Claire School of Dance provides professional dance education in a fun and inspiring environment. Our policies are designed to ensure a safe environment and high quality education for all students. Please review and comply with these studio policies.
Registration in classes Creative Movement 1 through Level I is based on age. Registration in classes Level 2 and above require permission from the School administration. Enrollment in the Children’s Program is ongoing through January 31st. Students with no previous experience must enroll prior to January 31st unless joining a newly-created beginner class. Please contact the School office for questions regarding placement.
In order to provide quality instruction, our classes are limited to 10-12 students.
By registering a child for this program, the parent agrees to payment of tuition for the entire school year. If the student does not plan to return in the Spring, the parent must send an email to this effect by November 15th. Students who leave the program early may still be responsible for any remaining payments.
Vacation and holiday dismissal has already been calculated into tuition rates and will not be credited to any account. Credit card payments are available on-line, over the phone, or in our office. All late payments will be charged a late fee of $25. All insufficient funds checks or credit card charges will be charged a $25 fee.
For academic year withdrawals once classes have started:
In cases of serious illness or similar circumstances, or where the School deems it in the best interest of the child to withdraw from class, all unused tuition will be promptly refunded, minus any credit card fee.
For other withdrawals once classes have started, we require one month’s notice for students paying in monthly installments. Except for serious illness or similar circumstances, no withdrawals are allowed after November 15. Parents will continue to be responsible for tuition regardless of whether student attends class.
For students who withdraw prior to the start of classes: There will be a $35 processing fee. For students who withdraw after the start of classes there is a processing fee equivalent to one month’s tuition.
In all cases, prepaid tuition and registration fees are NON-REFUNDABLE..
For summer classes or camps:
When the School deems it in the best interest of the child to withdraw from class, all unused tuition will be refunded, minus any credit card fee. In cases of serious illness or similar circumstances, tuition may be refunded if credit toward future classes is impractical. In general, there are NO REFUNDS for summer programs.
In all cases, withdrawal must be IN WRITING via email.
For summer camps and classes, all tuition and fees are nonrefundable.
A child’s sudden lack of interest in class may be linked to several factors unrelated to her dance enjoyment. Parents are encouraged to contact the office to discuss any change in their child’s attitude or behavior.
In order to enhance the learning environment, there is a dress code for our academic year classes for preballet and up. (Summer class students may choose the color of their leotards.) Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Leotards, tights, and shoes can be purchased at Dance Trends. Some leotards and skirts may be available through the Claire School of Dance office. Skirts for preballet and primary may have to be ordered online from Discount Dance. We recommend Theatricals pull on skirt (Style No: TH5513C). Other manufacturers do not have the fullness needed to hold skirt out to the sides. NO WRAP SKIRTS ON DANCERS YOUNGER THAN 11, PLEASE.
Hair for all students MUST be pulled back off the face. Preballet and primary should wear a ponytail, if not a bun. Level students should wear a bun. Students with short hair should wear a headband that keeps hair out of the face. We can provide bun kits with instructions on how to do a ballet bun.
Creative Movement – leotard, any color. Dance skirt or tutu permitted. Boys wear shorts and t shirt. Bare feet.
Preballet – lavender tank leotard, white or lavender Theatricals pull on skirt (Style No: TH5513C). NO WRAP SKIRTS, PLEASE.
skirt. Pink leather ballet slippers. We recommend thin white ankle socks.
Primary – mulberry tank leotard, white Theatricals pull on skirt (Style No: TH5513C). Pink leather ballet slippers. We recommend thin white ankle socks.
Level 1 – light blue cami leotard, white pull on skirt. Pink leather ballet slippers. We recommend thin white ankle socks.
Level 2 – seafoam cmi leotard, white pull on skirt. pink leather ballet slippers.We recommend thin white ankle socks. Tights are permitted if the student prefers.
Level 3 – navy cami leotard, white skirt, pink tights. pink leather ballet slippers. If approved, pointe shoes. Tights are permitted if the student prefers.
Level 4 – burgundy cami leotard, white skirt, pink tights. pink leather ballet slippers. If approved, pointe shoes. Pink tights.
Level 5 – hunter greeen cami leotard, white skirt, pink tights. pink leather ballet slippers. If approved, pointe shoes. Pink tights.
Level 6 – black cami leotard, white skirt, pink tights. pink leather ballet slippers. If approved, pointe shoes. Pink tights.
Students in the Early Childhood Program attend class once a week. We encourage students to attend class at least twice a week, beginning with Level 2. Attendance is important! How well a student performs is a direct reflection on their attendance. Students who miss class frequently may take longer to move up to the next level.
TARDINESS: Tardiness is EXTREMELY disruptive to the class in progress and to the late-arriving student. In addition, at the upper levels, late arrivals may miss important warm-up exercises. At the discretion of the teacher, any student arriving more than a few minutes late to class may be either refused admission or instructed to watch the class instead of participating.
Classes are occasionally canceled due to bad weather. In such cases, we do not schedule make-ups or issue refunds. The School closes when HISD closes due to bad weather.
MAKE UP CLASSES: Students may make up ONE class per semester. Make up classes MUST be scheduled through our office. Contact us via phone or email to schedule your make up.
The School is not responsible for care of students before or after classes. Students should not be left for excessive time before or after class without prior arrangement with the School.
Parents, legal guardians of minor students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained or illness contracted on school property resulting from normal dance activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during, or after class.
The school is hereby granted permission to take photographs of students to use in brochures, web sites, posters, advertisements, and other promotional material the School creates. Permission is hereby granted for the School to copyright such photographs in its name.
It is the responsibility of the parent or adult student to be aware of all school activities, including recital rehearsals and performances or dates the School is closed. Such information is posted on our website, http://www.clairedance.com, as well as on our bulletin boards. School closings in case of inclement weather will be posted on the school voice mail and the Claire Dance Facebook page. Parents will be notified of last minute closings due to teacher illness or building malfunction via text as well as email. Parents should make sure to “opt in” to receive text messages. This is done on the “contact” page of the family account.
Your privacy is important to us. We do not sell or otherwise share your contact information. Your registration is your “opt in” permission, allowing us to send you text messages. Text messages are only sent to inform families of last minute changes to the schedule, such as cancellation due to teacher illness or weather. You can opt out of text messages by replying “STOP” to any message.
