You must be over the age of 18 to register for an account.

Please review & sign our waivers and policies.
Thank you.

Release of Liability Waiver
I, _________________________________________ the undersigned, for myself and each sponsored dependent and guests, assume full responsibility for death, or any other injuries or damages which may occur to my or my sponsored guests in, on or about the premises of the facility, and do hereby fully and forever release and discharge, Upstage Center of Performing Arts, its employees, offices, agents, servants and independent contractors, from any and all suits, claims, damages, cost and expenses of every kind, in conjunction with the use of the facility and equipment thereof, except from that arising out of the sole negligence or willful misconduct of Upstage Center of Performing Arts.

Upstage Center of Performing Arts LLC NC Virtual Instruction Release, Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability

Upstage Center of Performing Arts on-line broadcast instruction is intended only for our students. No recording or rebroadcast of instructional sessions or materials is allowed. As you know, participating in dance classes always involves risk of injury, but unlike in-studio instruction, on-line broadcast instruction does not allow Upstage Center of Performing Arts personnel to provide personal supervision of students participating in dance classes nor does it allow Upstage Center of Performing Arts to control the environment in which students are participating. Therefore, in exchange for your and/or your child participating in on-line broadcast instruction, you agree to assume the risk of the student participating and agree not to hold Upstage Center of Performing Arts LLC or any of its owners or employees liable for any injury or loss to person or property the student might sustain as a result of participating in on-line broadcast instruction. The responsibility for safe surroundings and safe practices during participation is that of the student, or the student’s parents or guardians.

I, the undersigned for myself and my sponsored agents and guests, further agree to use all related equipment, props and activity area properly and leave them in good condition.
I, the undersigned, understand the activities which will be held at the facility and have had my questions answered to my satisfaction.
I, the undersigned, certify that the information that I have given on my registration form is complete and accurate.
By my signature below, I agree to the provision of the Release of Liability Waiver for myself, my sponsored dependents and guests, and for my heirs and assignees intending to be legally bound. My signature below indicates that I have read, understand and will follow all studio rules and regulations.


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Signature Date

I grant permission for Upstage Center of Performing Arts to use my and/or my child's image (photographs and video) in media publications including but not limited to:
Social Media
Marketing - print and online
Website
Newsletters
Email
Brochures
Framed photography

I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve the finished photographs or electronic matter that may be used in conjunction with them now or in the future, whether that use is know to me or unknown. I waive any rights to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the image.

I am either 20 years of age or older or the parent or legal guardian of the student enrolled. I have read this release and I fully understand the contents, meaning and impact of this release.

Upstage Center of Performing Arts Studio Policies (updated for 2024-25)
____ Membership fee: $50 per family. Fee is paid annually and due at first registration. Fee is non-refundable. Payment of registration fee will hold a student’s spot in their classes. Additional payment may be required at the time of registration.
____Tuition is calculated for the season and divided into equal payments for convenience. Tuition is inclusive of class fees and will be the same for each month the student is enrolled, regardless of holidays, vacations or calendar weeks. Tuition is not pro-rated for illness or other absences. Recital and costume fees will be billed separately as they may vary by student. For your convenience, tuition can be paid in monthly installments. We offer a continuous program and enrollment is assumed unless a student opts out/drops. Additional students in the same household receive a 10% family discount monthly.
___ Tuition adjustments for prolonged illness or medical emergencies will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
____ Tuition is charged monthly for your convenience. The school year season is 10 months from August-May. Summer is 2 five week sessions. Tuition is due to the 15th of each month or on enrollment date if after the 15th. A $25 late fee will be charged after a 5-day grace period. We offer a one-time forgiveness of the late fee. Student balance must be paid in full to participate in the recital.
___ In the event the studio is forced to close due to natural disaster, fire, theft or destruction of property, pandemic, government order or an “Act of God”, tuition and fees paid to the date of closure are not refundable. The studio reserves the right to stop all in-person classes at the physical facility and resume service virtually. Families will receive communication to access virtual/on-line classes. Classes may be combined by age and/or level at the determination of the studio owners. Tuition will continue to be charged if the studio is required to move to virtual classes only or a hybrid of virtual and in-person sessions. Exceptions will be determined on a case by case basis.
___ If the studio is unable to host a recital at a theater/auditorium due to unforeseen circumstances such as a pandemic or natural disaster, the studio will make every effort to offer (but not limited to) 1) alternative recital date within the same calendar year if possible, 2) offer a virtual recital, 3)offer an in house recital. 4) offer a performance at an outdoor location. Directors will determine the best format based on the circumstances as well as the safety of staff, students, families, and the community.
____Withdrawal policy: 2 weeks (14 days) written notice is required to withdraw from class. Parents/paying parties are responsible for the amount of tuition up to the 2 week written notice, regardless if the child is attending. We hold a child's spot until we are notified of withdrawal, which may cause us to create a wait list or turn away other dancers.
___ Absences/failure to attend classes does not mean a child has withdrawn. Tuition payments will continue to be charged until written notification. Payments already made toward the month or season will not be refunded. .
____ After 30 days of non-payment, a student will not be allowed to return to class unless a payment plan has been agreed upon and signed by both the studio owners and the responsible party. There will be a $25 fee for bounced checks, failed auto pay, insufficient funds, etc.
____ Clients are required to set up auto-pay by saving a credit or debit card in the registration system. Clients are responsible for updating their credit card or bank information for autopay. It is the client’s responsibility to notify studio owners if they are not receiving emails. Please check email folders such as spam, promotions, and updates as well as inbox for studio communication. Email can also be viewed in the parent portal.
____Competition related fees will be billed separately from tuition. Please see the competition team contract for additional policies.
____ Costume fees will also be billed separately from tuition, as they will vary by student and by class. Costumes must be paid in full on or before Jan. 15. Students will not receive their costumes until their costume balance is zero. Costumes fees are non-refundable. Once the studio has purchased the costume, payment is required. Students who have paid their costume fees in full and withdraw from class may pick up their costumes from the studio within 2 weeks after the recital. Costumes left after this period will become property of the studio.
____Recital fee: We offer tiered recital packages that include different benefits for the performance. The standard package will be charged to all student accounts as default. Recital packages include first costume and a designated number of show tickets,among other benefits. Siblings in the same household will have the family package pre-selected for them.
____ Make-up classes: Students may make-up a class at the same level or below. Students must schedule a make-up class 24 hours before attending. Makeup classes can be scheduled by contacting the office. No make-up classes will be provided the last 2 weeks of the session leading up to recital. Make-up classes must be scheduled and take place in the same session, make-up classes may not carry over to future seasons or summer sessions.
_____The studio is not responsible for lost or stolen items that are brought into the facility by students, their family members, or guests.
I, __________________________, have read and understand the studio policies as written above and agree to comply with these policies while enrolled at Upstage Center of Performing Arts.



Signed: ______________________________________________________ Date: _____________

What to expect the first day of class
We are very excited to welcome your little one to our dance program. We look forward to seeing all of the beautiful little dancers all dressed in their dance clothes and ready to move! We wanted to share with you what is normal for the first days of dance class for your little one.
Right from the start, it is completely normal for a young dancer to feel timid or shy as they come into the studio for the first time. Usually a brand new preschool age child or toddler will cling to mom as they walk in the studio door, as they are unaware of their environment. Everything to them is new and separation anxiety is one of the most common issues on the first day. You may overcome this by explaining to your child before they arrive that mommy (or daddy) will watch them through the window during the class and that mommy (or daddy) won’t leave. The more you talk about it at home the better! Make sure you prepare them for their first day and please arrive early on the first day in order to get them acclimated to their new teacher and environment.

Our dance classes are designed as a teacher/child class. Our policy is that all parents need to be in the lobby when class is in session. We also need to keep the door to the studio closed during class, in order to avoid any wandering dancers. We will work with you and your child to achieve success in bringing happy dancers into the classroom without mom. This is a gradual process for most young children.

Most of the time our little dancers come into the room right away and never look back. Sometimes our little dancers aren’t ready for a teacher/child class. As parents, we won’t know until we try. Please remember that it sometimes takes a few weeks in order for the child to warm up to the idea, even if they LOVE to dance.

Lastly, our goal on the first day is to get every child into the class without mom and without becoming upset. If we have done that we have succeeded. But please don’t be alarmed if your child doesn't come in the first day. Or if they choose to sit and watch, or just stands there holding her ribbon and stares at the teacher jumping up and down. They are simply observing their environment. They will dance when they are ready! We hope you all have a positive experience at our studio. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have questions or concerns

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Is there required attire for my dancer?

o Yes. We require dancers be in leotard and tights, with proper dance shoes. We've found that having specified attire prepares our young dancers for the classroom. They know that when they are in their leotard, tights and shoes that it is time for class. It also helps them feel like part of the group. We have often seen that dancers that do not have proper attire feel different from their fellow classmates and it can often change their participation levels in class.

• How should my dancer wear their hair?
o We recommend having our dancers’ hair out of their face. If you're able to have it in a bun or a ponytail, great! However, we do know that our 2-4 year old dancers can be difficult to manage when it comes to hair. Sometimes, it just isn't worth the fight. By age 5, dancers should be having their hair pulled back in a ponytail, or bun.
• Is it normal for my dancer not to participate?
o ABSOLUTELY! Each dancer is different. Some dancers may jump right in, while others may take several weeks to fully feel comfortable in class. This is completely normal! We have seen dancers take up to 5-6 weeks to become a full participant in class. Remember, everything is new to them. They have a new space, new teacher, new friends, new music, new clothes. This can be very overwhelming for our young dancers. We know that some dancers may take longer to acclimate to the classroom setting. This is why we require a minimum 2 months enrollment for class. This timeframe allows our dancers enough time to really understand the concepts in class and become more comfortable with their surroundings.
• How can I best prepare my dancer for class?
o Come early for your first class! Help them get acquainted with their new space and teacher!
o Talk about it at home! The more you discuss the format of class, and expectations, with your dancer the better. We should also be talking to them about classroom behavior (e.g. listening to their teacher, taking turns with other dancers, etc.). One of the biggest things our young dancers learn isn't even dancer related. We teach our young dancers basic social and classroom skills to help prepare them for pre-school and kindergarten.
o Come to class on a consistent basis! Consistency is key at a young age. The more they are able to keep their weekly schedule, the better they will do in class.
o Be on time to class! We realize that sometimes things happen that may cause delays in getting to class, however, being on time is HUGE! Having them be there from the time the teacher calls them in, takes role, and gets class started helps in setting their expectations and behaviors for class. When a dancer is late, they lose those first moments of preparation which can impact their entire class and their behavior.
• My dancer wanders off during class, and isn't always paying attention? Is this normal? How should I handle it?
o Yes, this is completely normal for our younger dancers. This is why we structure our classes to split time between activities. Changing activities throughout classes helps to keep our young dancers engaged. However, it is completely normal for them to become distracted, or wander during portions of class. There are many things that can alter how our dancers participate. Lack of sleep, hunger, injury, etc. Everything has an impact. Our teachers will work to ensure our dancers stay as engaged as possible. We ask that you please do not enter the classroom, or tap on the viewing windows, to try and help your dancer as this is just another distraction, not only to them, but also to the entire class.
We are here to answer any questions you may have!
Upstage Center of Performing Arts
Ms. Ashley & Ms. Jenny