Class Policies
Levels
Placement in class levels is based on many factors including a student’s mastery of material, strength, artistic development, commitment, maturity, and attendance as determined by their instructor and/or Director. A student’s ability to properly execute the required material is mandatory before progressing to the next level. It is not unusual for a student to remain at the same level for several years while improving their mastery of material and strength.
If you are a returning student, please check in with the director to ensure you are in the correct class. To ensure the best development as a dancer, you will only be allowed to enroll in your required/recommended level.
If you are a beginner with no previous experience or a student with dance experience but looking to try a new dance form, enroll in a class that is age appropriate. Imperial Beach Dance co. staff will place new students who have had previous study at other dance schools into the appropriate level. Please call the director before registering so that we may assist in your correct placement.
Baby and Me (ages 18 months- 2.5) A fun, upbeat class where a young child and parent, grandparent, relative, or other special caregiver engage in a variety of music and movement activities together.
Music and Movement (ages 2.5-3.5) Classes that combine music with physical movement, such as singing, dancing, and moving to the beat that gets dancers ready to be in a full length class.
Mini classes (ages 3.5-5) Classes designed for FUN and mastery of the fundamentals in a specific dance discipline in which you are registering.
Level 1 — Classes are designed for dancers beginning their journey in dance and for dancers who need to continue to build on and reinforce the required dance skills needed to move to the next level. Dancers may stay in the level for up to 3 years.
Level 2 — By director/teacher approval only. Up to 3 years previous experience in the specific discipline in which you are registering.
Level 3 — By director/teacher approval only. Up to 6 years previous experience in the specific discipline in which you are registering
Level 3 and above students must be registered in a minimum of two technique classes per week.
Level 4 — By director/teacher approval only. Up to 6 years previous experience in the specific discipline in which you are registering
Privates — These classes are designed to improve technical ability and are NON-recital classes. If you would like a solo, duo, trio for recital please speak to a director who will inform you of the packages we have to offer.
Placement and Levels (students must be the age listed for class requirement as of the first day of dance session)
Class Size
There are size limits for each class depending on the age of the students, the size of the studio, and the type of class. These limits are strictly enforced to ensure the quality of your dance education. A wait list will be started for any class that has reached its capacity. Imperial Beach Dance co. reserves the right to cancel a class due to insufficient enrollment. Class size must be at least four students. If a class is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment and an alternative class cannot be found, a full refund will be issued.
Staffing
Imperial Beach Dance co.’s reserves the right to substitute qualified staff, whenever necessary, to ensure the success of a class. Refunds are not granted for staffing changes.
Dress Code
Imperial Beach Dance co.’s dress code is designed for uniformity and efficiency. It helps each student present a neat appearance and shows they have respect for dance. As with any sport that requires a uniform, our required apparel is selected to allow students to move freely, help instructors view their alignment properly, and have proper shoes to ensure safety in all forms of dance. Anyone not wearing the appropriate attire will be unable to participate in class, but may sit and observe class.
Baby and Me, Music and Movement — any color or style of dancewear or activewear. No street clothes or shoes may be worn. Ballet skirts, shorts, or pants are allowed but no formal costumes. Hair must be off face. May wear ballet shoes, socks, or be barefoot (this applies to the adult accompanying the dancer for Baby and Me)
Mini Ballet/Tap — pink leotard and pink tights must be worn to every class. Hair must be worn in a bun or ponytail. No tee shirts, cover-ups, skirts, or sweats may be worn. Form fitting sweaters may be worn on colder days. No jewelry, bracelets, rings, watches, or distracting hair accessories. Pink ballet shoes and black tap shoes must be worn to every class.
Ballet — solid black leotard and pink tights must be worn to every class. Hair must be worn in a bun. No tee shirts, cover-ups, skirts, or sweats may be worn. Form fitting sweaters and sweats may be worn on colder days over their leotard and tights. No jewelry, bracelets, rings, watches, or distracting hair accessories. Pink ballet shoes must be worn to every class.
Jazz, Tap — Form-fitting clothing must be worn to every class. Tank tops, half tops, leggings, jazz pants/shorts in any color are acceptable. No tee-shirts, sweats, or baggy clothing may be worn. Hair must be worn off of the face in a ponytail. No jewelry, bracelets, rings, or watches. Tan jazz shoes or black tap shoes must be worn to every class.
All Hip Hop classes — Activewear must be worn to every class. Students may express their individual style and may wear less form-fitting clothing tee shirts, sweats, and hats are acceptable. No jeans, skirts, dresses, or jean shorts. Hair must be secured away from face. No jewelry. Sneakers must be worn to every hip hop class. No crocs
*Crocs may be worn when changing in and out of shoes but not to be danced in.*
Class Attendance, Tardiness, and Illness:
Regular attendance is vital to learning. Please plan to arrive for class with adequate time to dress so that you will be in the studio on time to start class. Progress in class is dependent on participation and consistent attendance.
Tardiness: If a student arrives more than 5 minutes after the start of class, they miss the warm-up and run the risk of injury due to improper stretching and other aspects of the warm-up. A student arriving more than 10 minutes late may be turned away and asked to come back next week. This policy is followed not as a punishment but for the safety of the student. The student must respect this decision and the ongoing class.
If no students arrive at the 10 minute mark of class, class will be canceled and this will not be eligible for a refund.
Illness: Your child will not be allowed to attend classes if they have had ANY of the following:
Fever in the last 24 hours
Contagious/Infectious Illness/ Missed classes may be made up, preferably within one month in a comparable class as long as the class is the same grade and level as the class that was missed. Please call ahead, and the front desk staff will schedule the makeup class and inform the teacher that you are planning to attend their class. If you are unable to attend a class in the same discipline, you are welcome to make up a class in any other discipline (what a great opportunity to try a new class!!) There will be NO refunds for missed classes.
Tuition
Only to be paid on DanceStudio Pro
Please remember, registration cannot be taken without payment in full. No refunds will be given two weeks prior to classes beginning.
There are no refunds given for cancelled or missed classes. Make up classes are allowed for any class missed due to scheduled studio closings, inclement weather, illness, or family/school functions within a month of the missed class. Only 2 make-up classes will be allowed per month. This may be discussed more with the director.
THIS POLICY WILL BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED.
**payment plan available**ask for details
A $15 late fee will be charged if tuition is not paid by the 10th of the month. Your dancer will not be allowed to participate in the following month's classes if the past due amount is not paid by the 1st of the following month.
Reminders:
Please label your child’s belongings (shoes, bags, sweaters, coats, boots), etc.
Please make sure that all younger students have gone to the bathroom prior to class.
Please make sure that the studio has a valid parent email address when you register since the studio uses emails to send important information and updates throughout the year [including statements and billing].
Please familiarize yourself with studio policies, dress codes, special events, important dates and closings, tuition, recital, and registration information.
Please drop off and pick up your child(ren) promptly at the end of their class(es).
Food and Drink
Absolutely no food or drink (except water in a closed bottle) will be allowed inside any of the dance rooms. This rule pertains to students and parents. No gum chewing. Snacks and drinks may be eaten outside of the classroom during breaks when allotted by the teacher.
Conferences
To discuss your child’s progress, or to answer any questions you may have, we recommend you make an appointment with their teacher via email. Parents should feel free to call either studio and request a return call or an appointment if their child loses interest in dance, or seems unhappy with the class. Most times a change in teacher or subject can make dance new and exciting again. Please refrain from asking the teacher any questions during class time as we do not want the dancers to lose valuable class time.
