lost. Prohibitions: Absolutely no gum chewing, cell phones, and jewelry while in class or rehearsal. Also, at all times there will be no profanity, back talking, gossiping, failing grades, body piercing (except for pierced ears), tattoos, smoking, using drugs, or engaging in inappropriate/illegal behavior. BET members are representatives of BET both in and out of the studio. Consequences for infractions: First infraction=verbal warning; second infraction=parent conference; third infraction=possible dismissal from the team.
4 Communication: Communication will occur primarily through the use of email, the website, your BET files, and the bulletin board. It is the responsibility of parents and dancers to check for updates daily. Parents only may take items from the file cabinet (money or personal notes may be enclosed and we don t want those to be misplaced). Detailed monthly BET rehearsals/events can be accessed at our website at www.bonisentoure.com. Parent Commitment: Be committed to the BET team by doing your utmost to have your dancer at all classes, rehearsals, and events on time, to be sure your dancer is holding up his/her end of the Big/Little Program, to contribute BETSC service hours unless opting out, and to pay tuition and fees in a timely manner. Parent Conduct: Parents must maintain a positive, supportive attitude at all times towards your own dancers and teachers, as well as other parents. Parents must not ridicule or yell at dancers in front of others, coach them from the sideline, share disapproval about a BET teacher with them (this creates a divided loyalty which makes it difficult for dancers to do their best), or foster unhealthy competitive feelings between fellow BET dancers. Parent Concerns: Parents must bring concerns directly to the director or assistant director. At competitions/conventions, please refrain from addressing issues on your own with another studio, teacher, or judge. BETSC: BETSC membership fee of $50 for one dancer and $25 for each additional dancer is required, as well as *ten hours of team service. If opting out of team service, the fee will be another $50 per child, $25 each additional child, payable to the BETSC. BETSC Service Hours: The *ten hours of service are not necessarily related to the BET Spirit Club; in other words, you can fulfill your service hours by helping the BETSC, or helping the team/choreographers/etc. in general with costumes/props/events, etc. Private Lessons: Please be prepared for the possibility that private lessons may be required for struggling dancers. Team Email List: The general BET and BET Too team email lists may not be used for advertisement of for-sale items, personal businesses/promotions, and other money-based interests. Parents can advertise by posting on our Facebook website or developing their own subscriber list by request only, or they can advertise their business on the BET website family connections page. BETSC will host a trade/trunk/goods show up to twice a year to provide opportunities for interested parents to display their products.
5 BET Spirit Club (BETSC) The BETSC was created to encourage and support all activities designed to enhance team spirit, camaraderie, and unity among dancers, parents, and teachers. The BETSC is fashioned after a legitimate parent booster club, with a mission statement, bylaws, committee members, and a publicly-elected board. Each BET family will contribute an annual fee as part of the BET Team Membership. This fee is not optional. Funds allocation will be determined by BETSC. The BETSC is responsible for initiating and organizing the following: o The Big/Little Program, as well as the monthly goals and activities associated with it. o Team-building events, which may include parties hosted during special occasions like age-group events, choreography week, holidays, and endof-year banquets or nationals preparation. o Promotional items, such as upkeep of the BET Bulletin board, archives, publications, and our scrapbook. o Fundraisers and sponsorships for the BET Team o Spirit and team gear items Parents may choose to fulfill their ten hours of service in any committee on the BET Spirit Club, although they can also fulfill their hours of service on the team in general (such as by helping out with costumes or props).
6 Dances, Costumes, and Competitions Placements and positions will vary for each dancer according to his/her ability and what is best for the team. Changes occur at the choreographer s discretion. Actual competition performance times may be earlier or later than scheduled, so please be there ready to perform AT LEAST ONE HOUR beforehand. Ready to perform means neat, clean, wrinkle-free costumes, set and secure hair, unpolished nails, full make up, and accessories appropriate for that dance. *If you fail to comply you will be penalized a weekend absence. Competition Emergency Kit: We recommend hair nets, bobby/safety pins, hair spray, No More Tangles, pony tail bands, band aids, super glue, and toe tape. Cover ups: Dancers must wear their BET cover ups (track suits) at all times while on stage for the awards ceremonies, as well as over costumes in between dances. Award money: Any money awarded to the BET team for group numbers will be allocated in a way that is most beneficial to the team and the studio. Award money for private BET numbers will be given directly to those dancers. Costumes will be chosen by the choreographer only. We try to minimize cost by recycling costumes, embellishing ourselves, or buying at a local Target/Walmart. Solo/Duo/Trio Costumes will be ordered through Miss Jenny/Miss Amy. Parents must fill out a costume order form available in August 2014. Early orders must be placed no later than *September 5 th. Late orders must be placed no later than *October 10 th. These are hard deadlines. If you order late, your costume may not arrive in time for early Jan/Feb competitions. Private/Outside choreography must adhere to the following limitations: o BET Dancers: BET dancers who have never competed before cannot do a private number. Dancers who have competed one year may do one solo/duo/trio; two-year competitors may do up to two numbers; three-year competitors and up can do a maximum of three numbers. Three private numbers is the limit. o BET Too Dancers: BET Too dancers may do one solo/duo/trio only after they have been competing two years. In their third year and beyond, they may only compete one private number. Exception: BET Too graduating seniors may compete up to three private numbers. o *Any outside studio choreographer must be approved by the Director before choreography is started.
7 Choreographers are not required to be at every competition, nor are they financially compensated for doing so. If the choreographer is not there for his/her group dances, the director/assistant director will be there. Private solos, duos, and trios are not the responsibility of the director/assistant director. Dancers may not drop dances after placements; if there is a very good reason you must drop a dance (and this will only happen under extenuating circumstances, such as financial problems or physical injury), the choreographers will have a meeting to determine which dance your child will drop; this decision will not be made by parents. BET/BET Too Hip Hop Only dancers may not compete in any other genre of dance except for hip hop, and this includes private numbers. If a Hip Hop dancer wishes to compete in another genre, he/she must audition for the regular BET/BET Too team at our annual auditions. (Note that it is possible a BET hip hop dancer can be moved to BET Too if he/she would like to compete in other genres). Students may not choreograph their own solos/duos/trios.
8 BET Fees BET Fees are $70 a month per family all twelve months of the year. BETSC Fee: $50 for one dancer, $25 each additional dancer payable to BETSC. Parent Service Hours Participation Opt-Out Fee: You can opt out of your service hours for $50 per dancer, $25 for each additional dancer. Choreography (a one-time fee per dance paid on a pre-designated month) fees will vary per choreographer. Also, a one-time music fee of $10 will be included. *Starting in July, $100 costume fee per dance ($150 for production) will be due to BETSC over 4 pay installments. This way, each parent will have a standing costume account and all purchases made through costume books or the BETSC costume committee will be drawn/reimbursed from there. You no longer need to write costume checks to the studio. You will either receive a credit in the spring if you have funds left over from costume/accessories purchase, or you will receive a charge from the BETSC for any remaining charges beyond your account balance. Monthly statements will be put in your BET file on the 5 th of each month, and fees are late after the 15 th of each month Aug-April. In May-July, bills due by 10th. Late fees are $30-$50. A $30 fee will be charged for each returned check. A credit card must be on file so that the studio can collect any unpaid amounts after the due date, however a 4% credit card processing fee will be included. o *A 4% credit card processing fee will be included on any credit card charge, including autopay. Please pay all the competition entry fees in full before the deadline. All other payments (i.e. tuition, costume fees, etc.) must be current prior to competition. Refunds for Competition fees: If a dancer cannot compete due to medical reasons, the studio will request a refund from the competition if a doctor s note is provided. The parent will be refunded IF/when the studio receives it from the competition. Otherwise, if the amount has already been paid to the studio, there will be no refunds. BET fees are non-refundable once the season has commenced even if a dancer is removed or put on probation prior to the first competition. Privates for solos/duos/trios will require a room rental payment of $5 per half hour session. These fees will be tallied and placed on your bill at the end of each month (teachers will turn in a list of each dancer s sessions each month). In the event of a duo/trio/group, room fees will be split among dancers.
9 If a dancer is in a dance that requires a prop, the cost of the prop will be split between dancers in that group and added on the BET statement. Competition fees are as follows (per competition): Solo- $98; Duet- $58; Trio- $40; Groups- $45 Alternates do not pay choreography fees. If you are on a financial scholarship or have an outstanding monetary balance, your child cannot compete any private solos, duos, or trios.