GENERAL STUDIO POLICIES

Registration

Please follow the registration procedures to enroll in classes. You must come to the studio during business hours with your child in order to register or complete an enrollment form online. Your first month’s tuition payment is required to register. Upon registration, a $50 registration fee ($10 each additional family member) will be due along with first month’s tuition payments. The registration fee helps offset the cost of our office administration, supplies, and in-class parties. This fee also includes a class leotard and pair of tights. Be sure to include your child’s sizes on the registration form. Staccato Dance Works, LLC reserves the right to cancel and/or change classes due to zero or small class enrollment; size-less than 5 students in each class.

Class Placement

Dancers will be placed in the class that our teachers feel is most appropriate for the student’s age, maturity, ability to learn, and most importantly, technical level. Sometimes, students are asked to move to a different class level after the teacher is able to evaluate a dancer in class. This is to assure that all students are getting the best possible dance education, since the teacher will be working with the dancers and has the knowledge needed to place dancers. Any placement issues should be addressed to the administrative staff.

Tuition

The studio calendar and tuition rate are designed to give a minimum of 30 classes over a ten-month period from September to June. For your convenience, this yearly tuition amount is broken down into ten equal monthly installments. The installments are not relative to the number of classes offered in any given month. Due to the calendar and school vacations, some months offer as many as 5 classes, while others may offer 3. All Lessons are paid for in advance, due the 1st of each month. You will not receive a bill prior to the due date of tuition. Late notices will be emailed to all past due accounts. There will be a $25 added charge for any account not paid in full by the 7th of the month. This charge will continue to be added each month that month's tuition payment remains late. For example, if October's tuition is not paid by November 10th, an additional $25 late charge will be assessed for October. There will be no refunds or deductions for lessons missed. Make-Up Classes are available within two weeks of class missed. We accept Cash, Money Order, Visa & MasterCard. There will be a $40 returned check charge for all checks returned from the bank. Any student with an overdue balance of more than 10 days will not be allowed into class until payment in full is received or payment arrangements have been made. Family discounts described in the tuition schedule are for immediate family only. Staccato Dance Works Management will have the final decision regarding family discount eligibility. All accounts with Staccato Dance Works have one primary account holder. This is the account holder that registers and signs the registration form. This account holder will be the one considered financially responsible for the account. All arrangements for split payments must be made outside of Staccato Dance Works. Payments will always be applied to outstanding balances first before being applied to current or future charges.

Refunds Credits and Make-Up Classes

Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferrable. In the event of a serious medical injury, a request may be made for class tuition to be credited. Approval at the discretion of the Artistic Director. If we are forced to close due to inclement weather, we will try to make-up classes. Please understand that we cannot be responsible for acts of Mother Nature. Credit will not be given for missed classes due to illness, snow days, or personal commitments. Snow dates do not affect your monthly tuition. You are welcome to make-up any class missed. Make-Up Classes are available within two weeks of class missed. Staccato Dance Works, reserves the right to cancel any class with insufficient registration and a full refund will be given.

Attendance

It is extremely important that your child attend every class scheduled in order to get the most out of their dance education. We realize, however, that sometimes children get ill. If your child is contagious, PLEASE STAY HOME! Please call or email the studio to let us know you will not be attending that evening. Please remember that in a group situation, if your child has excessive absences, it affects the rest of the class. Please plan your family vacation around your dance schedule. Too many absences may cause your child to fall behind. Students will be asked to observe class and take notes if they are more than 15 minutes late. There are no refunds or credits given if a student is absent from class.

COVID-19

Tuition will continue to calculate monthly in the event classes must be moved to an online, "Zoom" format if we are commanded to quarantine or shut down for a period of time. We will use a hybrid model in which half of the class will rotate weekly for in-person and Zoom instruction.

Inclement Weather

SDW will be closed for inclement weather in accordance with Southfield Public School District. If we must close the studio due to weather or building problems, we will publish it on our website, Facebook, Instagram and send email notices as possible. Extreme weather and building problems, such as no electricity, are considered out of our control. We will cancel classes if we feel it would be dangerous to have parents bring their dancers to class or it, we lose power. Our policy is that we do not reimburse for these missed classes.

Drop off/pick up

Please do not drop off students more than 15 minutes before class starts. Be sure to return to pick up students promptly when class is scheduled to finish. 

Class Observation

Parents are encouraged to visit classes during the designated time at the end of class to observe their child’s progress. After the first week of classes, we ask that visitation be discontinued so that all students may enjoy their dance instruction without distraction. Any other observation times after the first week of class will be at the discretion of the instructor.

Lobby Etiquette

Please be sure to keep conversation quiet while in the lobby and hallway so there are no class distractions. Please be sure that all children have ADULT supervision while in the building. If young children join you for the evening at SDW, PLEASE clean up after them before you leave. There are NO VISITORS at the studio while your child is in class. Any child in your care need to stay with you.

Food and Drinks

Due to many students being at the studio for many hours it is sometimes necessary to have a meal or snack during the evening. Please be sure to pick up after yourself and dispose of all trash. This is not the responsibility of the office staff. It is a good idea to send a water bottle with your dancer. No food or drinks are allowed on the dance studio floors! All snacks must be consumed between classes. Students will not be allowed to leave class for a snack. 

Dress Code

Dance requires proper equipment in order to be successful. Proper attire allows instructors to view how the student uses their muscles and allows for specific corrections to be given. Due to safety concerns, correct dancewear and shoes must be worn in class or the student will not be able to participate. Please layer/un-layer your clothes for ballet classes, changing will be limited to 5 minutes between classes. *If not in proper dress code, student may be asked to leave.

Attire

All technique classes:

Female – Class leotard, tights, skirt optional, hair in bun/pulled back

Male – White shirt, Black Tights or Shorts

Hip Hop: Relaxed fit top and bottoms

Acrobatics: Biketard and no tights

Shoes

Please use the following guidelines when purchasing shoes

Ballet: Canvas split sole slippers 

Please be sure to tie and tuck in all bows. Sew the enclosed elastic to help with proper fit.

Jazz/ Lyrical: All jazz students will wear leather split sole gore boot

Tap: Black Leather Oxford tap shoes 

Hip Hop: Sneakers/ Gym Shoes 

Acrobatics: Bare feet

All shoes are available for purchase at studio.

**Please note - shoes for the recital may be different. Although not usual, certain costumes may require different shoes. 

Hair: All long hair must be up off the face and neck and secured. Hair must be fixed so that it will not come down during class. Students will be asked to leave class until hair is fixed appropriately. NO JEWLERY is to be worn during class!

Recital

Our students and instructors will be working towards our annual recital and winter ballet. All students are expected to perform in each event. Please let us know if this is a problem. All account balances MUST be paid in order to participate in the year end recital. PERFORMANCE/RECITAL FEES

Parents are encouraged to participate in our studio fundraising program to offset the fees for performance, costumes, additional rehearsals and more.  Our recital fee is $100 and includes (2) Recital tickets, Recital T-shirt, Recital DVD. If there are multiple children in a family the fee is $25 per additional dancer.

Costumes

It is required to purchase a costume for each performing class you are enrolled in for the year. A non-refundable $35.00 costume deposit is due for each costume by November 15th. Costumes generally range around $60.00 each for recreational students and around $80.00 each for competitive students. After the Christmas break, a total will be given for all costumes and the balance due will be expected by February 1st or 28 days after the prices are posted on your account. Please make all costume cashiers’ checks or money orders payable to Staccato Dance Works, LLC. Please do not include costume payments with your tuition payments. There is a 3% service fee for all costume payments made with a credit card. Costumes will not be given out until the balance is paid in full. Props, hair pieces, and performance specific shoes will be included in your costume balance.