PARENTS: Please make sure your dancer adheres to Northwestern Studios’ code. Our dress code is consistent with other professional dance schools throughout the country. Loose hair interferes with the student’s dancing and baggy clothes prevent the teacher from properly instructing your child. Dance supplies may be purchased at the Shoppes At Farmers in downtown Boone across from Melanie’s Restaurant.
BALLET: Pink tights and solid color leotards are required for all ballet classes. Pink leather ballet slippers with elastic sewn across the top are also required (not the satin Walmart “ballet slippers”.) Short ballet skirts are allowed (but not encouraged for the younger girls.) Shorts, tight or baggy, are not allowed. Hair must be pulled off the face and in a ponytail for the younger girls. Beginning with the 5th grade class, the girls’ hair must be secured on top of the head in a bun. Loose hair or ponytails are not acceptable because they interfere with the students’ dancing. Bun-making instructions are found on the website. The instructors and “older” girls are happy to help.
JAZZ/LYRICAL: Solid color leotard is required. Black jazz shoes are required for 5th grade and older. Pink ballet slippers are acceptable for younger dancers. Hair must be in a bun or ponytail.
Black “patent-leather” tap shoes are required for Kindergarten through 4th grade dancers. Black or tan low-heeled tap shoes are required for 5th grade and older. Garments that are baggy, or hide the feet and ankles, are not allowed.
MODERN/CONTEMPORARY: Solid color leotard and footless tights are required. Baggy pants and t-shirts are not acceptable, unless the weather is cold.
HIP-HOP: Split-soled dance sneakers are required. Hair should be in a ponytail. Loose fitting clothes are acceptable. However, tight pants and blue jeans are not.
Attendance
Regular class attendance is absolutely necessary! We are very serious about teaching your child. This is an important part of your child’s education that you pay for! Please do not keep your dance student out of class as punishment or to do homework. If the student is injured and cannot dance, your dancer is encouraged to come and observe. A large part of the art of dance is discipline, and that means a commitment to regular class attendance. Absences and tardiness can hold back the entire class. Dance is a physical and sometimes frustrating activity, especially when the young dancer realizes that it is not easy. Remind your dancer of her or his commitment and you will find your dancer feeling quite good after class. The teacher reserves the right to dismiss a child from class due to disciplinary problems. There will be no refunds or deductions for classes missed by the student regardless of reason for absence.
Student class placement is generally by grade in school, However, student placement is decided by the instructors with the best interest of the student and classes in mind. Age, grade in school, ability, previous training, rate of improvement and maturity are all considered. The height of the child and the placement of the child’s friends are not considered.
Parent Observation
December is Parents Observation Month. You are welcome to attend your dancer’s class to see how much your dancer has learned. All other months, we ask that parents not be in the dance studio during class time, especially for the preschool and kindergarten classes. The dancers need to focus on the teacher. A waiting area is available.
Parents are responsible for their child at all times, except during class time. Our staff will not be responsible for any child after class time. Please pick up your dancer promptly. Do not leave siblings, or friends, at the studio without permission.
Private Lessons
If a student need extra help, or has missed classes and fallen behind, private lessons are available for a charge of $20 per half-hour. If more than 3 classes are missed after Spring Break, the instructor can require the student to take a private lesson to catch up with the rest of the class. The teacher is not to be expected to help a student outside of class except in a paid, private lesson. All other private lessons are $40 an hour. Private lesson fees are paid directly to the instructor.
Withdrawal
Written, or emailed, notification is required for withdrawal from classes. We will not consider the student withdrawn until written, or emailed, notification is received. The student will be responsible for tuition payments until the studio is notified of withdrawal. If a student withdraws after the first class of the month, the full month’s tuition will be charged. Registration fees are non-refundable. If a student withdraws after costumes are ordered, the costume fee will not be refunded.
Costumes
A costume deposit of $50 is due with the first tuition payment, for ballet students only. If the student’s costume cost is more than $50, the remainder will be billed in November. Costumes will not be released to the student in May until all tuition and costume fees have been paid. Should the student be unable to dance in the May performances, or withdraws after the costumes have been ordered in January, the costume fee will not be refunded. The studio reserves the right to use the costume for a replacement performer. The costume may be picked up after the performances.
Tuition Policies
Students will be charged for classes up to the date that written notification of their withdrawal is received, whether or not they have attended. Tuition will not be deducted for classes missed by the student. In other words, if the student misses a month of classes and returns, that student will be expected to pay that month’s tuition. Tuition will not be deducted, or prorated for days missed due to snow.
Billing statements will be mailed for delinquent accounts only.
If professional collection is needed to collect a delinquent account, a collection fee will be added to the total.
A $25 returned check fee will be charged for returned checks.