Young Dancers Mentorship Program

The Young Dancers Mentorship Program has been established for children of Branch members who have shown a keen interest in learning the basic dance steps and less complicated dance formations. The Branch does not currently offer classes for children but recognizes that the vitality and future growth of the Branch depends upon fostering the interest of youthful dancers. The mentorship program serves two purposes: (1) designation of a point person within the Branch who would maintain a list of participating students and children interested in any future program, and (2) provides written requirements and expectations for program participation.

Program Director:

• Appointed by the Board or if an open position, to be temporarily filled by a Board member until a new director is appointed.
• Duties to include:
  - Act as primary contact person for interested candidates and use discretion based upon mentor/mentee qualifications set forth below to determine eligibility to participate in the program.
  - Maintain a list of participants (past and present).
  - Maintain a list of parents and children interested in any future children’s program.
  - Coordinate teacher approval for each teaching segment.
  - Receive program fees and deliver to Treasurer.
  - Discuss participation expectations and have the participants sign the Program Participation Agreement.
  - Act as liaison between teachers, class members and mentors/mentees in the event of an alleged breach of the participation agreement. Keep the Board informed of all problems (and successes) in class.
• In the event the Program Director is also a program participant, the participation agreement must be signed off by one of the board officers and one of the board officers must also participate in the November progress review.

Mentee Qualifications:

• Able to meet minimum level of physical competencies to safely dance in a set with both men and women. This means that the mentee is physically able to participate in such a way as not to seriously impede other dancers beyond the ordinary ones of any adult dancer.
• Able to comprehend and follow verbal instructions.
• Able to accept feedback and recommended improvements on footwork as part of group instruction.
• An attention span sufficient for 1-1/2 hours of concentrated attention.
• Able to follow adult-level dance instructions and directions.
• Review program expectations with the Director and sign participation agreement.

Mentor Qualifications:

• Legal parent or guardian of the Mentee, or designated adult substitute.
• Branch member for at least one year and in good standing.
• Review program expectations with the Director and sign participation agreement.

Cost: $10 for the fall session
$10 for the winter/spring session

Program expectations:

1. Mentors and Mentees must attend class together. Notification of a substitute Mentor must be given to the teacher.)
2. The Mentorship Program begins in the fall of each year.
3. Mentor to Mentee ratio will be 1:1.
4. Mentors must understand that this is an adult activity and participants and teachers will not be expected to behave any differently than they would if a child was not present. Mentors must also be comfortable with the fact that no accommodation to the child will be made beyond the ordinary ones made to a beginning dancer.
5. New participants must meet with the Program Director for a progress assessment in November to determine readiness for the next level of dance instruction to follow in January through May.
6. Program readiness and progress is determined by the Program Director, any appeal of any of the director's determinations must be presented to the full RSCDS Board.

Submitted to the Board and approved at the December 11, 2007 meeting.
Amended by the Board at the October 13, 2009 meeting.