Policies
Dance for Joy School Policies and Information

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:19

Read this before you complain! A fool finds no pleasure in understanding , but delights in airing his own opinions.

Gossip amongst students and parents will not be tolerated. They get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 1 Timothy 5:13 .-- Do Not Gossip or be a BusyBody Taking Up Others Offenses or Seeking and Spreading Information About Matters That Are Not Your Own.

A word from the Lord given to Sandy Arena through a song, December 2009: Silence the critics. The perfectionists too. We want to love you and serve you with a heart that is true. Because we're made in your image. And through sin took a fall. And the only one who is perfect, is your Son, heed His call. Juding this. Judging that. Your words take a toll. You like this. You don't like that. It wears down our souls. If you want to be heard. Take your thoughts to the cross. Let the Lord sift right through them and remove all the dross. Silence the critics. The perfectionists too. We want to love you and serve you with a heart that is true. Because we're made in your image. And through sin took a fall. And the only one who is perfect, is your Son, heed His call. Judging me and judging her. Your plumbline so high. You like this. You don't like that. How about that plank in your eye? Jesus warned us of this. All the love that we miss. Tearing down one another with our imperfect lists. Silence the critics. The perfectionists too. We want to love you and serve you with a heart that is true. Because we're made in your image. And through sin took a fall. And the only one who is perfect, is your Son, heed His call.

Rehearsals: Parents/outside parties are not permitted in rehearsals unless provided a written security tag by the executive director.

Backstage: Parents/outside parties are not permitted in our backstage areas without a written security tag by the executive director.

Volunteers: All volunteers report to the executive director. Volunteers are not permitted to serve in this ministry in any capacity without filling out an application and providing professional, spiritual and personal references.

Parent Observation Week: Please plan to join us for quiet observation of your dancers in class! Please see school calendar for important dates. 

Restroom Breaks: Please be sure that your little ones come to class having already visited the bathroom. It seems that our little ones can be in the habit of leaving their class together for bathroom breaks, and it can be distracting to the flow of the classroom and the learning environment. Tardiness: Please make every effort to have your child be to class on time. It is disruptive to students and teachers when dancers arrive late. Dancers will miss important warm up exercises and may be asked to sit out during class if they are late. If this occurs, please have your child knock respectfully and open the door so that the teacher may see her and invite her into the classroom.

Classroom Attire: Our mission is to train dancers in the art and discipline of ballet, with a heart to glorify and worship the Lord. In keeping with the discipline of ballet and our vision of excellence, students enrolled in the ballet training program are asked to wear their hair in a neat bun. Pre Ballet and Wee Ballet students may wear their hair in a pony tail or bun. Ballet attire is classical and calls for dark, solid- colored or black leotards, pink tights and pink canvas or leather ballet slippers. Black leotards are often used for performances, so a black leotard is recommended for classroom attire, however, other dark, solid colors are permissible. Level One, Pre Ballet and Wee Ballet students may wear pink, black and white leotards; and pink, black or white ballet skirts. Please no tears or rips in tights. Modest leotards are required. Spaghetti straps are permissible in class, however, low cut leotards are not. Students must be covered when entering or exiting the studio or when leaving the dance studio space to use the restrooms or other break areas in the studio.  No jewelry or gum in class. Ballet skirts in class are permissible. Hip Hop:  Hip hop dancers wear loose, comfortable  and modest clothing. Male Dancer Attire: Black sports shorts over black leggings; white, long t-shirt; black ballet slippers.

Yahweh Ballet Attendance Requirements: In respect to our choreographers and fellow dancers, dancers who will minister in the Yahweh Ballet may not miss rehearsals one week prior to a scheduled ministry date unless there is a death in the family, or with a signed medical excuse, or if classes are cancelled for snow or other emergencies. If there is a medical or family emergency, every effort will be made to ensure the dancer is still able to participate in the ministry, however, it will be at the discretion of the choreographer. Since there is a higher level of commitment for our Yahweh Ballet dancers, families are encouraged to have their dancer attend as many classes as possible as they will be continually preparing for ministries in these classes. Please no more than 3 missed classes per semester. Ministry dancers should let us know that they will not be attending class on a given day. We have held up classes waiting for dancers to arrive and have lost valuable preparation time. Please let us know as soon as possible if your dancer will not be able to attend class.

YAHWEH BALLET - Team Work God’s Way - For Students, Teachers and Parents

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.   2 Timothy 2:15
1.Try Your Best
2.Be On Time
3.Be Ready
4.Stay Focused
5.Try to Improve and Not Go Through the Motions
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.  Proverbs 12:25
They get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 1 Timothy 5:13
The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:11
6.Be Polite; Kind and Humble
7.Do Not Gossip or be a BusyBody Taking Up Others Offenses or Seeking Information About Matters That Are Not Your Own
He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Proverbs 13:18
8.Be Open To Correction
9.Follow Instructions
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:19
10.Being Able to Communicate Your Needs! It’s Okay to Tell Your Teacher if Your Body is Hurting or If You Need to Take a Break. Only You Know How Your Body is Feeling!!

Customer Service Policy -- We Do Not Resolve Conflict Via Email! Please Do Not Call Us at Home! We want to hear from you! But not via email or with a phone call to our home!
If you have a question or concern that needs to be addressed with a teacher, a ministry leader or director, please contact the person directly via phone leaving a message for them with the front desk attendant or main phone number (585-442-7196) to schedule an appointment.
Please do not speak to the teachers or directors while they are working or before they walk into a class. Contact them at a later time to schedule an appointment. Leaving a note with the desk attendant would be a good place to start. Simply state that you would appreciate some time to talk and would like a return phone call to schedule an appointment or an appropriate time to speak. Please attempt to speak to the teacher directly to resolve the matter before speaking to the directors. Please when making your appointment, give the teacher or director a general idea of the matter of your concern so that we may best prepare. As a nonprofit organization that is largely run via servant leaders, a prayerful consideration of being part of a solution to a problem or perceived problem via tangible/practical service is always appreciated. Sandy and Sam Arena -- Please call us at 442-7196, mailbox 6.   Please do not call us at home.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
 
Proverbs 17:27-28; Proverbs 18:2 - A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.  A fool finds no pleasure in understanding , but delights in airing his own opinions.

Gentle as a Dove: The dove in the dancer's skirt of our logo signifies the charge the Lord has given us with the giving of the name Amanda Rose Belmont Dance for Joy Studio that we would treat each other with a spirit of love and gentleness that is only of the Lord and with kid gloves.  Walking in the flesh makes this impossible. Staying connected to Jesus Christ with Him in our heart enables us to walk in the fruits of the spirit. Please read the story behind the giving of the name Amanda Rose Belmont to our ministry and the responsibility of her namesake.

The Miracle of the Name Amanda Rose Belmont Dance for Joy Studio
The final miracle I want to share is the miracle of the name Amanda Rose Belmont Dance for Joy Studio. Amanda is the daughter of Tracy and Mike Belmont who went to be with the Lord – passed away -  several years ago. Mike Belmont is the president of Finney I told you about earlier. He and his wife were the ones who invited our studio to be housed and birthed at Finney a little more than a year ago.

To open the school, we hosted a Celebration of the Redemption of Dance event. At the time, the name the Lord had given us was the Yahweh Ballet, which I knew was the name of the Christian ballet company. For lack of a name of the studio, at that time, we called the school at that time the Yahweh Ballet Center for Dance and Movement.

At this Celebration of the Redemption of Dance event which was on April 18, 2006, the Belmonts presented to us a plaque which had been found in a storage area of their home the night before the event. The plaque had been given to the family several years prior to the event when Amanda passed away along with a proto-type of a tiny, well-appointed and lovely little garden book which a relative had made. The plaque and the book are in the waiting room of our studio. The plaque read: Proceeds from the sale of this book would benefit the Amanda Rose Belmont Dance for Joy Fund to benefit underprivileged students who would like to dance.  Mike had said at this event that he had forgotten about the book and the fund until the evening before our event when the Lord -- in His perfect timing -- brought it to their attention.

There was not a dry eye in the house with this presentation. We were honored and blessed to receive such a gift and to share in the life of Amanda Rose.

The Responsibility of the Name of the Amanda Rose Belmont Dance for Joy Studio
A few days later, the tears continued for me. There had been some strife in our organization. We are all human and we do our best daily to walk in the love, grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are offenses in the Body of Christ. God made us unique. It happens. Plus, Satan is not happy. There is much warfare.. The question is what do we do when we are offended and strife creeps in? Do we seek reconciliation and restoration by modeling the character of Christ? Walking in the flesh makes this impossible, but walking in the fruit of the Holy Spirit by staying connected to Jesus Christ through reading and following the Word and surrendering our weaknesses over to Jesus Christ and seeking love and forgiveness amongst ourselves. Without Jesus Christ, we cannot do this unto ourselves.

I was saddened by the strife and humbly seeking the Lord. That is when the Lord gave me the name of the studio which was the Amanda Rose Belmont Dance for Joy Studio with the Yahweh Ballet being the name of the ministry group. With the giving of the name came a flooding of tears for several hours at which time the Lord spoke to my heart that with the name came a very big responsibility of those who lead, work for, participate or are part of the studio. The namesake of Amanda would be a natural reminder to all of us that we were to treat one another with a spirit of gentleness and love that is only of the Lord, and with kid gloves, and that those who were part of the studio would be reminded of this with Amanda’s name and with her legacy.

Have we fallen short? Yes. But each time, I am brought back to this charge and I humbly and fervently ask God to help me to lead in a way that is pleasing to Him and that keeps love and forgiveness at the forefront even when we do stumble. Ours is an organization of many people - hundreds of people - parents, students, staff, directors, volunteers, friends. My heart is to stand back up when we stumble and seek the Lord with a spirit of repentance and remember Amanda Rose and our Lord Jesus Christ and the responsibility of her namesake. I am so thankful for this reminder as I walk DAILY in my salvation.





"Silence the Critics" - Song Released to Sandy Arena
December 2009. Arranged and vocals by Scott Dawson.