STUDENT & FAMILY INFORMATION HANDBOOK Printed copies available on request Contents Page 3 Welcome from the Programme Managers 4-5 General information 6-8 Behaviour guidelines 9-10 Course structure 11 Physical Health & Well-being 12 Individual training plans (ITP’s) 13 Streaming 14-18 Financial structure, Accommodation, Student Expenses & Fund For Excellence 19 Transferring & Exiting policies 20 Management Team Contact details Dear Student, Parents & Guardians, Welcome to the Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) at The Place. Since 2004 nine Dance Centres for Advanced Training have opened, hosted in recognised centres of excellence across England. The management teams and faculties strive passionately to develop their prevocational dance programmes, to inspire and support the training of young dancers across the country. Each centre aspires to help young dancers achieve their potential in their chosen discipline be it contemporary dance, circus arts, ballet, urban or South Asian dance forms. The Place CAT works in partnership with the National Centre for Circus Arts, who deliver a circus specialism strand through their London Youth Circus programme. In association with the national centres, there are also satellite centres, outreach programmes and foundation courses, to complement existing programmes and help prepare young dancers for audition at one of the National Centres. The Place CAT works with The Point in Hampshire, South East Dance in East Sussex and Hot House Dance in Hertfordshire to deliver extended outreach programmes in the South East. The national scheme is funded in part by Department for Education - Music and Dance Scheme (MDS). Through their association with the MDS the national dance CATs work in partnership with the country’s most prestigious music and dance residential schools and junior conservatoires including The Royal Ballet School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. We facilitate collaborations with National CATs and Residential Schools, as well as offer opportunities for students to work with professional dance companies. The Place is a diverse and dynamic organisation specialising in nurturing dancers of all ages. The Place prides itself on its extensive programme for children and the continued support it offers vocational students and professional dance artists. As part of The Place, CAT engages with London Contemporary Dance School, Richard Alston Dance Company and some of the many artists and companies who devise work in our studios or perform in the Robin Howard Theatre or other London dance venues. We are delighted that you have chosen to train at the Centre for Advanced Training at The Place and we wish you a fruitful and enjoyable year with us. Kind Regards, Vicky Evans & Enid Gill (job share) CAT Programme Managers To find more out about CAT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou_TR2kMtos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j52fuI2Bi_k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZAOIB93YU4 Attendance Policy Due to the nature of this course we have a very strict attendance policy. We expect students to have 100% attendance as this is vital for their progress and retention on the programme. Students who drop below 80% will be monitored closely. If you are unable to attend a CAT day it is imperative that you contact the CAT team well in advance and we can then recognise your absence as authorised or unauthorised. You may only have an authorised absence on the day if you fall ill or experience an extenuating circumstance. If you do not inform us of your absence it will be listed as unauthorised. The number to contact if you are running late or have to be absence at short notice is the CAT mobile 07757 406004. Absences are not permitted for: rehearsals for private dance school shows, additional school performances or private dance school exams. Registration & Sign Out Saturday sessions: All students must sign in 30 minutes prior to class, in order to prepare and warm-up effectively. The CAT team will be at the reception desk at the Flaxman Terrace to sign students in in and out after each training day. Midweek sessions: You will be expected to sign in and out in as normal. This will be managed by our teaching assistants. You must remember to sign in or out: if you fail to do so this will be classed as an unauthorised absence. This procedure is for your safety as it enables us to track where you are. In the event you have not signed in, we will be contacting parents/guardians directly. Need to leave early? Your day on a Saturday does not conclude until 6pm. Therefore you should make adequate arrangements to get home in order to allow you to stay until the end of the day. In exceptional circumstance, should you need to leave early, you must ask permission from CAT Management in advance of the session. Requests will not be permitted on the day. CAT Office The CAT team are based in the CAT Office on level 2 corridor, past Classes & Courses Office. If you need to contact a member of the CAT team during class and they are not visible at Flaxman Terrace, please ask your teaching assistant who will contact the appropriate member of staff for you. Café The Place café is open on Saturdays and it is also open most weekdays until 6pm. A range of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks are available at reasonable prices. There are also water fountains located on most corridors near studios. Email To enable us to provide the bespoke training offered, we need to communicate information to you as easily and quickly as possible. Please ensure that we have your correct email address and that you check it regularly. The CAT team send out general email communications and information updates so please ensure you read fully and respond immediately i.e; confirming screening appointments, confirming attendance for a Theatre trip etc. Website & Internet Communications Our website address is http://www.theplace.org.uk/centre-advanced-training Please use the following universal user name and password which will enable you to access a dedicated CAT Students & Family pages; User name: [email protected] Password: Theplace1 These pages hold information about the timetable and CAT activities allowing you to check any information about the programme on-line simply and quickly. Please check these pages before contacting the CAT team. You can also become a member of The Place Facebook or Twitter pages – at https://www.facebook.com/theplace & https://twitter.com/ThePlaceLondon Behaviour Guidelines The Centre for Advanced Training is a scheme designed to enable you to equip yourself with the physical skills and mind-set that will prepare you for a career in your chosen art form. Students need to behave in a professional and consistent manner at all times at The Place and on organised trips. What we expect of you: Attitude Focus in sessions (e.g. concentrate, listen and apply corrections). Be enthusiastic, committed and interested in your learning. Act in a respectful and supportive manner to staff and users of the building at all times. Support, encourage and work sensibly with your fellow students at all times Take responsibility for your own learning and carry out homework or any practice of corrections in between sessions. This will accelerate your learning. Communication You should inform a member of staff immediately if you are injured or fall ill during a session. Inform the CAT team and teachers of any illness or injury prior to the beginning of class. You should ask if there is something you do not understand or feel you would like something explained to you by any member of staff. Talk to the Programme Manager or Coordinator about your Individual Training Plan, especially if you feel that there are changes to be made. You must bring your CAT Diary with you to every lesson, as staff may ask you to make notes during sessions or share important details for you to make note of. Commitment All students must attain an at least 80% attendance record in order to continue on the programme. You must inform the CAT team if you intend to leave the building at any time. While at CAT, we have a duty of care for you. Students should not leave early during a session without prior permission from the Programme Manager. Lateness Punctuality is essential and you must arrive 30 minutes prior to your first class in order to sign in, register and warm-up effectively. If you are late you must see the CAT team immediately to register and find out if you are able to participate. If you are more than 15 minutes late to a practical class you will not be allowed to participate fully in the class. You will be expected to observe class and take notes to ensure that you don’t fall behind in your development. This lateness policy is for your own safety. Dancewear You are expected to organise your own dancewear at the start of each academic year and the CAT team will reimburse this cost for you upon receiving a receipt. You need to wear tight fitting practice clothes (such as a leotard and tights or shorts) as detailed in your uniform list. Please ask the Coordinator if you require an item to be replaced (i.e. CAT hoody). You must wear CAT dancewear on assessment days/special events. Baggy clothing is not permitted in any technique classes. It is essential that teachers are able to see how the body is responding in order to help students maximise their training. Ballet shoes must be worn for all ballet classes unless you are instructed by a teacher to remove them. Long hair needs to be tied back neatly at all times.