Studio Policies - Student & Parent Handbook
Financial Agreement
Parents are responsible for reading and following the policies. You may view and make changes to your account through the parent portal. Parents are responsible for keeping their payment information updated.
Overview of Financial Agreement:
- The Monthly Tuition will be debited the 1st week of each month.
- Tuition including summer camp tuition is non-refundable for missed classes or Holidays.
- Production fees, costume fees, registration fees, and camp tuition are non-refundable.
- There will be a $15 fee for ALL transactions that are not approved or late. You may view and make changes to your secure online account through the Parent Portal.
- A 30 day written notice is required to discontinue lessons and tuition payments.
- Mandatory Rehearsals are required to perform in the Annual Production along with meeting class Attendance Requirements.
Monthly and Annual Fees
Refunds:
There are no refunds for tuition including summer camp, picture, costumes, and production fees.
Registration:
A non-refundable registration fee is due upon enrolling in classes for each session.
Dance Seasons:
The Fall/Year-Round Season is 11 months of classes from mid-August through mid-June and may participate in the Annual Production in June. Tuition is charged the first month a student is enrolled to the last payment for the year will be in June. The Spring Season is 2 months of classes for new and beginner students.
Monthly Tuition:
The tuition is based on an annual rate not per class and is divided up into monthly installments. Tuition will be debited within the 1st week of each month. There are no tuition reductions or refunds for absentees or holidays. All balances must be paid in full prior to the Annual Production.
Late/Decline Fees:
There is a $15 fee to be deducted for ALL transactions not approved or late including expired expiration dates, incorrect information, etc. It is the parent’s responsibility to keep payment information updated. Please be advised after the 3rd week if the students account is not current students will not be admitted into class until the account is current.
Non-Refundable Production Fee:
Production fee that is deducted within the 2nd week of January and covers costs to produce the Annual Production including theatre rental. Specific fees will be announced in September along with Production date & Location.
Non-Refundable Costume Fees:
The costume fee will be deducted the 2nd week of November. Specific fees will be announced in September along with Production date & location. The number of costumes is based on the age & ability of the student and the length of the production. There may need to be additional clothing items to purchase based upon the need of the costume: tights, leggings, shoes, etc.
- 3&4 yrs. Tippy Toes: 1 Costume
- 4&5 yrs. Princess: 1 costume
- 5&6 yrs. Garden: 2 Costumes
- 6&7 yrs. Seasons: 2 Costumes
- Novice: 1 Costume per class
- Level 1: 2 Costumes
- Youth Ballet /Jazz: 1 Costume
- Youth Hip Hop: 1 Costume
- Level 2: 3 Costumes
- Level 3: 3-4 Costumes
- Level 4: 3-5 Costumes
- Company: TBA
Picture Fee:
A Photography sitting fee of $10 will be deducted after the event. Professional pictures may be purchased from the Photographer directly and Photoshoots will be scheduled at the studio. You will be notified before May in regards to your appointment time. This is an optional event.
Class Withdrawals:
There is a two-month minimum for all dance class lessons. One-month notice within the first 7 days of the month is required to discontinue any classes and to discontinue tuition payment for the next month. Withdrawal must be done in writing or in person at the Dance Academy by completing a withdrawal form or sending an email.
Production Withdrawal:
If you decide not to participate in the Production, you may continue classes. The Studio must be notified by email by before November 1st in order to avoid charges.
Summer Camps:
Summer camps are held in the months of June & July. Early enrollment begins in March. Half of tuition is due upon registration to hold your spot and the second half is due by July 1st. Both payments are non-refundable. There are no tuition deductions for missed camps for any reason.
Code of Conduct
Attendance:
Students exceeding 5 absences during the fall (Aug-Dec) and 4 absences during the spring (Jan-June) will be evaluated by the Director and/or Teacher as to whether they will be eligible to perform in the annual production.
Students exceeding 9 absences for the year could result in changing of level for the following dance year. Repeated absences may result in termination of lessons.
The Academy Program class attendance is required between the end of school till the day of Production.
Tardiness:
Students who are 5 or more minutes late to class will be considered tardy. Four (4) tardy arrivals will be equal to one absence.
Rehearsals:
Two "mandatory rehearsals" will be scheduled in June for the students to prepare for the stage and will not be eligible to perform if missed. All dates of Production and Mandatory Rehearsals are released in September to parents by email, sending home a letter and posting in the Parent Portal.
Injuries:
A Parent needs to notify the Director of any injuries or if a child will not be participating in class. If a student is unable to participate in class longer than a week, injury management documentation is needed from a doctor’s office showing proof of care and a timeline on when to return to dance. Students wearing braces or wraps will not be allowed to dance without documentation.
Parents, legal guardians of minors, students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on studio property resulting from dance activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during or after class time.
Illness:
Please notify the office if your child will be missing class.
Weather Closings:
Dance Academy follows the Mansfield ISD for ice and snow weather closings. For storm closings, Dance Academy will notify parents through email or text about canceling classes. There is no tuition refund for weather closing days. Rescheduling of classes due to weather closing is at the discretion of the Director.
Conduct:
Any conduct unbecoming, such as disrespectful communication and not adhering to the policies of the Academy will be subject to disciplinary action and may, if warrant, result in immediate dismissal from the Dance Academy.
Care of Students:
The Academy is not responsible for providing care before or after classes to the students. For excessive late pickups, there could be an additional charge.
Confidentiality:
Dance Academy upholds the strictest regulation of not sharing any client services, agreements or personal information with other clients.
Studio Etiquette
Arrival:
Students need to use the restroom and be ready for class 5 minutes before class begins. To provide security, we ask all parents to walk their students into the building.
*Children’s Program: Parents are required to stay with the child in the lobby until their class is called into the dance room.*
Preparing for class:
Cover-up, street clothes, and street shoes must be removed before entering the dance room.
Departure:
Students are asked to put on cover-ups and street shoes in the lobby. Parents are required to come inside the inner lobby to pick up your student.
Classroom Behavior:
We believe at Dance Academy part of our responsibility is to teach dance with the discipline of life skills such as independence, self-reliance, caring for others, taking turns, patience, self-confidence, etc. We do these things through the structure of our class and curriculum. We also ask parents to partner with the Instructors when needed.
Curriculum:
At Dance Academy, there is a written curriculum for our classes and levels. The teachers are trained on the goals & expectations for each class. Each individual Instructor will present the curriculum through their personality.
Student Evaluations & Placement:
Students will be evaluated twice a year. The first evaluation is at the beginning of the dance season, to ensure correct placement for the full season. The second evaluation will be in the spring for placement in the following season.
Annual Parent Meeting:
In April, we have an opportunity to discuss next year’s schedule, distribute students’ evaluation and placement, and upcoming production informative details. We ask one parent from each family to be in attendance.
Student Showcases:
Two classroom showcases will be scheduled for the year in November and May. These are a great time to bring a camera & video along with the family to visit.
Class Observation:
Windows will be opened to Studio A & C the first full week of the month for observation of the Children’s Program classes. You are welcome to observe shortly and be considerate of other parents.
Communication:
Helping you be aware of the events and details of Dance Academy is very important. Please use all that you can to keep up with all the information.
Email:
The studio sends out at least monthly emails for information, details of events, and reminders. Verify email for your family with the office.
Parent Portal:
On our website is a tab called “Parent Portal”. Sign up for a secure online account to make changes to billing information and to receive information.
Text Messages:
We use a mass text service for quick short announcements such as weather closing or reminders of events. Text @daom to 81010 for these messages.
If you have a question or concern, please talk to the office receptionist. She will relay any information to the Director who will contact you. The Instructors' main responsibility is teaching and overseeing the wellness of each child during their time in the classroom.