Parent Handbook

For the Parents: “We’re in this together”: We believe that children’s success depends on the support of their parents, their maestros, and as they get older their selfs. Because your commitment to the process makes an enormous difference, we encourage you to be a part of your child’s dance education. Our program relies on a positive atmosphere for our faculty, Intensive participants, and their parents; it promotes a positive learning experience for all involved. Cooperation between all parents is expected. Showing respect for the other parents, along with the students and faculty, makes an important impression on the children. You are a role model for your child in how to interact with others in a professional setting.

Understanding Dance Education: As a parent, the financial support of your student is important, but of equal—perhaps even greater—value is your emotional support. Encourage your child to be the best that he or she can be without regard to what others may achieve. Dance is an individual art form; each child needs to achieve at a pace that’s comfortable for him or her. No two students will progress at the same rate, even if they experience the exact same training. It’s important to encourage the children to focus on themselves, give their all, and be satisfied with their own accomplishments. Dance education encompasses far more than technique or the steps your children will learn. We believe the discipline of dance training gives young people a better understanding of commitment by offering them the chance to learn, experience the spirit of teamwork, and understand what hard work can accomplish. Our goal is to educate the minds, bodies, and souls of our students, to teach them the skills needed for a successful life, whether or not they stay involved in dance.

Dos and Don’ts: Some parents may compare their child’s progress or class or choreography placement to that of others in the program. Watch for this behavior in your children as well, and encourage them to focus on their own accomplishments. Looking to others for inspiration is a good thing; however, a negative focus or comparison distracts from the energy that could be focused on becoming a stronger dancer. In addition, speaking negatively about your child’s teachers, fellow dancers, or other parents in front of your child––or other students––could result in problems far beyond your original concerns. Often children will react to their parents in a way that imitates the parent’s behavior with other adults or authority figures. Children learn important lessons from their teachers and parents, acquiring important behavior patterns through their example. Our school’s faculty takes that responsibility seriously. It’s our philosophy to encourage our students to feel, think, and act respectfully to their peers, the adults in their lives, and themselves.If you have questions or concerns about your child’s dance education, please don’t talk only with other parents when questions arise. Make an appointment to speak directly to your child’s teachers or the Executive Director of our program Maestra Ashley Lopez. Please conduct all communication through the academy office rather than approaching your child’s teacher or the director between or during classes. Often times our Maestros have a responsibilty to start their following classes on time. If you do request a conference, please listen carefully to what your child’s teachers have to say. They spend a significant amount of time with your child and can offer expertise in the field of dance education. Your concerns are important to us and we will give you our honest and caring advice. Los Laureles values honest, caring, talented, and hardworking Maestros and only employs instructors who fall in these categories.

Enjoy the process!

What a remarkable privilege it is to provide your child with dance lessons! Their lives will forever be changed through the arts and you get to share those moments with them. Take the time to enjoy every part of this experience with them!

Parent tips for sucess:

1. Make sure your child is on the dance floor ready to dance on their start time

2. Add mariachifolklorico@gmail.com to your email contacts to ensure you are receiving updates

3. Let your child lead during class

4. Encourage home practice but dont require it

5. Attend your childs performances

6. Park and walk student inside studio

7. Create a routine for dance class by helping students arrive in dress code with hair up and a water bottle

8. Ask your child about their favorite step or friend they saw in class

9. Trust the process

10. Communicate with your childs teacher or our director with concerns