Forrester School of Dance
Registration, Withdrawal & Refund Policy
Effective September 1, 2026
At Forrester School of Dance, we want our registration policies to be clear, fair and easy for families to understand.
When you register for a class or program, we reserve a place for your dancer and make staffing, scheduling and other arrangements based on those registrations. For that reason, we ask families to review the following information before registering.
1. Full-Year Dance Registration
Our full-year classes are designed as a commitment to the dance year.
If your dancer needs to leave a class during the year, we ask for one month’s written notice by email through our Studio Portal.
During that notice period, regular tuition remains due. If you have already paid tuition beyond the notice period, the remaining eligible amount will generally be placed on your Forrester account as a credit toward future School programming, rather than refunded.
We encourage families to speak with us before withdrawing. In some cases, moving to another suitable class or discipline, or simply taking a break may be a better option.
2. Monthly Payment Plans
Families paying monthly are still asked to provide one month’s written notice when withdrawing.
Tuition payments will continue during the notice period, after which future payments will stop.
3. Twice-Yearly Payments
Families paying twice yearly are also asked to provide one month’s written notice.
If tuition has already been paid for time beyond the notice period, the eligible remaining amount will be placed on the family’s Forrester account as a credit toward future School programming.
4. Tuition Paid in Full
Families who pay the full year’s tuition in advance may receive our early-registration or early-bird pricing.
If a dancer withdraws after the early withdrawal deadline, the early-bird discount may be removed when calculating any remaining tuition credit. This is because the discounted rate is offered in exchange for an early full-year commitment.
5. Early Withdrawal Period
For the 2026–2027 dance year, families may withdraw before August 31, 2026 and request a refund of eligible tuition paid in advance.
Any applicable non-refundable registration fees or other charges will remain on the account.
Beginning September 1, our regular one-month notice policy applies.
6. Missed Classes
We understand that children have busy lives and that illness, vacations, school activities and other commitments sometimes mean a dancer cannot attend.
We do not provide refunds, tuition reductions or account credits for individual missed classes.
Our classes, instructors and studio space are scheduled based on the number of students registered, whether or not a student is able to attend a particular class.
7. Four-Week Introductory Sessions
Our four-week introductory sessions are designed to give new dancers an opportunity to try a discipline before making a full-year commitment.
Because these sessions are short-term programs with limited spaces, registration is non-refundable once confirmed.
If a dancer misses a class during the session, we are unable to provide a refund or credit.
8. Four-Week Competition & Specialty Sessions
Competition, specialty and other short-term sessions are planned around specific dates, instructors and group sizes.
Registration for these programs is non-refundable once confirmed.
9. Private Lessons
Private lessons are scheduled specifically for the dancer and instructor.
Once a private lesson is booked, the lesson is non-refundable, as the instructor’s time has been reserved specifically for that student.
If a family can no longer attend, a lesson may be transferred to another dancer with prior approval from the School, provided the new dancer is an appropriate fit for the lesson.
Rescheduling may also be possible at the School’s discretion when circumstances and instructor availability allow.
10. Annual Registration & Spot-Holding Fee
Returning families may register for the upcoming dance year in May.
The annual registration/spot-holding fee is:
$25 + tax per dancer, or
$45 + tax per family
This fee helps us plan classes and reserve spaces for the upcoming year.
The registration/spot-holding fee is non-refundable and non-transferable once paid.
11. Early Registration & Early-Bird Pricing
Early registration begins in June each year.
Our early-bird discount is offered to families who make an early commitment to the full dance year. For 2026–2027, the early-bird discount is 10% for full-year prepayment/commitment.
Early-bird pricing is intended for families who are ready to make that full-year commitment. If a family withdraws after the early withdrawal period, the School may recalculate the remaining tuition using the regular published tuition rate.
12. Weather & Storm Closures
Nova Scotia weather doesn’t always cooperate with our dance schedule!
If classes need to be cancelled because of storms, severe weather, power outages or other circumstances beyond our control, classes will not be refunded or rescheduled.
We know that dancers don’t like missing class any more than we do. Throughout the year, and particularly as we get closer to recital and competitions, Ms. Shannon offers additional classes, practices or training opportunities at no extra charge.
These extra opportunities are simply a benefit we are happy to offer our dancers. They are not considered make-up classes or refunds for individual missed classes.
13. Changes to Classes or Programs
Occasionally, schedules, instructors, locations or programming may need to change because of enrollment, staffing or other circumstances.
We will always do our best to provide families with a suitable alternative.
If the School needs to cancel a class or program and cannot provide a reasonable alternative, we will communicate directly with affected families about the available options.
14. Special Circumstances
We understand that life happens.
Serious injury, medical circumstances, a family move or other significant situations may be considered individually by the School.
Families are welcome to contact us to discuss their circumstances. Supporting documentation may be requested where appropriate.
Any arrangement made in a special circumstance is considered on its own merits and does not automatically establish a policy for future situations.
15. Account Credits
When a credit is provided, it may be used toward eligible future Forrester School of Dance classes, programs or services.
Credits are not transferable between families unless approved by the School and are not redeemable for cash.
16. A Final Note to Our Families
We know that choosing a dance school is a commitment for both dancers and families, and we are grateful for that commitment.
Our goal with this policy is not to make leaving difficult. It is simply to make sure that everyone understands how registration and tuition work, so that we can plan responsibly for our dancers, teachers and School.
If you are ever unsure about a registration, payment or withdrawal, please talk with us first. We are always happy to have a conversation and see what options may be available.
Thank you for being part of Forrester School of Dance.
