Rez Dance Handbook
Welcome to the Rez Dance Ministry!
The Rez Dance Ministry is designed to train up excellent dancers who will worship the
Lord with their whole hearts, minister to others, glorify God with their bodies, and
unashamedly praise Jesus through their dance.
Rez Dance has weekly classes for all ages where students can learn a variety of dance
technique in an atmosphere of encouragement and praise and worship. Students are
taught the fundamentals of dance in classes provided for both those who desire to excel in
their technical ability and those who enjoy dance on a more recreational basis. Dance is a
gift from God and He wants to pour out this gift upon families at Rez, so all classes are
low-cost.
In addition to weekly dance classes, dancers are provided with various performance and
ministry opportunities such as the Rez Christmas Production, the Student Showcase, the
annual Spring Dance Concert, Healing Prayer services, dance missions trips, and more.
Every class is an opportunity not only to teach dance technique, but also to minister the
love of Jesus through devotional times, worship activities, and the love shown by
teachers. Rez Dance teachers are highly trained and passionately love God and people.
They are committed to the students and desire to portray the love, purity, and beauty of
Jesus in all they do to bring glory to God.
From the costumes, class dress code, dance movements, and music choices, parents can
be confident that their children are in a safe place where they will learn the beauty that
comes with purity of heart, body, and mind.
This handbook is designed to provide you with the basic information you need for
the 2015-2016 year of dance. Please refer to rezdance.com throughout the year for
information regarding our schedule, classes, room locations, etc.
Communication:
Our primary method of communication is e-mail. Please be sure to open all e-mails from
Rez Dance and Resurrection Fellowship. We will communicate through the CCB
program and the Rez Dance website. You may need to check your Spam and Junk Mail
folders occasionally in order to make sure messages from Rez are marked as safe. We
will notify you of class cancellations, room changes, concert details, and other important
dance information primarily via e-mail.
Rez Dance will be moving away from using Facebook as a main communication source.
Facebook will continue to be used for posting fun things about classes or upcoming
events. Although it will be used for some updates, it will no longer be the primary line of
communication between teachers and parents.
All parents will also need to sign the Photo and Media Release Form at the beginning of
the year. This form grants Rez Dance and Resurrection Fellowship permission to
photograph and video record students for various promotional and informational
materials, such as flyers and practice videos. We will be using a private YouTube channel
for posting practice videos, and photos could possibly be shared on Facebook.
Performances:
Rez Christmas Program
The Rez Christmas Program is a Worship Arts production that includes all of the areas of
the Worship Arts Ministry. Dance is one aspect of the program. The Christmas program
differs from year to year. Only certain dance classes and ages may participate in any
given year. Performing is optional and rehearsals for those who desire to participate will
take place on four Saturday mornings in November. Dancers must be able to attend all
four of the November Saturday rehearsals in order to participate in the Christmas
program.
Rez Dance Spring Dance Concert
Most of our Rez Dance classes will perform in our Spring Dance Concert. This is a
wonderful opportunity for our dancers to demonstrate what they have learned throughout
the year and to glorify God with their dance. Should you desire not to participate in the
Spring Concert, please let Dana know by February 1st so that we can plan accordingly.
Student Showcase
Students may also have the opportunity to audition for the annual Student Showcase.
This is a great opportunity for dancers to create their own choreography and demonstrate
what they have learned in a more laid-back performance setting. This event also serves
as a fundraiser for Rez Dance’s future events.
Rez Dance Dress Code:
The dress code is an important part of Rez Dance. It promotes excellence, discipline, and
modesty in dance. Please take a few moments to review the dress code and make sure
your child comes properly attired to each class.
Ballet Classes
Modest leotard and tights with a ballet skirt, or tight black leggings with modest tight
fitting t-shirt or tank top. Ballet shoes. Hair must be up, out of the face in a ponytail,
bun, or tucked braids. Boys may wear loose-fitting pants or long shorts with t-shirts or
tank tops. Black ballet shoes. Boxers or underwear must not show.
Boys Classes
Loose-fitting pants or long shorts with t-shirts or tank tops. Sneakers. Boxers or
underwear must not show.
Pre-Pointe
Modest leotard and tights with a ballet skirt, or modest leotard and leggings with a ballet
skirt. Ballet shoes. Hair must be pulled back in a tight bun or tucked braids.
Jazz Classes
Black leggings, dance pants or dance capris with a modest tank top, leotard or t-shirt.
Jazz shoes. Hair must be pulled back in a tight bun, ponytail or tucked braids.
Hip Hop Classes
Loose-fitting pants or dance pants and a modest t-shirt or tank top. Sneakers. Hair may
be worn down.
Dramatic/Prophetic Dance and Worship Classes
Modest leotard and tights with a ballet skirt, or tight black leggings with a modest t-shirt
or tank top. Ballet or Jazz shoes. Hair must be up and out of the face in a ponytail, bun,
or tucked braids. Boys may wear what is noted above for Boys Classes.
Contemporary Choreography
Follow Ballet or Jazz Class dress codes. Shoes for this class may vary from bare feet,
socks, jazz shoes, lyrical shoes, ballet shoes. You will be informed before the concert
what you are to use. Boys may wear what is noted above for Boys Classes.
Pirouettes of Praise
Comfortable dance clothing. Leotard and tights or leggings and t-shirt. Ballet Shoes.
Hair must be up and out of the face in a ponytail, bun, or tucked braids.
Please make sure that shirts and leotards are not low-cut in the front or back and that
bellies can’t be seen when arms are raised. Tights MUST be worn with leotards. Only
tight-fitting leggings are allowed in ballet and core classes; we need to be able to see our
students’ ankles. No street clothes such as jeans, dresses, skirts or sweats. Only small
earrings are allowed; no big earrings, necklaces, bracelets etc. Short ballet skirts are
permitted when worn with a leotard and tights. Hair needs to be pulled up and away from
the face for all classes except Hip Hop.
Proper shoes are essential for all dance classes. Shoes protect our dancers’ feet and help
develop good technique. If your child has outgrown their shoes, please consider donating
them to our Borrow Box. You may order new dance shoes and dance apparel through Rez
Dance. Our prices our comparable to online stores and Payless, yet much better quality.
We will have designated sizing and ordering days several times throughout the year in
which you will not have to pay shipping charges. There will be a $7 shipping fee added
to orders placed at anytime other than our designated ordering days.
Class Placement:
Student placement is highly individual and there are several factors that go into the
placement process. We will be looking at your student’s previous dance experience,
technical achievement, age, attitude in class, and various other dynamics when giving our
returning and new students a placement for the 2015-2016 year. It is also more common
than not for a student to remain in the same class for two or more years.
We will only allow class changes for the first month in cases where a student was truly
placed in the wrong level. By the first week of October, our teachers will have had a few
weeks to evaluate their students. For any student needing to move up or possibly down a
level, the teacher will then contact the Director. The Director will contact parents to
make the change so that their student will be in the class best-suited to help their personal
growth as a dancer.
Please feel free to ask your child’s teacher how they are doing throughout the year. Also
trust our teachers to make placement decisions with your child’s best and optimal growth
in mind.
Attendance:
All students are expected to attend their regularly scheduled classes. During the months
of February through May, choreography for the recital will be taught and rehearsed. It is
important for students to feel completely confident with the choreography and the yearend performance.
Missing more than 3 classes per semester will result in your student being unable to
perform in the upcoming concert. Missing class on a regular basis will result in losing
their spot in class. Dancers must be present in class the two weeks leading up to our
Christmas and Spring Dance Concerts in order to participate.
If a child is sick and has to miss class, please e-mail Dana at dforbes@rez.org or contact
the Administrator, Kaci Shipley, at kshipley@rez.org. If students are unable to attend a
dance concert, please contact Dana immediately. Teachers choreograph dances based on
which students are participating. We are striving for excellence in dance that is only
possible with regular attendance.
Tardiness:
If students arrive more than 10 minutes late, they may miss the proper warm-up and may
be asked to observe the remainder of class for reasons of personal safety. Dance is a
physical activity that requires the body to be warmed up in order to safely execute
movement.
Discipline Policy:
We expect our dance students to listen, respect his or her teachers and classmates, follow
the dress code, and have a good attitude in class. Should a discipline issue arrive, we will
give students, age 3-6, two warnings and students, age 7 and up, one warning. After that,
he or she will be asked to sit out for a brief period of time. Should your child speak
unkindly to another child or disrespect his or her teacher, teachers may ask them to sit out
for the entire class period. If there is a regular need for discipline we will contact you to
help assess the behavior issue.
Restroom Policy:
If a young student must use the restroom, their parent may help them, or an adult with a
background check through Rez must wait outside the door of the bathroom. Otherwise,
students will have to wait until the end of class when their parent(s) pick them up.
Teachers may enforce the rule that students may not use the restroom during class time.
Exceptions will only be made for emergencies (ex. nose bleed, sickness etc).
Lost and Found:
Please mark all dancewear, shoes, and personal items with your child's name. We
cannot be responsible for any items that your child brings to class. There are designated
Lost and Found areas at Resurrection Fellowship located outside of Theater 1 and the
West Foyer of the Main Sanctuary. Teachers will put any items left behind in these
areas.
Rez Dance Payment Policy:
There is a non-refundable annual registration fee per dancer: $125 for Rez members and
$175 for non-Rez members. A multiple child discount is available when registering three
or more children. For Rez members it is $125 for the first child, $75 for the second child,
and $50 for the third, fourth, etc. child. For non-Rez members it is $175 for the first child,
$125 for the second child, and $100 for the third, fourth, etc. child. Please make checks
payable to “Resurrection Fellowship”.
Rez Dance continues to operate from donations, and these fees will be a one-time
payment due at the time of registration. We will continue to keep costs as minimal as
possible in order to serve our community with low-cost options for excellent dance
training.
There is an additional $15 class fee for each non-performing class, and a $50 costume fee
for each performing class. Payment is also due at registration. This costume fee is
refundable until October 1st should you decide not to participate in Rez Dance
productions. Costume distribution will take place in November for those dancing in the
Christmas program and again in April for those dancing in the Spring Concert.
There will be an additional cost of $7 for child-sized and $8 for adult-sized tights if tights
are needed with a costume. Those of you who have tights in good condition from a
previous year of dance will not need to buy a new pair of tights. We ask that you please
order through Rez Dance to ensure the style and color of tights ordered are the same as
the rest of the class. We will let you know if your child will need tights with their
costume.
All checks for Rez Dance payments and donations must be made payable to
“Resurrection Fellowship” and brought in to the Main Office at Rez in an envelope
marked “Rez Dance” with the dancer’s name on it.
Church Policies:
Parents who would like to wait at Resurrection Fellowship during their child’s class must
wait in the new Prayer Room, located between the Nursery Workroom and Theater 2, or
the Cafeteria area of RCS. Parents may not use the nurseries under any circumstance
while their children are in dance. We ask that you please not sit in the hallways or
stairwells during classes, as this is a new security policy in the building. Thank you for
pardoning our progress with construction. Next year there will be a coffee shop to pass
the time while your children are dancing.
Please supervise any children who are with you at ALL times. Siblings of students may
NOT be left at Resurrection Fellowship at any time without a parent present to watch
them. If a student has a layover period from one class to another they may not walk
around the church. Students must wait in the Prayer Room located west of Theater 2.
All parents and students must show respect for the Resurrection Fellowship
facilities and property. Please pick up after yourselves, stay in designated areas,
and pick up your child(ren) on time.
Volunteer Needs:
We have a number of areas where we need help. Volunteering is a requirement to
participating in Rez Dance. We hope that you recognize what a gift the Rez Dance
Ministry is and are ready and eager to volunteer. We ask that every Rez Dance family
help out in some way. Rez Dance offers its services at a very low cost and needs the help
of volunteers to help this ministry function. Thank you for participating!
Failure to follow the policies laid out in this handbook may result in students losing
their place in the Rez Dance Ministry. These policies provide for this ministry to
flourish and be a safe place for our dancers and teachers.
Thank you for participating in the Rez Dance ministry! My greatest desire in
directing this program is that you and your children will grow closer to Jesus and
the body of Christ through dance. Please feel free to e-mail me at dforbes@rez.org.
Dana Forbes
Rez Dance Director