STUDENT HANDBOOK
2022-2023
please see ‘COVID Guidelines’ for a few policy changes.
Dancewithmestudios.com | dancewithmestudios@yahoo.com | (315) 210-2993
Cannery Row Plaza, Newark New York 14513
The policies, procedures, dates, times and fees in this student handbook are subject to change at any time without prior notice.
Stay tuned to our Website, dancewithmestudios.com, for all the most current information on all policies, procedures, dates, times and fees.
We provided dance training to students of all ages, levels and abilities. We teach more than dance. We strive to help students learn proper techniques, gain confidence and form lasting friendships in a nurturing, noncompetitive environment. We give students the opportunity to be creative, original and express themselves through the performing arts.
Dance With Me studios represents that National Dance Foundation and supports their Kick for Kindness campaign. This means that bullying by any student and/or parent will not be tolerated. Bullying is defined by any negative activity including but not limited to gossip and slander. Anyone caught acting negatively towards a student, staff, or the studio will be dismissed immediately from the program.
Parents of any child that is enrolled in Class will be allowed to leave the child in the care of studio staff during their class time. The child must be enrolled in that days class, have necessary self-help skills (use bathroom alone, able to dress them self, tie shoes, etc.), and parents of dancer under the age of 8 must sign child in/out of class. Please note that if your child has disruptive behavior, you will be required to stay. If a parent is late for pickup, you must notify the studio immediately, after 10 minutes you will be charged a fee of $1 a minute that you are late. Thank you
Classes Offered
Ballet: ages 3 – Adult
Pre dance: 3-5 years old
Jazz: 6 –adult
Pointe*: 11 – adult
Tap: 3 – adult
Lyrical: 6-18 years
Tumbling: 3-18 years (postponed due to COVID)
*Pointe students must also be enrolled in 2 Ballet classes during the same dance season and receive permission from the director.
Registration
Our annual registration fee is $25 per student, pre session discount available.
Registration cannot be prorated, refunded or transferred.
Tuition
Tuition is due the first class of each month. We only guarantee 30 lessons per class per season. A full month’s tuition is due September 2022-June 2023 and does not vary due to the number of classes per month. Tuition cannot be prorated, refunded or transferred. You must give 30 day written notice when dropping a class during the session or tuition will still be due.
Late fee of $5 per class per week will be added after the 2nd class of each month for all outstanding balances. Dancers with an open balance will not be allowed to perform. Dancers with on open balance passed 45 days will not be allowed to participate in class.
$30 fee will be charged for any insufficient funds
Costumes
All costumes must be paid in full by January 15, 2023.
Each student performing in our Spring Recital is responsible for purchasing a costume for each routine they perform. Costumes cannot be prorated, refunded or transferred. Costumes are ordered only when they are paid in full. There is a minimum late charge of $20 per costume if paid after January 15th, 2023 and will not be guaranteed to arrive on time.
Performance and/or Advertisement Fees
All performance and/or advertisement fees must be paid in full.
Each student performing in our annual performance of the Nutcracker and/or Spring Ballet must pay a mandatory performance fee at time of audition. This is separate from the annual recital- there is no participation fee for end of the year performance.
Nutcracker fee will be $75 for registered DWM dancers (who must remain in classes during the season) or $100 for dancers not registered with the studio. Fee includes costume rental and cast t-shirt
Performance and advertisement fees cannot be prorated, refunded or transferred
Payments
Make all studio‐related checks payable to: Dance With Me Studios
We also accept credit/ debit cards processed through PayPal and Venmo
Refunds
All registration, tuition, costumes, shoes, merchandise, performance, advertisements, tickets, convention, competition fees, etc. cannot be prorated, refunded or transferred.
Class Enrollment, Placement & Levels
Enrollment is accepted on a first come, first served basis. Placement is highly
individualized and based on age, ability, confidence and development of self‐esteem.
Students not meeting minimum class level requirements will remain in their current
class or placed in a lower level. If class enrollment quotas are not met, it may be
combined with another class for that particular dance season.
Some students and parents may compare their progress, or class placement, to
another student. Looking to other students for inspiration is good, however, making
negative comparisons or comments could result in issues far beyond the original
concern. Be assured that our faculty discuss students’ progress and placement
throughout the season
Attendance
All students should be on time for their class and maintain good attendance.
Students who frequently miss class may not be permitted to participate in studio
related activities or events (classes, conventions, competitions, performances,
shows, etc). If absent or late, please be courteous by calling the studio office as soon
as possible at 315-210-2993.
“No School No Dance”
All students should remain home if they have a temperature of 100 degrees
Fahrenheit or higher; severe cold with fever, frequent sneezing, coughing or
drainage; unidentified rash; ear or throat infection; vomiting; bronchitis; pneumonia;
impetigo; diarrhea; or other contagious or communicable disease (including, but not
limited to, measles, pink eye, chicken pox, lice, etc).
Cancellations & Closures
We follow the Newark Central school district calendar and operating schedule for closings and
early dismissals due to inclement weather. Notification of cancellations and closures
will be made via our e‐mail list and Facebook. Therefore, it is
extremely important to keep your contact information on file up‐to‐date.
Facebook: facebook.com/DWMstudios
Drop-off & Pick-up
Parents of any child that is enrolled in 2 or more consecutive classes will be allowed to leave the child in the care of studio staff. The child must be enrolled in that days class, have necessary self-help skills (use bathroom alone, able to dress them self, tie shoes, etc.), and parents of dancer under the age of 8 must sign child in/out of class. If you child has a break between lass NO supervision is provided by the studio! Please note that if your child has disruptive behavior, you will be required to stay.
If a parent is late for pickup, you must notify the studio immediately, after 10 minutes you will be charged a fee of $1 a minute that you are late. Dancers under the age of 13 must have a parent come into the studio to pick up a dancer after their class. We will not release a dancer without seeing a responsible adult. If a dancer is going home with an unknown adult, a letter must be presented at the beginning of class and the adult picking up must present an id. Please remember this is for the safety of your child.
The safety of our students, parents, family, friends and staff is always at the utmost importance to us.
If a student’s ride is running late, please call the studio office immediately at 315-210-2993.
Siblings not enrolled in classes must be supervised at all times.
Class Withdrawal
We understand issues arise that may require a student to withdraw from class. If this
occurs, please call the studio office immediately at 315-210-2993.
A drop/ class change form must be filled out.
Please keep in mind that all registration, tuition, costumes, shoes, merchandise,
performance, advertisements, tickets, convention, competition fees, etc. cannot be
prorated, refunded or transferred.
I also understand that tuition payment is due at the 1st of every month, no prorates for missed classes or holidays will be available. I also acknowledge that I need to give a 30 day notice to drop a class or will be responsible for the next months tuition.
Dress Code
Adherence to our dress code helps students prevent injury and allows Instructors the ability to observe body placement and make corrections. Along with proper classroom etiquette, following our dress code shows pride, good work ethics, discipline and respect for themselves, fellow students, studio faculty, staff and the art of dance.
The following are strictly prohibited for all dance classes: Jeans, denim, booty or
short shorts, street or non‐dance attire; Clothing that expose bellies, bras or
underwear; Clothing that are sloppy, baggy or oversized; Clothing that is ripped, cut
or has holes (even if it was made, or designed, that way by the manufacturer); Loose,
dangling or oversized jewelry; street, non‐dance or even soiled dance shoes.
The following are permitted:
Dance, exercise or aerobic attire is permitted for all classes.
Jewelry should always be kept to a minimum; no necklaces, dangle earrings or bracelets permitted for the safety of your dancer.
Hair must be pulled off of the face for all classes.
All Ballet II, and above, and Pointe females must wear leotard and pink tights.
All Advanced Ballet, and Pointe, females must have their hair pulled back into a bun.
All Ballet males must wear plain white t‐shirts and black dance, exercise or aerobic pants.
All classes are assigned proper shoes that must be purchased and
worn to all studio related activities or events (classes, conventions, competitions,
performances, shows, etc). If you have multiple shoes, we highly recommend using a dance bag to avoid loosing them. Please do not wear dance shoes outside – only at
dance studio related activities or events (classes, conventions, competitions,
performances, shows, etc). Remember to neatly print your student’s name on
everything brought into the studio.
Dance With Me Studios is not responsible for any lost, stolen or broken items.
Anyone not following our dress code will be asked to sit out from any dance studio
related activity or event (class, convention, competition, performance, show, etc).
Food & Drink
Absolutely no food, candy, gum or drinks are permitted in the dance studio – only resealable bottled water. snacks/drink in the lobby must be kept to a minimum and cleaned up when done. Any food containers must be brought home by the dancer.
Mobile Devices
All mobile devices (i.e. mobile / smart phones, laptops, ipads / tablets, etc.) are not
permitted in the dance studio related activities or events (classes, conventions,
competitions, performances, shows, etc). If visible, or used, during class – it will be
confiscated and available for pick‐up after class in the studio office.
Internet & Social Media
We highly encourage everyone to become "social" with us!
“Like” us on Facebook: facebook.com/DWMstudios
Instagram: dancewithmestudios
“Watch” us on YouTube: youtube.com/DanceWithMestudios
Photos, Videos & Quotes
By registering your student, you give us permission to take and use photographs,
audio and/or video of your student in any medium (print, web, audio, video, radio
and/or television) to advertise market and/or promote the studio.
Foul Language & Negative Behavior
Everyone should be polite and respectful. The use of foul language or negative
behavior is not permitted or tolerated. We reserve the right to withdraw, remove or
ban anyone from the studio related activities or events (classes, conventions,
competitions, performances, shows, etc) if they:
-use foul language or profanity
-exhibit expressions, gestures or other social behaviors that are interpreted as
insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, obnoxious, foul, unsafe, negative or confrontational
- continuously fail to follow direction from faculty and staff members
Contact Information
Please keep all parental, guardian and student contact information on file in the
studio office up‐to‐date. This will help us contact you in the event of an emergency.
Class Observation
For the safety and security of our students, all classes are closed to the public. Only parents, guardians and potential students are permitted to observe classes at the
sole discretion of the Director. Anyone that becomes a distraction will be asked to leave the studio immediately.
Backstage Parents
We will be in search of a limited number of parents to help backstage during both
dress rehearsal and our annual dance show. Parents who help backstage will be invited to an after show gathering at the studio
Tech Rehearsals
Tech rehearsals for our annual dance show will be held at the performance venue the week of the show. It gives students the opportunity to adjust to performing on a much larger stage. It also gives us the opportunity to work out lighting, music, videography and backstage direction.
Dress Rehearsal
Our mandatory dress rehearsal will be held at the performance venue the week of the show- Friday performers will rehearse the Thursday before, Saturday performers will rehearse Saturday am.
Rehearsals are closed to the public. Only staff, students, and backstage parents are permitted to be in the auditorium during dress rehearsal. It not only gives our students the opportunity to practice on stage in full costume, it also gives them the opportunity to watch the show from the seats of the auditorium.
Dance Show
Performing in our dance show is a privilege and permitted only at the sole discretion of the Director. Anyone who continually miss class, do not know their routine(s), have unpaid tuition, costume or performance fees will not be permitted to participate in any rehearsal or show.
There is absolutely no food, candy, gum or drink are permitted in the auditorium, at any time ‐ only clear resealable bottled water. Please be sure to clean up after yourselves prior to leaving the auditorium.
