DLA Competition cost agreement policy
Sep 03, 2026 10:59 PM
Dance Loud Academy
Competition Team Attendance Agreement
2026-2027 Competition Season
This Attendance Agreement is intended to clearly explain the attendance expectations for dancers accepted onto
the Dance Loud Academy Competition Team. Competition Team is a full-season commitment. Attendance impacts
choreography, staging, formations, dancer safety, team progress, rehearsal efficiency, competition readiness, and
the overall experience of every dancer on the team.
By signing this Agreement, Parent/Guardian and Dancer acknowledge that attendance is mandatory and that
failure to follow this policy may result in consequences including, but not limited to, private lesson requirements,
reblocking fees, alternate/understudy placement, removal from routines, removal from performances, suspension,
dismissal from Competition Team, and/or continued financial responsibility as outlined in the Dance Loud Academy
Competition Team Contract and Financial Responsibility Agreement.
1. Full-Season Attendance Commitment
• Dancers are expected to participate in all required classes, rehearsals, choreography sessions, extra
rehearsals, performances, competitions, conventions if required, recital, community performances, and
Nationals if Dance Loud Academy elects to attend.
• Acceptance of Competition Team placement means the dancer and family agree to prioritize team
commitments for the entire competition season.
• Parent/Guardian understands that absences affect not only the absent dancer, but also every dancer in the
affected routine.
2. Required Classes and Rehearsals
• Dancers must attend all required weekly technique classes, team classes, choreography rehearsals, cleaning
rehearsals, extra rehearsals, and scheduled team events assigned by Dance Loud Academy.
• Dance Loud Academy may schedule additional rehearsals before performances or competitions when needed
for team readiness.
• Extra rehearsals may be mandatory and may be scheduled on weekends, evenings, or other times outside the
regular class schedule when necessary.
3. Absence Limit
• Dancers are permitted a maximum of four (4) absences per semester unless otherwise approved in writing by
the Director.
• Fall semester is generally considered September through December. Spring semester is generally considered
January through June, or through Nationals if applicable.
• The absence limit includes, but is not limited to, illness, school events, sports, vacations, family events,
transportation issues, social events, parties, and other activities.
• Excessive absences may result in consequences even if individual absences were communicated in advance.
4. Excused vs. Unexcused Absences
• An absence may be communicated, but communication does not automatically make the absence excused.
• Excused absences may include serious illness, medical emergencies, family emergencies, school-required
events that cannot be rescheduled, or other circumstances approved by the Director.
• Unexcused absences may include vacations, social events, optional school activities, recreational activities,
sports conflicts, transportation issues, failure to plan, oversleeping, forgetting rehearsal, or choosing another
activity over a required Dance Loud commitment.
• Dance Loud Academy reserves the sole right to determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
5. Two-Week Competition Blackout Period
• Dancers may not miss any required rehearsal, class, cleaning session, or team practice within two (2) weeks
prior to a competition, performance, recital, showcase, or Nationals without prior written approval from the
Director.
• Absences during this period are especially harmful because choreography, spacing, formations, transitions, and
competition readiness are being finalized.
• An absence during the two-week blackout period may result in immediate removal from part or all of a routine,
alternate placement, private lesson requirements, reblocking fees, or other consequences at the Director’s
discretion.
6. Choreography Attendance
• Attendance at all choreography sessions is mandatory.
• Missing choreography may result in the dancer being removed from sections of a routine, placed in a reduced
role, required to schedule private lessons at the family’s expense, or removed from the routine entirely.
• If a dancer misses choreography and additional staff time is required to teach missed material, Parent/Guardian
is responsible for any private lesson, rehearsal, or administrative fees assessed.
7. Competition Attendance
• Attendance at all scheduled regional competitions is mandatory unless the Director approves an exception in
writing.
• Dancers must be available for the entire competition weekend. Competition schedules are controlled by the
competition organization and may change with little notice.
• Families may not assume a dancer will only be needed for a specific day or time until the official schedule is
released and confirmed by Dance Loud Academy.
• Missing a competition may result in removal from routines, reblocking fees, loss of future performance
opportunities, dismissal from Competition Team, and continued financial responsibility for all competition fees
and other incurred expenses.
8. Nationals Attendance
• If Dance Loud Academy elects to attend Nationals, Nationals attendance is mandatory unless the Director
approves an exception in writing.
• Only the Director may approve a Nationals exception.
• Dancers must be available for the required Nationals dates determined by Dance Loud Academy, including
rehearsals, competitions, awards, team activities, and any required arrival/departure windows.
• Nationals fees remain subject to the Nationals Commitment Agreement and Financial Responsibility
Agreement.
9. School Activities, Sports, and Other Conflicts
• Dance Loud Academy respects that dancers may participate in school, sports, church, and other activities;
however, Competition Team requires a high level of commitment.
• Families are responsible for reviewing all known conflicts before accepting team placement.
• Sports, school clubs, dances, parties, games, vacations, and extracurricular activities do not automatically
excuse a dancer from Dance Loud commitments.
• If conflicts become excessive or interfere with the team, Dance Loud Academy may reduce the dancer’s role,
remove the dancer from routines, or dismiss the dancer from Competition Team.
10. Vacation and Travel Policy
• Families must provide advance written notice of any planned vacation or travel conflict as soon as possible.
• Vacations are not permitted during mandatory choreography periods, competition weekends, two-week
blackout periods, recital week, or Nationals unless approved in writing by the Director.
• Approval of one vacation or travel absence does not guarantee approval of future absences.
11. Illness and Injury
• Parents should notify Dance Loud Academy as soon as possible if a dancer is ill or injured and unable to
attend.
• A doctor’s note may be required for extended absences, injury-related limitations, or return to participation.
• Injury or illness does not automatically release the family from financial obligations already incurred.
• Dance Loud Academy may determine appropriate accommodations, modified participation, alternate
placement, removal from skills, removal from routines, or other adjustments based on dancer safety and team
needs.
12. Arrival and Pick-Up Expectations
• Dancers must arrive on time and prepared for class, rehearsal, performance, competition, and all team events.
• Late arrival disrupts rehearsal and may count as a partial absence or absence at the discretion of Dance Loud
Academy.
• Dancers should arrive dressed appropriately, with required shoes, hair supplies, costume pieces, accessories,
water, and any materials required for the scheduled activity.
• Parents are responsible for timely pick-up after classes, rehearsals, and events.
13. Communication of Absences
• All absences must be communicated directly to Dance Loud Academy through the communication method
designated by the studio.
• It is not sufficient to tell another dancer, another parent, an assistant, or a teacher unless that is the specific
method requested by Dance Loud Academy.
• Absence notice should include the dancer’s name, date of absence, class/rehearsal affected, reason for
absence, and expected return date if known.
• Failure to properly communicate an absence may result in the absence being treated as unexcused.
14. Private Lessons and Make-Up Requirements
• If a dancer misses choreography, cleaning, technique, or rehearsal time, Dance Loud Academy may require
private lessons or additional rehearsal time at the family’s expense.
• Make-up classes do not erase the absence from the attendance record unless specifically approved by Dance
Loud Academy.
• Private lessons may be required before a dancer is allowed to return to a routine, compete, or perform.
15. Reblocking Fees for Attendance-Related Issues
• If a dancer’s absence, excessive absences, late withdrawal, missed competition, injury-related removal, or
dismissal causes choreography, formations, spacing, transitions, lifts, tricks, entrances, exits, or staging to be
changed, Parent/Guardian may be charged reblocking fees.
• Minimum reblocking fee: $75 per affected routine.
• Dance Loud Academy reserves the right to assess additional fees when extensive choreography revisions,
additional staff time, private rehearsals, or administrative work are required.
16. Consequences for Attendance Violations
• Attendance violations may result in one or more consequences, at the discretion of Dance Loud Academy,
including verbal warning, written warning, required private lessons, reduced role, alternate/understudy
placement, removal from sections of choreography, removal from a routine, removal from competition,
reblocking fees, suspension from team activities, dismissal from Competition Team, or loss of future
solo/duet/trio opportunities.
• Dance Loud Academy is not required to apply consequences in a particular order. Serious or repeated
violations may result in immediate removal or dismissal.
17. No Refunds or Credits for Missed Classes or Events
• Tuition and fees are not reduced, refunded, prorated, or credited due to absences, missed rehearsals, missed
competitions, removal from routines, suspension, dismissal, vacation, illness, injury, scheduling conflicts, or
voluntary withdrawal.
• Competition entries, choreography, costumes, conventions, Nationals, and other committed expenses remain
subject to the Financial Responsibility Agreement.
18. Director Discretion
• Dance Loud Academy and its Director retain sole discretion to interpret and enforce this Attendance
Agreement.
• Dance Loud Academy may make case-by-case decisions based on dancer safety, fairness to the team,
choreography needs, competition readiness, staffing, and studio operations.
• Exceptions must be approved in writing by the Director. Verbal conversations, assumptions, or informal
messages do not waive this Agreement.
Attendance Consequence Guide
The following guide is not exhaustive and does not limit Dance Loud Academy’s discretion. Consequences may
vary based on timing, severity, routine impact, and whether the issue is repeated.
Issue Possible Consequences
Late arrival or early departure Partial absence, warning, make-up work, private lesson requirement
Exceeded absence limit Reduced role, alternate status, removal from routine, dismissal
Missed choreography session Private lesson requirement, reduced role, removal from choreography sections,
removal from routine
Absence within 2 weeks of
competition
Removal from routine, reblocking fee, alternate placement, dismissal from competition
routine
Missed competition Reblocking fee, loss of future opportunities, dismissal, continued financial responsibility
Failure to communicate absence Unexcused absence, warning, attendance review, additional consequences
Repeated sports/school conflicts Schedule review, reduced role, removal from routines, dismissal if conflicts continue
Parent and Dancer Acknowledgment
_____ I understand Competition Team attendance is mandatory.
_____ I understand the absence limit is four (4) absences per semester unless otherwise approved.
_____ I understand absences within two (2) weeks of competition/performance are not permitted without written
approval.
_____ I understand school, sports, vacations, and social events do not automatically excuse absences.
_____ I understand missed choreography may require private lessons at my expense.
_____ I understand attendance-related issues may result in reblocking fees starting at $75 per affected routine.
_____ I understand missed competitions may result in removal from routines and continued financial responsibility.
_____ I understand no refunds, credits, or prorations are given for missed classes, rehearsals, or events.
_____ I understand Dance Loud Academy and the Director have sole discretion to interpret and enforce this
Agreement.
Dancer Name: ________________________________________________
Dancer Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: __________________
Parent/Guardian Name: ________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________ Date: __________________
Parent/Guardian Email: ________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone: ________________________________________
Dance Loud Academy Competition Team Attendance Agreement 2026-2027