Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association
VAUDA WELCOME TO THE VEGREVILLE ACADEMY of UKRAINIAN DANCE ASSOCIATION
The Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association is the result of the Merging of the Vegreville School of Ukrainian Dancing - Promin Dancers and Sopilka School of Ukrainian Dance Society - Sopilka Dancers. The 2018/2019 Dance year is the first year that the new Club will be operating and we are excited to operate as one in our small community. Our beliefs are very simple, We want to promote and educate Ukrainian Dancing, Culture and Traditions in our community and we want our children to have fun with it. Our dancers learn to work together in an encouraging atmosphere and feel proud knowing that they are succeeding at each level. The dancers have mandatory performances each year. The first is our Winter Festival, which is a combination of Malanka and Zabava which will be held March 2, 2019 and the second event is the Year End Performance which will be held May 4, 2019. The Dancers will also two competitions each year and one other festival of choice, which participation is also mandatory at these events. We ask that families give us ample notice if a dancer is not participating in an event or competition. We do a few small fundraising events throughout the dance season and a Casino in Fort MacMurray every two years. Our dance group will also perform in many local community events throughout the year such as the Senior Citizen Lodges. ATTENDANCE Ukrainian Dancing is a group activity and therefore attendance in class is extremely important for all dancers to reach their potential. In addition, it is imperative that
dancers attend all classes and are on time for their practices. Please ensure dancers are ready for their dance practice 10 minutes prior to their start time. Parents will be notified by the dance club executive in the event that a dancers’ absences or lateness become a concern. Please be sure that you call a member of the executive or fellow dance family if your child is unable to attend dance classes or will be late for any reason. POOR ATTENDANCE AND REOCCURING TARDINESS MAY LEAD TO THE REMOVAL FROM CHOREOGRAPHY. In the event that schools are closed or buses are not running due to inclement weather, classes will be cancelled unless notified by a representative of the group. BEHAVIOUR AND CONDUCT The Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association is very proud of its students and expects that behavior is appropriate at all times. Students need to be considerate and respectful of their instructor, supervising parents and fellow dancers. In addition respect for the dance facility is also expected. In appropriate language and behavior will not be tolerated. Dancers can be removed from any or all classes in the event of an incident. Meetings and discussions will be held with the parents by the executive should a problem occur. All parent or dancer grievances must be hand or typewritten and sent to an executive member which will be addressed at the following meeting. The sender will receive a reply in the form of a document. If a parent wishes to discuss any concerns with the instructor we ask that you contact the Dance Club President to arrange for a meeting. Meetings and discussions regarding dancers will take place with the president or a member of the dance club executive. There will be NO meetings during class time. Absolutely NO Electronics (DS, Ipods, Smartphones) are permitted at dance practice by dancers. CLASSES Dance practices will be held every Monday at the Vegreville Cultural Center and Vegreville Aquatic Center Dance Studio and every Wednesday at Tapping Health except on Holidays. There are Two instructors whom will both be teaching different groups at the two different studios on Mondays. Only one instructor will be available for the Wednesday classes. Dancers are expected to arrive 10 minutes before their class to get ready for class. Constant tardiness will not be tolerated. Please also have your
child use the washroom prior to dance class beginning. When the instructor enters the class, dancers should be ready to begin their dance class. Water bottles are allowed but are to be used at appropriate times. Absolutely no gum chewing is allowed during dance class. Parents are asked to please refrain from disrupting class instruction and to keep the curtain closed. The instructor may invite parents in to observe the progress for the dance for the last 5 minutes of class. If the instructor has a concern you will be notified.
COSTUMES The Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association do have some costumes and supplies available. The basic dance pieces (girls - undergarments, tights, slippers and boys - undergarments, socks and slippers) will be required. Parents will be notified after the first month of dance by the costume coordinator on what costumes will be needed throughout the year. The first costume check will take place in December. No jewelry or fingernail polish is to be worn during or at any competition or performance. Costume Rental pricing is worked into registration costs, however each dancer is expected to leave a Post Dated Damage Deposit Cheque at the time costumes are picked up. The amount is to be determined. Cheques will only be cashed if the costumes are not returned or returned damaged. DRESS CODE FOR REHEARSALS Dress code is an extremely important tool for the correct development of technique and to prevent any injuries. Girls must wear a bodysuit or dance wear with tights. Skirts can be worn over top. Shorts with tights and tight tank tops are also permitted. Boys must wear dance pants with shirts tucked into their pants. No shorts or track pants. Dancers MUST wear appropriate dance footwear. Hair should be securely tied off the face. Dancers are asked to please refrain from wearing any type or watches or jewelry to prevent injury. No gum chewing is allowed during dance practice. FACILITY The Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association conduct their practices at three facilities: the Vegreville Cultural Center, Tapping Health and the Vegreville Aquatic Center Dance Studio. These facilities provide us with a dance floor and full length mirrors for our practices. Dancers and parents should take pride in these premises by putting garbage away, keeping clothes in bags or hanging them up. A microwave is currently available at the facility for snacks or suppers that may need to be warmed up.
Quiet and well-mannered behavior is expected at all times. Dancers are asked that they remain in the building at all times during their practice times and that parents enter the building to pick up their children for safety issues. Inappropriate language, yelling, running or leaving the premises is prohibited.
FEES & TIMES OF CLASSES Dancers will be placed in groups and choreography according to the following: 1) Dance Ability 2) Attendance 3) Work Ethic and Behavior 4) Years of Experience 5) Age Dance Times are tentatively set below but please note that these times will not be confirmed until after placements in September when we know which days dancers will be dancing, which studio and what group they will be placed with. Cultural Center Ages 3-5 yrs Ages 6-7 yrs Ages 8 - 10 yrs Ages 14yrs and up
Mondays Mondays Mondays Mondays
Vegreville Aquatic Center Studio Ages 11 - 13yrs Mondays
4:45 - 5:15 pm (30 minutes instruction) 5:15 - 6:00 pm (45 minutes instruction) 6:00 - 7:00 pm (60 minutes instruction) 7:00 - 9:00 pm (120 minutes instruction)
$250 $310 $355 $750
5:00 - 6:30 pm (90 minutes instruction) $580
Tapping Health Adults Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:30 pm (60 minutes instruction) $470 Technique Class times are yet to be determined but will happen on Wednesdays. (Times and classes are subject to change due to enrollment and class requirements). Dancer fees will be determined by September 24. Fees include all chosen competition fees and costume rentals! Fundraising Commitments are as followed: Individual - $250 and Family - $300. Fundraising options will be available at signup. Fundraising Fees are NONREFUNDABLE.
Fees can be paid annually or monthly payments of post-dated cheques (dates October to April. Post-dated cheques or cash payment arrangements must be made on the first Monday of each Month. Fees must be paid by October 1 by one of the fore-mentioned options. If alternate arrangements need to be made, members must consult with the Treasurer and another member of the executive. NSF CHEQUE FEE: $40.00 per Item MEETINGS An Annual General Meeting will be held on the Monday of September 17 at 6:00 pm at the Cultural Center. Monthly meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month at 6:15 pm. In the event of holidays or no dance practice on the first Monday of the month, meetings will be held the the second Monday of the month. We encourage all members to attend the meetings as we usually need to vote on major decisions. We also appreciate hearing your ideas and your contributions are very important to the dance club. Meeting Dates are as Follows: September 17, 2018 at 6:00pm is the Annual General Meeting October 1 February 4 November 5 March 4 December 3 April 1 January 7 NEWSLETTERS Newsletters will be sent out on the second Monday of each month following the monthly meetings. Additional newsletters may be sent out as needed. It is the responsibility of all parents to read each newsletter for vital information. Newsletters will be be posted on the bulletin Board and e-mailed out. PARENT INVOLVEMENT The Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association is a non-profit volunteer run organization. It takes commitment from all members to keep our club thriving and running smoothly. It is great to have all the Executive and Committee positions filled at the beginning of the year so planning and events can run effortlessly. There will be opportunities to sign up during the first week of dancing and at our Annual General Meeting. No experience in any position is necessary. We all work together as a team.
PERFORMANCES Should a performance opportunity arise, dancers/parents will be asked if they wish to perform. If the decision is to proceed, dancers will be expected to know the choreography of their dance with accuracy which may result in additional practices. Once commitment is made, dancers are expected to keep that commitment unless unforeseen circumstances should arise. Group practice is required in order to achieve excellence in timing, spacing and staging by every performer. When attending or participating in performances, dancers are acting as representatives of the Vegreville Academy of Ukrainian Dance Association. Appropriate behavior is expected at all times whether we are part of an audience or backstage. No jewelry or fingernail polish is to be worn during or at any competition or performance.
PERFORMING GROUP VAUDA will continue to have a travelling performing group; however as this is the first year operating as a new club, it has been put on hold until all final changes have been made. All to be determined at a later date.
WORKSHOPS A workshop/s will be held throughout the year. These are Mandatory to all dancers. REGISTRATION/FUNDRAISING Registration forms and fees are due by October 1st of the Dance Year. Fees are due in annual or monthly payments. If other payment arrangements need to be made, parents will need to speak with the dance club executive. At the same time, we also will require a fundraising bond cheque of $250 per Individual or $300 per Family. Dancers can opt out of fundraising and can give their total amount to be cashed at time of registration. The monies earned from fundraising activities are needed to pay the variety of club expenses such as rent, insurance, and instructor fees, therefore Fundraising Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Post Dated Fundraising Commitment Cheques (dated April 30, 2018) will be cashed if the required total fundraising requirement is not met for the individual/family by May 1, 2019. Our dance club partakes in working a casino every eighteen to twenty four months. This is a vital part of our income resulting in our fees being kept to a minimum. Each
family is asked to work a shift during our scheduled casino time. More information on how volunteers will be chosen will be determined closer to the casino date. Other fundraising events include the Fall Fundraiser (Mom’s Pantry, Purdeys Chocolates, Kicking Horse Coffee), Winter Event Silent Auction, Cash Raffle and various summer fundraising events (in the past have included Festival Concession, Pancake Breakfasts, Beer Gardens, etc.) SUPERVISION It is the responsibility of the parents, not the instructors, to ensure the dancer’s safety before and after dance classes. We ask that the roster/supervising parent to remain in the facility during class time. Other parents are encouraged to stay while their child is dancing as this is a great opportunity to get to know each other.