Studio Policies 2010/2011

These policies are meant to enhance the studio experience for all concerned. They are in place to safeguard the interests of both the student and the studio. Please take the time to read thoroughly and keep for future reference.

LAD reserves the right to change this policy at any time without prior notice. Any changes to the Studio Policies and Dress Code will be posted online and in the studio.

Student Placement
The studio director and instructors will determine the proper level classes for each student. Dancers are placed according to the level of technique they can demonstrate in various disciplines. Students learn and progress at different rates, and this is further affected by class attendance – i.e. poor class attendance (less than 80%) means that the student has missed out on vital technical instruction. In addition, the effort put forth by students is a tremendous factor. Also, teaching methods and standards vary greatly from school to school. For reasons such as these, the number of years a student has danced is not the deciding factor. Each student will be placed in classes which ensure optimum growth.

Attendance
Regular attendance is mandatory! A dancer’s progress is directly related to strong attendance. Excessive absences from weekly classes may require a student to be moved to a lower level class. If a student misses a class, it cannot be made up. There are no refunds or pro-rating for classes missed due to personal vacations, illness, schedule conflicts, or terminations during the month. If students cannot participate due to injuries, we ask them to attend class anyway so as to be able to observe, learn choreography and receive teachers’ verbal instructions. Students are expected to arrive for class on time.

PICKING STUDENTS UP AFTER CLASS
Parents need to be prompt when picking up children! Classes run back-to-back, and for safety reasons, dancers are advised to wait inside the studio until their parent arrives. We have had some issues in the past in which a teacher was late to an appointment because a parent was up to 20 minutes late picking their child up from class at the end of our evening. We respect our teachers and realize that we cannot expect them to stay for these unexpected, long periods of time without compensation. To help curtail this problem, we will now be charging a $10 fee to parents who are 15 or more minutes late to pick up their child(ren) at the end of a night or Saturday afternoon. This is absolutely not to generate income for the studio, but rather to encourage parents to pick children up on time.

Discontinuing Classes
If you wish to discontinue a class that you have already paid annually for, refunds will be given only up until October 1, 2010. No cancellation fee will be charged. We will accept new students until this time. After October 1, 2010, no refunds will be given. For those paying in monthly installments, a $40 per registered class cancellation fee will be charged to those who withdraw from a class, as their reserved spots will not be able to be filled.

tuition INFORMATION
Tuition Schedule: Our tuition is payable in nine (9) equal monthly payments:
August 1st, September 1st, October 1st, November 1st, December 1st, January 1 (2011), February 1 (2011), March 1 (2011) and last payment on April 1 (2011).  All tuition payments are due on the 1st of each month and considered late on the 5th. Your payment must be postmarked no later than the 4th of the month.   A $10 late fee will be applied to your account if payment is not postmarked/ received by these due dates.

Annual Payment Note: For those who would like to pay the year’s tuition in one lump sum, you may pay for your year and receive a 5% discount if paid in full by July 15, 2010. Please note that to receive the 5% discount, all payments must be received or postmarked by July 15, 2010.

Snow Days
In case of inclement weather, please call the studio at 560-4000. WE DO NOT GO BY ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSINGS. To check on cancellations for morning classes, please call after 8:30am. To check on the status of late afternoon / evening classes, please call after 2:00pm. If no message is on our machine, you can assume that classes are still on. However, we urge you to use your own judgment before venturing out in questionable weather. Classes cancelled by the studio due to bad weather or teacher illness will be rescheduled.

Studio Etiquette
Lititz Academy of Dance wishes to maintain a professional, yet family-friendly studio environment. We encourage all students to be supportive and respectful of fellow dancers and their family members. This includes taking responsibility in keeping the studio neat and clean. Dancers are expected to hang jackets on available hooks and organize their belongings into neat piles. Students must be sure that trash and water bottles are thrown away and all personal belongings are taken home at the end of each class.

No gum is allowed in the studio!

Lititz Academy of Dance is not responsible for lost or stolen items! We highly recommend labeling your child’s dance shoes and apparel. Parents and students should check the lost and found bin regularly. Lost and Found items are donated twice a year – December and June. Please check bin prior to these dates.

Parents are welcome to remain in the lobby during classes. We do ask, however, that you do not distract the children by tapping on windows, taking pictures, etc. We will designate days for pictures and videos, but please not on the first day of class, as this is extremely distracting for the children. Concentration and understanding are much easier when the class can proceed without interruption. There may be times when we will need to close the blinds so that children may focus more easily. Although we understand the need to bring younger siblings to the studio, please supervise them so that the classes and office staff are not disrupted. Children who are running or being unusually loud will be asked to sit quietly. No one should be in a classroom without a teacher present. Please do not allow children to play in classrooms. Please feel free to bring a quiet activity for them to enjoy while in the lobby.

ONLY STAFF MEMBERS ARE PERMITTED BEHIND THE COUNTER. PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL FILES IN ADDITION TO PERSONAL BELONGINGS ARE MAINTAINED IN THIS OFFICE AREA. THIS POLICY, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS, IS FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR ENTIRE STUDIO FAMILY, AND NEEDS TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.

Annual Recital
Our 2011 Spring Recital will take place in May . Recital details, along with dress rehearsal dates, will be announced in September. Recital participation is encouraged, but NOT MANDATORY. We recommend parents and dancers seriously consider the financial and time requirements necessary to engage in a professional dance recital, which will be two nights. This includes: excellent class attendance* including mandatory rehearsals, costume/shoe and ticket purchases, and a lengthy dress rehearsal(s) at the auditorium. Although it is our first choice to have a dress rehearsal on a weekend, the auditorium may not be available to us. Due to such scheduling constraints, dress rehearsal may take place on a school night. A Commitment Contract will be sent home with Costume Deposit information (see below) in October. Before committing to performing in the recital, students and parents must agree to commit to Dress Rehearsal (still being able to leave when student’s final number is over) and recital (ENTIRE SHOW), as well as other studio rehearsals. These dates are few, and given months in advance. All must agree to follow backstage and performance rules. With the exception of our youngest dancers (Pre-K / K) having the option of leaving at intermission, dancers must stay in dressing room area for the entire show. STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE DURING THE SHOW. All of these guidelines are for the safety and well being of all. Parents must notify teachers no later than November 1, 2010 if your child will not be participating in the recital.

Excellent attendance is crucial. After January 1st, any student absent from a given class for three weeks in a row will not be eligible to perform that class’s dance in the Spring recital. In addition, students may not miss more than 6 classes of a given class after January 1st in order to perform in the recital. This policy, as with all policies, is at the discretion of our staff. Parents will remain responsible for any remaining balances of those costumes, and no refunds will be given for tuition or costumes.

Costume Purchases and Deposits
Students participating in the recital will be committed to purchasing a costume for each class performance. Certain costumes required a specific shoe as well. Shoe requirements will be announced by January 7, 2011.

A deposit of $40.00 per costume will be due by November 15, 2010. There are no refunds on costume deposits after this date. Costume balances are due by February 1, 2011. A $10.00 late fee will be applied if payment is received after February 2, 2011. Please note that there is only 1 day grace period on costume balances. No exceptions. Studio teachers will hand out costumes as they come in. Once they are in your possession, you are responsible for them. Students are not allowed to wear costumes for any non-studio performance prior to the recital. Lititz Academy of Dance encourages its students to perform at school shows, however, use of current costumes for talent shows is forbidden due to the risk of damage and/or loss of a costume or accessory. Students are encouraged to use past costumes for those performances.

Studio Communication
It is very important that parents know what is happening throughout the year. Studio newsletters, announcements, and reminders can be found on our website at www.LititzAcademyofDance.com. There will also be copies available in the studio. Each family has a folder which contains pertinent information. Parents are asked to check their folders and the studio bulletin board at least once a month. If your child is absent 2 or more weeks in a row, please call us so that we do not worry about you! You may also receive a call from our office to check on your dancer.