Listed below are the most commonly asked questions/answers about our studios policies. If you require further assistance, please contact:

1. HOW IS MY CHILD PLACED?

If your child has indicated they are interested in learning how to dance, our staff will help you find the most suitable program. For a full description of each discipline please refer to our Programs Page. In order to place your child in the correct level our staff will ask the following questions:

1. Does your child have any experience or are they new to dance?
2. Has your child participated in other activities which might help them with co-ordination?
3. Is your child looking for a more active or passive dance class?  For example: Hip Hop is more of a cardio workout whereas ballet focuses more on grace & flexibility.

Generally students are placed according to their age & level of ability. For example, a 7 year old with no ballet experience would be better in a class of 6 & 7 year olds rather than a class of 7 to 9 year olds. We often suggest a private lesson for students who are beginners, to provide them with one on one technical instruction, before fitting them into an existing group of dancers. Private lessons are booked through the office and range anywhere from $65.00-$85.00 plus tax per hour (this depends on the instructor and the discipline).

2. WHAT ARE YOUR CLASS SIZES?

Typically we try to keep the class size to around 12 students. In some cases the class may go to as high as 15 students; however these classes will have an assistant assigned.  The minimum number of participants in order to run a class is 6. If we do not receive enough interest to offer the class you have registered for, we will contact you with other options. If a suitable substitute cannot be found you will receive a full refund.

3. ARE YOUR TEACHERS QUALIFIED?

All of our teachers are highly qualified professional instructors. Many are still performing professionally or have in the past.  Their bios and photos can be found on the faculty page.

4. DO I HAVE TO ATTEND ALL YEAR OR CAN I JUST ATTEND FOR ONE TERM?

We hope that your child will continue dancing all year as it is an excellent form of exercise that develops grace, balance, strength and posture. The year-end recital provides students with a goal to work towards.  It is an opportunity to develop confidence, stage presence and ultimately to share with their families and friends what they have learned all year. If your child is absolutely not enjoying their dance experience, they may withdraw at the end of term one. Notice of withdrawal from Term 1 must be directed in writing to the Admissions Manager or Studio Manager and must be received prior to December 19th, 2011.

5. WHAT IF I DROP OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE TERM?

Once a student has been registered for the year, there is no credit for missed classes. Students who withdraw before the end of the year will be charged a $60.00 administrative fee and will be refunded for the balance of the classes they will not be attending.

6. WHAT IF WE MISS CLASSES?

If a student misses a class due to illness, it can be made up by attending another class in the same or a different discipline that he/she is registered in. Please note that in Term 2, each class will be working on different choreography therefore it is more difficult to attend another class other than your own. Please check with your instructor or the office to find out when other classes are offered.

7. CANCELLED CLASSES

In the event of a severe winter storm the studio reserves the right to cancel classes for the safety of our students and instructors. Should we choose to cancel evening classes; a message will be left on the studio’s answering machine and on our website after 2 PM.  No refund will be given due to winter storm cancellations however if we have to cancel a class for any other reason there will be a make-up date scheduled prior to the year-end recital which may be on a day other than your regular class day/time.  We will try our best to accommodate all students; however we will not be able to schedule more than 1 make-up lesson per cancelled class.

8. ATTENDANCE

Dance is exercise and also involves choreography. If you have made the commitment to participate in a class but do not attend regularly, not only will you get out of shape but you will also miss the choreography.  This is unfair to those who do attend regularly. Punctuality is also important as late arrivals are very disruptive for the instructor and students. If you miss more than 3 classes in a row, we may request that you book a private lesson with your teacher to learn the choreography you have missed. The rate for a private lesson is anywhere from $65.00-$85.00 plus tax per hour (this depends on the instructor and the discipline).

9. SUPERVISION

The instructor is responsible for your child for the duration of the class. Once the class is finished we cannot supervise or provide extended care for students. It is important that parents arrive at least 5 minutes before the end of the class to pick up their child and if you cannot then we respectfully request that you appoint another parent to watch your child until you can pick them up. Students are encouraged to wait inside the studio for parents as we cannot be responsible for anyone outside our premises.

10. CLASSROOM USE

Students are not to enter the classroom unless they have been invited in by the instructor. Dancers are to wait quietly in the proper area until they are called. Parents should not enter the studio unless they have been invited in by the teacher. Absolutely no outdoor footwear is allowed in the dance studio. Food and drink, with the exception of water, are not permitted in the classroom or change room areas. YDA is a peanut free studio and we appreciate your consideration in this matter as we have many students with severe food allergies. Gum is not allowed in any area of the studio. 

11. RESPECT YOUR PEERS & TEACHERS

Dance is a discipline and there are certain behaviours that are unacceptable in the studio. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a proper, respectful manner while in the classroom and in the studio. Disruptive behaviour may result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from the program.  Proper studio manners are posted around the studios.

12. WAIVER/RELEASE

Our faculty and staff are all trained professionals and we make every effort to create a safe and positive environment. We reserve the right to use any photos taken during any of our events for promotional purposes. No names will be used at any time. If you do not want us to use a photo of your child, please notify us in writing and we will respect your privacy.

13. HOW DO I HEAR ABOUT THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE STUDIO?

Important dates and class cancellations due to holidays are posted on the News and Events page. Newsletters are handed out and/or emailed periodically throughout the year. The newsletters can be found on our website and on the bulletin boards at the studios. Should your contact information change please notify us immediately. We make every effort to ensure that dancers and their families are aware of all the activities and events planned around the studio. If you cannot find the information you are looking for please contact us at info@yorkdance.com.

14. WHAT IS YOUR DANCEWEAR REQUIREMENT?

All students are to attend class in proper dance attire as follows:

For the safety of all dancers please ensure that hair is tied back for all disciplines in either a ponytail or a bun. Students are to attend all classes in proper dance attire. No gum, jewellery or cell phones are allowed in the classroom.

15. WHERE CAN I PURCHASE DANCEWEAR?

Dancewear is available at all locations.  Once classes have started, dancewear will be sold during retail hours only. Hours are posted at each location and on our website. There are also many retail dance stores throughout York Region and we would be happy to recommend one for you.

16. FEES

Fees for the full dance season include 35 weeks of lessons, dress rehearsals, performance dates and the costume for the year-end recital. We offer a discount for any additional family member or additional classes taken by the same student. Fees are due upon registration and may be paid in one of the following ways:

Adult classes & Mini sessions are billed for the course length which will depend on the discipline. Please refer to the program outlines for further details on these courses which can be found on our programs page.

17. HOW LONG IS THE DANCE SEASON & WHEN DOES IT START?

Our total dance season is 35 weeks long and includes dress rehearsals and the show date.

18. WHAT HOLIDAYS DOES THE STUDIO CLOSE FOR?

We value the faith diversity in our studio and respect the fact that there are numerous holidays celebrating various faiths throughout the year. We have chosen not to close for all of the faith based holidays given the fact that dance is an exercise and many people dance to keep fit. We feel it is important to remain open as much as possible. We do however close for some of the statutory holidays to provide families with an opportunity to spend time together.

The studios are closed for the following holidays throughout the dance season:

20. DATES OF INTEREST

We look forward to another great year!