Tuition Payment Policy, Refund Policy, and Studio Closure Policy

Tuition Payment Policy

Tuition payment is due before the first class and monthly payments are due on the 1st of each calendar month. A late fee of $25 will be added for payments not received.

Spots are held for students which can result in waiting lists or students unable to attend do to held spots. You will be charged for the class if you are registered and no cancellation notice is given prior to the first class (see Refund Policy below).

Additional family members receive 10% discount.

Refund Policy

Withdrawal notifications must be made in writing to the following email: info@dancestarsacademy.com within 24 hours of the first class to receive a partial refund.

No refunds will be given after this time except in the case of a physician-verified illness.

Events/Workshops/Camps cancellation notice is required 48 hours in advance of the event and subject to an administrative fee (50% of the total tuition).

Students registered and not paid by the 1st class, with no cancellation notice will be subject to pay.

DSA Dance Club (only) requires withdrawal notice of 30 days from the 1st of the month. All classes will be owed for the remainder of the month ie. if you withdraw on the 15th of the month, fees for the current and next month will be due. Students are welcome to continue classes for the duration until their cancellation is in effect. No refunds on Registration fees.

Studio Closure Policy

In the event that the studio must close due to Provincially mandated regulations, classes will be offered virtually where possible. (tuition fees will not be refunded, however, if it is not possible to offer virtual classes, tuition credits will be issued).

If the studio closes due to inclement weather, we will attempt to offer makeup classes to the best of our availability depending on class schedules and instructor availability, however, we cannot guarantee a makeup class in every case.

Storm Cancellation Policy

Should school be cancelled due to inclement weather on the day of your dance class (or prior to it, in case of Saturday), please monitor your email for notification, Facebook, or Instagram, as well as the CBC Storm Centre.

Studio Policies

Respect Our Studio
When you enter our dance studio, you are stepping into many people’s second home. We want to keep a clean environment for our families, and maintain a positive, healthy atmosphere. Please remember to tidy up after yourself after using any area you are in. Many garbage cans are located around the studio for your convenience.

When bringing a change of clothes and shoes to the studio, please be mindful of where you place your items. Cubbies are located inside the studio for safe keeping of your belongings. If there is no room left in the cubbies, it is recommended to bring a bag for your belongings. It is also recommended to label all of your dancewear (including shoes!) with your initials, so that there is hopefully no confusion about whose shoes belong to whose feet!
Food and Water
We know that many of you are here for long hours, and that you need to eat! Please clean up after you’ve eaten. This includes food wrappers, etc. being placed in the garbage. If you bring a water bottle, please have it labelled. Any water bottles left in the studio for longer than a week will be recycled or tossed away.

* PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE A NUT FREE FACILITIY. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD ITEMS THAT CONTAIN NUTS
Classes/Attendance
Please arrive on time to all of your classes. It is expected that students arrive early and ready to go at the beginning of class so as not to miss warm up! Warm up is an important aspect and risk of injury increases when students do not warm up properly.

If students will be late or absent from class, please let us know via email prior to the lesson start time. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each lesson, students not anticipated to be late may be marked absent.
Communication
If problems, questions or concerns arise, please speak directly to the person(s) involved. Gossiping, bullying and turning to social media are not healthy ways to deal with problems. Dancers and parents, please do not partake in any of this behaviour.

If you are upset, please take 24 hours to cool down and think about how you want to handle the issue. Please phone or email to set up a time to meet with a teacher if necessary. Please do not approach a teacher during class time, as our focus is on class at that point.
Behaviour
We are very serious about creating and maintaining a positive and healthy environment at the studio. Bad attitudes will not be tolerated. We want everyone – new dancers, experienced dancers, parents, siblings, teachers – to feel welcome and respected. Students who are displaying disrespectful attitudes in class will be talked to immediately by their teacher. If parent attitudes are becoming a problem, a studio meeting will be set up and expectations will be restated.
Holidays
These breaks generally coincide with the school calendar. However, often when schools have non-instructional days dance classes still run.
Pointe Policy
The age at which dancers start pointe work varies from student to student. Strength is paramount in being able to wear pointe shoes for extended periods of time. Premature wearing of pointe shoes or insufficient training can result in serious injuries and/or disabilities. We are strongly committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our dancers.

It’s important to understand that pointe work is specific to a dancer’s strength and skill level, not to an age, syllabus, or methodology. Children under the age of 12 will not be permitted to perform on pointe. Qualified teachers must decide as to when a student is ready for pointe work and the studio director and parents must first discuss and agree before a student is to progress to or perform pointe work. In addition, students must take pointe conditioning for a minimum of two years before progressing to dancing on pointe and a minimum class requirement of two ballet classes per week at the student’s respective level with continuous attendance, without exception.
Private Lesson Policy
Private lessons are available to any student looking to further or strengthen their skills in dance. Bookings can be made through info@dancestarsacademy.com and are subject to studio and instructor availability.
Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones are NOT permitted in the classroom. There are no exceptions! If a student is required to contact a parent/guardian during class time they will ask permission from the instructor to leave the class and make the call in the hallway or dressing room in an appropriate amount of time. Abuse or misuse of the policy will result in a parent meeting with the instructor and student.
Studio Rental Policy
From time to time our studio is available for rent for similar activities conducive of a dance studio! If you are interested in renting one of our studios please send us an email at info@dancestarsacademy.com

Studio Expectations

Respect the studio.
Please clean up after yourselves.
Respect others.
Everyone has off days, but communicating our feelings in a calm and healthy way can allow us to help each other process those feelings and move forward together.
Be present at all classes and studio events.
If you cannot make it to dance, please contact the studio as soon as possible.
Arrive early.
Give yourself time to be changed, warmed up and ready to dance!
Communicate.
Use effective forms of communication, and allow yourself a cool down period before making rash, emotion based action.
Have fun!
Enjoy being member of your team!

Required Dress Code for Classes

Please be sure that your child has the proper attire by the first class of the session.

Why dress code?

It is very important for us as a team to understand the importance of implementing a dress code in our programs. Just as gymnastics or hockey has a sports uniform, so does dance class! Baggy t-shirts and sweatpants become an obstructive alternative to dancewear. Parents, please make it your priority to ensure your child has the proper dancewear and shoes for each class. Hair must always be neatly off the face in a ponytail, bun, or braids.

No jewelry other than stud earrings permitted in any class.

Young ballet dancer smiling on the floor during warm up

Girls

Tiny Ballet Stars I
Pink or purple leotard (short sleeve) with attached or matching skirt, pink full sole ballet shoes, and pink footed tights.
Tiny Ballet/Jazz Stars II
Pink/purple or black leotard (short sleeve), with attached or matching skirt, pink full sole ballet shoes and pink footed tights.
Junior Ballet
Lavender leotard, black skirt (unattached), pink or skin tone leather or canvas ballet slippers, classic pink footed tights.
Pre-Intermediate/Advanced Ballet (13+ yrs.)
Black Classic leotard in thin strap, tank, or 3/4 sleeve style. Black wrap skirt (short style, above the knees). Pink or skin tone leather or canvas ballet slippers, convertible tights matching colour of shoes.
Jazz (All levels)
Black Capri pants or shorts, solid black leotard, skin tone or black leather jazz shoes, beige or skin tone tights.
Tap (all levels)
Black or tan low heeled tap shoes, black leotard, and beige or skin tone tights.
Lyrical/Contemporary
Leotard (any colour), beige or skin tone tights, black shorts or capri pants OR skirt, jazz shoes or bare feet.
Hip Hop (All levels)
Comfortable clothing for movement such as t-shirt and leggings, not so baggy or long that it may restrict movement. Absolutely no denim. Clean, non-marking indoor running shoes.
Acro/Cirque (all levels including Little Monkeys)
Boycut unitard, or Black tank bodysuit with black shorts, footless beige or skin tone tights. Absolutely no loose clothing or bra tops. Hair must be slicked back and away from face in either low ponytail or French braids.
Baton
Black or purple tank leotard, black pants or shorts, beige or skin tone tights, skin tone or black leather jazz shoes.

Let’s talk about hair.

Students who do not have their hair up will be asked to fix their hair according to the studio policy in order to participate in class. If they are unable to do so in class, an email will be sent home to remind parents that this is for the safety of the students. Stray hairs impede visuals in class and could result in injury. We ask that everyone respect this rule.

Tiny Stars
Ponytail or bun completely off face and neck.
Junior Ballet & up
A bun is required: Slick back your hair (with water if needed) into a ponytail. Wrap hair into bun with pins. Secure with sheer hair net and more pins. No stray hairs and minimal bangs.
Jazz, Tap, Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro, Baton
Ponytail, bun or braids. Absolutely no stray hairs.

Buns!

Hair MUST be in a bun for all ballet classes. Not sure how to make a ballet bun? Here’s how…

Boys

Tiny Stars and Junior Ballet
White T-shirt, navy or black cotton shorts or leggings. White ankle socks, white ballet slippers with elastic across the instep.
Pre-Intermediate/Advanced Ballet and up
White T-shirt, black leggings, white ankle socks, and white ballet slippers with elastic across the instep.
Jazz/Tap
Black or white T- shirt, black jazz pants (track pants or wide bottom styles are not allowed), black or tan jazz shoes.
Lyrical/Contemporary
T-shirt, black jazz pants (track pants or wide bottom styles are not allowed), jazz shoes or bare feet.

Hip Hop
Comfortable clothing for movement such as t-shirt and track pants, not too baggy as to restrict movement. Absolutely no denim. Clean, non-marking indoor running shoes.
Acro
Tight fitting white or black T-shirt, tight fitting black shorts or pants, bare feet. Clothing must not be loose enough to fall away from body during bends and tricks.
Baton
Tight fitting white or black T-shirt, tight fitting black shorts or pants, skin tone or black jazz shoes.

Adult Classes

Students must wear workout clothing, or clothing comfortable for movement.
Yoga/jazz pants or capris may be worn.
Footwear appropriate to the class.
Ballet slippers, jazz shoes, runners, socks, or bare feet

Forms

Dance Stars Academy

Over a decade of Dance Excellence!

DSA is Stratford, Prince Edward Island’s dance studio for ages 18 months and up. We have classes for beginners to advanced, recreational and performance team levels with Certified Instructors.

13 Glen Stewart Drive, Stratford PE
info@dancestarsacademy.com
902-940-4702