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. 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, 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, shoes, and skirts can be purchased at Costumes and Dancewear ( Dunlavy one block south of West Gray). Some leotards and skirts may be available through the Claire School of Dance office.
Hair for all students should 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.
Creative Movement – leotard, any color. Dance skirt or tutu permitted. Boys wear shorts and t shirt. Bare feet.
Preballet – lavender tank leotard, white Natalie skirt. Pink leather ballet slippers. We recommend thin white ankle socks.
Primary – mulberry tank leotard, white Natalie skirt. Pink leather ballet slippers. We recommend thin white ankle socks.
Level 1 – light blue cami leotard, white skirt. Pink leather ballet slippers. We recommend thin white ankle socks.
Level 2 – seafoam cmi leotard, white 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.
The arrival of tardy students is disruptive to the class and often embarrassing to the late-arriving student, sometimes resulting in the student’s refusal to attend class. If you arrive late to class, please observe the class to make sure you are entering between exercises. Students who are more than 10 minutes late may be asked to make the class up at a later time. It is at the discretion of the teacher to determine whether a late arrival is excessively disruptive.
Classes are occasionally canceled due to bad weather. These classes are not refundable. The School closes when HISD closes due to bad weather.
Parents must contact the office to schedule a make-up class and must show the teacher the email scheduling the makeup in order to be admitted to class. Make ups cannot be scheduled for classes that are full. Once a make-up has been scheduled, it may not be rescheduled. Limit one make up per semester. No make ups are allowed the months of September or May.
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.
Parents, legal guardians of minor students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained 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 Nutcracker 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.
