Faculty Responsibilities

Teaching

Thoroughly understand and implement CCD’s curriculum, syllabus and policies.
Teach dance technique in a responsible, kinesthetically healthy way.
Teach throughout the season, adhering to curriculum, syllabus, and policies.
Arrive 10-15 minutes prior to scheduled class time.
Start and end classes on time. If the studio clock is not keeping time, please notify CCD’s administrative staff as soon as possible.
Notify Director of Artistic Operations and Front Desk of upcoming absences at least 2 weeks prior and assist in finding a substitute teacher, if needed.
- See Faculty & Sub Tracking Spreadsheet for complete instructions
Wear professional dance attire in the classroom.
Meet with DAO as needed to discuss class progress. Reach out to schedule these at your discretion.

Enforcing Policies

Read and understand CCD’s student handbook.
Enforce the dress and hair code. If students are not in code, fill out a slip and bring it to the front desk so we may notify the student’s parent or guardian. Please notify the DAO if the problem becomes persistent. These rules pertain to all dance styles, as every class has a dress code that is specific to that class’s needs.
Due to risk of injury, students may be asked to observe if they arrive more than 10-15 minutes late to class. If you feel their late arrival is unsafe or inappropriate, please have them sit in the class, observe, and take notes. If this problem becomes persistent, please notify the DAO.
Enforce proper etiquette, manners, and kindness in the classrooms, hallways, and dressing rooms.
If a student must sit out during class, keep them in the classroom – do not send a student into the hall, lobby or dressing room. Ask the student to take notes in a notebook (if appropriate, and with a prompt such as “Write down all the counts of this combination” or “keep track of the formations for this dance”), run music for you (if appropriate), give observations, recite corrections you’ve given the class, etc. The goal is for the student to remain engaged.
Any time a student sits out (unless it’s an ongoing issue for which there has already been a form filed), please fill out an Incident Report form, available in each studio, and bring it to the front desk so we may notify the student’s parent or guardian.

Classroom Administration

Take attendance in every class every day. This becomes extremely important during Gala time, but it helps us track class relevance and need throughout the year.
VERY IMPORTANT: If a student is not on the attendance list, please send the student to the front desk, so the problem may be rectified.
Similarly, if a student has not been attending class, please alert the front desk as soon as possible.
Distribute any handouts at the end of each class.
Open viewing window blinds for the first full week of each month.

Student Health

Confidential information regarding students with physical or learning disabilities, including allergies, will be provided to each faculty member. Be sure to review this information to know how best to work with the needs of each student. Reach out to the Front Desk if you need help communicating with a parent about this.
Injury Protocol: When a student becomes injured in class, please fill out an incident report. The front desk will inform the parent of the incident. Please alert the DAO and front desk as soon as possible, so they may reach out to the parents with a full report. If the nature of the injury is mild, the student may stay in the classroom and ice. If the injury is serious, however, please have the front desk contact the parent immediately. Please urge the student/parent to speak with the DAO and make sure they are aware of our Wellness Providers. They can check with the front desk to schedule appointments. To understand our protocol for injuries as communicated to our parent base, please visit http://ccdance.org/school-policies-info/
There are first aid kits at the front desk and a box of Bandaids in each studio. We keep ice in the freezer in the kitchen. Please have the student notify the front desk if ice is needed.
Students who feel ill will be sent home – they may NOT sit in the dressing room or lobby. Families can schedule a makeup class for the missed class. If there is more than 15 minutes left in the class, or they have another class that night, please alert the front desk so we may contact the student’s parent or guardian for early pickup.
IMPORTANT: If a student faints or becomes unconscious during class, STAY with him/her/them –send a student to the front desk immediately to have a staff member call 911. You may also keep your cell phone (on silent) in the studio with you to use for the express purposes of handling major emergencies and communicating with CCD staff.
DO NOT move a student if there is any possibility of head, neck or back injury.

Student Body Image

Do not advise dancers about nutrition. Please alert the DAO as soon as possible if you think a student has a problem with their body image or nutritional intake.
Do not discuss your own body in terms of aesthetic appearance with the students.
Do not advise any student to lose weight.
If the opportunity arises that a student approaches you about body image issues, we advise that you focus only on the importance of the health of the dancer, NOT on weight. Alert the DAO immediately.
Focus your technical corrections on musculature, bones, imagery, etc. DO NOT at any time use words such as “fat” or “big” to describe a student in class, yourself, or anyone else.
Do not use imagery relating to “dinner” or “lunch” to encourage proper abdominal use. Instead, use phrases that relate directly to the muscles used, like “engage your transversus,” or “lift your belly-button.” Use multiple, varied ways to describe core engagement, including dancers hands on their own bodies.
When referring to the one’s physical form, speak positively about what is possible. Do not use limiting language that may make a student feel inferior, but rather, empower them.

Gala

CCD’s main goal with this production is to show the incredible training we have here at CCD. Dances should be clean and well-rehearsed, while focusing on the educational process our students experienced through the year.
We believe the continued care and attention to the growth of each dancer’s technique within the classroom context is of the utmost importance.
Choreograph and rehearse high-quality Gala pieces, while staying within the parameters, guidelines, and timeframes set by DAO. Finish your dance as soon in the year as possible to allow for more time to clean and refine. Coach the dancers to give them a deep experience and to fully prepare them for success, including stage traditions (stage directions, “thank you, five,” etc.)
Attend and assist backstage with dress rehearsals and all performances of Gala. Teachers will only be required to be at the theater the day/performance/rehearsal in which their particular classes are involved.
Be a productive backstage participant, helping proactively where needed.

Private Lessons

You should have been invited to give your private lesson availability on your overall availability form. Private lessons can be booked through the front desk.
If you think a student would benefit from private lessons, please let the administrative staff know. We will communicate with the student’s family and work to coordinate the family/student, teacher, and studio space.
All private lessons must be scheduled through the front desk, so that we may make sure there are no studio conflicts and that all payments are completed.

General Administration

Faculty members receive individual employment contracts. This information packet does not replace the employment contract.
In order to be paid, all paperwork must be completed. See CCD’s Executive Director for details.
Paychecks are issued every other Thursday. Timesheets are due the Sunday before payday. Please see the payment schedule for further clarification. If payday falls on a bank holiday, payments will process the prior business day.
Check email every day, and please respond promptly.
CCD carries Workers Compensation insurance as required by law. Health insurance is offered only for full time employees.

Facility

Make sure all students pick up after themselves, and please tidy the space before you leave.
Turn off the stereo when you unplug and plug in, to avoid blowing speakers.
Remove unclaimed items and throw away trash after each class.
Please clean barres at the end of each class where they are used with a small cloth and vinegar solution.
Last class of the night in each studio: mop the floor (teachers spray solution, students run the mop), close blinds and turn off lights, stereo equipment, and fans.
Our lease prohibits animals of any kind in the building.
Park either on the east end or in the back of the building. Do not park in the front.

Communications

All student information, including but not limited to financial, health and personal family issues, must remain confidential and must not be discussed with other students or persons outside of CCD.
Attend scheduled faculty meetings.
Read CCD’s monthly newsletter, and any other emails you’re copied on for information sent out by the DAO or CCD’s administrative staff.
Do not discuss student progress or placement with parents. Do, however, TALK to parents. Teachers need to create a friendly atmosphere with the parents and students to help build attachments to CCD. Teachers can avoid the subject of placement by saying, “I’ll let the Director of Artistic Operations know you’d like to discuss that.”
If you feel a student has been placed in the incorrect level, please alert the DAO.

Faculty Behavior

Smoking must be conducted outside the back door of the facility at a distance of at least ten feet from the door.
The door may not be propped open, cigarettes must be extinguished in the “butt bucket” located at the back of the building, and smoking should be done discretely, away from students and parents.
No illegal drug use.
Angry outbursts, unkind treatment of staff, faculty, students and/or parents or erratic behavior are grounds for immediate dismissal.
Please be a role model for our students, demonstrating what a dance professional can be at the highest level.

Competition

You may not personally solicit students or their families for non-CCD classes or other activities, such as master classes, auditions or performances without prior permission in writing from the DAO. This prohibition extends one year after employment at CCD terminates.
We will gladly post promotional materials that have been approved by the DAO.
All CCD materials, including but not limited to syllabus, photos, marketing materials, and videos, internal communications such as emails, staff meetings, or Slack communications, are the copyrighted property of CCD and may not be copied or reproduced in part or entirety without the express permission of the Executive Director.
Unless otherwise contracted, all work created for CCD becomes the property of CCD. This includes, but is not limited to, choreography created for Nutcracker, YAGP/DBG, DanceFound, Anti Bullying Performances, Spring Production, and Gala.

DEIA Statement & Non-Discrimination Policy

Colorado Conservatory of Dance supports BBIPOC, AAPI, and LGBTQIA+, differently-abled and neurodiverse people, as well as those who have historically been marginalized, oppressed, or underrepresented in our society. We believe in respect for all perspectives, the value of creativity, the power of art, and treating other humans with dignity and kindness. We will not be silent. We will use our platform to end discrimination in the arts.
CCD is an equal opportunity arts organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender, age, disability, marital status, military status or sexual orientation.
CCD is a Body-Safe Environment. We believe that all bodies should receive empowering, loving, safe training individualized for their specific needs.
CCD is a safe place for mental wellness.

CCD’s Approach to Technique and Alignment in Most Styles

Proper alignment/posture and technique will be the emphasis at all levels.
The leg supporting the working leg is always the supporting leg, not the standing leg.
When closing into fifth position (if applicable), students should place their weight on the front of both feet, not just the supporting leg and not by shifting into the heels. Both legs are ‘supporting’ legs in fifth position.
The ‘plumb line’ of the body should be aligned over the 2nd toe of the feet, not the big toe (including center of the knee cap aligned over 2nd toe). In most forms, arches should be lifted and all ten toes should be elongated and pushing into the floor. “Rolling in” (pronating) is not acceptable, as it puts undue strain on the ankle, knee, and hips.
The spine in “neutral” has 3 natural curves (lower/lumbar, middle/thoracic, neck/cervical) in a healthy positioning. “Tucking” (posterior rotation) of the pelvis is discouraged, as is “tilting” (anterior rotation), unless called for by the dance form.
The obliques, transverse and rectus abdominal musculature should be engaged consistently to support the flexibility of the lower spine.
Ballet/Modern/Contemp/Jazz:
- Retiré: The pinky toe is placed at the front of the knee in retiré devant (not called “passé”). The heel is placed behind the knee in retiré derrière with the toes stretching away from the leg until Intermediate 3. In Advanced 1 the student may work with the toe to the back of the knee if not sickling or lifting the working hip.
- First position port de bras is executed with the middle finger in front of the base of the sternum.
- The toes in tendu devant and derrière should be opposite the supporting heel.
- Jumps should be taught with a supple plié preparation, pointed feet in the air, and a well-aligned roll-through action of the feet upon landing. Heels should be pressed into the floor to prevent injury to the achilles tendon.
- Cou de pied is a position, coupé is a movement. Retiré is a position, passé is a movement.
- Elevé is ‘to rise’ without a plié; relevé is ‘to rise’ from a plié.
- Pirouettes:
  - En dedans pirouettes should be taught “straight up” to retiré until Advanced 2 when they may be taught through second.
  - Preparation for pirouettes en dehors should be taught with a fourth position that is opposite third position. If a student is able to have their hips perfectly square with a turned out back leg (knee cap over the 2nd toe) then the student may have a preparation position that is opposite 5th.
  - Weight should be placed over the front foot. Students should be able to raise the back leg off the floor and replace it onto the floor without any shifting of the pelvis.
All technique classes should incorporate musicality into teaching. Specific counts should be utilized to demonstrate exercises (unless there is another clear purpose for the exercise such as improvisation), which should be demonstrated and/or marked at least twice with rhythmic specificity, at the actual tempo of the music.
Musical words should be used: ‘tempo’ instead of ‘speed,’ etc. The beat is the underlying current in the music, while the rhythm is a specific set of beats. Accenting means drawing attention to a particular beat.
Explain why you’re counting students in (“5,6,7,8”) – not just to tell them when to start, but to clarify the tempo so they know how fast to do the movement.
See specific syllabi for details pertaining to each dance form.

Classroom Etiquette

Students are expected to enter the classroom quietly and respectfully, once the teacher is inside or with the teacher’s permission. At no time should students or siblings be permitted to run in the studio or halls. Students in Intermediate 3 and below may not be in the studios unattended.
Students should be encouraged to warm-up with aerobic movement and/or dynamic/active stretching techniques and/or review corrections/choreography without talking if early for class or during any idle moment.
All students in levels Intermediate 1 — Advanced 5 should have a notebook/pen for corrections or other exercises at all times.