Above all else, we need your attention and desire to dance.
We believe that all dancers should develop a sense of respect for themselves, the other dancers in their class, and the instructor. In order to help foster that respect we ask that students refrain from speaking socially during classes and for students to treat others as they would like to be treated. Talking and questions should be limited to class content.
Every student is expected to behave throughout the facility in a disciplined, responsible, and courteous manner. They must cooperate and be prepared to give the instructor their full attention. Students who continually act out in an inappropriate manner during class may be asked to leave the class or may possibly be moved to a more appropriate level.
The dance staff reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any student whose attitude, attendance, or conduct is found unsatisfactory. Parents will be notified. If an adult is contributing in a negative fashion to the overall atmosphere of our current space, a particular class, or is in any way attempting to manipulate a teacher, they will be asked to leave the premise immediately.
In our tradition of teaching and learning, if a student is given a correction, it is considered the highest form of a compliment. Students should realize that their instructor has taken time to help correct them because the teacher cares about their overall technique and wants to help them improve. Corrections are not an opportunity to argue with the instructor, but an opportunity to learn. Students should pay attention to all corrections given in class; they are usually intended for everyone.
If you have a concern with anything, from understanding why we plie, to costume choices, or even if something at home is affecting your child, please talk to the director; we cannot know there is a problem if you do not communicate it to us. We will also keep you informed about things going on with the studio.
In case of inclement weather, please call the director to confirm classes or listen to KFYR for cancellations. Generally, if the public schools are closed because of weather, we will not have classes either.
Our current facility, the dance staff, and the administration of the dance studio are not responsible for injuries, illnesses contracted, loss of personal property, or damage to personal property, which might occur on the premises. Please leave all valuables at home!
No gum or candy of any kind is permitted during classes. A water bottle is allowed.
There is no smoking allowed in the studio.
Attendance
Students who attend classes on a regular basis (and more than once a week) are those that experience the most from their dance education. Often when one student is absent, an instructor will need to repeat an entire lesson plan, arrange an extra rehearsal for the entire class, or at the very least, review choreography. Each class can be hindered by poor attendance, or can progress nicely with all striving to attend classes regularly.
Attendance is taken into consideration when placing students each year. Students who have missed one-quarter of the prior season’s lessons may need to take a placement class to determine the level of their ability, knowledge and confidence in executing choreography. Additionally, students who were previously placed in a higher level, but have shown poor attendance within that level, may be asked to return to their previous level until they can show the needed amount of dedication. Decisions in regard to placement and the students’ attendance are never made without a conference with the student, parent, instructor and director, and always with the interest of the student developing to the best of his or her ability.
Parents must notify the dance staff one (1) week prior to a planned absence. After two (2) absences that have NOT been notified, your spot in class will be replaced with someone from our waiting list. When students miss class due to illness or family emergency, please call and advise the studio as soon as possible. Students who miss class should ask their instructor for an appropriate class in which to make up the missed class within four weeks. (Students with a prolonged injury or illness of more than three weeks should arrange for private classes once they have recovered. They will need to be taught any missed new concepts or choreography.)
Students should come and leave class in street clothes. Be prepared to change once you are in the building or to remove clothing that covers your dance attire.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early for class to insure that you will have adequate time to change and to warm-up your muscles with stretches.
Arriving late is not only rude to the instructor, it also disrupts class and you will have missed part of warm-up, making an injury more likely. Students arriving more than 10 minutes late will not be able to participate in class.
If you must leave early, please give prior notice to the instructor.
Students must be picked up on time, unless an emergency arises. Children tend to get upset when parents are late. If you will be late please let us know. Parents are asked to come into the studio and pick up children under ten years of age. Please respect this request, as we do not feel comfortable with children waiting outside unsupervised. Once a child leaves the studio, we cannot be held responsible for their security.
Dress Code
In order to be able to work in a physical environment, one must have the proper dancewear.
Female Students:
Ballet Classes:
Black leotard (any style), Light pink tights, Pink leather ballet shoes, Hair in a bun, White elastic waistband. Skirts, sweaters, etc. allowed at instructors discretion.
Jazz or Modern Classes:
Plain black jazz or warm-up pants and comfortable (not baggy) top that you can move in; you will start with bare feet and then ballet or jazz shoes will be worn; hair can be loose or pulled back. Black jazz shoes are required for performances.
KinderDance Classes:
Leotard (any style, not frilly), Light pink tights, Pink leather ballet shoes, One lightweight pink and one blue sock or a pink and a blue scrunchie to be worn at the ankle(scrunchies with things that dangle from them are not allowed,) Hair back and off the face. Short chiffon skirts allowed, not puffy tulle skirts. Please leave jewelry and toys at home.
Male Students:
Black warm-up pants, shorts, or tights, White t-shirt, Black leather ballet or jazz shoes, White socks, Hair back and off face.
Students who are not in proper dance attire will be given something to wear from the extra dance-clothing box. If a student refuses to wear proper dancewear from the extras box, the student will forfeit their dance class. Parents will be notified should their child refuse to participate in class with the proper attire.
If you cannot afford dancewear for your child, please speak to the director.
Please put students’ names on every piece of dancewear and on the inside of all dance shoes so that lost items can be quickly returned to the owner.
No loose jewelry.
Street shoes, shorts, t-shirts, or any baggy garments will not be allowed in class.
Class Placement
Students will be placed according to the level of technique they can demonstrate in any given dance discipline and on the advice of their instructor.
At A Leap of Faith Dance, we look for several things in determining placement of our students including sound technical understanding, comprehension of the specific concepts and a strong level of confidence in their dancing. Students are placed with only the best intentions of the staff and the concern that the student is placed at a level where they will be challenged, not frustrated.
Students who feel they should be placed at a higher level are welcome to schedule a placement observation with their parent, instructor and the director all-present to determine their ability level. Students who request this will be asked to explain and demonstrate specific enchainments and combinations of our syllabus goals to show the director and instructor a complete knowledge and comprehension of all goals in their present level, before being placed in a higher level.
If students are transferring to A Leap of Faith Dance from another studio, we will ask them to take a class to determine their placement – generally at a level where we feel they will be comfortable enough to show their true ability. After their initial class, we will speak with the parent and student about the best class for them to continue to achieve their goals.
We offer pointe classes to students who are committed to taking at least two - three ballet classes per week, in addition to their pointe class, and have the proper bone maturation in order to support the pointe technique. The instructor must approve pointe classes.
Tuition
Tuition is not based on the number of classes per month, but is a total number of classes provided from September through the recital in June, with half of December and all of January off. If classes are held in January, they will be charged separately.
A student taking only one dance class per week is guaranteed a minimum of twenty-eight (28) classes and at least one (1) additional class factored in for inclement weather.
Tuition Rates:
28-Week Session Tuition Rates: Monthly
KD I & Boys (half hour) 30.00 KD II & Pre Ballet (45 min.) 35.00 One class (1-2 hours) 40.00 * Two classes per week 70.00 * Three classes per week 90.00
* The rate per class decreases as the number of classes increases.
** Paying for the full or half year saves money.
A single class fee of $10.00 is charged if you are an adult or student on a drop-in basis, or will be taking classes for less than 24 weeks.
An Annual Registration Fee of $15.00 per family is required of all students.
To take advantage of our tuition rates, all lessons must be paid according to a pre-arranged payment plan:
* one (1) full payment due by September 10. * two (2) equal payments due by September 10 and February 10. * seven and one half (7½) monthly payments due before the second class of each month.
A $5.00 late fee will be automatically added to monthly accounts that have not paid after the second class.
Scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance.
Tuition is non-transferable and non-refundable.
Any classes that are missed during a month may not be deducted from the next month’s tuition. It is the sole responsibility of the parent/student to make up missed classes within four weeks of the missed class. The instructor must approve make-up classes. A MAKE-UP sheet must be filled out when coming into the chosen class.
Credit will be applied to a student’s account for prolonged illness or severe injury of disability verified by a doctor’s certificate, beginning the day we are notified.
Please notify us if you will not be continuing class(es) so billing can be adjusted. DROP CLASS forms are available.
We reserve the right to cancel a class due to insufficient enrollment. Students will receive a refund.
There is a $25.00 charge of any returned check.
Payments may be mailed to: ALOFD PO Box 4004 Bismarck, ND 58502-4004
