Current Schedule | End of Year Schedule | Emergency Closing Information | Days Off | Absence Policy

Skid Pads | Dress Code | Recital Information | Contact | Back to Main Page

Current Schedule

Rince Na Saor is closed for the summer, but Kathy is still available by phone and e-mail.  Fall classes start on Friday, September 18, 2009. 

Days Off

Days off for the 2009-2010 school year will be posted in September.  Days off for the 2008-2009 school year were:

Monday Night Classes:

• October 13 --Columbus Day
• December 22 --Holidays
• December 29 --Holidays
• February 16 --Winter Break
• April 20 --Spring Break
• May 25 --Memorial Day
• June 8--no class; Ceili is on Friday, June 12

Friday Night Classes:

• October 31--Halloween
• November 28--Thanksgiving
• December 26--Holidays
• January 2--Holidays
• February 20--Winter Break
• April 10--Good Friday
• April 24--Spring Break
• June 5--no class; dress rehearsal is the next day

Please Note:  Rince Na Saor does not follow any particular school district's calendar, so it is entirely possible to have dance class on a day when school is not in session (Example:  Martin Luther King Day).  These are the only scheduled days off regardless of your local school calendar.

Absence Policy

In order to effectively plan each class, I need to know how many students are attending on a given evening. Occasionally a class many be cancelled if enough students are absent. I appreciate being notified if a student will not be attending class. I will not punch a student’s card for missed lessons as long as I am notified at the Rince Na Saor number (227-6614) by 5 p.m. on the day of the class. Please do not:

 --call the studio

 --send word with a classmate or a friend

I will not get these messages until it is too late to alter the evening’s plans. 

If you know of an absence in advance (vacation, school event, etc.), let me know ahead of time and I will make a note of it.  If you’ve already notified me of an absence, there is no need to call me on the day of the class. 

Thanks for your help!

Skid Pads

Skid pads are handy little pieces of rubber which are applied to the ball-of-the-foot area on dance shoes.  They are standard on most dance footwear with the exception of Irish hard shoes, which is a pity, because hard shoes are notoriously slick.  The Fiberglass tips and heels are very slippery, and it is common for Irish dancers to fall.  Even if a dancer doesn't fall, the sensation of skidding on a slipper floor is very unnerving.  It's hard to think about your dancing, much less enjoy your dancing, when you're sliding all over the place!

Over the years, Irish dancers have tried resin, duct tape, Coca Cola, and any number of other things to make their hard shoes less treacherous, all to little or no avail.  I had skid pads applied to my hard shoes years ago, and they have worked better than anything else I've tried.  While they do not render the shoe slip-free, they still provide a huge improvement.

I strongly recommend that dancers have skid pads applied to their hard shoes.  Harrison Brothers Shoe & Luggage Repair (Greece Ridge Mall, 225-2745) or any other shoe repair shop can apply them for a small fee.  Be sure to tell them you want skid pads for dance shoes.  If you need to leave the shoes over a lesson, by all means, do so; students can practice in their soft shoes or sneakers.  I have slipped and skidded on many a floor and have watched many less fortunate dancers fall; I can assure you it's well worth the effort!

Dress Code

Irish dance is a unique art form with unique physical requirements.  The dress code addresses the need for students to be able to move safely and comfortably during an hour of physical activity.  What your child wears to school will likely not work for dance class.  Blue jeans won't allow them to move freely; sweaters will make them overheat.. 

Tops:  A short-sleeved or sleeveless shirt.

Bottoms:  Shorts or leggings, either ankle or capri length. 

Sweatpants or athletic pants (also called "track pants", "motion pants", or "active pants") are fine as long as:

--they have straight or tapered legs--no flares

--they are not so long that they're touching the floor.  Pants must be off the floor when the dancer is standing in bare feet.  I realize that many parents like to buy pants longer so children can grow into them, but in this case, long pants present a safety hazard because they can cause a dancer to trip.  Parents who are concerned about pants length might want to consider shorts or leggings, both of which can be worn a bit long without presenting a tripping hazard.

Hair:  Hair must be off the face; dancers' hands must be in specific positions and are not available to adjust their hair. 

Not Allowed:

*  Long-sleeved shirts/sweaters/sweatshirts, unless they're worn over a short-sleeved shirt and can be removed when a dancer warms up.

*  Blue jeans, or any clothing made of heavy fabrics like denim, twill, or corduroy.  Look for fabrics that are lightweight and/or soft and stretchy.

*  Flared pants of any kind.  These affect a dancer's form, making it harder for them to keep their legs and ankles together.

*  Skirts that reach or go past the knees.

*  Large, loose, or dangling jewelry.

Students should arrive for class dressed for class.  The space Rince Na Saor now occupies was originally designed as an aerobics studio, which might be why the bathroom is convenient to students, but not those in the waiting room.  There may be a class in progress when you arrive, and a steady stream of students walking across a class every week is too disruptive, so don't plan on using the bathroom to change clothes.  If it's winter and you're wearing shorts, wear sweatpants over them so you can easily strip them off for class.

Students who arrive inappropriately dressed for class will watch the class instead of participating.  I will notify their parents in person or by phone that they had to sit out, and there will be no refunds or credits for the missed class.

I love sharing Irish dance with my students, and I would appreciate everyone's assistance in helping them dance safely and comfortably.  Thank you for your cooperation, and please don't hesitate to talk to me at class or call me (227-6614) if you have any questions.

Contact

For more information or questions, please contact the instructor, Kathy Whitfield: (585) 227-6614 or email her at kathyw[at]bluefrog.com.