Dance Theatre of Orange Code of Conduct

Dancing Manners

To help students understand the discipline associated with dancing we have some rules for class time, general behaviour and respect for the school. These rules provide a code of conduct I refer to as dancing manners. Adhering to these rules will help maintain a positive, productive, and friendly environment for students, parents and teachers.

Parents/Guardians

As dance is a disciplined art, many students will need your help to reinforce dancing manners. This can be done by you leading by example and perhaps a quiet word to your child if needed. Please see the following as a guide to maintaining the warm and friendly atmosphere we have become known for.

Please

• Assist your child to arrive at class on time
• Be positive and supportive of your child’s efforts
• Show appreciation for performances of all students
• Respect and follow the advice and direction provided by teachers
• Collect your child promptly; there is no supervision available in the change area
• If your child has siblings who come to the studio as part of the dropping off or collecting

  - please ensure all siblings are aware the studio is part of shared property and hence do not disrupt people in neighbouring businesses
  - please ensure siblings do not touch the dividing wall between the waiting area and the studio
  - please ensure siblings do not treat the school as a play area

• When attending demonstration classes there are a few extra things to help the students feel at ease

  - please do not talk - it’s very disconcerting for the students, who are trying very hard
  - please arrive promptly for the start of the class, do not disrupt the class
  - please ensure siblings are quiet

Students

For Class

What to do

• Be on time to each class
• Wear appropriate dance clothes and shoes to class in accordance with the uniform requirements
• Have hair up, tightly secured, and off the neck before class starts (girls)
• Remove all jewellery before class (small earring studs excepted)
• Have appropriate clothes on when arriving and leaving the school. No student is to leave the studio in dance gear without some covering clothes

What not to do

• Have gum in the school
• Bring soft drinks to the school
• Eat food in the dancing studios
• Leave the premises without a parent / guardian or parental permission.
• Enter an unattended studio (a teacher must be in the studio before students may enter)
• Touch another dancer’s property
• Bring valuables to the studio

For Behaviour

What to do

• Be polite and respectful to teachers
• Respect fellow students
• Help promote a positive environment at all times
• Treat all students as you would like to be treated

What not to do

• Disrupt class
• Bully
• Spread malicious gossip
• Isolate other students

For the School

What to do

• Care for and respect the equipment, facilities, costumes and props of DTO
• Put any rubbish in the bins
• Respect and be polite to people working in or visiting neighbouring businesses/offices
• Walk sensibly and quietly to the bathroom, remembering that this is common property for all residents in the building.
• Behave respectfully when in public as a representative of our school

What not to do

• Linger in the toilets
• Touch the dividing wall between the waiting area and the studio
• Treat the studio as a playground
• Speak meanly of or to students from other dance schools