Policies & Prerequisites

We want all of our students to have an enjoyable and educational experience.  Your child(ren) will be treated with courtesy and respect and we expect the same from them.  Please ensure that your dancer(s) observe the following rules:

– Pay attention to your teacher.  Listen closely to your teacher to make sure you are understanding directions and corrections.  Don’t talk with your friends during class.  Talking with your friends disrupts the class and makes it difficult for the teacher to communicate with the students.  Meet your friends before or after class for social fun.

– Do not pull up or hang from the Ballet barres.  The barres are for balance and support only.  They can be pulled from the walls or you can get stuck in them if they are not used properly.

– Come prepared to dance.  Proper attire and grooming with positive attitude, ambition, and energy are essential for success.

– Show respect to your teacher and to the dancers in your class by being on time for the start of class.  Students who arrive late or leave early are disruptive to the class.   Avoid this by arriving early to allow yourself time to change into dance shoes, stretch, and to be ready to begin class on time.  Students who arrive 10 minutes after the scheduled class time are welcome to observe class; however, they will not be permitted to participate.  If a student needs to leave class early, they should notify the teacher before class begins.  Students may not leave class without first receiving permission from the teacher.

– Please leave food and drinks in the waiting area.  Dispose of your trash properly before entering class.  Be careful to avoid spills.  Spills ruin floors and trash attracts bugs.  Remember that there are other dancers and parents who will be coming after you.  Be considerate of others!

Class attendance is important and crucial for improvement and progression and rehearsal attendance is important for developing performance skills.  In order for us to teach your child proper dance technique and self-discipline to the best of our ability, your dancer needs to participate fully and observe the following rules:

– Dancers at the intermediate level or above are only allowed to miss three classes per session.

– If you are sick and/or contagious, please stay home!  Students are requested to call the studio and report their absence, leaving a message on the answering machine if necessary.  Students should speak to their instructor later to determine a make-up class that they can attend.

– Classes that are scheduled as make-up classes are rescheduled for your benefit.  Please let the teacher know if you will not be attending.

– Your participation in rehearsals (including rescheduled or make-up rehearsals) is mandatory.  Please do not waste the time and efforts of your teacher and other classmates by not attending!  Extenuating circumstances need to be addressed with the Studio Director prior to the rehearsal.

– Students who are participating in “The Company Project” (Company Dance’s annual production at the Hershey Theatre) must attend all mandatory rehearsals.  This includes weekend show rehearsals, tech rehearsal, stage rehearsals, dress rehearsal, and both nights of the show.  Your attendance is required for any rescheduled rehearsals as well.

– Injured students are required to watch class and take notes.

– Cell phones are permitted in the waiting area only.  They are to be turned off or put on silent mode before entering the dance studio.

– As employees of Company Dance, teachers have the responsibility to keep their class under control and the authority to dismiss any student who is uncooperative and/or a disruption to the class. 

Observers are not allowed in class.  This is disrupting to the students and the class.  There is a “Parents Glance at Dance” week during August and December for parents to watch their dancer in class.  Siblings are allowed during the observation class provided they do not cause a disturbance.  Flash photography is not permitted during observation.

If the Palmyra Area School District closes or dismisses early due to inclement weather, the studio will be closed.  If the Palmyra Area Schools have a delay, evening classes will be held as scheduled; however, morning classes will cancel.  A courtesy message on the studio’s answering machine will be left detailing the studio’s closing if possible but is not guaranteed. 

Tuition is due the 1st of each month. The first payment is due September 1 and the final payment is due June 1.

If your tuition is being mailed directly from your bank, please make sure check arrives on the 1st of the month to avoid late fee.

Tuition is considered late on the 10th of the month. A $15 late fee will be automatically assessed on that day unless arrangements have been made with Michelle.

All tuition must be paid in full prior to other deposits due. This includes costumes, patron ads, show tickets. If tuition remains unpaid, all deposit money will be applied to unpaid tuition first.

There are no tuition refunds or credits for studio closings due to holidays, student absences, special events or inclement weather.

Classes are not pro-rated.  Full tuition payment for the month is required regardless of classes missed for any reason including but not limited to late registration, session start date, illness/ injury, cancelled classes, holidays or NY Trip.  If a class is missed due to personal reasons, including illness, injury or vacation, a make-up class can be scheduled at the discretion of the instructor.  Missed classes are not refundable.

An injured student is required to attend class and take notes.  Tuition is applied as usual.  The student is allowed to participate in class following the approval of the attending physician.

To take Modern classes, students must take Ballet as well.

To take Contemporary classes, students must take ballet, modern, and jazz as well.

Intermediate and Advanced Jazz students must take Jumps and Turns class and Ballet as well.

“Company” or Invitation-only classes:  A student participating in Company Jazz classes must take Ballet as well, regardless of their dance level.

Broadway Tap and Jazz Production Companies:  A student participating in Jose’s Production Company classes must take their corresponding Tap, Jazz, and Ballet classes.

Apprenticeship is by invitation only.  The Artistic Director invites students to be an Apprentice based on technique proficiency, work ethic, leadership qualities, demonstration of concern for others, responsibility traits, personality, and ability to comprehend quickly.  All Apprentices must take all genres of dance in the Fall/ Spring and Summer programs.  They are invited to attend the annual trip to New York City to attend dance classes and watch Broadway performances.