School Information/Policies

            All dancers need to submit a new registration form or register online each session.    Once you have established an account in our online registration system, you should only need to update family information each session.  You should also be able to view your account online 24/7; go to www.thestudiodirector.com/applause/register.jsp.  

*One special note about our online registration system:

 If payment is not made online at the time of class registration, within 24 hours, the system will consider the enrollment incomplete and generate an e-mail indicating “an issue with your on-line class enrollment.”  Unless you really do intend to drop whatever classes for which you have registered, no further action is required by you.  Our office also receives a copy of this e-mail and we will register the dancer(s) from our side of the system, once payment is received.        

Registration fee of $45 per family is due with the registration form for the school year session.  Registration for returning students will not be accepted unless account is up to date. 

*There will be no refunds of any tuition/fees.*

Tuition

    Tuition may be paid in full or in quarterly installments.  Quarterly installments are due September 15, November 1, February 1, and April 1.  Because the quarterly payments are installments on a yearly fee, tuition payment amounts do not change regardless of holidays/breaks, weather cancellations, or variation in length of month.  Tuition payments will not be accepted at class locations.  Payment may be made online (www.thestudiodirector.com/applause/register.jsp) or sent (checks payable to AAPAC) to:

*Methods of Payment*

            There are three methods of paying for yearly tuition:

1. Pay full year tuition up front by September 25 (and receive 5% discount)
2. Register online and sign up for the “automatic payment plan.”
3. Send all 4 quarterly tuition checks (post-dated to the tuition due dates Sept 15, Nov 1, Feb 1, and April 1) to the South Riding address above.

There will be a $30.00 fee for returned checks.  There will be a $10 late fee assessed on payments for miscellaneous charges (extra private/semi-private lessons, retail purchases, etc.) on account through the year not received within 30 days of their due date.  
Private lessons will be billed at a rate of $22/30 minutes ($12 each/30 minutes for semi-private classes) at the beginning of a month for the projected schedule for that month.  Students are responsible for payment unless 24 hours advance notice is given.

Two weeks written notice is required for withdrawal.  Please contact Denise at 703-327-6836 or lucy796@verizon.net to request a withdrawal form.  Once withdrawal form is processed, account will be pulled from the automatic payment plan or post-dated checks will be destroyed or returned.  If written notice is not given and you stop attending class, your credit card will continue to be charged or your installment checks will continue to be cashed.  There will be no refunds of any tuition/fees.

Class Attire

In order to promote respect and discipline in all classes, all dancers are subject to the following dress code.  Students who do not comply with dress code will not be permitted to dance his/her class. Dress code will be enforced beginning October 4, 2010.

• For your/your child’s safety, please do not wear any shoes that have fabric/slippery bottoms or that do not have straps to hold them on. 

• Deodorant certainly should be used where necessary, but please do not wear perfume for class or performance; too much fragrance can make it difficult for others around you to breathe!  

• In all classes, hats, large or excessive jewelry, and other distracting articles are not appropriate.

Irish Dance

Irish dancers should dress according to the code listed below.  For your convenience, school t-shirts and shorts, black dance skorts, poodle socks, and black tights are available for purchase through the studio store. (Any item not bearing the school logo may certainly be purchased elsewhere.)

*Please note: 

• Where shorts are indicated, they should be of an appropriate, modest length - no “cheek-chillers” please - and should not have writing across the back.  If dancers choose to wear shorter shorts, tights must be worn underneath.
• Students may wear sweat/pajama pants at the beginning of class for warm-up exercises only. 
• Irish dancing shoes are not required for beginners, but keep in mind that no street shoes will be permitted on any studio floors.  Appropriate alternatives include ballet slippers or jazz oxfords.   Ghillies and/or hard shoes are required for all other Irish dancing students.  

Irish dancers under age 10 may wear one of the following combinations:

1.  White or black school t-shirt with black, white, royal or school shorts and poodle socks or black tights.

2.  White or black school t-shirt with black or royal dance skort and poodle socks or black tights.

Irish dancers under age 14 may wear one of the following combinations:

1.  White or black school t-shirt with black, white, royal or school shorts and poodle socks or black tights.

2.  White or black school t-shirt with black or royal dance skort and poodle socks or black tights.

3.  Feis or other dance-related t-shirt with school shorts and poodle socks or black tights.

Irish dancers in children’s classes, age 14 and above, may wear one of the following combinations:

1.  White or black school t-shirt with black, white, royal or school shorts and choice of socks, at least covering the ankle, or black tights.

2.  White or black school t-shirt with black or royal dance skort and black tights.

3.  Feis or other dance-related t-shirt with black, white, royal or school shorts and choice of socks, at least covering the ankle, or black tights.

Adult Irish dancers in adult classes:

Adult Irish dance students should wear cool, comfortable clothing which allows instructors to monitor movement of knees and ankles (e.g. shorts, t-shirts, skorts).  

Observation/Class Etiquette 

In order to avoid distractions, all dancers are expected to attend the entire class and parents and other observers are required to wait outside the class.  For Irish dance classes, blinds and/or doors will be opened during the last 10 minutes of class only.  Please wait for a staff member or student to open the doors/blinds.  All other dance classes will invite observers in for a full class, once a semester.  Instructors will announce those classes.  Any observers who interrupt the class in any way, including “coaching” their own child(ren), will be asked to leave. 

No chewing gum/food is permitted in class at any time.  Polite/respectful behavior is expected at all times.  Instructors/staff members hold the right to dismiss students from their class(es) due to inappropriate or disruptive behavior.  Upon dismissal from class, a parent will be contacted and expected to pick up the student immediately.

Safety/Drop-Off/Pick Up

 Parents should plan to drop off/pick up dancers from inside the studios.  Those parents who decide to drop off their children at the front door should watch their children until they have safely entered the building.  Parents picking up their children should instruct their children to stay within the facility until they see the parent and their vehicle; they will not be permitted to hang around outside the building. Upon dismissal, children under age 12 will not be released to walk out of the studios alone.  

Schedule/Class cancellations 

            At least 2 weather/sick days are built into the yearly schedule.  It is not necessary to make up classes canceled by the Center staff as make-ups are and/or will be added into the schedule.  There will be no refunds/adjustments made for classes not attended.  You are encouraged to make up those classes missed by attending another class at your level or one level below; keep a copy of the current class schedule handy for reference.  While it is not necessary to obtain permission to make up a class, please call to let us know your intentions in case we need to notify you of any unexpected cancellations.

            In general, our dance schedule follows the schedule of the public school systems.  In case of inclement weather, we will adhere to the decisions of the school system in which your class is located (Loudoun County for Sterling and South Riding classes, Fauquier County for Warrenton classes).  When in doubt, call the studio line (703-327-6836),after 9:00 a.m. on weekdays and an hour before your class on weekends, for a recorded message about class status.  In general, if schools are closed for the entire day, closed early, or afternoon/evening school activities are cancelled, there will be no class.  If there is a delayed opening, afternoon/evening classes will meet as scheduled.