2021-2022

Studio 601 Dance Academy

Policies and General Information

Welcome to Studio 601 Dance Academy! Our program is designed to develop discipline, confidence, self-expression, and talent while learning the fundamentals of dance.

Registration

An annual $30 nonrefundable registration fee, per family, is due at the beginning of each dance season. Each student is required to have current registration and release forms on file as well as a current email address. Please notify the office if you move or have a change of address/phone.

Student Placement and Progression

Our professional staff at studio 601 Dance Academy is trained to teach the art of dance. Without training, instructors make professional educational decisions regarding a student’s dance training. Returning students are placed according to their teacher’s recommendation. New students are placed by age, grade, number of years experience, type of training and teacher’s discretion. We do our best to place each dancer on the background you provide for us. If a student is placed incorrectly, they will be moved during the first few classes.

Not all dancers progress at the same pace. Many factors such as physical growth, learning speed, coordination, number of classes, natural ability etc. play a primary roll. There are great physical and emotional risks involved with a dancer progressing too quickly. Please allow us to place your child where we feel they can enjoy dancing, learn correctly and make excellent progress. Any questions or concerns regarding your child ‘s class placement and progress are welcomed. Please contact the office to schedule communication with your child ‘s instructor and/or Studio 601 staff should you have any concerns.

Class Information

Each class offered at studio 601 will be taught by a qualified instructor. Student assistants will be present in classes when deemed necessary by the director. Please stay with your child until their class begins. If anyone other than the parent or guardian will be picking up the dancer, inform the teacher/office ahead of time. A short water break will be taken during the two-hour classes. Cups and cold water are provided for our students. Students are not allowed to bring food or drink into the classroom. Cell phones must be turned off during class. If there is an emergency, please call the studio office. T-shirts are not allowed in any dance class or dance room. Dancers will sign an agreement on their first class that they will not wear T shirts into the dance room. Dancers with T shirts will be asked to leave class and sit in the lobby. Instructors need to see the movement and body position of the dancer to properly instruct.

Attendance

Students are encouraged to attend 100% of every class. Please keep absences to a minimum. Excessive absences or tardiness may result in class reassignment. During recital season, January-June, students are allowed five (5) excused absences and zero (0) unexcused absences. Only two of these may be consecutive. Any student who for any reason misses more than the Approved number of classes will not be allowed to perform.

When dancers are sick or injured, they may decide to observe class and not participate. This will only be allowed three times per year. Students who are 15+ minutes late for class will be considered absent and may be asked to observe the class due to missing the proper warmup to safely participate. Participation is imperative for all dancers for proper rehearsal.

Make-up Classes

Make-up classes will be held only when a teacher cancels a regularly scheduled class period no make-up classes will be held for Holidays or student absence. Up to two weeks of classes may be cancelled due to inclement weather. Any classes cancelled beyond two weeks will be rescheduled. You must call to make up a class.

Waiting Room Etiquette

Studio 601 Dance Academy was founded on family and this is an important part of what we do. Although we are a “child friendly” environment, we are still a business. All children should be supervised while in the building. Do not allow them to play with the water cooler, doors, blinds, etc. Siblings are welcome but activities should be quiet and not disruptive to class, office, or others waiting in the lobby area. Please keep conversations age appropriate for children’s ears and be respectful of others waiting. No food or drinks into the building for students, siblings, or parents slash guardians allowed. Please dispose of any food garbage in the trash outside in the front of the building. We appreciate your assistance in keeping our facility clean and pest free. You will be charged if students are not picked up on a timely manner.

Classroom Etiquette & Viewing

We all want your child to enjoy dance class, but it is very important that the class remain in control. Students are expected to behave respectfully to fellow students as well as the instructor. We as teachers understand that some days are better than others, however, students who are excessively disruptive during class will be asked to either sit in the classroom or leave the room for the duration of the class. The instructor will fill out a disciplinary form and have parents sign when necessary.

Class viewing is at the discretion of the director. The studio doors will be closed for majority of classes. Remember you are a “stranger” to the other students in the classroom and could be a distraction keeping them from fully participating in class. The director may invite parents to watch part of the class on certain days. Parent observation weeks will be scheduled at the discretion of the director. Notification will be sent home with the dancers prior to parent observation classes.

Fees & Payment Schedule

Monthly payments are due on the first day of each month. A ten-day grace period will follow after which a $15 late fee will be assessed on the 15th day of each month. Payment should be turned into the tuition drop box, given to the office manager or made online by credit card. Please do not hand payments to a teacher. Parents who give the responsibility to their dancer to turn intuition or still responsible for the late fee if the student fails or forgets to turn the Payment in on time. Payment mailed are not late if postmarked by the 10th. Payments will not be held an must not be postdated. Safe check handles all returned checks. Tuition is not prorated for Holidays or missed classes. If for any reason your dancer drops a class, you must visit the office and fill out a drop form. You will be billed until this form is completed and received. Drop forms are available at the office. A 30 day drop notice is required.

Fees are as follows:

$50.00 for a 30-minute class

$55.00 for a 45 minute class

$60.00 for a 60 minute class

$65.00 for a 75 minute class

$75.00 for a 90 minute class

$80.00 for a 105 minute class

$95.00 for a 135 minute class

$100.00 for a 150 minute class

$125.00 for a 165 minute class

$140.00 for a 180 minute class

$200.00 a month for unlimited classes. Take as many classes as you would like.

(Unlimited price does not include competition team and ballet company tuition)

*$10 discount per immediate family member! (No discount for unlimited)

**All accounts must be kept up to date. Costumes will not be ordered for anyone with an outstanding balance. Additionally, any students with past due accounts at recital time will not be allowed to perform. Students with outstanding balances may be denied participation in class until the account is reconciled. Competition students WILL NOT be allowed to participate in performances or competitions if their tuition is behind.

Dress Code & Classroom Safety Rules

Please see Dress Code Sheet for the dress code requirements for the studio.

Our staff will be strictly enforcing the dress code for all classes. Please make sure dancers are properly dressed and on time for class. Students may be asked to leave class if not dressed appropriately.

• T-shirts are not allowed in any class

• Bare feet are not allowed in ant dance class that requires shoes. Dancers must wear appropriate dance shoes for every class.

• Tights with excessive “tears” or “runs” are not allowed.

• Hair must be pulled back from face. Ponytail or buns are encouraged. Long bangs need to be pinned away from face. Hair will not be allowed down in class.

• Please avoid wearing dangling jewelry. Dancers wearing any jewelry that compromises safety will be asked to remove it.

• For safety, no gum, candy, or lozenges are allowed in class.

• Please leave all toys at home.

• Please label all belongings with dancers first and last names.

• Please do not wear your dance shoes outside of the studio. This can not only damage the studio floors but can also damage your dance shoes.

• Dancers should have a dance bag with the dancer’s name on it for their first class.

Special Programs

Competitive Dance Team (By Audition Only)

Studio 601 offers students an opportunity to audition for The Collective at Studio 601. The Collective travels to competitions and dance workshops. They also perform in our community at festivals and events. Auditions are held each year during the summer. Please contact the office if you’re interested in auditioning for The Collective the Competition Team at Studio 601.

Requirements: Dancers must have prior dance experience. Dancers must also be at least five years of age. The Collective team members must enroll in 2 ballet, 1 tap, 1 jazz, 1 lyrical, 1 hip hop, as well as the team class. Additional performance and travel requirements are determined by the director and vary each season.

Studio 601 Classical Ballet Company (By Audition Only)

Studio 601 offers students the opportunity to audition for our Classical Ballet Company. The Ballet Company performs in our community and has a special performance during our yearly recital. Please contact the office if you are interested in our Classical Ballet Company.

Requirements: Mini Ballet Company – Ages 7-9

Apprentice Ballet Company – Ages 10-12 with 2+ years of experience

Junior/Senior Level – Age 13 & up with 5+ years of experience, 1 year of pointe

Company members are required to take the Ballet Company class (Monday nights) and additional ballet classes each week.

Attire: Solid black leotard, pink tights with hair pulled back into a bun. Mini Ballet Company is required to have a skirt.

There is a tuition increase for Ballet Company based on the level of dancer.

Media Release

Permission is granted to use My student’s image for advertising purposes. This may include, but is not limited to, print, video, and Internet advertisements and literature. Permission is also hereby granted for the studio to copyright such photos in our name.

LIKE us on Facebook!

Our Facebook page is one of the many methods of communication we use to keep our dance family informed of the happenings here at Studio 601. Like us on Facebook to view the latest dance news and studio events right in your news feed.

Costumes

Costume measurement week will occur in the beginning of November 2021. Parents/Guardians or any other responsible adult will be required to attend this class period. At this class, you will be measuring your student for their recital costume. Costume fitting week will occur during April of 2022. Parents or another responsible adult will be required to attend this class. At this class, your dancer will be trying on their costume. The teacher will be giving instructions on any alterations that need to be made as well as information about upcoming recital deadlines. Attendance for students and at least one parent is mandatory for these classes.

Costume Deposit and Payments

A mandatory costume deposit of $30 for each costume is due by Thursday October 15^th 2021 by 6:30 PM. The balance for costume payments is due during costume measuring week with a grace period ending Thursday December 10, 2021 by 6:30 PM. Costume prices range on average between $45.00 and $65.00 each. These dates and times are final. Please do not ask for exceptions. A costume will not be ordered for your dancer if your costume is not paid in full by December 10, 2021. Extensions are not available. Checks for costume payments must be postdated for December 10th, 2021 and remitted to the office during Measurement Week for your convenience.

In-Studio Dress Rehearsal

To help simplify recital weekend, we will have a full costume dress rehearsal at the studio. This rehearsal will be held during your dancer’s regularly scheduled class time three weeks before recital. A parent or other responsible adult must attend the class with the dancer. All costume alterations must be completed for this rehearsal, and hair must be worn according to your costume instruction sheet. Makeup is not required during this week.

Rehearsal and Recital

The mandatory rehearsal will be held at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theatre. The recital performance will be also be at the Hattiesburg Saenger Theatre. Your dancer must attend the full dress rehearsal to participate in the recital. No exceptions.

The studio will communicate with parents/guardians via our website, Facebook page, e-mail, and notes sent home with dances in the Spring. Please be on the lookout for these notes, A copy of these notes will be posted in the lobby as well as on our web page under “Dance News.”

Recital Orientations are held in the spring to provide detailed information about process for parents/guardians with students new to our studio.

Tickets for the recital will be available through Ticketmaster or the Hattiesburg Saenger Theater Box Office in May. Watch for information and dates when the tickets will be available for purchase.

Professional pictures will also be available at the dress rehearsal at the Saenger Theatre. We will also have in studio recital pictures. Class pictures will also be taken at the studio and available for purchase. Typically, recital t-shirts and program ads are available for purchase as well. You will receive more detailed information in the Spring during Costume Fitting Week and In-Studio Dress Rehearsal Week.

Studio 601 Dance Academy

Dress Code

2021-2021

Holidays and Important Dates

Dates are subject to change.

• Classes Begin August 2, 2021

• Labor Day Holiday September 6, 2021

• Mandatory Costume Deposit Due October 15, 2021

  • Deposit is $30 per costume.

• Costume Measurement Week

• Thanksgiving Holidays

• Costume Payment Balance Due

• 2021 Winter Showcase

• Winter Break

• Classes Resume

• MLK Jr. Holiday

• Spring Break

• Costume Fitting Week

• In-Studio Dress Rehearsal

• Recital Weekend

• Rehearsal

• Recital Day