Dance Class Policy Agreement – 2011/2012

Regular Class Attendance/Calendar All students are expected to come to class regularly and on time.  Students who are more than fifteen minutes late for class will be asked to sit and watch.  This is to protect them from injuries.  Should you require to miss a class be sure to inform the instructor by calling the office and leaving a message.  Absence hampers progress and repeated absence will definitely cause a student to fall behind.  There are no refunds for any missed classes. If a course does not get sufficient registration, full refunds will be given. If the school must cancel classes due to extreme weather or events beyond our control such as power outages, the missed lessons will not be made up. Bella Dance Academy is closed for all statutory holidays as well as Winter and Spring break.  Classes will be held on Professional development days.  Please refer to schedule on our website for exact dates.

Dress Code Required dancewear and dance shoes must be worn to all classes.  Failure to wear required dancewear to class could result in students being asked to sit out the class.  Repeated failure to wear required dancewear could result in termination of lessons.  Students are not permitted to wear jeans or shoes worn on the street or outdoors, to any dance class.  For safety reasons dancers are not permitted to wear jewelry.  Long hair must be tied back. Please refer to our dress code at www.belladance.ca. All required items are available for purchase at Bella Dance.

Communication with the Office Please talk to us!  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns throughout the season we would appreciate you informing us as soon as possible.  We appreciate any feedback that you have to offer.  It is often difficult to communicate with the faculty between classes, so if you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s dance class, class behavior problems, your account, schedules or events, please leave a message, including your phone number at the office and we will return your call as soon as possible.  Please do not phone our instructors at home, unless they have asked you to do so.  Good communication with parents and students is vital for the smooth operation of our studio.  If at some point you have left a message with us and a response was not returned, please DO call us back, as messages do get deleted in error. Also, please make sure that you check our website www.belladance.ca and the bulletin board regularly to ensure that you are up-to-date on all studio news and events.  It is your responsibility to update all account information (phone number, email, etc.) with the office.

Entering/Exiting the Studio The studio will be opened ten minutes prior to your class.  Please wait quietly in the waiting room until your class begins and your instructor invites you to the dance area. Should you arrive while a class is in progress, please come in quietly and speak with your instructor without disrupting the class. Please pick children up promptly after their class has finished.  During winter months we ask that you make sure that your child has entered the studio before leaving. All students must wait inside the building until parents have arrived. Students are not to be left at the school for excessive time before or after class.

Class Observation Observation days are scheduled throughout the year and you will be reminded of the dates.  Each student may bring two visitors to observe classes during these dates.  Outside of the designated viewing days classes may be observed with the permission of the instructor only.

Newsletters Newsletters will be emailed to you approximately once a month during the school year to update you on the activities and to communicate important information such as upcoming events, classes added, classes postponed, special events, etc.  It is our official communication to you!  Please take the time to read it.  Copies of the current and past month’s newsletters are always posted on the bulletin board and our website for your convenience.  Parents are responsible to keep up with the information sent out.  All newsletters will be sent via email, so please ensure that the office has your correct email address.

Lost & Found BDA is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.  It is a great idea to label all dancewear clearly with your name and to double check that you have all personal items before leaving the studio.  If you are missing an item, please check the lost and found bin.  The lost and found bin will be emptied and donated to charity or thrown out at the end of each month.

Washroom Please encourage your children to use the washroom prior to the commencement of class.  

Water Bottles/Snacks Water bottles are permitted in class, however are not necessary for younger students.  Students will not be permitted to leave class for water or snacks during class time.  Snacks and gum are not permitted in the studio area.

Cell Phones Cell phones are NOT permitted in the dance area.  We suggest leaving all valuables at home.

Substitutions The school reserves the right to provide a substitute instructor if the regularly scheduled instructor is ill or otherwise unable to teach classes.  If an instructor is ill and the school cannot arrange a substitute any missed classes will be made up.

Injuries Parents, legal guardians of minor students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on school property resulting from normal dance activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during or after class time.

Miscellaneous Parents and adult students are to be aware that the school promotes healthy body image among the students.  As such we approve if our instructors snack during the course of the teaching day.  Parents are to be aware that dancing as a profession is physically demanding and proper body care is essential.

Student Placement It is of the utmost importance that every student is placed in the appropriate class and level.  Proper placement will be determined upon assessment of the student and only the teacher will decide which is best for the student.  This will be done during registration. In order to meet the needs of every student, it is sometimes necessary to move a student to a better suited class.   Any changes in class levels will be made in the first few weeks of classes.  Since muscles, bones and coordination abilities form at different rates for each student, progress will vary between students.  One year progress may be rapid, another it may be slower.  It usually takes two years before all of the necessary skills have been acquired; therefore, it is prudent not to expect each student to progress to the next level each year.  The placement of students should never be considered a “Pass or Fail” situation.  All students will receive a Student Recommendation form from their instructor at the end of the dance season.  Instructors will give a few short comments on student progress and recommended classes and levels for following dance season.

Year End Performance All dance students, with the exception of Adult students, Parent & Tots, and Workshop Classes (Kindermusik & Salsa Babies) will have the opportunity to participate in our year-end recital.  Students attending classes regularly and who do not miss more than four classes from January through May will be asked to perform.  No exceptions will be made with this matter. It is assumed that all students (except Adult, Parent & Tots and Workshop classes) are participating in the show.  If, for some reason you do not intend to perform, you MUST inform the office by December 1, 2011.

Extra Rehearsals and Performances For most students there are two extra rehearsals and two or four performances for the year-end show.  Students are required to attend all rehearsals and performances and they and their parents are expected to be responsible in this regard.  We are very open to reasonable requests to be excused from some rehearsals when we are given sufficient notice.  Dance is a discipline and a responsibility.  It is your choice as to whether or not you wish to be involved but, if you do make the commitment we do expect you to follow through.  Please show respect to your instructors, the dance and especially your group.  Students who are injured during show times will be asked to step out of the choreography in order to make adjustments to the dances.  Students will only be permitted to dance under the discretion of the Instructor as well as written notice from their doctor.

Kindermusik Policy Agreement – 2011/2012

Choosing a Class The age recommendations outlined for Kindermusik classes have been carefully constructed to best group children in an age and developmentally appropriate way.  Therefore, it is important that your child be at least the minimum age by the start of the semester for the class in which you are enrolling.  If you have concerns about your child’s success in a particular age range, we are happy to discuss your child’s needs and to work with you to place him/her in the best class suited.

Non-enrolled siblings Due to limited class sizes and the delicacy of the younger class setting, Kindermusik classes can only accommodate non-enrolled siblings when the sibling is young enough to stay contented in a car carrier or stroller.  However, emergency situations are considered so please call if we can help.

Making the Most of Kindermusik Classes

Plan to arrive about 5-10 minutes early for class. Arriving a little before class provides time for your child to settle in to the musical environment as they prepare to enjoy exploring instruments, reading books or listening to music. 

We do request that toys, juice, cups and pacifiers be kept out of sight, and that snacks are finished prior to class.  Be sure to dress comfortably.

Please bring a small blanket to use during class.

During class, the most important thing you can do for your child is to be an active and patient role model.  It is not uncommon for a child to attend several classes before feeling comfortable in class.  Don’t be discouraged – what a child is absorbing in class is often evidenced in the comfort of the home environment rather than in a certain level of participation in class.  The understanding and consistency of the parent or caregiver in class and at home are key to facilitating musical learning and growth.

Parents are welcome to visit before or after class, but not during class time, please!  When you are an active, focused, enthusiastic participant in the class activities, your child will model your actions and focus more fully too.

You and your child will enormously benefit from the Kindermusik experience, especially if you make active use of your At-Home Materials.  Frequent reinforcement at home throughout the week makes all the difference in a child’s comfort and participation in the classroom.

Registration Agreement – 2011/2012

Registration Fee A non-refundable fee of $35 per student ($50 per family) is required yearly at time of registration. Registration fee is payable by cash, cheque or credit card, or EFT (electronic funds transfer).

Tuition Fee The tuition fees are based on the entire year and have been divided into ten equal monthly payments to accommodate parents.  Last month’s tuition (June) is non-refundable and payable at time of registration. Tuition must be paid by automatic credit card payment or electronic funds transfer and will be charged to your credit card/bank account on the 1^st day of each month (September – May).  Credit card payments are not accepted for in-person payment on a monthly basis.  Payment must be made by pre-authorized automatic monthly payment.

Full year payments can be made by Cash, Cheque, or Credit Card. A 5% discount will be given for all full year payments made by Cash or Cheque. 

Costume

All Classes participating in the year end show must purchase a costume for recital. Costume deposits will be charged to your EFT or Credit Card payment on file on the first business day of December 2011. (Costume deposits can be paid with full year tuition by cash, cheque or credit card.)

Deposits are as follows:

Ages 3/4 $55 + GST per class

Ages 5/6 $65 + GST per class

Ages 7-10 $75 + GST per class

All other classes $85  + GST per class

(Costume Deposits are non-refundable and go towards the purchase price of the costume. Additional balance may become due in Spring 2012, but we will do our best to choose costumes that are economical and within this price range. If you withdrawal from a class between December 05, 2011 and February 29, 2012 (or later) your costume fee will be forfeited).

Workshop Classes Workshop Fees are due at time of registration and are non-refundable. Workshop classes are not subject to registration fee.

Withdrawal Policy If you wish to withdraw from Bella Dance Academy you must fill out withdrawal form. BDA requires 30 days written notice from the 1^st of the month to discontinue this service.  If notice of withdrawal from a class is received in the middle of the month, you will be required to pay the following month’s tuition.   If you do not give BDA written notice of your intent to withdraw from a class or classes your account will continue to be charged until the end of the time period covered by this agreement (May, 2012). Withdrawals will not be accepted after March 1, 2012.

Late Fees If an automatic monthly payment is declined or returned, Bella Dance Academy will recharge your account for the outstanding balance in addition to a $20 late fee.

NSF Fee There will be a $30 fee for each N.S.F. cheque.

Refund Policy Tuition and fees are non-refundable. Refunds will not be given for days missed due to absences, holidays or weather-related closings. Credit may be given in the event of a medical emergency and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Tax Receipts As of January 1, 2007, parents of children under 16 will be able to claim a non-refundable tax credit of up to $500 to help cover the costs of certain programs of physical activity, including your child’s dance classes.  For more information on the tax credit, please visit the CRA website at: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.  In January, we will send out your receipts for the year.  Please keep these receipts for your records.