Policies and Procedures
By enrolling in CDT programs, you agree to the following:
Registration & Deposits: For September-June classes a non-refundable fee of $30 per student or $45 per family is required per season at the time of registration. Special events and the Sampler Series do not require a registration fee. Arabesque Academy has a $100 registration fee. Deposits are used for specific programs such as the home school program, day camps, & the intensives. Deposits secure your child’s spot in that date specific program and are non-refundable should you later choose to withdraw. The deposit amount is deducted from the overall balance due of that program. Once classes have begun, all tuition is non-refundable.
Payment of Fees: Tuition is due by the 1st or the 15th of the month, by automatic payment with a debit card or credit card or ACH. All payment types on file will be processed on the 1st or the 15th day of the month from September- June. Any payment received after the 5- day grace period is subject to a $10 late fee. Any check returned for NSF reasons is subject to a $30 NSF fee. We cannot accept and hold a check. Once classes have begun, all tuition is non-refundable, and accounts will not be given credit or transfers. Monthly tuition prices are developed by dividing the annual amount into 10 equal payments. That way, you pay the same amount each month regardless of the number of classes in a month. All planned closures are factored into your tuition and will not change your payments.
Programs and Placement: Our studio provides different programs that cater to each family’s dance needs, our Arabesque Academy Preschool, Children’s Division, School Division, and the Conservatory dance programs. We also have a variety of specialized programs like the sampler series, day camps, and the Spotlight Theater Company which are date specific. Families can register for our Children’s Division and School Division anytime between September and February. Dancers enter our Conservatory Program through an invitation or audition. Registration for the Conservatory closes at the end of September.
Uniforms, Costumes and Participation Fees: To participate in our program each participant is required to abide by the uniform dress code for their level. Please purchase these items prior to your first class. We are happy to exchange or refund uniform dress code items that are unsatisfactory within 15 days of the initial purchase. For sanitary reasons, all sales on tights are final. A small monthly participation fee will be due with monthly tuition for those participating in “The Nutcracker” and the spring ballet. These fees are paid separately through Team App.
Costume fees for the June recital will be billed with your monthly tuition. This $10.00 monthly charge covers your costume, tights, and
state sales tax. Every student will receive a costume regardless of whether they participate in the recital. If you drop from classes before May 1st, you have two options: 1) To pay the remaining balance of the costume and have the costume available for pick-up or shipped to you. 2) Forfeit the money you have paid towards the costume. Participation and costume fees are non-refundable, non-returnable. Sales tax will be applied whenever applicable. If you are enrolling after September, a $10 per month from September to the current month will
be due for past costume fees.
Withdrawal and Refunds: We require 30-days’ notice to discontinue any classes. Withdrawals must be done in person or by completing our digital withdrawal form and will not be accepted over the phone. The only exception is if we are unable to hold classes for whatever reason. Withdrawals must be done at the reception desk not with a teacher. All automatic payments will stop after the 30-day notice period. Non Attendance does NOT constitute withdrawal notice or adequate reason for not paying tuition. Once classes begin, tuition is non-refundable or transferable and credits are not issued. We reserve the right to terminate lessons to any student. In such a case, refunds are at the director’s discretion. To withdraw from a class, you must:
1. Inform the studio in person
2. Complete and sign a withdrawal form provided by the school office. We cannot accept a withdrawal form if there is a balance due. 3. Inform the studio how you would like to handle your costume charges (a. forfeit the money you have paid to the point of your withdrawal, pay the remaining amount and have the costume shipped to you.)
4. If you are withdrawing after April 30th, you do not have an option to forfeit costume fees paid. All costume fees must be paid with final payment and your costume will be available for pick-up.
Parent’s Responsibility to be Aware of Dates and Events: It is the responsibility of the parent or adult student to be aware of all school activities, such as viewing days, recitals, extra classes, and dates the school is open or closed. The parents will give the school their email address to email all such notices home. Information will also be posted on the bulletin board and text messages may be sent. It is the parent’s responsibility to regularly check their email and these boards to ensure they are informed. It is the responsibility of the parents or adult students to inform the studio of any email, address or phone number changes.
Extreme Weather or Unexpected Interruption of Classes: If the school must cancel classes due to extreme weather or events beyond our control, classes will be canceled. Refunds are not given. The Auburn location follows the Auburn School District snow closure decisions, the Federal Way location follows the Federal Way School District snow closure decisions. We reserve the right to transfer from in- person classes to virtual classes on zoom if needed due to government regulations and/or safety protocols. Clients may be asked to meet at their usual times or combine classes at a different day/time of the week, depending on the situation. In person classes are our preference, and if extended online classes become necessary the same withdrawal policies need to be followed.
Substitutions: The studio reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher or class option if the regularly scheduled teacher is ill or otherwise unable to teach classes. If a teacher is ill and the studio cannot arrange a substitute any missed class may be canceled and your account will be credited the appropriate amount.
Group Class Attendance and Lateness: Our policy is “better late than never.” However, the school reserves the right to have students who come more than 15 minutes late to sit out of the class. Please use common sense about sickness and colds, if you need to miss class, please call the office and excuse your dancer. You may make up the absence in a similarly level class within 30 days of the same season.
Private Lessons and Make-up Lessons: In the event you need to miss a private lesson CDT must receive 24 hours’ notice to alert the instructor. In cases where we have received adequate notice, we can arrange for a make-up lesson per YOUR instructor’s availability. You may not switch instructors and it must be during a time that they are already on location. Make-up lessons will be limited to 3 per teaching year and you will receive confirmation from the Studio. No refunds are given for missed lessons. However, you may schedule a cancellation so that you are not charged for a lesson during that specific time. Please schedule these a week in advance, not less than 24 hours before and are also limited to 3 per school year. Non-Attendance does NOT constitute withdrawal notice or adequate reason for not paying tuition. Once classes begin, tuition is non-refundable or transferable and credits are not issued. If you are late to your private lesson, you will receive the remainder of the lesson time. No exceptions
Observation: Traditional observation policies are as follows. Parents are always welcome to watch class through our viewing windows or monitors in the lobby. Please refrain from distracting your child. At no time is a parent allowed to interrupt a class. Should you need to leave class early, make arrangements with the instructor ahead of time or ask the receptionist to remove your child from the studio. There are scheduled observation days throughout the year when parents are invited into the studio to watch. Please make sure that all small children are not disruptive. Please save conversations for outside the studio, so that class operates smoothly. Feel free to take photos and videos of your dancer; however, please remain in your seat so class is not disrupted. Please silence your cellular phone.
Behavior and Discipline: Students are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. Dancers must treat all staff, faculty and peers with respect and have a positive attitude. We use positive reinforcements to help prevent behavior problems. Combination classes receive stamps as an incentive for good behavior. Older kids are encouraged, and given individual attention, to help prevent frustration and other unwanted behaviors. All adults, including parents and staff are expected to treat each other with respect and maintain civil discussions at all times.
Care of Students: The studio is not responsible for providing before or after class care for students. If you choose to drop off your dancer, please pick up your child promptly after class. Older students may arrive early to stretch and prepare for class; however, they must behave appropriately in the lobby at all times and will NOT be directly supervised. If you choose to drop off early you do so at your own risk. The parent is also responsible for making sure their student makes it upstairs to the studio. The studio cannot be responsible for the safety of dancers outside the studio doors. Parents of young dancers are asked to escort their dancer into the studio and get them settled and ready for class.
Injuries and sickness: Parents, legal guardians of minor students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on studio property or off-site location resulting from normal dance activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during or after class time and performances.
Photo Release & Privacy statement: The studio is hereby granted permission to take photographs or video of the students to use in brochures, websites, posters, advertisements or other promotional materials the studio creates. Permission is also hereby granted for the studio to copyright such photographs in its name. Student names are not printed and if you are not comfortable with this then we cannot let you register. Thank you for your understanding. Children’s Dance Theater does not share or sell any of our client or instructor information.
Please do not use Staff or Teacher's personal social media to contact them. Use the studio page or email.