All assistant instructors must be a good role model for our students. You are the one that they’re looking up to. What an honor! So with that in mind, you must act accordingly. These are the rules that we expect our assistants to abide by:

1. You must always be on time. Try to be at the studio 10 minutes before the class starts. Being late sets a bad example to our students. If you know you’ll be arriving late, or leaving early, please try to inform us prior to class.

2. If for some reason, you’re not able to come to class, it is your job to find someone to take your place.

3. Refrain from excessive absences. Rarely coming to class is not the kind of message we want to send to our students! Excessive absences will also disqualify you from performing in our assistant instructors’ dance at recital.

4. No talking on the phone during class. It is not professional and tells the students that they are not as important to you as who you’re talking to on the phone.

5. Do not frequently fix your hair, your make-up or check yourself out in the mirror. You should be focusing on the students and how you can be helping them, and not on your appearance.

6. Always wear dance apparel to class. No jeans, street clothes, or big baggy clothes. The students need to see proper form. No distracting jewelry.

7. Always keep your hair up and out of your face.

8. No food in class. Drinks are ok, as long as they have a lid and are kept out of the way. Make sure you drink at appropriate times.

9. Remember that this is THEIR class, not yours. Don’t practice your dance, your combinations, or bring your dance music to their class.

10. Be kind and gentle with the students. It’s not your job to discipline; it’s the teacher’s job.

11. No inappropriate conversations. E.g., talking about other studios, boys, relationships, or using foul language, etc.

12. You must be prepared to learn the dance so that, if for some reason, the instructor is unable to dance or even unable to be there, you can either lead them in the dance, or help the substitute.

13. Always come to class with a good mood. No matter how young they are, the students can sense when something is wrong. If needed, take the week off and have someone cover for you until you’re feeling better.

14. Always expect the same respect from the students that the instructor gets. Remember that you are there to help teach them, not to be one of them. The students should address you as “Miss ___.”

15. If you are sick, (or have had a fever, had anything contagious, vomited, or had diarrhea within three days,) get someone to cover for you while you get better. We want you to recover as soon as possible, and we don’t want to pass anything along to our students!

16. You must be comfortable being a leader. Remember that you have been chosen to be an assistant! Have confidence in yourself to help lead the class towards being more talented and more confident dancers.

These are the things we will be monitoring during your one month trial basis. We will be watching to see who really tries to adhere to all of these requirements. If we feel that any of our assistants are not following these rules, you will not be asked to continue helping. Here at ATRM, we strive to maintain a professional image. These rules help to enforce that image.