A Message from the Director:

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance. The School of Dance provides students from toddlers to senior citizens the opportunity to experience the highest quality of education available in the tri-state area. This is a non-competitive outlet where the focus is on dance as an art form.  It gathers its resources internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally.

Understanding that education and lifelong learning are primary goals of the Oglebay Institute mission, the School of Dance provides an in-depth learning experience through classes, workshops, performances and consultations. By providing positive learning experiences, we aim to promote the personal development of each student, the student’s body, the intellect, and the imagination. Top instruction encourages each person to expand movement capabilities, allows for self-expression and results in a more confident individual.  Students will increase their level of self-esteem, deepen their enjoyment of movement, and creatively respond to movement challenges, interaction skills, and develop a vocabulary of movement from an understanding of the body and how it operates.

Parental involvement is encouraged. I ask that your dancer arrive on time for class and be picked up promptly. It is the purpose of this school to teach dance.  This purpose in and of itself is a worthy one.  Performance is a natural outgrowth of this learning process but is not the focus of The School of Dance. However, when a performer is representing Oglebay Institute at one of our many performance opportunities, the staff expects even the youngest performer to act as professional as possible. Please keep this in mind as you sign up to do performances this year.

Thank you for choosing Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance as part of your child’s education.

Sincerely,
Cheryl Pompeo, Director

Faculty and Staff:

Cheryl Pompeo, Director
Kala Bassa, Assistant Director of Fine Arts
Kelly Kinder, Customer Service Representative – Stifel Fine Arts Center
Tracie Baker, Customer Service Representative
Caroline Hildebrand, Customer Service Representative
Sue Huntley, Customer Service Representative

Instructors:

Christopher Bandy
Kristin Carson
Valleri Gordon
Kathleen Gottus
Heather Henthorne
Barbara Hines
William Hines
Liza Jones
J’lyse Kafana
Kimberlee Kafana
Alexandra Kochis
Peter J. Lim
Maryanne McGinley
Rebecca Moore
Julie Schultz
Bob Tomlinson
Arianne Wade
Maria Wood

Hours of Operation:

Oglebay Institute’s  School of Dance
– Open during scheduled classes.

Stifel Fine Arts Center
– 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday
– Saturday 10am-4pm

School of Dance General Policies:

Class Payment Policy

All students must register and pay for classes before the first day of the session. There is limited space in the classes. Some classes may be cancelled due to low enrollment.

Refund Policy

Classes – Cancellations made at least one week before class starts receive a full refund. No refunds made less than a week from the date the class starts and no proration of class fee once the class has started. Class fees cannot be transferred to another class or term.

Camps – Cancellations made at least two weeks before camp starts receive a full refund. No refunds made less than two weeks from the date the camp starts and no proration of camp fee once the camp has started. Camp fees cannot be transferred to another camp.

Private Lesson Policy

All private lessons MUST be paid in full before the beginning of a session. There will be NO MAKEUP LESSONS for missed lessons. Teachers will not exchange times between students. If reporting off for a lesson, please call the studio at 304-242-8807.

Snow Policy

If classes are cancelled due to bad weather or an emergency, a message will be left on the School of Dance’s telephone. (304-242-8807) Only if Oglebay Institute is closed entirely, will it be announced on the news. Each parent is expected to use his/her good judgment as to driving in winter conditions. In the event of a cancellation, classes will be extended by one week, immediately following the class session. You may also check: facebook.com/oglebayinstitute. Please follow us @oischool of dance on Instagram. Google calendar: oionline.com/dancerehearsals.

Photography/Video Policy

No photographs or videos may be taken during any class session.

Oglebay Institute School of Dance, its Staff and Faculty reserve the right to remove any student from class without recourse for failure to observe the School’s policies as set forth in the Handbook. Chronic offenders may be expelled from attending further classes. No refund or credit voucher will be extended to expelled students.

School of Dance Classroom Policies:

Observe the Code of Conduct
Parents and students are expected to sign and observe the Code of Conduct which is provided to them at the start of each school year. Failure to abide by the Code of Conduct may warrant dismissal from the class.

Be Prompt and Prepared
The early warm-up is vital for the safety of the dancer and the progress of the class as a whole.

Attend Regularly
The student’s progress and understanding of the material is hindered by absenteeism. Excessive absences may result in exclusion from year- end concert.

Observe the Dress Code
A student is expected to wear proper attire (See Dress Code) to ensure his/her safety in spotting and help the teacher observe the student’s proper movement.

Dress Code:

• Hair must be tightly secured and off the face.
• Appropriate dance attire MUST be worn at all times. (No street wear)
• Ballet – leotard, tights, and ballet slippers. (Not satin soled)
• Skirts and knit shorts ONLY are optional.
• Tap – leotard, tights, and tap shoes.
• Jazz – leotard, tights, and jazz shoes.
• Lyrical – leotard, tights, and jazz or lyrical shoes.
• Modern – leotard, tights, and bare feet or sandal soles.
• Tumbling and Acrobatics – leotard, acro shoes or bare feet (tights are optional)
• Dance Sampler Classes – leotard, tights, and ballet slippers
• Toddler and Mommy and Me Classes – CLEAN light weight tennis shoes (not street shoes)
• Hip-Hop – Leotard and tights and jazz sneakers
• Please check with your teacher for all other classes
• Sweatpants, pajama bottoms, shorts, socks of any type, tee shirts, tank tops or sweatshirts are not appropriate dance attire and will not be permitted.
• Dance sweaters, knit shorts, leg warmers, and jazz pants are appropriate for all disciplines except ballet.
• Jewelry (necklaces, wrist and ankle bracelets, nose and lip rings) is not permitted in class.
• Boys may wear warm up pants, rip stop nylon pants, shorts, and tee shirts.
• Leave bags, clothing, books, cell phones etc. in the cubicles in the changing room area while in class.
• NO cell phones permitted in the classrooms.
• The appropriate shoe MUST be worn in the correct class. All taps must be secured on the shoes. All pointe shoes must be sewn and tied correctly.

Student Code of Conduct:

Students learn better in a secure, orderly, and non-disruptive environment. The goal of Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance’s Code of Conduct is to help students and teachers create an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.

At Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance clear and reasonable rules are fairly and consistently implemented. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior by the student or accompanying parent, family member or other caregiver will not be tolerated and may result in removal of the student from the class and or termination from the School of Dance in the Institute’s sole discretion.

A safe and positive learning environment for students and adults is essential to our success and we appreciate your commitment to these principles.

Four General School Rules:

• Listen politely and follow directions..

• Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.

• Be courteous and polite. Respect the rights of others and respect the property of The School of Dance.

• Use appropriate language.

Expectations for Student Behavior:

• Students will arrive to class on time, will be dressed in appropriate attire and have hair secured properly.

• Students will listen carefully and respectfully to their instructors and administrators.

• Students under the age of 18 will ask for assistance from the adults in charge when they have trouble with another student.

Each student, and his or her parent/guardian, will be required to sign the code of conduct form upon registering for classes.