Ann Bode - DSD Director

Ann Bode—Desert Star Dance Director

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Ann studied with Dee Dee Arnone of the San Francisco Ballet. She later moved to Los Angeles and received a scholarship to Dupree Dance Academy. She began her professional career traveling with the dance troupe “The Dancin’ Machine”. She toured the US, Europe, and even Africa. After the tour, she moved to Las Vegas to dance in the award winning production show “Splash”.

Splash was the most popular show in Las Vegas in the 80’s and 90’s and played at the Riviera Hotel for over 20 years. Ann was featured in the show for seven years, after which she headlined at the Desert Inn in “Showstopper” as the lead singer/dancer. During this time she also choreographed and danced in several of her own night club acts, and performed in many corporate shows. She also appeared in several television shows, commercials, and movies, but her love was for live theater.

Upon retiring from the stage, Ann went on to become the dance and casting director as well as the costume coordinator for KR Entertainment. She managed and directed over 200 dancers in Reno, Las Vegas, and Japan. She also oversaw the budgeting and administration of millions of dollars worth of costumes and helped bring to life a myriad of incredible designs from the drawing room to the stage.

Ann started Desert Star Dance in December of 2003 running classes out of a local health club. While operating with no studio to call home, DSD began to grow. Eventually, Desert Star Dance found a home in Gilbert at it’s current location. It has grown from 40 students to 250. Ann is thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on her through Desert Star Dance. She knows that the success of Desert Star is due to the group of talented teachers and front desk staff that create the warm friendly atmosphere at the studio. Ann is also thankful for the wonderful students and families that study at the school. She would personally like to thank them for choosing Desert Star!

Studio Policies

ENROLLMENT
It is required that all accounts have a credit or debit card on file. Please sign up for automatic payment.

This payment is debited on the 1st of each month. Final date for tuition payment is the 10th of each month. You can pay with cash, check, or credit card. Tuition not paid by the 10th will be run on the credit card on file. Tuition is non-refundable or transferable for any reason.

There is a $30 per student or $45 per family annual registration fee. This fee is non-refundable for any reason.

WITHDRAWAL
Withdrawals must be submitted in writing by email to our front desk. Please send an email to desertstardance@gmail.com at least one week before the 1st of the month to avoid being charged. If withdrawal is not received in writing before tuition is due,  you will continue to be charged. Tuition is non refundable.

MAKE UP LESSONS
 All make up lessons must be made up during the month they were missed and in a class other than your regular one. Make up classes may not be applied towards tuition. No refunds will be made for classes missed for any reason. Please submit in writing if you are dropping a class by sending an email to desertstardance@gmail.com.

COMMUNICATION
The school will communicate with you through email. Please check your email and our blogs regularly for updates. Email addresses must be on file and current with the front desk.

STUDENT CONDUCT
Unruly behavior, inappropriate language, or disrespectful behavior towards teachers will not be tolerated at Desert Star Dance or at any of our events. There is no food or drinks (except water in a closable unbreakable container) allowed in studios. There is no gum allowed anywhere at Desert Star Dance.

There is NO MOBILE PHONE or device use allowed by students in the dance rooms.
Students found using their phones during class time will have them confiscated until the end of class.

CLASS LENGTH/SUBS 
All classes may be 5 minutes less than our schedule states in order to allow for class changes and teacher bathroom breaks. The school reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regularly scheduled teacher is unable to teach class.

DRESS CODE
Required dancewear and dance shoes must be worn in class. Please ask for the dress code for your particular class or consult our web site. Failure to wear required dancewear may result in students being asked to sit out of class. Students are not permitted to wear jeans, hard soled shoes, or jewelry.
http://www.desertstardance.com/dress-code.html

CARE OF STUDENTS
The school is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students or siblings. Parents with students under the age of 5 should remain at the school during class unless prearranged.
Please pick up your child before the studio closes. The studio closes at 9:05 pm Monday through Thursday, 6:05pm on Fridays, and 1:35pm on Saturdays.

INJURIES
Parents, guardians, and students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on studio property in any activity before, during or after class time. A waiver must be signed on our registration form prior to entering any class.

LOST ARTICLES
Desert Star Dance is not responsible for any lost or stolen articles. We do have a lost and found in our lunch room. Please check there for items left at the studio.

RECITAL
In order to participate in our June recital, a costume deposit and production fee are required. These payments are not refundable for any reason. Costume deposits are due in January. Costumes do not include shoes, tights, or accessories. Information is imparted throughout the year.

PHOTO RELEASE
We ask that you sign a waiver where the school is hereby granted permission to take photographs of the students to use in any promotional materials that the school creates. We also ask that the school be able to copyright such photographs in its name.
If you have any questions or concerns please notify us. If you would like to speak with the director, you can email Ann Bode at desertstardance@cox.net. Thank you and we look forward to providing a fun and safe environment for your child to learn the art of dance!