Welcome!
Bethany Phelps has been studying dance for over 28 years. She received her Associate's at Kilgore College where she was a World Famous Kilgore College Rangerette and graduated with honors. There she had the opportunity to perform at Pearl Harbor, in Washington DC at the Inaugural Ball, Cotton Bowl, and with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. She went on to achieve her Bachelors of Science in Sociology from University of Houston-Clear Lake. Bethany served as director of the Revelution Competition Team at RPAC in Deer Park. She has taught the ninth grade dance program at Deer Park High School North Campus for the past three years while still continuing to teach studio dance. Bethany’s choreography has won her several Choreography Awards at the competitive level and her favorite styles to teach are lyrical and musical theatre! She has also choreographed musicals for local are high schools and community theaters. Bethany is currently the Assistant Director of the Deer Escorts at Deer Park High School. She loves the beach, reading, and spending time with her family. Bethany lives in Seabrook with her husband Kegan, their daughter Livvy, and their two dogs, Traeger and Stella. She teaches Dance 1-4 at South Campus.
| Period | Subject | Location | Schedule |
| Flex | Deer Escorts | 7:00-8:30 | |
| 1 | Deer Escorts | 8:30-9:19 | |
| 2 | DE Leadership | 9:25-10:13 | |
| Deer Time | 10:19-10:49 | ||
| 3 | Dance 2 | 10:55-11:43 | |
| 4 | A Lunch | 11:43-12:13 | |
| 4 | Dance 3/4 | 12:13-12:43 | |
| 4 | Dance 3/4 | 12:43-1:13 | |
| 5 | Dance 1 | 1:19-2:07 | |
| 6 | Dance 1 | 2:13-3:01 | |
| 7 | Conference | 3:07-3:55 |
SYLLABUS
I would like to welcome you to the Deer Park Dance Department! We will be doing many fun activities
throughout the year and I hope you will enjoy and learn to love dance as much as I do! It is my goal to provide
you with a dance enriched learning experience. Throughout the year, we will study various types of dance, the
history of dance, how to critique performances, and you will have performance opportunities. Please go over the
rules and class expectations and sign and return the attached signature document by: Tuesday, August 19th.
Course Objectives:
• Gain self-discipline, confidence, and dedication through the art of dance.
• Demonstrate knowledge of dance terminology and develop skills of description, analysis, and
interpretation in a dance performance.
• View and discuss historic dance works and key figures.
• Explore diverse dance styles and techniques.
• Develop body and spatial awareness skills.
• Demonstrate leadership and organizational skills through the use of discussions and projects.
• Develop choreography skills.
• Participate in performance opportunities.
Class Materials:
• Appropriate Dance attire
• iPad
Student Expectations:
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Respect to the teacher and classmates-follow ALL school rules!
• Making fun of other students will not be tolerated.
• Do NOT talk while the teacher is talking or another student is talking/performing.
• Students must dress out properly and participate each day.
• Students must rehearse material learned in class and be prepared each day.
• Any student who misses class must be responsible for the missed work and be ready upon return to class.
• Lockers will be assigned. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED. You are responsible for your belongings. The Dance
Dept. will assign you a lock. If you lose this lock, it will be a $5.00 fee. Please lock your lockers – people
DO steal!
• NO GUM! NO FOOD OR DRINKS (except water) is allowed in the dance room at any time. Please respect
our space.
• Students are not allowed to operate audio/video equipment without teacher permission.
• Please refrain from leaning against the mirrors. This is YOUR space, be proud of it, and take care of it!
• 10/10 Rule = Must be present the first and last 10 minutes of class
throughout the year and I hope you will enjoy and learn to love dance as much as I do! It is my goal to provide
you with a dance enriched learning experience. Throughout the year, we will study various types of dance, the
history of dance, how to critique performances, and you will have performance opportunities. Please go over the
rules and class expectations and sign and return the attached signature document by: Tuesday, August 19th.
Course Objectives:
• Gain self-discipline, confidence, and dedication through the art of dance.
• Demonstrate knowledge of dance terminology and develop skills of description, analysis, and
interpretation in a dance performance.
• View and discuss historic dance works and key figures.
• Explore diverse dance styles and techniques.
• Develop body and spatial awareness skills.
• Demonstrate leadership and organizational skills through the use of discussions and projects.
• Develop choreography skills.
• Participate in performance opportunities.
Class Materials:
• Appropriate Dance attire
• iPad
Student Expectations:
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Respect to the teacher and classmates-follow ALL school rules!
• Making fun of other students will not be tolerated.
• Do NOT talk while the teacher is talking or another student is talking/performing.
• Students must dress out properly and participate each day.
• Students must rehearse material learned in class and be prepared each day.
• Any student who misses class must be responsible for the missed work and be ready upon return to class.
• Lockers will be assigned. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED. You are responsible for your belongings. The Dance
Dept. will assign you a lock. If you lose this lock, it will be a $5.00 fee. Please lock your lockers – people
DO steal!
• NO GUM! NO FOOD OR DRINKS (except water) is allowed in the dance room at any time. Please respect
our space.
• Students are not allowed to operate audio/video equipment without teacher permission.
• Please refrain from leaning against the mirrors. This is YOUR space, be proud of it, and take care of it!
• 10/10 Rule = Must be present the first and last 10 minutes of class
Class Procedures:
• When you are released from your previous class, go straight to the locker room to get dressed. There will
be days you will not dress out, and you will know these days in advance or there may be a sign hanging up
outside the locker room door.
• You will have 5 minutes after the bell to get dressed.
• Lockers are assigned- IF you choose. Lock all of your belongings in your locker and/OR bring all items with
you in the dance room.
• Then sit in your roll call/stretch lines and wait for teacher to take roll.
• When class is over, you will have 5-7 minutes at the end of class to change back into your school clothes.
You MUST either stay in the dressing room to continue getting dressed or wait in the dance room. You
cannot leave class early from the locker room/dance room.... you WILL get written up. DO NOT HANG
OUT IN HALLWAY.
• The class is responsible for keeping the changing areas tidy.
• REMEMBER- NO PHONES, SMARTWATCHES, EARBUDS. THEY MUST BE TURNED OFF & IN YOUR BAG OR
LOCKER.
Dress Code & Guidelines:
• FITTED majority black tank top/ t-shirt
• FITTED SOLID black/long/high waisted leggings
• Appropriate dance shoes
• NO flare leggings/straight leg pants/joggers/sweatpants
• NO crop tops, spaghetti straps, mesh/sheer material and nothing baggy)
• NO shorts of any kind
• NO wearing socks on dance floor
• NO wearing bulky/noisy jewelry/dangly earrings
• NO chewing gum
• Must wear hair tightly pulled back & out of face
• Wearing supportive bra suggested
Grading: Students 9 weeks grade will be based on the following:
o 60% Daily Performance/Dance Etiquette/Performances/Projects
o No dress out = 20pts off
o No top or no bottoms = 10pts off
o Bulky/noisy jewelry = 5pts off
o No hair up = 5pts off
o Chewing gum = 5pts off
o No dance shoes = 5pts off
o 40% Quizzes, Skills Test, Homework, etc
***Students must successfully complete all expectations each day and have proper dance etiquette.
****IF YOU DO NOT DRESS OUT, YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE!
Illness & Injuries:
• When you are released from your previous class, go straight to the locker room to get dressed. There will
be days you will not dress out, and you will know these days in advance or there may be a sign hanging up
outside the locker room door.
• You will have 5 minutes after the bell to get dressed.
• Lockers are assigned- IF you choose. Lock all of your belongings in your locker and/OR bring all items with
you in the dance room.
• Then sit in your roll call/stretch lines and wait for teacher to take roll.
• When class is over, you will have 5-7 minutes at the end of class to change back into your school clothes.
You MUST either stay in the dressing room to continue getting dressed or wait in the dance room. You
cannot leave class early from the locker room/dance room.... you WILL get written up. DO NOT HANG
OUT IN HALLWAY.
• The class is responsible for keeping the changing areas tidy.
• REMEMBER- NO PHONES, SMARTWATCHES, EARBUDS. THEY MUST BE TURNED OFF & IN YOUR BAG OR
LOCKER.
Dress Code & Guidelines:
• FITTED majority black tank top/ t-shirt
• FITTED SOLID black/long/high waisted leggings
• Appropriate dance shoes
• NO flare leggings/straight leg pants/joggers/sweatpants
• NO crop tops, spaghetti straps, mesh/sheer material and nothing baggy)
• NO shorts of any kind
• NO wearing socks on dance floor
• NO wearing bulky/noisy jewelry/dangly earrings
• NO chewing gum
• Must wear hair tightly pulled back & out of face
• Wearing supportive bra suggested
Grading: Students 9 weeks grade will be based on the following:
o 60% Daily Performance/Dance Etiquette/Performances/Projects
o No dress out = 20pts off
o No top or no bottoms = 10pts off
o Bulky/noisy jewelry = 5pts off
o No hair up = 5pts off
o Chewing gum = 5pts off
o No dance shoes = 5pts off
o 40% Quizzes, Skills Test, Homework, etc
***Students must successfully complete all expectations each day and have proper dance etiquette.
****IF YOU DO NOT DRESS OUT, YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE!
Illness & Injuries:
In the case of illness or injury, a parent note MUST be presented to the teacher BEFORE class begins. If you do
not have a note, you will be required to participate. A doctor’s note is required if the student misses 3 or more
consecutive days. If you are unable to perform a skills test due to injury, then you will have to complete a written
assignment in its place. Please DO NOT give me a note wanting to sit out due to cramps. (Research shows that
movement helps relieve cramps!). Please at least try. We will all have our days.
REQUIRED Performance Information:
Performing dance is vital to a successful learning experience as part of this course. Therefore, as part of the
Dance curriculum, ALL students will be participating in one required performance during the school year.
This performance will be for the Santa Market. This performance will be on December 6th in the PAC at
South Campus. (Please mark your calendars!) There is no cost to attend this performance.
FAQ’s about this requirement:
· All practices/preparations will be done IN class. There are no outside rehearsals/practices.
· This performance will count as major grades for that 9-week grading period.
· This performance relies 100% on the full participation of the dancers. Therefore, it is important that
everyone is aware of the important commitment this performance requires.....please keep in mind that
excessive absences will result in your student not staying current with their fellow dancers and will likely
end up with a lower grade.
· A dance student CAN be removed from the performance at any time due to the following, but not limited
to: disrespect, not knowing the required routine/dance, goofing off, excessive absences in class, etc.
· Costumes for this performance will be their class uniform: all-black dance attire (along with a black sports
bra) and dance shoes that is required for class.
not have a note, you will be required to participate. A doctor’s note is required if the student misses 3 or more
consecutive days. If you are unable to perform a skills test due to injury, then you will have to complete a written
assignment in its place. Please DO NOT give me a note wanting to sit out due to cramps. (Research shows that
movement helps relieve cramps!). Please at least try. We will all have our days.
REQUIRED Performance Information:
Performing dance is vital to a successful learning experience as part of this course. Therefore, as part of the
Dance curriculum, ALL students will be participating in one required performance during the school year.
This performance will be for the Santa Market. This performance will be on December 6th in the PAC at
South Campus. (Please mark your calendars!) There is no cost to attend this performance.
FAQ’s about this requirement:
· All practices/preparations will be done IN class. There are no outside rehearsals/practices.
· This performance will count as major grades for that 9-week grading period.
· This performance relies 100% on the full participation of the dancers. Therefore, it is important that
everyone is aware of the important commitment this performance requires.....please keep in mind that
excessive absences will result in your student not staying current with their fellow dancers and will likely
end up with a lower grade.
· A dance student CAN be removed from the performance at any time due to the following, but not limited
to: disrespect, not knowing the required routine/dance, goofing off, excessive absences in class, etc.
· Costumes for this performance will be their class uniform: all-black dance attire (along with a black sports
bra) and dance shoes that is required for class.
