About

Common Courtesy

The staff and management of SMD have spent countless hours building our new studio to bring you the nicest and cleanest studio in the area. Please respect the property and its belongings.

If you or those you are with cannot respect the studio property or its belongings you may be asked to leave and possibly not return to the studio.  If items are broken or destroyed SMD reserves the right to ask that you replace or pay for the broken or damaged item.

Parking

We have a parking lot on the side and behind the building for parents and students.

If you are dropping your student off; pull in, go through the roundabout and drop your student off at the front door on your way out of the parking lot. This area is not a long-term parking area, this is strictly for drop off and good-bye.

DO NOT park in the FIRE LANE or in the grass at the front of the building. Both areas are not safe and parking in these areas damages our property.

NO PARKING in the Roundabout area. This area is vital in keeping our traffic flow orderly and safe.

Registration 

A registration fee of $35.00 per student is required along with a completed online registration. (This fee is nontransferable and nonrefundable.) Class availability is on a first come basis. Registration is not complete until the registration fee is paid along with all proper online forms completed. You may not join classes until your registration is complete.  

Monthly Tuition Policy

Tuition payments are for weekly classes running the first week in September through the second week in June. Tuition is due the 1st of each month. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover. All checks should be made payable to: SMD.

**If we have not received your payment by the 11th of the month, our new tuition system will automatically charge a $20 late fee. This cannot be overridden by the office staff and will be due with your monthly tuition payment.

A student’s absence from class for any reason and/or holiday breaks does not justify late payments nor do they exempt you from late fees.   You cannot bank classes for upcoming absences.  FINANCIAL CREDIT IS NOT ISSUED FOR MISSED LESSONS, but you have opportunity to make up any missed classes in any of our scheduled classes which are the same type and level class as the missed class.

The monthly payment is based on the full season of classes (September-June) and is not based on the number of classes that fall into each month.  All holiday breaks have already been considered into your monthly payment.  You do not pay more for longer months nor do you receive a discount for shorter months.

ALL TUITION & REGISTRATION FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE.  THERE WILL BE ZERO EXCEPTIONS ON LATE FEES.

After the 11th of the month a $20.00 late fee will automatically be added to your bill. If your account falls behind more than 2 months, you will be asked to pay your balance or your child’s enrollment will be suspended and they will not be able to return until the full owed balance is received.

There is a $35.00 charge on all returned checks.

NO postdated checks will be accepted at any time for any reason. 

Payment Procedure Policy

Each family will receive monthly emailed invoice during the dance season. These invoices will not include dues for Nebula and/or Company Elite.  The due date for each payment is the first of every month.  We accept cash, Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express and checks. Checks should be made payable to SMD.

Missed Class Make Up Policy

If a student misses a class they are welcome to come in another day and time to take a class that is at the same level or below within a month of the missed class. No refund will be given for missed classes. Classes that are canceled by the studio may be rescheduled when possible. 

Snow or Bad Weather Policy

If at any time it is necessary to cancel classes due to bad weather such as snow and ice, there will be a recorded message on the answering machine after 2:30 P.M. for the evening classes that advise if the studio is closed for the evening.  A cancellation notice will also be posted on our Facebook page and Instagram page as well as the Band app. Classes cancelled for bad weather do not count against perfect attendance.

There will be NO reduction of tuition for studio closures due to weather. Students may make-up any missed classes. 

Attendance

It is important that your child attends dance class every week. Good attendance is essential to the progress of the individual and of the whole class.  Absences and tardiness can hold back an entire class, and the studio cannot jeopardize its responsibilities to the rest of the class for one student. If a student misses too many lessons they may fall behind the rest of the class and may be asked not to perform in the recital. We realize that many students are involved in other activities and feel that they should be. If there are scheduling conflicts that are “temporary‟ please speak with the office staff about the situation. Of course, illnesses and school commitments are acceptable reasons to miss class. Students should make every attempt to be at scheduled classes.

Enrollment Terminations

The studio reserves the right to cancel the enrollment of a child for the following reasons:

1. Non-payment or excessive late payment of fees.

2. Not observing the studio rules.

3. Physical and/or verbal abuse of staff or children, by a parent or child.

Classroom Rules

1. No food or drinks are permitted in the dance rooms. All drinks need to be kept in the dancer’s lounge.

2. All students should use the restroom before they enter class. This is important for our Pre-Classes as the teacher cannot leave during class to assist with any restroom usage.

3. Students are not permitted to chew gum in the dance room.

4. Outside street shoes should be avoided on the dance floors.

5. All students must be in proper dress while attending class.

6. Short hair must be secured off of the face. Long hair must be in a Ponytail, bun, or braid.

7. Class will be conducted with the doors closed. This will avoid any distraction from the lobby.

8. Please try to arrive 5 minutes early to class.

9. Children should not touch the mirrors or the viewing windows.

10. Absolutely no running in the classroom.

11. Cell phones are NOT PERMITTED to be out AT ALL during class. If the student has it in the room, it should be turned off or to “silent‟.

12. Parents are not allowed in the studios.

13. The teachers are NOT RESPONSIBLE for any student that leaves the classroom at any time

 The SMD Staff reserve the right to ask you to sit-out of class due to non-compliance of the above policies.

Private Lessons

Private instruction is available at an extra charge. These may be used for extra practice if you have missed several classes and need to catch up. They can also be used to learn routines for competitions, school talents shows, etc. Enrollment is very limited and based on instructor availability and studio space.  Prices for private lessons are at the discretion of the individual instructor and payments are due in full at the time of service.

You will not be permitted to schedule any private lessons if your tuition is past due or you have an outstanding balance with the studio (including Nebula or Company Elite dues).

You will not be permitted to participate in competitions if your tuition is past due or you have an outstanding balance with the studio (including Nebula or Company Elite dues).

Studio Rental

If you do not need a private lesson, but would like to use a studio for rehearsal and/or practice, you can rent a studio.  If there is no class or previously scheduled private, you have the ability to rent studio space for $20 per hour/$10 per ½ hour. Please check with the office for studio availability.

Parent Observation

Classes will be conducted with the doors closed. It is very disturbing to all of the students and the instructors when there is a lot of noise outside of the studio rooms. To avoid distraction to the class, parents may view through the provided viewing windows. Parents will not be permitted into the dance room unless invited by the instructor. If your child or other dancers in the class are distracted by seeing you through the window, please try to keep your viewing to a minimum. We realize parents love to watch their kids dance but in an effort to keep them focused and listening to their instructor we must make our best effort to keep distractions to a minimum.  If your dancer is continually distracted or disruptive to class due to your observation, the instructors may request that you suspend your observation of the class for a period of time. At no time should parents be correcting any student whom is not under their direct supervision.

This year we are asking that no observations occur at the wall for Studio A unless invited by the teacher. This is a very large open Studio and extra voices at the observation wall carry and make it difficult for our teachers to do their job. There will be times at the end of class etc. when you are invited to watch, but we respectfully request that you do not stand and watch the entire class. This is especially important on Nebula nights when we have 70 dancers in that Studio trying to learn a dance. 

Lobby Rules

1. NO FLIPPING OR ACRO IN THE LOBBY

2. Students must wait inside the building to be picked up.

3. Students must be picked up within 15 minutes of their last class. If you cannot make it on time, please let the office know or please make arrangements to have your child picked up.  We cannot be responsible for children who are not picked up within 15 minutes of the studio closing.

4. Our younger students are not permitted to leave the building without an adult.

5. Please try to keep the lobby as quiet and clean as possible. Please supervise young children (siblings, etc.). Do not allow children to climb and hang on studio property, specifically the viewing area in Studio A.

6. Students MUST use the student lounge for their belongings, do not set bags/book bags etc. on the lobby chairs, or anywhere in the lobby.

7. Do not interrupt the instructor while the class is in session. Class time is reserved for our students to learn. If you need to speak to the instructor, please do so before or after the class. If necessary, you may make an appointment.

8. Running and horseplay are not permitted in the lobby or in the student lounge.

9. No tapping or knocking on the viewing windows.

10. The office staff is not responsible for unsupervised children, this the parents responsibility. If your child is under the age of 7, parental supervision is REQUIRED.

11. Clean up any trash you may have made. The Staff is not here to clean up your messes. If you need cleaning supplies to clean up a mess, please ask the office.

12. Lost and found items will be located in the dancers lounge, please be sure to check the box if you are missing anything. We donate all clothing and shoes once a month to avoid a pile up of lost and found clothing and shoes, so be sure to check the box often.
    
    

The SMD Staff reserves the right to ask you to leave the studio if you cannot abide by the above policies.

Recital and Recital Ticket Policy

During the dance season, our students work on a choreographed dance, which is performed on stage for family and friends at our annual Spring Recital.  Participation in the recital is optional.  However, please notify the instructor as soon as possible so that adjustments can be made accordingly.  Also, in order to participate in the recital you must start classes no later than March 1st. If you start after March 1st, you are certainly welcome to take class, but you cannot participate in the recital.

There will be a recital fee per student (This fee is adjusted for families with multiple dancers). This fee includes:  the purchase of the Auditorium rental, dressing room rental, stage hands, DJ equipment, Lighting equipment, janitors, scenery and other expenses. Tickets will go on sale in May and tickets will have seat assignments. Ticket sales are on a first come first served basis. Tickets can be pre-ordered or purchased at the door.

**ALL studio fees must be paid in full or your child will not be permitted to participate in the recital**

Dress Rehearsal Policy

A mandatory dress rehearsal will be held prior to the recital. All students must rehearse all of their numbers at the dress rehearsal or they will not be permitted to perform in the recital. Students must come to dress rehearsal fully prepared in costume, tights, make up and shoes at their scheduled time ready to dance.  Unless you show up extra early, there is no time to get ready.

Costume Payment Policy for the Spring Recital

Recital costume fees generally run anywhere from $75-$100 per costume.  Each class will have a different costume (except for a few select classes).  All costume payments are due in full in February. You may begin paying on costumes as soon as dance begins in September. We just ask that these payments be made separately from your tuition payments. 

Costume sizes are determined based on the following factors:  1) our staff measures each dancer for their costumes. 2) For the younger dancers we add two inches to those measurements to allow for growth. 3) The measurements are reviewed with the costume manufacturers sizing information (sizing varies between manufactures).  4) Final costume size is assigned to your dancer.

Prior to the costume payments being due, you will receive costume invoice.  These invoices must be reviewed, signed and returned to the office with your full costume payment.   These forms confirm the size and price for the costume(s) that will be ordered for the recital.  If you do not agree with the sizing, please see the office staff to discuss concerns/options.  Once you sign and return the costume forms and payment, no changes can be made and all sizing confirmations are final.

Costumes cannot be ordered unless they are paid in full. Once costumes are ordered there will be no refunds.  If a costume needs to be exchanged for any reason (other than manufacture defect), you are responsible for all extra charges associated with the exchange, including postage fees.

Class costumes are ordered together, which is why we have a deadline. If your costume payment is not received by the deadline, your costumes will not be ordered with the group orders. You will then be responsible for an individual order PLUS any required shipping & handling. A delay in payment for costumes may result in the costume not being delivered in time for the recital.

If a class requires additional accessories, including tights, shoes, etc. there will be additional charges and may be the responsibility of the dancer to purchase themselves outside of the studio.  Each instructor will provide information prior to recital that will go over the accessories needed for each costume, including instruction on how the dancer’s hair needs to be styled and make-up.

Side note:  Once costumes are decided upon our staff posts the catalog pictures for everyone to see their recital costumes.  These pictures are for reference only, not all accessories shown in these pictures are included with the costume that is being ordered.