The ACHEV Sock Hop Dance is ballroom and swing dancing for 6th grade and older. It will be held at the beautiful Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, which has a generous stage and dance floor, and beautiful view from the patio area.

Parent chaperones are required for this dance. If you are unable to attend, you may find another parent ahead of time to chaperone in your place. Thank you.  If the children under your care are outside on the patio, make sure to supervise them out there.  Children are not allowed outside of the building without a chaperone present.

There are many important details so you will be prepared to have the very best time! Please read carefully, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. The organizers are happy to answer your questions.

No Younger Siblings.  This event is for 6th grade and up only.  Younger siblings are not permitted at this event.  Babes in arms/nursing babies are okay.

ACHEV has guidelines for events. They are included in full on the “keep this” page of your membership agreement. Here are the points that are relevant to dances:

• Be punctual as a courtesy to other members and our hosts.
• Parents are responsible for their children’s behavior and safety for the duration of the gathering. This responsibility may be delegated to another parent if necessary. No drop offs.
• Attire should be modest and appropriate for the occasion.
• Be respectful of both private and public property.
• Please clean up after yourself at all events.
• Thank the individuals who made the event possible.
• ACHEV activities are for members only, unless otherwise stated.

Thank you for bringing a finger food to share. It will help us tremendously if you bring them on a serving plate or bowl (disposable if you prefer) to make it presentable and easy for those volunteering to manage the refreshment tables. ACHEV does not have an inventory of serving plates. Thank you.

You may invite friends you believe would enjoy this dance. Guests must be cleared in advance with Tina Beeson: buckeyeflats@hotmail.com or 805-551-5479. Please share all the information with your guests so they are prepared. Thank you.  While we do keep a guest list and ask that you get your guests cleared in advance, we do not have a limit on guests for dances at the Poinsettia Pavilion.

Consider arriving a little bit before 7pm so that you have time to get through the check in line and are ready to start at 7.  We don’t want you to miss anything. =)

Cost: $15 per dancer. Parent Chaperones are free.  $30 family maximum.  Pay at the door with either cash or check payable to ACHEV.

ACHEV has a dress code for dances. This is the dress code for the Sock Hop Dance. 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.

Boys:

• T-shirts OK for this dance
• Jeans OK for this dance, no holes
• Wear closed toe shoes.  No flip flops.  It is easier to dance in shoes that do not have rubber bottoms.

Girls:

While 1950’s era dresses and skirts (which were predominately below the knee) are most suitable for this event, we have included illustrations of the minimum hemline allowed by the dress code for dances in general. Please note if dresses have sheer layers, it is the solid fabric that must be at least to the top of the knee, as shown below. Please note the requirement for wearing modest leggings or shorts under skirts, since twirling and other athletic moves are involved in many swing dance steps.

•  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. Straps need to be at least one inch wide. No exposed midriffs, cleavage or bra straps.  No peekaboo cutouts.  If your top is sheer or see through (such as lace), you need to wear underneath solid straps that are at least one inch wide.   If you aren’t sure, wear a cardigan over your dress.
• 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.  No flip flops.  It is easier to dance in shoes that do not have rubber bottoms.   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.

Here is the visual dress code with some photos to help show minimum hemline/skirt length:  Sock Hop Visual Dress Code

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

For Boys:

• Ask a variety of girls to dance.  They are waiting for you to ask.  Smile, offer your hand, and ask if she would like to dance.
• 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 and help them learn a few of the steps.
• 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.
• Chewing Gum is not permitted at the Poinsettia Pavilion
• Thank the band, or a band member, for playing for us if you get an opportunity.

Volunteers are needed to make the evening run smoothly. We need you. There are many ways to help.  Volunteer Sign Up Sheet is Here.

There is no sign up sheet to attend the dance, only a sign up sheet for helpers.  We don’t have concerns about exceeding the maximum capacity for the building at this location.