Welcome to Center Stage Dance Academy. We are glad you have chosen our studio. We hope your whole family will enjoy our studio. This handbook has been written to describe our program, goals, policies and the details that go into making each lesson as happy and successful as possible. Please study it and keep it for reference, as it will answer many of your questions.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

Our lessons are planned so that dancers will:
1. be safe.
2. feel secure.
3. receive individual attention and encouragement.
4. develop self-discipline.
5. experience success in order to develop a positive self-image.
6. develop dance skills.

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

1. We believe in the value of fair treatment of all people.
2. We believe teaching the art of dance is an honor.
3. We believe each student is an individual and should be treated with
respect and encouragement.
4. We believe bringing out the best in each dancer is important.
5. We believe that each child has different talents and it’s our job to
develop them to the fullest.
6. We believe that dance is a tool which can help children develop a
positive self-image.
7. We believe that children deserve to have teachers who are capable
and caring and whose values enable them to be excellent role
models.
8. Children are always accepted to our studio regardless of race, creed,
national origin or sex.

COMMON CURTISY

The staff and management of Center Stage spends countless hours in bringing you the nicest and cleanest studio in the area. Please respect the property and its belongings.

PARKING

Center Stage reserves the right to have any vehicle towed (at the owner’s expense) that is not parked properly in the parking lot. The parking spaces for our staff are located on the side of the building; please park in the lot in front of the building.

MONTHLY TUITION POLICY

This Agreement is for 31 classes over a one-year period. In no case will classes begin more than 180 days from the date of this Agreement. Tuition is due the 7th of each month. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Master Card and Discover. All checks should be made payable to Center Stage. Tuition is the same amount each month regardless if it a 3 or 5 week month. (Tuition is based on the total of 31 classes per year and then divided into 9 monthly payments.) Money is not refunded for missed lessons for any reason. Account statements will not be sent out unless your account is overdue. There is a $10.00 processing fee for all past due accounts. After the 10th of the month a $10.00 late fee will be added to your account and a past due invoice will be mailed out to you. There is a $25.00 charge on all returned checks. If your account falls behind more than 2 months, you will be asked to pay your balance or your child’s enrollment may be canceled.

PAYMENT PROCEDURE POLICY

Each family will receive a “Payment Coupon Sheet”. This sheet will include payment slips for lessons, costume payments, recital fees, etc. All payments for the entire year are listed on the payment sheet along with due dates. Please place your payment, along with the appropriate payment slip in an envelope and deposit it into the “Payment Slot” on the wall in the lobby. If you wish, you may also mail your payment to the studio.

REGISTRATION

A registration fee of $15.00 per new student ($25 per new family) or $10.00 per returning student ($20 per returning family) is required with the registration form to reserve your class space. (This fee is nontransferable and nonrefundable.) Class availability is on a first come basis. Registration is not complete until the registration fee is paid along with all proper forms signed.

MISSED CLASS MAKE UP POLICY

If a student misses a class it can be made up during the month in which they were absent. Missed classes cannot be made up for the end of the year “Perfect Attendance Award” or ”Attendance Merit Award”. No refund will be given for missed classes. Classes that are canceled by the studio will be rescheduled.

SNOW OR BAD WEATHER POLICY

If at any time it is necessary to cancel lessons due to bad weather such as snow and ice, there will be a recorded message on the answering machine after 2:30 P.M. for the evening classes that will say “Classes have been canceled”. If Canfield Schools are closed the morning classes only will be canceled, however, call after 2:30 pm for evening classes. Please do not ask for us to call you back and let you know if classes are canceled. We just don’t have enough time to call everyone back. There will be NO reduction of tuition. All classes cancelled will be rescheduled.

YEARBOOK / RECITAL PROGRAM FOR THE SPRING RECITAL

Each class picture will be put into the Yearbook / Recital Program. (Anyone who is in a private or semi private lesson may submit his or her picture at an additional fee.) We will be charging a flat fee per yearbook. Only a small number of extra books will be sold at the recital.

RELOCATION

Subsequent to the date of this Agreement and upon receipt of written confirmation that a parent and student have relocated more than 25 miles from Center Stage’s Canfield location at 5387 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield, OH 44406, Center Stage, within its discretion, will either (1) transfer this Agreement to a Center Stage facility within 25 miles of parent’s new residence or (2) make a pro rata refund to parent for services not used.

RELOCATION/CLOSURE

In the event of relocation or closure of Center Stage Dance Academy, Center Stage will, at its option either (1) transfer this Agreement to a substantially similar facility which will assume this Agreement or (2) provide a pro rata refund for the services not received.

DEATH/DISABILITY

Upon written notice and proper documentation to Center Stage of a parent or student’s death or disability, this Agreement may be terminated. If this Agreement is terminated because of death or disability of a parent or student, Center Stage will provide a pro rata refund for services not received.

COSTUME PAYMENT POLICY FOR THE SPRING RECITAL

All costume deposits are due by October 7th, 2006. Pre-Dance Classes = $55.00 deposit. Primary Classes = $65.00 deposit. Teen & Pre-Teen Classes = $75.00 deposit. This deposit is per costume, per class, per student. The costume deposit will be divided into 3 monthly payments in August, September & October. You will receive your final balance, if any, in October. The studio reserves the right to increase this deposit if costumes prices increase from the previous year. All accessories, including tights, headpieces, gloves, etc. will be an additional charge. Costumes can not be ordered unless they are paid in full. Once costumes are ordered there will be no refunds. 

PARENT OBSERVATION DAYS

Classes will be conducted with the doors closed. It is very disturbing to the students and the teachers when there is a lot of noise in the lobby.
During the month of September, parents may view their child’s entire class, however, after September, the 1st lesson of each month the curtain will be open during the last 5 – 10 minutes of class. To avoid distraction to the class, parents will view through the viewing window. Parents will not be permitted into the dance room.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private lessons are available at an extra charge. These may be used for extra practice if you have missed several lessons and need to catch up. Enrollment is very limited.

STUDIO BULLETIN BOARD

A bulletin board is available with announcements for you to view and read. Please take the time to scan the Parent Board regularly to keep informed of studio happenings and/or announcements.

DRESS CODE POLICY

All short hair must be secured back off the face. All long hair must be secured in a ponytail, bun, or braid. Absolutely no T-shirts, shorts of any kind, or jeans permitted. Shorts must be Center Stage Shorts or Dance Shorts. No Soccer Shorts. Proper shoes must be worn to all classes.
PRE-DANCE CLASSES - May wear any color leotard and tights. White Tap shoes. Pink Ballet slippers. Tan Jazz Shoes. Bare feet, ballet slippers, or socks for tumbling.

PRIMARY-PRE/TEEN-TEEN-HIP HOP CLASSES - Must wear “Center Stage Wear” or solid black dance attire to all classes. Pink, Tan or Black tights are to be worn. Tan, buckle, Tap shoes for Tap. Pink, Ballet Slippers for Ballet. Tan All Leather Jazz Shoes for Jazz. Tan Lyrical Sandal for Lyrical. Black Dance Tennis Shoe for Hip-Hop. (Hip Hop students may wear dance pants).

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. It is important that your child attends dance class every week. Good attendance is imperative, as absences and tardiness can hold back an entire class, and the studio cannot jeopardize its responsibilities to the rest of the class for one student. If a student misses too many lessons they may fall behind the rest of the class and may be asked not to perform in the recital. A “Perfect Attendance” award will be given to those students who do not miss a single lesson all year. An “Attendance Merit” Award will be given to those students who only miss one lesson all year. (Classes cannot be made up for these awards).

END OF THE YEAR AWARDS

All students who have not missed a single class all year will receive a Perfect Attendance Award. (Note: classes cannot be made up for this award). An “Attendance Merit” Award will be given to those students who only miss one lesson all year. (Classes cannot be made up for this award). Every student registered September through May will receive a participation award; If you have been registered with the studio 1 - 4 years, you will receive a medal. If you have been with the studio 5 or more years you will receive a trophy. We will also be giving out Special Achievement awards, and Scholarship Awards.

DRESS REHEARSAL POLICY

A mandatory dress rehearsal will be held. All students must rehearse all of their numbers at the dress rehearsal or they will not be permitted to perform in the recital. Students must bring their entire costume including tights, make-up, and shoes. Dress rehearsal is considered a lesson; as a result there will be an additional fee. (See Recital and Ticket Policy)

SPRING RECITAL
To be held at the Stambaugh Auditorium. 

RECITAL AND RECITAL TICKET POLICY

All studio fees must be paid in full or your child will not be permitted to participate in the recital. (Due to Stambaugh Auditorium more than doubling the rental fee in the last 2 years, we are forced to increase the recital fee.) Each family can participate in fundraisers or pay a flat recital fee of $60.00. This fee will be divided into 3 monthly payments. ($20.00 in Feb, Mar, Apr) This fee includes: Dress Rehearsal fees, and Recital fees which include the purchase of the Auditorium rental, Union stage hands, DJ equipment, Lighting equipment, janitors, scenery and a lot of extra expenses. Due to the rising costs of the recital, parents will no longer be able to receive free tickets. Tickets will go on sale in May. Tickets can be pre-ordered or purchased at the door.  Seating is first come, first served.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS

A newsletter will be sent home with your child the first week of each month. If your child does not come home with one, please pick one up at the studio. You can also view the monthly newsletter on our web site – www.centerstagedanceacademy.net. Please read every newsletter. Very important information is located on these newsletters. Please keep them for further reference, as they will answer many of your questions.

LOBBY RULES

1. Students must wait inside the building to be picked up.
2. No student is permitted to leave the building without an adult.
3. All students must use the restroom before they enter class.
4. Please try to keep the lobby as quiet and clean as possible.
5. Students must use the shelves and the hangers for their
belongings, please do not set them on the lobby chairs.
6. Please do not interrupt the teacher while the class is in session. If you
need to speak to the teacher, please do so before or after the class.
If necessary, you may make an appointment.
7. Running and Tapping on the tile floor are not permitted in the lobby.
8. Please do not let children bang on the vending machines!
9. No tapping or knocking on the viewing windows!
10. We are not responsible for unsupervised children!!!

CLASSROOM RULES

1. No food or drinks of any kind are permitted in the dance rooms. You
must keep all food and drinks in the lobby, including water! Students
are not permitted to chew gum in the dance room!!
2. Absolutely no street shoes on the dance floor!!!! That means everyone!
(street shoes are what you wear into the building)
3. Dance shoes are not to be worn outside for any reason!! They are to
be worn inside only!!
4. All students must be in proper dress code while attending class.
Appropriate shoes must also be worn to all classes.
5. Short hair must be secured off of the face. Long hair must be in a
Ponytail, bun, or braid.
6. All tap shoes must have elastic or buckles. No strings!!
7. Parents are not permitted to walk their children into the dance room.
The teacher will greet them at the door and bring them into the
classroom. Please do not go into the classroom to pick them up.
After the class is over the teacher will bring them out to the lobby. We
want to keep our dance floor new and clean for as long as possible.
8. Class will be conducted with the doors closed. This will avoid any
distraction from the lobby.
9. Please make sure you arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to class.
10. Children should not touch the mirrors or the viewing windows.
11. Absolutely no running in the classroom.

CHRONIC DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR POLICY

We will make every effort to work with the parents of children having difficulties in child care. We are here to serve and protect all of our children, although; children displaying chronic disruptive behavior which has been determined to be upsetting to the physical or emotional well being of any other child, or teacher, may require the following actions:

Initial Consultation
The director may require the parent(s) of any child who attends the studio to meet for a conference. The problem will be defined on paper. Goals will be established and the parent will be involved in creating approaches towards solving the problem.

Second Consultation
If the initial plan for helping the child fails, the parent(s) will again be required to meet with the director. Another attempt will be made to identify the problem outlining new approaches to the problem, and discuss the consequences if progress is not apparent.

Suspension
When the previous attempts have been followed and no progress has been made towards solving the problem, the child may be suspended from the studio indefinitely. The studio may immediately suspend a child at anytime he/she exhibits a behavior, which is harmful to him/herself or others. A parent may be called at anytime the child exhibits uncontrollable behavior that cannot be modified by the instructor. That parent may be asked to take the child home immediately.

Discard Policy
The studio reserves the right to cancel the enrollment of a child for the following reasons:
1. Non-payment or excessive late payment of fees.
2. Not observing the rules of the studio.
3. Child has special needs which we cannot adequately meet with our
current staffing patterns.
4. Physical and/or verbal abuse of staff or children, by a parent or child.

HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE 2007-2008 SEASON

HEALTH
.
You are the best judge of your child’s health and we trust you will not bring a sick child to the studio. However, if in the opinion of the teaching staff your child is sick, we will call you to come and pick-up your child. The following criteria will be considered in determining if your child must go home:
1. fever of 100 degrees or more
2. inflammation of the eyes
3. vomiting
4. an incidence of diarrhea
5. communicable disease

INSURANCE

The Center Stage Dance Academy does not carry medical insurance for its students. It is required that all dance students be covered by their own family insurance policies and if injury occurs it its understood that the student’s own policy is your only source of reimbursement.

STUDIO FUNDRAISING

All studio fundraisers are voluntary. If you decide to participate, you will receive a list of what to sell and how much money will go into your own account. Each student who participates will have their own account for their own earnings. All earnings can be used for lessons, recital fees, dancewear, costumes, shoes, etc... You decide where you want your money to go. We will be offering a variety of fundraisers for you to choose from, if you wish to participate.

Parents will receive a booklet of the above information upon registration. This form must be signed and handed in upon registration.