Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry Registration Information Overview 2012 2013

The following information should be read by all parents with children participating in the Greek Dance Ministry of Holy Trinity. Welcome to the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry! Mission Statement:

The mission of the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry is to bring together Greek Orthodox Youth in an atmosphere of Christian Fellowship to promote, perpetuate, and celebrate the Greek Orthodox Faith, Heritage, and Culture through traditional music, song and dance.
Greek Dance Calendar and Important Dates: Start Date: September 9, 2012 (The first Sunday after Labor Day) End Date: Beginning of Lent /End of March Holy Trinity Annual Parish Dinner: November 10, 2012 FDF in Anaheim, CA: February 14 - 18, 2013 Holy Trinity Crab Feed: March 19, 2013 Greek Independence Day Celebration: March 2013 (Exact date to be determined) Greek Dance Bingo Nights (Friday evenings: October 26, 2012, January 11, 2013 and March 8, 2013 Greek Dance Fever: May 10 - 11, 2013 Holy Trinity Panegyiri: August 18, 2013 Greek Dance Groups and Practice Schedules: The placement of a dancer is dependent on his or her school grade. Any new dancers that did not dance the previous dance year must provide proof of school grade.

Dance practice is typically held on Sunday afternoons at the Holy Trinity George & Tula Christopher Center. Specific dance groups and practice times are as follows: Mikra Sporofyta Approximate Age Range: Early Elementary (Pre-K thru 2nd) Director: Andreanna Tzortzis Practice Times: Sundays, 12:45p- 1:45p Mikra Ftera Approximate Age Range: Late Elementary-Early Middle School (3rd (or eight years old) thru 6th) Director: Sia Misthos *Practice Times: Sundays, 12:45p- 1:45p Afosiosi Approximate Age Range: High School (8th thru 12th) Director: Evan Tsagaris *Practice Times: Sundays, 2:00p- 3:30p Paradosi Approximate Age Range: College-Young Adult Director: Peter Vlahakos *Practice Times: Sundays, 3:45p- 5:45p *Second and Third weekly practices (on Saturdays and Tuesdays, respectively) begin in December and January in preparation for FDF performances. If a dancer cannot attend a practice, they should notify their director or parent rep at least one hour prior to the scheduled practice times.

Registration: Registration Form and Covenant are attached. Please complete and submit fees no later than Sunday, September 23, 2012. Registration Fees are as follows: For High School and College Groups: $150 for first dancer per family $125 for additional dancers per family For all other Groups: $100 for first dancer per family $75 for additional dancers per family Registration fee covers instruction for the dance year and a sweatshirt for each dancer. A covenant is required to be signed by each dancer, parent and director so as to ensure appropriate behavior by all members of the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry. Dress Code: Dancers should always wear suitable clothing (this includes proper footwear, such as sneakers or dance shoes). Also, please be reminded that as participants in Greek Dance, which is a ministry of Holy Trinity, and as public representatives of this Church, all dancers are asked to not only conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the expectations of the parish community, but are further expected to present themselves respectably and fittingly in their manner of dress. (For any further clarification, refer to the dress code standards as outlined in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese requirement for camping ministry.) Fundraising: As a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry, you will be required to participate in fundraising events throughout the dance year. The proceeds generated from fundraising events will be used to offset the costs of seminars and FDF participation for all directors and costumes for the dance closet, to the extent possible. It will also be used as seed money for future fundraising events. If available, proceeds will be used for FDF registration for dancers, etc. The Holy Trinity Dance Ministry will be more successful with 100% participation from all families. Fundraising events include the Annual Crab Feed, Bingo (3-4 times year), Giants game, Raffle, etc.

Leadership: Parent Leaderships Group This Group consists of individuals that work with the directors, Father Aris Metrakos and Jacob Saylor, Youth Director, to lead the administrative aspects of the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry. Responsibilities include distributing and collecting registration forms and contracts, organizing parent meetings for all matters including for the purposes of planning fundraising events, etc. If you are interested in becoming a parent leader, please contact Father Aris Metrakos. Parent Reps Each dance group should have two parent reps. A parent rep serves as a liaison between dance director and dance group parents. Responsibilities include the following: 1. To ensure all dancers in each group have properly registered 2. To assist director with coordination of additional practices, when necessary 3. To create a phone tree for each group in the event of cancellation of practices 4. To coordinate parents and dancers for FDF a. Listing of cell phones for all parents / dancers at FDF b. Listing of hotel information for all parents / dancers at FDF 5. To coordinate making banners for each dance group 6. To organize purchasing / making of costumes for each dance group Volunteers will be accepted at the first general meeting of all dance groups. Directors There shall be at least one director for each dance group. Some groups may have up to two directors per group. The Director is responsible for the following: 1. Be in good standing with Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 2. Instruction 3. Choreography 4. Musical selection 5. Selection of Costumes, including origin Directors should have experience in Greek Dance instruction and working with children in order to qualify as a director. They should exemplify the ethos and convictions of the Orthodox faith. They shall be required to sign the covenant as well. A mentoring program is available for adult dancers that may want to become a director in the future. The current directors will identify individuals that have the potential to be a future director and assist them in learning how to be a good director. FDF fees including travel expenses will be paid by the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry. If a director is also a dancer, their FDF registration fees will be paid by the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry regardless of fundraising participation. Costume Closet The Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry has a costume closet with costumes paid for by Holy Trinity or donated by past dancers, parishioners, etc. The costume closet will be

managed by Soula Misthos. Although the costume closet is intended for use by all members of the Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry, there is a form and deposit required to be submitted prior to use of any costumes or pieces of a costume. All costumes used must be dry cleaned before being returned to the Costume Closet. All costumes must be returned in a timely manner. The deposit for borrowing a costume is $75.00 for youth costumes and $300.00 for adult costumes. The deposit will be refunded once the costume is returned. A $50 fee will be charged for costumes returned without being cleaned. Costume Loan Policy
This policy exists to allow dancers and directors to borrow costumes from the Costume Closet for use in FDF performances and church events only. Costumes are not available for unofficial functions, parties, Halloween or other personal use. I. Individuals may borrow from closet, by appointment with the costume closet designated person. Appointments must be made with adequate notice. II. A COSTUME LOAN AGREEMENT must be filled out and the individual signing the contract will be responsible for replacement, repair or payment for any damaged items. Items worth will be assessed by its replacement cost. III. Under no circumstances is a costume to be cut or permanently altered in any way or used for any other purpose than that stated in the loan contract, unless permission is otherwise given and noted. IV. Costumes altered other than for minor fit issues i.e. hems, taking in or letting out of seams, should be returned in original condition. V. All items must be retuned by the date specified on the loan contract. Late returns may accrue a fee. Returns must be made to the costume closet designated person only.

VI. All costume items must be cleaned prior to return. Dry cleaning or special cleaning treatments will be noted in the loan agreement.

Questions should be addressed to: Soula Misthos Holy Trinity Greek Dance Ministry 415-608-5765 Jacob Saylor

Youth Director 803-429-8289