Okanagan Dance Studios
Policies 2011-2012

 For over 20 years, Okanagan Dance Studios has been devoted to nurturing and guiding our students’ passion for dance and the Arts. We strive to give all students the tools for a productive, positive and rewarding dance experience. We encourage teamwork, discipline, respect of others and commitment.

Student Behavior
All students must treat their fellow students, teachers and studio staff with respect. Students behaving in an unacceptable manner will be asked to leave.

Student Placement
Okanagan Dance Studios’ faculty makes all class placement decisions. These placements are determined with the student’s best interest in mind. Placement will depend on ability and experience, not age.  During the first month some students may be moved to a more appropriate class. 

Registration
Students are fully registered when all the payment requirements and costume fees have been completed.  If paying by post-dated cheques, all 10 cheques are required with registration form. Costume fees must be on a separate cheque dated October 15. Only fully registered students may participate in classes. There is no costume refund after December 1.

Attendance
All students are required to attend their classes on a regular basis. Frequent, repetitive class work is essential to muscle development and memory. If a student does not attend classes on a regular basis they will fall behind and risk being removed from choreography or possibly being put into a lower level class. It is also extremely important that students do not come late to classes.  Dance classes are designed to begin with a warm-up and then graduate to more difficult work. Missing the warm-up could result in injury. Students arriving late to class may be asked to sit out. When a student has to miss a class, parents must let the teacher know by calling the office.

Students who miss more than 3 competitive classes per term will be removed from the choreography.

Students who miss more than 5 non-competitive classes per term will be removed from the choreography.

Class Cancellation and Holidays
Every effort is made to hold all classes at their regularly scheduled time.  On the rare occasion when a class must be cancelled due to events like festival or studio trips, a make up class will be held. Teachers will inform students and parents of any cancellations and make up classes. There are no regular classes held on statuary holidays. Parents must give one month’s notice when withdrawing from a class. There is no refund for any classes not attended mid-month. Please let the office know in writing what classes are being dropped so that the next month’s payment can be adjusted.

Observation Week
Parents are invited to observe their child’s classes the last week of the following months: October, November, January, February and May. Parents are welcome to watch all preschool classes.

Kitchen and Waiting Areas Belongings are left in the waiting areas at the student’s risk. Please put dance bags and belongings in the shelves provided for you. Label all dancewear and shoes. There is no food or chewing gum allowed in the dance studios. No cell phones are permitted in the dance studios. Please respect the property of Okanagan Dance Studios.

Parking
Okanagan Dance Studios’ parking is ONLY directly in front of building. You may not park in front of flying club building or any gates. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed. 

Communication

All important information will be posted on the bulletin board and on our website. It is the parents’ responsibility to check the studio for updates and important notices.
Parents must make an appointment to speak with a teacher.  Out of respect for students who are waiting for their class to begin, we ask that parents and students do not approach teaching faculty between classes.

Festival and Competitions Okanagan Dance Studios is proud to support the Penticton Kiwanis Music and Dance Festival. Not all classes will be entered in competitions or festivals. The decision to enter any classes is completely up to the teacher. Entry fees are not included in tuition fees.
Many students find the teamwork aspect of competition very rewarding.

There are also opportunities to enter solo, duo, and trios as well. These all require a choreography cost and a very strong commitment from the student and the parent. If a teacher feels the student has not been able to commit to the group or the choreography, they may decide to pull the dancer from the routine.
All dancers that are entered in competitions and festivals must attend all group dress rehearsals; any dancer missing a dress rehearsal will be pulled from the group routine.

Year End Production
All students of Okanagan Dance Studios will have the opportunity to perform in the June production. This is the students chance to showcase their hard work and growth made throughout the year. The production and dress rehearsals take place at the Cleland Theatre. 
These dress rehearsals are mandatory.
Dancers and parents wishing to watch the performance from the audience must purchase a ticket. Tickets will go on sale a month in advance and all costumes will be completed and handed out to students.