Please note that this dance is being held at House of Dance in Ventura and not the Poinsettia Pavilion.

What: We would like to invite you to our annual Back to School Dance.  There will be a variety of music and dances: Lots of swing, some waltz/foxtrot and a little Latin, plus group/line dances including the ever-popular Virginia Reel.  Read on for dress code – there are some slight variations to our dress code depending on the dance, so make sure you understand the rules for this one.  Please read this entire notice and pay attention that you must:

• Sign up in advance for this dance.  Students and parents need to sign up for a total headcount.  I need to make sure that we have enough attendees to be able to pay the venue, and we also have a maximum capacity we cannot exceed.
• Be on time.  Please do not sign up for this dance unless you can be on time.
• Please carefully read the dress code and etiquette guidelines below and share them with your guests.
• Participate in the dance lesson that begins at 7pm, and most importantly…
• Come prepared to dance the night away with old and new friends, have a good attitude and do your best!

When:  Saturday, September 27 from 7:00-10:00

Where: House of Dance: 3007 Bunsen Ave Ste E, Ventura, CA https://www.pmhouseofdance.com/

Cost: $15 per student/grad, includes a 30 minute dance lesson (TBD) at the beginning, taught by Patricia Monico.  Parent chaperones are free and welcome to join the lesson and dancing.

Payment: Payment in advance is very helpful , but not required.  You can pay with cash or Zelle when you arrive.

        Advance Payment Options:

• Deliver Cash or check (made payable to “ACHEV”) to Bonnie Adair in person at 174 Granada Street, Camarillo, CA 93010.  You can drop in my mailbox in an envelope with a note, send through USPS, or meet up with me somewhere.
• Zelle: ACHEV can now accept Zelle payments to achevmail@gmail.com.  If you use Zelle please include a note that payment is for the Back to School (BTS) Dance and list the names of the students/grads/guests you are paying for.
• Payments for this dance are going through ACHEV.  Please don’t send any personal payments to Bonnie or payment to House of Dance.  I will be collecting all payments through ACHEV and delivering payment to House of Dance in one lump-sum.

Who: ACHEV members 6^th Grade and up, ACHEV parents, siblings of ACHEV members (6th grade+) , and ACHEV graduates are also welcome.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to join in the dancing.  *Younger siblings are not permitted at this dance.

Guests:  Space is limited.  Guests outside of ACHEV will not be approved until September 12th.     Clear all guests through Bonnie Adair bonnieadair@verizon.net and make sure they are on the sign up sheet if approved.  Most importantly, be sure that they are familiar with the dress code and etiquette (below).

Chaperones: Each student under 18 must have a parent chaperone.  You may have another parent chaperone in your place.  Chaperones are responsible for the behavior and safety of their children for the duration of the event.

What to Bring:

• Water bottles.  This helps reduce costs and waste.   We will have water and cups available in case someone forgets theirs.
• An extra pair of shoes in case your dress shoes become uncomfortable.    Bare feet or socks only is not permitted.
• A finger food to share with the group.  Please don’t bring any beverages other than water.  No Gum.

How to Sign up:  Click Here for sign up sheet

Dress Code:

ACHEV has a dress code for dances.  It is enforced upon entrance. Come prepared, and be sure to share this with your invited guests. A good rule of thumb is if you are unsure, change into something that clearly meets dress code. Thank you for helping us uphold the dress code.  Carefully read the dress code and etiquette below.

Boys:

• Collared shirts (button-up or polo), long sleeve or short sleeved.
• Slacks, NO jeans. Do not wear pants that look like jeans.  Slacks have slits for back pockets, not sewn on pockets as jeans do.  Slacks are pressed with a crease down the front center.
• Closed toe shoes: Absolutely no flip flops, socks or bare feet.   It is hard to dance when your shoes are super sticky/grippy on the dance floor.  If you don’t have dress/dance shoes, Converse/Keds type shoes work OK.

Girls:

•  Skirts or dresses knee length or longer. (This means touching the top of the kneecap, regardless of leggings.) If there is a lace overlay, the skirt underneath (solid fabric) needs to touch the kneecap.
• Slits in skirts cannot rise above the top of the kneecap regardless of leggings underneath.  If your skirt/dress just touches the top of the knee and it has a slit in it, it is too short.  You can stitch up a slit or use safety pins to close it up.
• Leggings or shorts are required if the skirt rises past the knees while twirling.  It’s a good idea to wear shorts or leggings under your skirts regardless of length.
• No low-cut, strapless, backless, or halter tops. No peekaboo cutouts.  Solid Straps need to be at least one inch wide.  No exposed cleavage, midriffs or bra straps.  If you aren’t sure, wear a cardigan over your dress.
• If your top is sheer or see through, you need to wear underneath solid straps that are at least one inch wide.
• Girls can wear a t-shirt under their dress or along with a skirt.
• No pants (other than leggings under your skirt or dress).
• Closed toe shoes are recommended.  We recommend no slingback shoes.  Absolutely no flip flops, socks, or bare feet.  It is hard to dance when your shoes are super sticky/grippy on the dance floor.   If you don’t have dress/dance shoes, Converse/Keds type shoes work OK.  If the girls want to wear heels, please bring a second pair of shoes that will be more comfortable in case they need/want to remove their heels.

Please view the visual dress code: ACHEV Dress Code for Dances In General

Thank you for sharing dance etiquette with your children and invited guests.

Basic Dance Etiquette.  Please go over this with your dancers:

For Boys:

• Ask a variety of girls to dance.  They are waiting for you to ask.
• You may be nervous asking a girl to dance. That is ok. She is probably nervous waiting to be asked.
• Offer her your hand or your arm and escort her onto the dance floor
• When the dance is over, escort her off the floor and thank her for the dance.

For Girls:

• If a boy asks you to dance, graciously accept his offer unless you need to rest or take a breather, in which case you may say “no thank you”.  If you decline an offer to dance, you will rest for the duration of that song.
• If you stand with your friends in a closed circle, it is hard and nerve wracking for a boy to ask you to dance. Make yourself available by opening up your circle.

For Both:

• Every dance has first time attendees. Make an effort to reach out to them and include them in your conversations.
• Not everyone knows how to dance…that is ok. Everyone has to begin sometime.  Fortunately, at this dance, everyone will get a cha cha lesson to help you get started.
• A Sadie Hawkins dance is when a girl can ask a boy to dance.  The boys are to do the asking unless we announce a Sadie Hawkins dance.
• If you decline an offer to dance, that means you will be sitting out for the entire dance
• Please listen and follow instructions during the dance lesson without too much chatting.

For Parent Chaperones:

During the lesson from 7-7:30 if you are not taking the lesson, please refrain from chatting much.  Even low voices, when there are a lot of them,  can get loud.  It is difficult for the teacher to compete with the additional noise.

Volunteers Help the event run smoothly.  Please consider signing up for a volunteer help job at the dance.