TUITION & POLICIES FOR
PARENTS & STUDENTS 2024-25
It’s our absolute pleasure to warmly welcome you into our family at Ovation Dance. Our team is thrilled to see many familiar faces return to the studio and even more excited to see some new faces join our community. While we would love you to take the time to read this information carefully, we have it here on our website for you to refer to as you need, don’t forget that we are always here to help and will happily answer any questions you may have.
Nothing is too big or too small, we promise!
**It is important to carefully consider these policies and procedures before enrolling in dance classes at our studio. Please note that by registering for classes, you are acknowledging and agreeing to comply with all Ovation policies and agreeing to all waivers. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we strive to provide the best possible dance experience for all of our students. Thank you for choosing our studio for your dance education.
Registration
An annual Registration fee of $35 per dancer is due at registration for the 2024-2025 school year. This fee helps cover administrative expenses, our studio app for on-the-go access to our services, insurance, supplies, building maintenance and secure student placement. Registration fees are non-refundable. ALL class placements are solely at the discretion of the Instructor and/or Studio Director. Please note that by registering for classes, you are acknowledging and agreeing to comply with all Ovation policies and agreeing to all waivers.
Waiver/Media/Liability Form I have chosen to have my child or myself participate in instruction given by Ovation Performing Arts/Ovation Dance (Ovation). I acknowledge that I understand the nature of the activities they/I will be participating in and the possibility that despite precautions, accidents, illness and/or physical injury may occur. I hereby release, waive and discharge Ovation, its directors, teachers, employees, and volunteers from any and all liability, claims, demands, and causes of action whatsoever, arising out of or related to any loss, damage, illness or injury, including death, that may be sustained by the participant and/or the undersigned, while in or upon the premises or any premises under the control and supervision of Ovation. Furthermore I authorize the staff in the event of illness or injury to administer emergency care and to arrange for any medical transportation to the nearest health care facility deemed appropriate. I understand every effort will be made to contact the parent or guardian prior to any involved treatment. I grant permission to a qualified physician and /or other medical personnel to furnish medical care using the above guidelines while my child/children are in or upon the premises or any premises under the control and supervision of Ovation. I will not hold Ovation liable for any personal injury or any personal property damage or loss, which may occur on the premises before, during or after classes or which may occur at any Ovation sponsored event outside the studio. I understand that Ovation is not responsible for my child or other children who are left unsupervised in the common areas and areas surrounding the dance studio and that Ovation will only be supervising my child when he or she is participating in scheduled activities, programs or instruction. I grant permission and understand that photos/videos taken during this event could be used in print advertisements and other forms of media and publication. Furthermore I/we agree to read and follow the class and facility policies and take full responsibility for my/our behavior in addition to any damage I/we may cause to the facilities utilized by Ovation. I understand that should my child become a disruptive force during the educational program, the instructor may choose to release him/her from the program with no refund.
Tuition & Payments
Tuition for Regular Season classes is split into 9 payments (September to May) and is based on the time period of the entire season's scheduled classes and divided into equal payments. - Note that tuition is based on a yearly cost, and there are no pro-ratings or price cuts for shorter months, holidays, or school closures. - Statements will be sent via email on the 23rd of the month. **TUITION PAYMENT OPTIONS** - We require a valid payment method on file for all registrations. - You can choose to: + Prepay your monthly tuition in full by the due date, avoiding any late fees + Set up Autopay, which will automatically deduct your monthly tuition on the 1st of each month - If you do not prepay, we will automatically process your tuition on the 1st of each month using the payment method on file. **LATE FEES AND SUSPENSION OF SERVICES** - Accounts not paid within these terms are subject to an accruing non-refundable $25 late fee on the 10th of the month. - Students may not participate in studio activities for the month until balance is paid in full. -Costumes, recital tickets, and performance eligibility will be suspended for accounts with past-due balances. - Accounts more than 60 days past due may be submitted to collections. **PAYMENT PLANS** - Payment plans are available to request. Please email us to request a plan by 3pm the Friday before payment is due. **REFUND POLICY** - There are No Refunds on tuition, registration fees, or costumes. However, in extreme cases (e.g., studio closure or medical emergency), approval from the director may be granted for a refund. Requests must be made in writing and approved by the director. **WITHDRAWAL POLICY** - All students are considered to be a registered student of Ovation Dance until the recital in May unless the proper withdrawal process has been completed. - Until such time, you will continue to be responsible for all expenses.
Tuition Fees 2024-25 Monthly Tuition is based on # of classes per week. 1 Class: $58 2 Class Bundle: $103 3 Class Bundle: $146 4 Class Bundle: $183 5 Class Bundle: $215 6 Class Bundle: $240 7 Class Bundle: $280 8 Class Bundle: $320 The more you dance, the more you save! DISCOUNTS: We offer a 10% discount if tuition for the entire year is paid in full by Sept 6th. Please contact us to apply for this discount. Families who refer their friends to dance at Ovation Dance during our school year program will receive a $10 credit towards anything at Ovation Dance – and your friend will too! Simply have your friend email us and let us know they were referred by you to claim the benefit.
Communication
At Ovation Dance, we go to great lengths to keep you informed and up to date. We send home a monthly newsletter, post on our website, have chat enabled on our studio app, feature notices in the lobby and most importantly email. Please do not opt-out of our emails as you will miss important information. It is the responsibility of the parent and/or student to obtain the information provided by Ovation Dance. It is imperative, and in your best interest, to have an active email account with which we can send up-to-date communications, as well as provide a cell phone number. We rarely, if ever, give out hard copy notes to students. Parents who prefer to receive hard copy notes instead of emails must check with Ovation regularly to have them printed. Phone and Address Change: It is the responsibility of the guardian or adult student to inform Ovation Dance of any contact information change
Recital & Costume Fee
NEW THIS YEAR - For performing classes, one costume is needed per class and this year, we are including class shoes in our costume fee. A $40 non-refundable deposit is due September 1st along with September tuition, and the remaining balance is due on November 1 with November tuition. The total amounts vary depending on the class and shoes required. For example, Ballet class only requires one pair of ballet shoes, while a Jazz/Tap class requires both Tap and Jazz shoes. Costume fees must be paid by November 1st or at registration for late registrations. As an option, we offer flexible payment plans for the remaining balance. If you are interested in exploring these payment plans, please inquire for details. The Recital fee is $50 per dancer or $75 per family, which includes Ovation Dance staffing during rehearsal week and recitals, show expenses for an unforgettable experience, and a Recital t-shirt for each participating child. This fee is due with February Tuition.
Early Withdrawal Policy
To withdraw from the program, a parent must complete the following steps: 1. Email the studio to initiate the withdrawal process. 2. Complete the online withdrawal form. 3. Pay the $30 Early Withdrawal Fee. Note: This fee will be charged if the withdrawal is initiated after the two-week period from the start of the season. Tuition Refund Policy: - Tuition refunds are only available if a withdrawal is requested within the first two weeks of the season. After this period, there are no refunds for tuition. - There are no refunds for costume/shoe or registration fees that have already been paid. Once we have received the withdrawal form and the Early Withdrawal Fee, along with any remaining tuition, registration, costume fees, or balances, please be aware that it may take up to 30 days for AutoPay to cease processing payments. Any delinquent accounts after 90 days will be forwarded to a collection agency, which may result in additional charges and penalties. Additionally, students who do not attend class will still be considered “enrolled,” and tuition will continue to be charged until official notification of withdrawal has been sent, received, and acknowledged.
Dress Code
Proper attire and hair etiquette are required for all classes. Please see our Dress Code for more details on what attire your child will need for classes. NEW THIS YEAR! Class Shoes are now included in the costume fees. We will fit children for shoes during Open house or during studio hours. Additional shoes can be ordered through the studio, please contact us to schedule a fitting if needed.
Arrival & Pick-up
Dancers should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to their class time. After class is over, your dancer will not be supervised. Please pick her/him up promptly. If your older dancer has a break between dance classes, he/she is welcome to bring a snack/homework/a quiet activity and wait in our lobby. We will wait 10 minutes after the last class of the evening for you to pick up your dancer. Please be respectful of the staff's time and do not abuse this. Due to the operational and staffing costs incurred when a parent/guardian is late, a Late Fee will be charged. Please contact us if you are running late or if there is an emergency situation so that we can help your student remain calm. Should a parent/guardian be excessively late and cannot be reached, and if the emergency contact is unreachable, we reserve the right to involve law enforcement or Child Protective Services to ensure the safety and well-being of the child.
Performances
All classes will perform in our Annual Recitals in the Spring either in April or May. It is assumed that all dancers will participate in the recitals unless you notify the studio by Sept 28th. Other optional performances may include basketball half times, other showcases and events in the community. We end our season with a professional Themed Recital. Recital dates & mandatory rehearsal dates are on the school year calendar. All Recitals require tickets to be purchased for audience members. You are kindly asked to purchase recital tickets to assist in funding various event elements such as venue rental, technical production, venue staffing, and custodial fees. Dancers do not need tickets for shows they are performing in. Details are published in April. We attempt to accommodate school activities while meeting the technical demands of the show. Our priority is to prepare your children for the performance experience of a lifetime! Recital plans are subject to change.
Illness
Please notify the teacher of any illness, injury, or special needs your child may have. Ensure contact information on file is up to date for emergencies. Keep students home if they have symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, or vomiting in the last 48 hours. Students with contagious illnesses will not be allowed to participate in class. In the event of large gatherings restrictions, classes may be modified or offered online. Modifications may include closing the lobby, live-streamed classes, and other adjustments as needed.
No Class Dates, Attendance & Class Makeups
Regular attendance is vital to student progress and group choreography. Please make every effort to attend each class. Make-ups are allowed if granted permission from the Director. Dancers with excessive absences (more than 5) in the spring may not be able to perform their recital routine. It is important to make an effort to come to class and be on time. Please submit your absence before class via your Parent Portal or call/text/email the office if unable to make a class due to illness or other reason to be excused. If the studio is not notified of your student’s absence prior to their class time, the absence will be counted as unexcused.
No Class Dates: Sept 2 Labor Day Nov 25-29 Thanksgiving Break Dec 23 - Jan 3 Winter Break Feb 17 Presidents Day March 24th - 28th
Student-Teacher Interaction & Parent Observation
Classes at Ovation Dance are designed to challenge students in body awareness, activity, and artistry, which may involve physical contact for alignment adjustments and technique demonstrations. If a student is uncomfortable with hands-on contact, we encourage them to kindly inform the instructor or studio front desk. For the comfort and focus of our younger dancers, we kindly ask parents to refrain from observing or peeking during classes. Closed-circuit TVs in the lobby allow parents to watch classes without causing distractions. Rest assured, there will be ample opportunities for family and friends to enjoy watching the dancers perform at recitals or in-person observation weeks. Your cooperation in maintaining a positive learning environment for all students is greatly appreciated.
Student & Parent Expectations
-Students should not be left at Ovation Dance for excessive time before or after class. Ovation Dance is not responsible for children outside of their scheduled class time. Parents/guardians should remain with children aged 3 and under during lessons. -Ovation Dance does not provide child care. Parent(s)/guardian(s) must supervise their children if brought to the studio. -All members are expected to be respectful at all times to fellow classmates, Ovation Dance staff, our facility & visitors. Instructors will speak to parents regarding any discipline or behavioral problems. -Ovation Dance has a zero-tolerance policy for violence, contention, or threats in any manner. Inappropriate remarks on social media will lead to immediate dismissal. -Families may be suspended or dismissed without refund for not following studio policies or displaying disruptive behavior. -Concerns can be addressed with the studio director through an appointment or an appropriate email.
Miscellaneous
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Ovation Dance reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regular teacher is ill or otherwise unable to teach. If Ovation Dance cannot arrange a substitute, any missed classes will be made up. Ovation Dance reserves the right to reschedule class, change the instructor, or combine classes.
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Low enrollment classes may be canceled and a refund will be issued. There are no refunds for missed classes.
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Inclement Weather: an email & Robo Text/Email/Dial message will be sent and a social media post made by 2:00 PM if afternoon/evening classes are canceled. All classes have one built-in weather cancellation day. In the event of a second cancellation (weather, epidemics, states of emergency, etc.) or unexpected teacher absence where a substitute cannot be found, the specific class will be rescheduled by the studio administrators.
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Please make sure all dancers have used the restroom & washed their hands/sanitized before coming into class as to prevent any unneeded interruptions during class time.
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No street shoes are permitted on the dance floor as dirt, rainwater, grime, gum, and winter salt can cause the wood flooring to erode.
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No Cell phones allowed on the dance floor. All phones must be silenced and stored away in our student waiting area.
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Ovation Dance is not responsible for left or lost items.
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No food, gum or drinks (besides water) will be allowed on the dance floor. Dancers & families are expected to pick up after themselves & keep all studio areas neat and clean.
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All choreography and lessons are property of Ovation Dance and are not to be performed/taught without consent from the Director. Students may perform routines for school talent shows and extra events with prior written permission.
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Class Pictures- Buying annual dance class pictures is not required, just a super special bonus option. Cost varies greatly depending on the picture package. Class and individual pictures are typically taken the first week in April; specifics will be in the monthly newsletter.
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Upon registration, Ovation Dance is hereby granted permission to take photographs and/or video of the student to use in brochures, websites, posters, advertisements, social media and other promotional materials. I hereby grant full permission to any and all the foregoing to use any photographs, videotapes, or other recordings of the student. Permission is also hereby granted for the Ovation Dance to copyright such photographs in its name.