DANCE STYLES

DS Minis

Our preschool DS Minis program focuses on introducing basic dance movement, rhythm and social skills, developing coordination and musicality. Our students not only learn the basics of dance training in their choice of dance style, they also gain self-confidence and an advantage in preparation for school – all whilst having fun. Classes dance to the favourite shows and songs our little ones are interested in at the time so the kids are familiar with the music and can sing along. With a major emphasis on fun and creating confident little people our classes are the first stepping stone in your child’s dance journey. It will be your child’s favourite time of the week!

Acro/Tumbletown

Our Acro tumbling classes are designed to promote basic to advanced tumbling and acro skills in a fun, safe and professional environment with a team of friendly qualified staff. Classes are level and skills progression based and are taught to the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus. Classes cover various skills in the areas of slow and fast tumbling, individual and group balances, partner and group acro skills, flexibility, strength, leaps and jumps. Students will develop coordination, strength and flexibility whilst learning exciting new tricks.

Ballet

Classical ballet is characterised by a standard vocabulary of steps, poses and graceful movements including pointed feet, rising, jumping, stretching and spinning, Our ballet classes contain traditional barre and centre work designed to create a strong and elegant dancer. We consider this style the most important to develop technique which is the foundation of all other dance styles – yes, even Hip Hop! We teach a combination of the RAD syllabus and lyrical dance for routines. Lyrical is a melodic and more expressive form of ballet often accompanied by ballad music to which the students can relate.

Cirque

At Dance Sensations, our Cirque classes focus on a range of skills and activities such as interactive circuits, lyra, silks, trapeze, juggling, hula hoops and more all under the supervision of our fully qualified teachers. These classes will keep students busy and are a heap of fun!

Cheer

At Dance Sensations we offer ‘American Style’ cheerleading classes focusing strongly on teamwork, performance quality and fitness. Cheer combines dancing, acrobatics and lifts in an exciting and dynamic style. Students gain a strong sense of responsibility in our cheer classes as the many different elements rely on each member fulfilling particular roles within the lifts and routines as a whole. This style has really taken off over the last few years here in Australia, and with this growing popularity we have had our cheer coaches officially certified with the AASCF.

Contemporary

Contemporary dance is a particularly innovative way of moving the body, blurring the lines between jazz, ballet and Hip Hop. We teach the students to dance in parallel, seamless movement in and out of the ground, contract and release, and fall and recovery – these elements making up the characteristics of contemporary dance. This style encourages self-expression, natural movement and personal interpretation.

Hip Hop

Hip Hop is a street style of dance that has become very popular over the last ten years. We see this kind of dancing in music videos from Justin Timberlake, Usher and Beyoncé and also in films such as Step Up and Honey. Our teachers are committed to staying at the forefront of this exciting and constantly evolving genre through regular training and workshops with some of the world’s top choreographers. In class students are taught breakdancing skills as well as basic acrobatic exercises to help strengthen and improve their Hip Hop technique. Our classes also allow the children to learn some popular ‘groove steps’ and give them the opportunity to explore their own unique style – which is loads of fun!

Jazz

Jazz is our most popular style of dance and where we recommend most students start. Classes will contain a mix up of the following; a warm up, corner work (skill progressions which travel across the floor), centre based skill work, flexibility exercises as well as learning a routine. Jazz is a very diverse form of dance influenced by old and new musicals through to modern pop music. Jazz class enhances flexibility, coordination and fitness, but most of all, Jazz is simply great fun, listening to all your favourite pop songs heard on the radio in class. We take pride in keeping all choreography and music choices age appropriate whilst ensuring students are engaged and challenged.

Tap

Tap dancing was pioneered by greats such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, but today with groups like the Tap Dogs, the style has grown to be quite funky. Tap classes offer more than just learning how to move your feet. Some benefits our students gain from participating in these classes are an understanding of timing, rhythm, speed with coordination and strengthening of the legs and ankles. The sense of musicality learned will be of benefit in all other styles of dance as well.

EXAMS

Dance Sensations offer Ballet examinations through the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.). The Royal Academy of Dance is one of the most highly recognised ballet syllabus worldwide.

R.A.D. Ballet classes are conducted separately to our regular “open style” ballet classes and students who partake in these classes have the option of undertaking an exam at the appropriate time. If you have any questions on our R.A.D. classes please see our admin team.

Our Fees are outlined on our 2023 Fee Schedule that was provided to you at time of enrolment. If you require another copy please see our admin team. 

ALL INCLUSIVE FEES

At Dance Sensations we have an ALL INCLUSIVE fee structure to make it super easy for parents! This means there are no confusing 'additional' Registration or Costume Hire Fees, these are all worked into the weekly amount and it is just a set fee each week for your dancer to dance with us as outlined on our Fee Schedule.

WEEKLY DIRECT DEBIT FOR ALL FAMILIES

Fees are required to be paid by Weekly Direct Debit for ALL families. Debits can be processed from your:

• Bank Account (Zero fee)

• Credit Card (1.98% surcharge).

If you wish to pay for the term upfront you can make an upfront payment on your Parent Portal BY THE FIRST MONDAY OF EACH TERM. To calculate the Term Fees, simply multiply your weekly amount by 10.

Weekly Fees are added to your Family Account each Monday, with Debits being processed each Thursday. A statement of your account will be sent each Wednesday. Full Terms and Conditions can be found in your Parent Portal Agreements or as outlined on the Fee Schedule.

ACTIVE & CREATIVE KIDS VOUCHERS

Dance Sensations is an approved provider for Active and Creative Kids Vouchers. If you would like to submit your vouchers with us to be applied to your fees please do so via the links below.

ACTIVE > www.dancesensations.com.au/activekids

CREATIVE > www.dancesensations.com.au/creativekids

For full terms and conditions of this government program visit www.service.nsw.gov.au

WITHDRAWALS

Enrolment is presumed for the year and re-enrolment term to term automatically rolls over from term to term unless we are are notified of withdrawal. If you decide to withdraw from classes mid-term for any reason, you will continue being charged until we are formally notified at: accounts@dancesensations.com.au

To withdraw from a class, one (1) weeks notice from the scheduled class day must be provided in writing to the above email address. You will be charged for up to and including the week of withdrawal as normal class fees will be charged if notice given is less than one week. 

Refunds will not be issued for any missed classes and makeup classes are not available.

The opportunity to perform in a concert is an exciting, empowering and confidence-building part of the training process. This is where we love to watch our students learn about the theatre, rehearsals and teamwork while they enjoy the opportunity to showcase their skills in a professionally run production. Concerts are a wonderful way for students to showcase the results of their hard work and for family and friends to join in the pride of their achievement. We love giving all students the chance to perform for their family and friends in this supportive and fun environment and encourage even our youngest and newest performers to be involved.

Dance Sensations holds two shows per year:

• MID YEAR SHOWCASE This display is an informal relaxed chance for parents, family and friends to see what the students have achieved in Terms 1 and 2. Costuming is not required for this performance as students wear their class uniform. 

• END OF YEAR CONCERT The End of year concert is a professional display of dance enhanced by amazing costumes, special effects and lighting that is held at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre in Nowra.

Detailed concert information is sent out throughout the year detailing everything you need to know. A Concert Performer Fee is charged in the lead up to the End of Year Concert and this is outlined in the Concert Information later in the year.

Classes work on their routines for these performances in Term 1 & 2 for the Mid-Year concert and Term 3 & 4 for the End of Year Concert. The students work on these routines each week in class, developing their skills in the process and learning the importance of rehearsal, commitment, performance techniques and teamwork.

COSTUMES

Rather than making parents pay hundreds of dollars buying costumes that their children will only wear once, we use a hire system for our concert costumes. Over the last 20+ years Dance Sensations has built up quite an extensive costume library, which we add to each year with new custom-made costumes. Dance Sensations transports the costumes to and from the concert and rehearsal and also cleans, repairs and alters all the costumes. This process saves parents from the stress and hassle of having to buy, sew, alter and accessorise their child’s costumes in the busy pre-Christmas season. The costume hire fee is included in your class fees already so there is no further cost for costumes for concert for any of our recreational classes!

Your child’s attendance in class is very important to their peers and our teaching staff. As a member of our DS Family, it is a commitment for you to ensure your child attends their classes on time each week and attends all lessons planned for them. Not only do absences impact the concert routines we create, it also impacts the social and confidence-building principals we work hard to foster in each age group.

If you know ahead of time that your child will be absent due to holidays/vacations, commitments or school trips, please let us know ahead of time so the class impact is minimal. Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate make-up sessions for students who miss classes and refunds will not be issued for any missed classes.

If you wish to withdraw from classes, please see our withdrawal policy here.

With the safety of our families our number one priority, Dance Sensations is very serious about upholding Child Protection laws and policies within the studio as well as at public performances and in the online arena (website and social media). We ensure child safety through a range of different methods:

• We have a number of CCTV cameras within the studio which can be viewed by parents and family members from the comfort of our waiting area.

• All of our teachers and staff members have undergone official Working with Children checks allowing them to work with children.

• The Staff and Directors of Dance Sensations strive to ensure that all music and costumes are age appropriate.

• Our staff members have been trained in first aid and we enforce a nut-free policy at the studio to ensure the safety of any students or parents with allergies to nuts or nut products.

• Our staff members have an internal communication system to ensure studio and child safety at all times during studio operating hours.

• All students at Dance Sensations are covered by accident insurance as well under the studio’s public liability insurance. For more information on the individual accident cover please see our admin team.

We respect your privacy and we will never sell or pass on any of your information to third parties unless required by Government Authorities or in the event of debt recovery. Any information passed on will be done so with appropriate privacy and confidentiality protection.

As part of your registration, you will have read and signed a media waiver allowing us to proudly use images and video footage of your student for advertising and promotional purposes. Photographs and Videos are generally taken at our Mid Year, End of Year Concerts and other Dance Sensations events. Additionally, footage of children may also be taken in the studios for the benefit of sharing this with parents where required or with our internal team for training and development purposes. Should you have any concerns whatsoever with signing this declaration, please see our admin team.

Dance Sensations Social Media Policy refers to all social networking sites, video/photo sharing sites, blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, podcasts, forums, instant messaging and geo-spatial tagging (for example, Facebook check-ins). Please see below for our regulations regarding Social Media and feel free to contact our admin team if you have any questions.

• Please remember that your anonymity on Social Media is never guaranteed and to exercise particular caution when posts, images or videos identify children in your care.

• Remain mindful that your behaviour on Social Media remains in keeping with Dance Sensations code of conduct as outlined in this handbook.

• Intellectual property laws (for example, costume design and choreography) must be observed by all studio patrons when posting online regarding studio matters.

• All matters pertaining directly to the studio - whether it be fees, scheduling, placements or performance opportunities - we ask to not be communicated via social media. We have an open door policy and encourage all communication, complaints and feedback to be communicated to the admin team and Director directly.

• We discourage parents/students from becoming ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ on Social Media with teachers unless there is an existing relationship. We consider all studio members to be family and as such feel the obligation to respect and monitor personal boundaries.

To ensure the smooth, safe running of Dance Sensations and an enjoyable experience by all, below you will find our code of conduct. As always we are open to feedback, so if any of the requirements outlined below are unclear or concerning, please speak to our admin team.

• Dance Sensations is a studio where all students are free to express themselves. Bullying in any of its forms will not be accepted.

• Families who do not comply with their fee or costume payment obligations may be charged a late fee, and/or excluded from performances. External debt collection may occur when fees remain overdue and this will be at the expense of the client.

• We are unable to take responsibility for our students before or after their scheduled classes and it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure their child is picked up and dropped off on time. In the case of an emergency or unavoidable delay, please contact the studio immediately to inform us of the situation so we can keep your child calm and safe until they can be collected.

• Any questions or feedback must go through our admin team – we ask that parents and students do not contact Dance Sensations teachers via phone, email or social media with studio issues. We ask that you respect our staff members privacy and work hours by not contacting them personally. Personal meetings with Amanda can happily be arranged via reception and our admin team is available during all timetabled classes.

• Dance Sensations takes no responsibility for any stolen or misplaced property on the studio premises and we encourage our families to avoid bringing valuable items into the studio where possible.

• Dance Sensations Management reserves the right to change teachers or timetabling when necessary at any time throughout the year. Where significant or permanent changes occur families will be notified in advance.

• Choreography, costuming and studio policies remain the intellectual property of Dance Sensations and may not be reproduced or sold by any students, parents or staff without permission of the Director.

Dance Sensations has been approved as a COVID-SAFE business. We have strict policies and procedures in place to ensure continual up-to-date compliance with all Government guidance. Policies are updated as necessary and communicated regularly to all families. A copy of our current COVID-safe guidelines can be provided at any time if required.