Studio Policies
Welcome to the California Dance Company family! These policies are designed to help you understand how things work here at the dance studio. We believe that by creating a fun, nurturing, family atmosphere, our students feel comfortable expressing and developing themselves as dancers and young people. As a result of this belief, our students leave with a love of dance, a sense of self and friendships that will last forever.
If you need further information not addressed herein, please give us a call or e-mail us at cdcoffice@shasta.com so we can answer all of your questions!
Payment Policy
Tuition is due by the 1st of each month. If payment is not received by the 10th, a $20 late fee will be added to your account. If tuition is not received by the 15th, we will not permit your dancer to attend class until your account is brought current.
Payment can be made by cash, check or through your My Account online login. The My Account login is the only option that enables you to pay with a credit and/or debit card. Please note that bills will not be sent out.
You must contact the office any time your child adds or drops a class in order to complete an add/drop form so your account can be updated accordingly. If you wish to drop a class, you must notify the office at least 5 days prior to the end of the month. If you fail to do so, your account will still be charged a full month’s tuition. When you add your child to a class, you must pay all tuition and registration fees before they may attend.
Class attendance is strongly encouraged; therefore, in general, tuition will not be pro-rated for missed classes. If a student misses class due to extraordinary circumstances (extended illness, etc.) please contact Sonya for an exception.
When you enroll a child with us, you are enrolling him/her for the entire season, September through June. If your child is unable to attend a class, tuition is still due in order to reserve his/her spot in the class. We have a waiting list for most of our classes so please keep us informed. Please remember that the monthly payment is not related to the number of classes in any given month. The number of classes each month depends on the calendar and any holidays that may take place during that month. Since each month is different, some months will have 3 classes; others will have 4 or 5 classes. Everything balances out over the course of the dance year.
Intensive program dancers will receive a monthly bill detailing tuition, choreography and competition fees.
All returned checks will be charged a $25.00 fee.
A registration fee of $25.00 for each dancer is due every year between September and June with the registration form and first month’s tuition payment. This helps cover the costs of high insurance premiums and bookwork. For subsequent dancers in the same family, the registration fee is discounted to just $15.00 for each additional dancer.
Again, please note that we DO NOT send out monthly tuition bills. You will be responsible for remembering to make your payments.
Enrollment
Students must only attend those classes for which they are registered. Any dancer not appearing on a class’s roll sheet will be sent to the office to verify registration in that class.
Class Placement / Progress
Students will be placed in class according to their age and ability. There may be class changes as the season progresses. These alterations are for the benefit of the student; so he/she can get the most of their training. It is crucial for the student to be in a class where they can make maximum progress.
New students who wish to be evaluated for class/level placement may take one (1) free class of a selected dance style. Upon completion of the free class, a recommendation for placement will be made and you may then register your dancer appropriately. If your dancer wishes to try additional dance styles, your student may take additional classes in that SAME week for $5/class. Again, class/level placements will be made upon completion of the trial classes.
Tiny Tots and Mini classes are designed to expose the little ones to dance in a fun and creative way. Serious students who would like to continue their dance education should study Ballet, Jazz, Tap and other genres such as Modern and Lyrical. Students may choose to take only one style of dance but their training will be limited. Exposure to diverse types of dance will result in a well-rounded, technically well-trained dancer.
Holidays
Studio holidays will follow most school schedules and we typically only close for major holidays. We do not close for school districts’ in-service days. See our Season Schedule for more information.
Attendance
Students are encouraged to attend class on a regular basis. Missing classes makes it harder on the student to progress in the curriculum. Because your child will be learning with a group of other students, all students are expected to not miss more than 4 classes during a semester. He/she may not be allowed to perform in the semester production if there are more than the allotted absences. Please call and let us know if your child will not be attending class.
Students should be on time to class and picked up promptly after class. If you cannot pick up your child on time, please call and inform us so we will be aware. Instruct your child to remain inside the building until you arrive.
Missing Classes / Make-up Lessons
Make-up lessons may be arranged for students who call in their absences. Monthly tuition pays for the reservation of the class rather than the actual attendance. Payment is nevertheless required for those classes not made up. Make-up classes must be completed in a comparable dance class within 2 months or else they are forfeited. We encourage you to utilize your make-up lessons so that your progress may not be impaired. Call or e-mail the studio for more information on make-up classes.
Health Concerns
The studio owner must be kept informed of any health issues your child is experiencing. For physical disorders such as pulled muscles, sprained joints, broken bones, etc., a doctor’s note certifying your child is cleared to dance is required. For chronic disorders such as asthma, diabetes, allergies, etc., your child should always have his/her labeled medication with them so that any issues experienced during a parent’s absence during class can be addressed immediately for the safety of the child.
Insurance
California Dance Company is not liable for any injuries or other damage experienced at the studio or in any other location where performances or appearances may be held. Students must have their own health insurance in the event that treatment becomes necessary for any reason.
Classroom Etiquette
We ask that students not leave a class at any time without direct permission from the teacher.
NO CELL PHONES are allowed inside the classrooms.
Late students who arrive within 20 minutes of class will be allowed to attend. However, they are not to enter the room until the student has received permission from the teacher to enter and join the class. For students arriving LATER than 20 minutes of start time, the student will not be allowed to attend, will be marked absent and you may schedule a make-up class.
Only water is allowed in the classrooms.
Dance bags and other personal items are to be left in the cubbies in the studio.
NO FOOD/EATING in the classrooms.
No hanging on ballet barres nor playing on any equipment.
NO TALKING to fellow students or parents during class as it is very disruptive to others.
Students will make sure to take home all their belongings and clean up after themselves before they leave.
We ask students to wait until the class before them is completely finished before entering the classroom.
Studio Etiquette
California Dance Company is a NO GUM ZONE.
We ask that students and parents are quiet and respectful in the lobby and upstairs observation rooms while classes are in session.
Parents – please no coaching your child during class.
Only office staff is allowed in the office.
Eat only in designated areas: outside or upstairs lounge. Please throw away your trash and clean up after yourself.
Enter a classroom with the teacher’s permission only.
Children (non-students) must stay in the same room as the parent.
No throwing things or running in the studio.
No children are to be outside without supervision.
No balls, skateboards, etc…in the studio.
Dance Styles
We teach various styles of dancing for all ages. For more detailed information regarding a style of dance, please contact the studio for further details.
Hip Hop: Structured form of street dance often found in music videos. It is designed to teach coordination, strength, quickness, agility and endurance. Fun to learn and an excellent aerobic workout.
Tap: A fun form of dance for both children and adults. Teaches increasingly challenging combinations of steps that develop rhythm, musicality and coordination.
Ballet: The foundation of all dance styles. Builds strength, grace, discipline and correct body placement. A slow and steady progressive study in emphasized.
Jazz: Stylized and technical form of dance. Students of jazz fare best with a background in ballet to provide basic discipline and a firm foundation in the principles of jazz movement.
Tiny Tots: Our preschool program includes tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop and gymnastics in a safe and fun atmosphere. We keep this class exciting with dance games and songs.
Modern: Learn creative choreography to unique music. Modern incorporates acrobatic skills with flexibility and sharp movements.
Lyrical: Combination of ballet and jazz technique. It is more expressive in nature, relating to the spirit, nature, joy and freedom of the individual dancer.
Leaps and Turns: Focuses on and develops an extensive variety of turns, extension jumps, flexibility and strength for serious dancers. There is no routine choreographed for performances.
Tumbling/Conditioning: An acrobatic sporting discipline which combines some of the skills of artistic gymnastics with those of trampolining. This is a great class for conditioning and to enhance your dance and/or cheerleading experience.
Intensive Program: For trained dancers who are ready to dedicate their time to a team which will compete and perform during the year. Placement auditions are held in June.
Dance Attire
Ballet: Leotard, ballet shorts or skirt, tights and pink ballet shoes. Hair needs to be pulled back off face in a pony tail or, preferably, a bun with a headband or bobby pins for bangs. Ballet warm ups are allowed until the instructor asks the dancers to remove them. No t-shirts or tanks allowed.
Jazz: Form-fitting dance clothing such as jazz shorts, pants or capris, tights, leotards and/or tanks are ok. No baggy clothing. Hair must be pulled back with a headband, bobby pins or clips for bangs. Jazz shoes are required; instructors may allow different shoes or no shoes upon request.
Hip Hop: Stretchy, comfortable dance or work-out clothing such as pants, shorts, tanks and t-shirts. Restrictive clothing like jeans, or jean shorts, should not be worn.
Tap: Same as jazz. Black tap shoes are required.
Lyrical: Same as jazz. Footundeez are usually worn in place of jazz shoes.
Modern: Same as jazz; usually danced in bare feet.
Dangling jewelry should not be worn in any class.
Dancewear and shoes can be found at the following locations:
- For wholesale prices, try www.discountdance.com or call 800-328-7107.
- Active Wear 4 U right next door to us or check them out at www.activewear4u.com!!! Go see or call Rhonda for the hippest dance outfits or design them yourself. Call Rhonda at 530-365-9422.
- Payless Shoe Source and Walmart are a GREAT place to get the little ones’ ballet and tap shoes at very inexpensive prices.
- Revolution Dance Wear and Shoes will be available at the studio. Check at the office for more information!
Observation Days
Except for Tiny Tots and Mini classes, parent observation days will be the FIRST LESSON OF THE MONTH only. Observation from the window is allowed but not from inside the classroom.
Students need to concentrate 100% on the class! Parents, please watch the classes quietly during parent observation days. Thank you.
Productions
Classes will perform in our Christmas Showcase held at the beautiful Cascade Theatre in late December of each year. Rehearsal will typically be the day before the performance. More details will follow in our monthly studio newsletters and/or you can check specific dates by clicking here.
Our year-end production is held in mid-June each year. A mandatory all-day rehearsal will be held the day before. This is an excellent opportunity for students to show off the talents they have acquired throughout the year! Participation is not mandatory but please note the last 3-4 months preceding the production will be committed to working on the class recital routine. If your student does not wish to participate in the year-end production, please let the instructor know so that choreography formations are not adversely affected.
Costumes will be ordered for both productions and you will be notified when deposits and final payments are due. If a student is both measured for a costume and currently enrolled in the class, it is agreed the student will be in the production and responsible for the associated costume fees.
Business Hours
Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 3:30 – 8:00 pm. You may call the studio at 530.365.7749 any time and leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. You may also leave us a handwritten message in the mailbox or e-mail us. There is also a suggestion box located in the first bathroom for you to submit any ideas, solutions, suggestions, etc…you may have. We encourage you to share your thoughts on how we can improve the entire studio experience!