24-25 COMPETITIVE PORTAL - Policies & Procedures

All competitive members may miss up to two classes in any style, that do not fall on the blackout dates, as mentioned below, with a maximum of two specialty/large group absences, total and no more than one per style (i.e. dancers may miss one Pro-Am Tap rehearsal and one Acro Large rehearsal, but not two Acro Large rehearsals).

Absences, except in the case of an emergency, must be called or emailed in, at least one hour before class start time, to be excused.

Dancers may log in via Zoom to competitive and syllabi classes when they are not feeling well, but feel like they can participate mentally or physically from home. If dancers cannot actively participate in class, an absence should be used. When dancers participate via Zoom, they are asked to have cameras on. Dancers who attend virtually will not be marked absent; however, taking competitive/syllabi classes virtually in place of in-person classes can not become a regular practice.

Any student who exceeds the absence limit is subject to removal from the team at the discretion of the teachers and directors. Dancers must be able to commit to the entire competitive season; there will be a reblocking fee of $100 + tax per dance for any dancer who drops a competitive class after choreography has begun; this fee also applies to dancers who are removed due to attendance. A reblocking fee will not be charged for dancers who are injured, a doctor's note may be required.

Blackout Dates

All competitive dancers must be in their final class per style before showcase/stage rehearsal, recital and each competition when noted on the 'Important Dates' document. Dancers not in their final class, as noted mandatory, may be blocked out of a routine unless their absence falls under 'exemptions'.

Attendance at all performances and competitions (for both dances and adjudications) is mandatory. Schedules for events are released as early as possible, but we ask dancers to keep their schedules open during competition dates.

Exemptions - Extenuating Circumstances:

Extenuating circumstances such as serious illness, surgery and family emergency will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and not count as an excused absence.

It is difficult on both teachers and students when they must re-block a routine; once a student is blocked out of a routine, they may not be able to perform that piece at the remainder of competitions (extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration).

Should we need to switch to virtual classes at any point throughout the season and your dancer chooses to continue with the competitive program, the attendance policies will remain the same.

Injuries

Should a dancer become injured, they must attend and watch all competitive and syllabi classes, to stay up to date with choreography and exercises, whenever possible. No refunds or credits will be given while a dancer is out with an injury.

COMPETITIVE REQUIREMENTS & EXPECTATIONS

General Competitive Team Member Rules

Dancers may not dance on any other competitive dance team or performance group while dancing for Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc.
Students must attend all classes and extra practices and adhere to the attendance policy as outlined in the 2024-2025 competitive package. Dancers and/or parent(s)/guardian(s) are asked not to approach teachers for permission to miss practice.
Dancers are required to attend all performances (including recital) and dance competitions, including adjudications.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) and/or others are not permitted to sit in on competitive classes; unless invited.
Dancers and parent(s)/guardian(s) should not walk into an ongoing rehearsal.
When wearing any Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. apparel, in or out of the studio, dancers must act with class and dignity so as not to discredit themselves or Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc.
Dancers will respect all Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. staff and teammates' property.
Dancers must not engage in any unfavourable, questionable, or illegal manner through electronic media (i.e. websites, ‘Snapchat’, ‘Facebook’, ‘Instagram’, ‘Twitter’, 'Tik Tok', text messages or similar) or use electronic communication devices (i.e. cell phones, camera phones, digital photos) in such a way as to bring discredit, dishonour, or disgrace on Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. or its dancers - including yourself.
Dancers must never speak disrespectfully to or about any other dancer at the studio, in or outside of Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc.
Dancers, while involved in classes, rehearsals, performances and competitions must conduct themselves as representatives of Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. and in a professional manner.
Any dancer under the influence of drugs or alcohol, while involved in studio activities, will result in immediate dismissal from the team.

Studio Rules

Noise should be kept to a minimum when waiting outside of the studio.
Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. is a nut-free studio and has students and guest instructors with severe allergies, no products containing nuts can be brought into the building.
Dancers must follow the dress code. The required dance attire and footwear (once specified) must be worn to all classes.
The use of phones and electronic devices, including smartwatches, is prohibited during rehearsals.
No gum or food is allowed in the dance room; water bottles are necessary.
Dancers must display a positive and respectful attitude in the studio. Disrespectful behaviour towards staff, assistants or other students will not be tolerated.
If a dancer is ill or injured, a parent/guardian must contact the office prior to class so instructors can be made aware of your limitations.
Dancers must display a good general positive attitude regarding the studio and other studios. Adversarial, argumentative behaviour or negative comments will not be tolerated.
All dancers are to be responsible for ensuring that both the lobby area and dance studios are clean and presentable before and after all classes.

Class Etiquette

Dancer(s) should:

Use the restroom before class.
Be ready to begin on time; dancers should enter the studio immediately when called into class.
Keep chatter in class to a minimum/not talk while the teacher is speaking.
Be an active learner; avoid sitting down during class.
Ask the teacher for permission to leave the studio.
Be prepared to work hard during all classes. Dancers should always give 100% during classes, practices, and performances; dancers are expected to try their best to complete every exercise with full energy.
Focus on the class they are taking and not practice combinations pertaining to other classes during this class time.
Accept corrections as positive criticism and use feedback as an opportunity to grow and improve. Dancers should listen to all corrections provided; even those directed towards another dancer could be beneficial.
Help support and encourage team members, teachers and directors.
Thank the teacher before leaving the studio.

Performance & Competition Rules

Performance & competition rules ensure each event runs smoothly and successfully.

Dancers must wear their SOT team jacket at all workshops, performances and competitive events.
Dancers must arrive prior to the designated time for all events - this typically means 1 to 1.5 hours before the scheduled competition or performance time.
Dancers must arrive in performance make-up with hair done and ready to perform as per the information provided by the office.
Dancers must be respectful of the studio’s director, teachers, staff, and chaperones.
Dancers are responsible for bringing all costumes (including accessories & shoes) to each performance/competition.
Upon arrival at the competition site, dancers must set up their costumes in a neat and orderly fashion. All dancers must be respectful of the room that they share. Throughout the competition, dancers are responsible for immediately cleaning up their garbage and any other messes; the appearance of the changing room reflects on the studio.
Dancers are expected to warm up, stretch and rehearse their routine once ready in their first costume.
Dancers should not eat or drink (except water) when wearing their costumes unless they are fully covered.
Dancers are required to attend their own adjudication sessions. Dancers must wear their team jackets for adjudications.
Dancers are reminded to not enter or exit the auditorium during other dances.
Dancers are reminded to support all competitors, congratulate the dancers who win and be gracious to their fellow competitors if they are fortunate enough to be the winner. Dancers must demonstrate respect at all times towards those involved in the competition; clap for each other and other studios!
Dancers must not argue or complain about the decisions made by those in authority at a competition or performance site.
Dancers must maintain a positive attitude throughout performances and competitions, including backstage and during adjudications. They should not discuss their disappointments or displeasure in open forums for everyone to hear; this includes posting comments on social media sites such as Facebook/Instagram.
Dancers must not engage in abusive, offensive or demeaning tactics with other dancers at the competition.
There are times routines will be awarded a cash award from a competition. Cash prize money won for a solo, duo, or trio routine will be split between the participants of the routine and given to them via EMT or cash. In the event a competition issues solo, duo or trio routines, a non-monetary scholarship, to go towards event fees for the next season the credit will be applied to the participants of the routines competition fee invoice, the following year. Scholarships will not be refunded in cash and are forfeited if the dancer does not continue with Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. Monetary awards received for group routines are kept by Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. and used to offset the cost of things such as props, and staff salaries at competitive events throughout the season.

Parent/Guardian Reminders

Along with the dancers, parent(s)/guardian(s) of Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. are reminded to treat others as they would expect to be treated themselves. Positivity and encouragement are crucial parts of our studio and all team members and their families are requested to invest in that.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) are expected to respect all staff, dancers and families.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must not interact with anyone at Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. or at a performance/
competition in an aggressive manner. All concerns with behaviour should be voiced to the studio manager.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must abide by the policies and rules of the competitions and performance venues we attend. Any conflicts should be resolved without resorting to rude comments or outbursts.
As per competition rules, parent(s)/guardian(s) must reach out to the studio with questions. In turn, the studio will communicate with competition organizers directly.
Please pay special attention to policies on taking photos and videos at competitions. At some competitions, members of a studio taking photos or videos can result in disqualification.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) are reminded to not enter or exit the auditorium during other dances.
Parent(s)/guardian(s) are asked to encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for organizers, all studios and dancers. Children learn best from example; applaud all performers.

Please remember... Children participate in dance first and foremost to have fun; doing one's best is more important than winning. Dancers are praised for competing fairly and trying hard.

At Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc., we believe skill development and personal growth are more important than winning. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are asked to focus on the child’s efforts and performance rather than the overall outcome of the performance. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are asked to understand that dancers exhibiting inappropriate behaviour will be asked to leave the class or competition immediately and possibly the team. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be upheld to this standard.

Infraction of Studio/Competition Rules

Dance is an art form that requires a high level of discipline. Dancers are representatives of the studio and role models for other dancers. Directors and staff will be honest and respectful towards our dancers and parent(s)/guardian(s); we expect the same level of honesty and respect in return. Infractions of the studio and competition rules, detailed in this document, will be dealt with on an individual basis by the teacher, studio manager, Stephanie Hibberd, and/or studio director, Alicia Christensen.

Consequences of failure to follow the Stars of Tomorrow Dance Academy Inc. requirements and expectations may result in, but is not limited to, the following actions:

Sitting out a practice, performance or competition.
Suspension from the team.
Depending on the infraction, we reserve the right to immediately dismiss the dancer from the team.

A member may be dismissed from the team (without refund) for any, or a combination, of the following:

Excessive absences/tardiness to class, rehearsal, performance, or competition.
Continual disruptive/disrespectful behaviour in any class, rehearsal, performance or competition.
Continual infractions of the contract.
A negative attitude affecting the competitive team as a whole or any individual teammate.
Failure to meet financial obligations as scheduled.

Please remember dancing on a competitive team is a privilege, but also a commitment. If you are not committed, you may lose the opportunity to continue with our competitive team.

REGISTRATION POLICIES

Tuition

When registering for an account for the first time, dancers part of our competitive program, are required to choose 'Competitive' (not 'Recreational') under 'Account Information' on the online registration form (even when registered for both competitive and recreational classes); this will ensure you are billed on the correct dates, as outlined. The office will update this option for any returning dancers switching from 'Recreational' to 'Competitive'.
Families with recreational and competitive dancers will be billed and charged following the competitive policies outlined in this package.
All session classes will run for the duration noted. When registering online, session fees will be taken from the card on file. For alternate payment methods, please register through the office.
A family discount of 10% will be given on hourly class fees to the second and subsequent family members registered. Full fees must be paid for the dancer with the highest tuition, discount to come off all other family members.
Late registration will be pro-rated for recreational classes; there is no late registration for competitive classes.
Dancers with past-due accounts will not be able to register for the 2024-2025 season.
There are no refunds/credits given when a recreational or competitive class is run and students are unable to attend.
No refunds or credits will be given while a dancer is out with an injury.
In the event of a government-mandated closure, all in-person classes will switch to virtual. Tuition will remain the same; no discounts given.
All NSF cheques will have a service charge of $25.00

Withdraw

No refunds will be issued to competitive students, for any reason, other than in the case of a government-mandated closure. In the event of a government-mandated closure; all classes will automatically be rolled over to virtual. All dancers have the option to withdraw from recreational and/or competitive programming, in the case of a government-mandated closure, should they not want to continue virtually. Competitive dancers, who withdraw, will not be permitted to return to competitive classes for the rest of the season, once classes resume back at the studio. Dancers who withdraw from recreational classes, in the case of a closure, will have to re-register, space permitting, for recreational classes.
If you wish to withdraw your dancer from a class at any time, an email must be sent to the office, by the parent/guardian.
You will be held accountable for tuition charged to your account until the date that a withdrawal email is sent to the office regardless of classes attended/not attended prior to that date. Funds charged to your account up until your withdrawal notice will not be refunded.
A $100 + tax reblocking fee will be charged, per dance, to any dancer who drops a competitive class after choreography has begun; this fee also applies to dancers who are removed due to attendance. A reblocking fee will not be charged to dancers who are injured, a doctor's note may be required.

Costumes

Competitive costume fees will be billed by December 11th, 2024.
Payment due dates, for competitive costumes, are listed on the 'Important Dates' document.
Payment will be taken, via the credit card on file, on the dates outlined on the 'Important Dates'. Alternatively, you may choose to pay by cash, debit, EMT or alternate credit card prior to the due dates to avoid charges to your card on file.
Competitive costumes will not be given to dancers until fees are paid in full.
Once competitive costumes are fitted and given to the dancer, any additional alterations/repairs will be done at the cost of the dancer.
Once fees have been posted to your account; costumes have been ordered and no refunds are available.

Competitions

Competition fees for the three 'main' competitions have been billed to your parent portal
Payment due dates, for the three main competitions, are listed on the 'Important Dates' document.
Payment will be taken, via the credit card on file, on the dates outlined on the 'Important Dates'. Alternatively, you may choose to pay by cash, debit, EMT or alternate credit card prior to the due dates to avoid charges to your card on file.
Accounts must be in good standing for dancers to compete.
Registration will be submitted to competitions as of the payment due date and no refunds are available after this time

Other

Although rare, class times are subject to changes up to their start date. Refunds will be issued in the case of a changed class time that does not work for the dancer/family.
Classes require a minimum of 4 students, in the event of inadequate enrollment a full refund will be given for both the class and competitive dancer program fees.
Class cancellations, due to weather conditions (snowstorms, power outages, etc.) will be decided two hours before classes start for the day, when possible. In the case of a cancellation, an email will be sent, a text broadcast sent and a post will be made on social media channels. Classes will be made up if the minimum number of classes, as outlined, is not met.

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