School Policies
The Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing shares traditional, artistic and competitive Irish dancing with our community. Through our lessons, the living tradition of Irish dancing is passed down to the next generation.
The Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing has one An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha certified-Irish dance instructor called a TCRG: Lauren Carroll-Bolger. TCRGs are the bearers of the Irish dance cultural tradition. To become a TCRG, a highly-skilled dancer is tested on their knowledge of the traditions of the dance form and their teaching ability.
Part 1) Tuition and Registration
Current monthly tuition class rates can be found when registering online.
A) A yearly family registration fee of $35 (Missoula) / $37 (Seattle) will be charged when families register for the first semester of the school year.
B) Tuition is charged on the first of each month and is due by the 15th of the month.
C) A $20 late fee is charged if the tuition is not received 14 days after the due date. If left unpaid, a $20 late fee is charged every 30 days.
D) There will be no tuition refunds, including for student absences. If a student is absent, they may make up the class by attending another dance class. Please contact your instructor for information on which class they may attend. In some cases, other appropriate classes may not be available.
E) Monthly rates are the same from September through June even though class days vary from month to month. The only months that are an exception to this are December, January, and June due to Winter and Summer Holidays. The dates of this will be announced in November, and the tuition fee for Dec/Jan will also be announced then. If a class is canceled by the teacher, the instructor will either credit accounts for the one class or arrange a make-up class.
F) Dancers will be ineligible to register for a new season of classes if they have outstanding balances on their account.
G) If a family chooses to withdraw from classes, they must drop the class via the following methods at least five (5) days prior to the start of the next month:
- Contact our administrative team at info@chirishdance.com
- Drop the class via your parent portal
If a dancer is not withdrawn from class, the next month’s tuition will be charged, and the dancer will continue enrollment until we hear confirmation.
Part 2: Code of Conduct
The Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing adopts a student-centered approach and philosophy in the management of classes to ensure that all pupils at all times are provided with a high level of education in Irish dancing.
The execution of this code of conduct is the responsibility of all members of the school, and any questions about this code should be addressed to the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing.
Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians:
Parents/Guardians have an influential role in encouraging their children to adopt positive attitudes to maintain the spirit of Irish dancing. Parents/Guardians are asked to agree to the following:
A) Classes are closed to parents except for the last 10 minutes of class, unless a dancer needs their parents for confidence or other reasons in which they must notify the instructor. During the year, there will be designated viewing times in which parents/grandparents/friends are allowed to observe the class. This helps students concentrate on the class and practicing. If any parents have any concerns about this, please let the instructor know. Exception: New beginners and ceili cub/leaping little families are welcome to watch class from inside our studio.
B) Parents/Guardians have the responsibility to ensure their dancer arrives on time safely and ready for class. This includes having students use the bathroom prior to the start time of class. When class begins, dancers must have their dancing shoes and clothing on.
C) Parent’s/Guardians must pick up their child(ren) immediately after class. If a family member is more than 10 minutes late to pick up their dancer, they will be charged $5 for every 5 minutes they are late.
D) Respect the teacher’s opinion and encourage your child(ren) to do the same.
E) Show your appreciation for other students in the class and kindness to the instructor. Our school is a supportive community, and parents are asked to praise and encourage their own students and the efforts of all individuals within the school.
F) Use correct and appropriate language at all times around the school.
G) Support the participation of your child and help them enjoy their experience when dancing.
I) Respect the rights, dignity, and diversity of all students regardless of gender, ability, ethnic and cultural origin or religion.
J) Bullying, gossiping, or disrespectful and hurtful language regarding any other dancers, dance families, and Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing teachers and staff will not be tolerated at any time. If any instances of this occur, the family will be asked to leave the school.
K) Be prepared to assist and support events organized by your child’s class.
L) Inform teachers of all medical conditions or injuries relating to your child(ren).
M) It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to ensure the understanding and cooperation of the code of conduct for students.
N) It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to check-in with instructors regarding upcoming events or unexpected changes in the classes.
Code of Conduct for Students:
A) Overall and most importantly, enjoy and have fun in class!
B) All students are encouraged to be open with their teacher and share concerns or complaints.
C) Respect the dignity and worth of all in class. Show respect for the teacher and listen to their instructions.
D) Intimidation of other students or teachers will not be tolerated, and any kind of discrimination or bullying is unacceptable in the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing. In the case of any bullying, the student will be asked to leave the school.
E) No running inside the premises.
F) Be in class, on time, dressed, with any shoes needed by the time class begins.
G) Food, gum, and soda are not allowed during class.
H) No outdoor shoes are allowed on the dance floor.
I) Mobile phones must be turned off during class.
J) Irish dancing can be a recreational activity, however, at-home practice is required. Teachers will instruct dancers what they should practice at home before their next class.
K) If a student misses school because of an illness, they are asked to not attend dance class. COVID - if a student is a close-contact, they are asked to not attend class until they receive a negative test. Until 5 days have passed since their close-contact date, they will need to wear a mask in class.
L) If a student wishes to start competing in feiseanna (Irish dancing competitions), they must attend two classes a week.
Part 3: Class Information
Clothing and Shoes for Class
Dancers should wear athletic clothing to class. No jeans or anything restrictive to movement. Hair should be tied back from the face and not be distracting to the dancer during class.
For the first two months of starting Irish dancing classes, students do not need to own Irish dancing ‘light shoes’. Students are not allowed to wear outdoor/street shoes into the studio spaces, so socks or bare feet are appropriate for classes. If they happen to have ballet slippers, those can also be worn. After two months of dancing, if the student wishes to continue classes, then they will be asked to purchase light shoes. The teacher will advise where to purchase these and what size works.
National Holidays and School Calendar
All classes will follow the school district's holidays/vacations. Therefore, if the school district has a snow day or a day off, there will be no dance classes. These classes will not be rescheduled, and the full tuition for the month is still due.
If a teacher is sick and another teacher is not available to teach the class, the teacher will contact the parents to reschedule class.
Classes run for 10 months during the year. There will be a 6-8 week summer program running from July to August, and one dance camp in summer which dancers are encouraged to attend. Summer classes are not mandatory, but highly recommended for new beginners.
Part 4: Shows, Competitions and Other Opportunities
Dancers have the opportunity to participate in public performances, recitals, competitions and grade examinations throughout the year. These are all opportunities and are not required for any dancer. We do highly encourage participation in our recitals, regardless of how long your dancer has been attending classes. Our recitals are a chance for dancers to showcase their new skills in a supportive family-environment.
Public Performances
The Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing will notify families of upcoming performance opportunities along with information regarding if a dancer is eligible for that performance. Some of our performances will be open to all dancers such as the recital, however, other shows may be open only to dancers with a specific level of experience.
We endeavor to ensure all dancers have a moment to shine on stage during a performance. Dancers in a more advanced level may have more dance time and opportunities on stage than a new-dancer, due to their knowledge and execution of more choreography.
We ask that dancers have good attendance leading up to a performance (no missed classes the two weeks prior to the performance). However, if an extenuating circumstance comes up, please notify your instructor.
Dancers who participate in Mountlake Terrace Dance Academy classes have a different attendance expectation that must be met to participate in Mountlake Terrace Dance Academy recitals.
Competitions
Students are welcome to participate in competitions, called a feis. We have more information regarding what to expect in our feis guide. Please notify your instructor before considering a competition. Feiseanna (plural for feis) are never required. In some instances, an instructor may recommend a dancer participate, as it may help set an external goal for that dancer. However, it is always the dancer and family’s choice on whether they compete.
Grade Examinations
Following An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha’s recommendations, the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing strives to offer grade examination opportunities for dancers yearly. Dancers can progress through the grades to earn a diploma/certificate in Irish Dancing. This is an excellent, non-competitive opportunity for dancers to feel they have accomplished specific learnings throughout the year.
TCRG-Led Workshops - Missoula
All Missoula dancers who plan on participating in a public-facing performance including but not limited to recitals, competitions, shows, and grade exams, must attend one TCRG-led workshop per year. Missoula instructors will notify families when these workshops are being held.
Costumes
Costumes must be purchased if a dancer is performing in any shows, recitals or competitions. Our current costume information can be found here.
Dancers participating in team competitions over the age of 12 will be asked to acquire a school team costume. These dresses may be rented or purchased outright. The first year of rent is $275 and all subsequent years, $175, and includes new dresses if a dancer grows out of their current costume. A dress costs $625 to purchase outright. If a dancer grows out of their owned dress, the school may purchase the costume back following this fee-scale:
Dress Age
Cost
<1 year
$550
1 year - 1 year, 11 months
$525
2 years - 2 years, 11 months
$425
3 years - 3 years, 11 months
$325
4 years - 4 years, 11 months
$225
5 years+
$200
Part 5: Agreement
By registering a student to participate in the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dancing classes, the family is agreeing to all of the above. If a family is not following the above policies, a staff member will speak with them. If the family does not follow after two instances of a staff member speaking with them, they may be asked to leave the school.
The only exception is for any discriminatory, dangerous, or bullying behavior. In these instances, a family may be asked to leave effective immediately for the safety of all other dancers and families.
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