Fees:
For the Fall Session: Please view the ‘Fee Schedule’ page for specific pricing. Tuition for the year is split into 10 equal payments August through May for your convenience. Tuition is due by the 7th of each month. There is a $10 late fee for tuition that is not paid by the 7th. Your first month of tuition is due at your first class. Classes may be pro-rated your first month. In September there is a Recital fee due. In November there is a Costume fee due. In April there is a Program Ad due. There may be a June tuition fee due. Please do your best to make all payments on time. Thank You!
Class Etiquette:
BEFORE CLASS students should use the restroom, wash hands or use hand sanitizer, bring a bottle of water for use during water break, and be dressed in the proper attire with hair secured neatly away from face. Face masks are optional. It is important that students be ready on time, so they should arrive early enough to take care of these necessities. Student’s cell phones should be turned off or put on silent before class.
DURING CLASS students are expected to pay attention to their instructor, accept praise and criticism with equal grace, and be respectful of others. Students who do not conduct themselves appropriately may be asked to sit out in class until called back in by the instructor. This is not a time to talk or play with friends.
AFTER CLASS students should applaud when dismissed and go to their separate spaces to dress, use hand sanitizer, and wait for their individual dismissal. There may be other students waiting to enter for their own class so those exiting should put street clothes and shoes on over their dance clothes.
CHEWING GUM IS NOT PERMITTED DURING CLASSES!
Attendance:
It is important that classes be attended regularly if proper progress and development are to be maintained. If you cannot attend a class please contact the school as soon as possible so the instructor can plan class accordingly. Students may often still observe or do a modified class so they are not missing out completely.
For the Fall Session: Perfect Attendance (no class missed from the 1st class scheduled through the last class before the June program) and Honorable Mention (only 1 class missed during that time) receive special certificates at Dress Rehearsal. Classes made-up do not count. That is why these awards are such a special honor! We have always given an exception to students who are at a rehearsal or performance with a ballet company during their regular class time and for out of county students who miss class during their school break if on a different schedule from Rockdale County. Please notify your teacher at least a week in advance so they can properly mark the absence. Dance, being a physical activity, has the potential to result in injury. We take every precaution to ensure a safe environment for you and your children. It is important for the studio and teacher to know if your child has any medical conditions of which we should be aware and to check with your physician before resuming full participation in classes after injury.
If you have any questions or something of which a teacher should be aware, these can be addressed in a quick note brought in by the student or by leaving a message for the instructor or director to call during non-teaching hours so they will not take any more time than necessary away from class.
Food & Drink:
Please do not bring food or drink into your dance space except for plain water. There will be a water break halfway through their class. Thank you!
General Attire Requirements:
When coming to class or leaving, students are expected to dress modestly. Dance students should never wear just their leotards and tights outside, but should always wear a cover-up, such as a shirt and pants/skirt or dress.
DANCE SHOES should not be worn outside since this damages your shoes and our dance flooring. Please check tap shoes weekly for loose nails and screws.
A note on dance shoes: buy them at a dance supply store or a shoe store that sells ABT brand. Those sold elsewhere are not the proper quality of leather to allow the correct development of the foot or feel of the floor.
To remove scuff marks on shoes a little nail polish remover works great (so does Avon Skin-so-soft). Don’t use TOO much nail polish remover or the finish may completely come off the shoe leather.
TIGHTS should be purchased at a Dance Supply Store only. A lot of research goes into the making of dance tights and all dancewear companies go to great pains to design breathable crotches of material that is healthier than regular underwear. They are made to wear next to the skin in place of underwear so a leotard can be worn over them for maximum comfort (no bunching or wedgies!) and beauty of line. Let them know if your child has sensitive skin and they can provide brands that are softer.
Now to the matter of what should be worn under those tights. The answer is NOTHING! No one should see a child’s underwear in a dance class or on stage and it is important to start children off right understanding the difference between their dance attire and their regular clothes. Older girls who may need to wear something additional may purchase dance briefs in flesh tones that are undetectable under leotards. In jazz classes please be sure your child understands they must wear tights and a leotard under their jazz pants. Bare midriffs are also not in our dress code.
Be sure you have the designated attire for each class and that your hair is properly secured away from the face so it does not fall down. No headbands or scrunchies – they do not stay in place. All students taking 1 or more hours of ballet per week must have hair in a bun or other classical style close to the head secured using bobby pins, rubber bands and a hair net or bun-holder, secure barrettes, etc! Boys see “Boy’s Attire” below.
Dance students must not wear watches, rings, necklaces, bracelets, or large or dangling earrings in class.
All items brought into class should be marked with student’s name including shoes, leotards, dance bags, etc.
Combination Classes: (Tap/Ballet ages 4-8)
Girls wear a black leotard, theatrical pink tights (footed), pink ballet slippers and black patent leather tap shoes. Tie ballet slipper strings in double knot, cut ends to 1 ½” and tuck in so they don’t show. Secure to top of inside of shoe with a piece of masking tape. Take ribbon ties out of tap shoes and replace with ½” wide black braided elastic adjusted to child’s comfort. Tie in a double knot and cut ends to 1”. A short dance skirt (mid-thigh or shorter) may be worn of 1-2 layers chiffon or leotard material in black. No tutus or ruffles please. Leotards with skirt attached may be worn if they meet the above criteria. Flowers, bows, or barrettes may be worn in the hair if they are secure and children won’t pull them out.
Ballet Classes:
Girls wear a black leotard, theatrical pink tights and pink ballet slippers in canvas or soft leather, split-sole or full sole. Elastic must be sewn to child’s comfort just below ankle bones, strings adjusted tightly enough so shoes do not gape at sides, but loosely enough so they do not put pressure on Achille’s tendons. A short chiffon skirt may be worn. NO leg-warmers or T-shirts may be worn unless the instructor allows and then only for warm-up and must be removed after barre work or whenever the teacher requests so that proper line and placement of body may be seen. New pointe students see director for info on shoes.
Boy’s Attire: (Ballet & Tap)
Boys should wear white T-shirts, sweat pants or dance pants in gray, white, or black. A dance belt to wear under pants can be purchased online or at any dance supply store.
Ballet- white ballet slippers with white socks
Tap- black tap oxfords with black or white socks
Jazz- gray or black split sole jazz shoes w/matching socks
Other Dance Classes:
Check with your instructor regarding the proper shoes and attire for your particular class.
Lost & Found:
Check with the director for items left behind. Items not picked up after 1 month will be distributed or taken to a thrift store.
Remember we are always happy to talk with you and look forward to working with you and your children!