What: We would like to invite you to the annual ACHEV Christmas Dance at House of Dance in Ventura.  This is a semi-formal event. There are a few things that will be a little different about this dance and will be described more below, but please pay attention that you must:

• RSVP required by using this Sign Up Sheet
• Be on time – please arrive at 6:45 to check in at the front.
• Participate in the dance lesson that begins at 7pm, and most importantly…
• Come prepared to dance the night away with new friends, have a good attitude and do your best!

We will start with a lesson (TBD) from 7-7:30.   Then there will be free dancing from 7:30-10:15.  There will be a variety of Christmas tunes and we will do some group dances as well as lots of partner dancing with a mixture of swing, Latin, and smooth ballroom dances.

We need volunteers to help with the dance.  Click here to help.

When:  Saturday, December 7th, from 6:45pm-10:15pm.

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

Cost: $15 per student and includes a 30 minute professional dance lesson at the beginning from 7:00-7:30, taught by Patricia Monico.

***Payment in advance is not required, but is appreciated to help things run more smoothly and quickly upon entry.   To pay in advance, we accept only Zelle to achevmail@gmail.com .  All ticket receipts will go to House of Dance.  ACHEV is collecting the ticket money and will hand it over in one lump sum, so please do not send any payments directly to House of Dance.

Refunds: If you pay in advance (again, super helpful), I will gladly give you a refund if you notify me by Noon on the day of the dance if you are unable to come.  Please don’t No-Show.

Who: ACHEV members 6^th Grade and up, ACHEV parents, and ACHEV graduates are also welcome.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to join in the dancing as well as the lesson.  **NO younger siblings at this dance.  Babes in arms OK.

Guests:  ACHEV members may invite guests.   Due to limited space, no Guests will be approved or permitted on the sign up sheet until November 7th.  After that time, please clear your guests by emailing or texting Bonnie to bonnieadair@verizon.net 805-504-6457 with names, ages and their chaperone.  Please do not share the sign up sheet links outside of ACHEV.  Make sure to confirm that guests have read the dress code and etiquette, and please make sure they know that younger siblings are not permitted to be present.  The information is available below to copy and paste (with the exception of sign up sheet links) and share with them and is also included on the sign-up sheet.

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.  Please make sure to include chaperone names for your student(s) on the sign up sheet.  All Chaperones need to be signed up on the sign up sheet because the building has a maximum capacity that we need to be careful to observe.

What to Bring:

• Your own water bottles (parents, too).  Please help us reduce cost and waste.  We will have water and cups available for refilling your water bottles, or in case someone forgets theirs.
• Finger Food Snack to share with the group.
• Girls, if you are going to wear heels, please bring a pair of more comfortable shoes in case your feet can’t stand it anymore.  This might be a good idea for boys, too, if they are wearing a new pair of dress shoes.  No going barefoot.  It will hurt if you get stepped on.
• Be on time.  The dances will go much more smoothly and be more fun if everyone is on time for the dance lesson at 7. Do not sign up for this dance if you cannot be on time.

Please carefully read the dress code and etiquette guidelines below and share with your guests:

Dress Code:

We do not want to have to send anyone home, so please, follow the guidelines.  If you are having trouble, reach out and ask questions or ask to borrow something.

Boys:

• Collared shirts (button-up or polo), long sleeve or short sleeved.
• Slacks, NO jeans.  This is a semi-formal dance.  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 knee, regardless of leggings.) If there is a lace overlay, the skirt underneath (solid fabric) needs to touch the knee.
• Slits in skirts cannot rise above the top of the knee regardless of leggings underneath.  If you 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 policy to wear shorts or leggings under your skirts regardless of length.
• No low-cut, strapless, backless, or halter tops. Straps need to be at least one inch wide. No exposed cleavage 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 have solid straps underneath that are at least one inch wide.
• 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-tailored-for-Christmas-Semi-Formal

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.  We ask that all young men practice an attitude of chivalry.
• 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.
• If we announce a Sadie Hawkins dance, and you decline an offer to dance, you will rest for the entire song.

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.
• 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.

Sign Up for the Dance Here