ABSOLUTE DANCE
RECREATIONAL CLASS POLICIES 2024/2025

Welcome to Absolute Dance!– We are excited to have you join the Absolute Dance Family for the upcoming 2024/25 dance season. Please review our Recreational dance policies carefully and sign below and return to our Registrar with full payment. If you have any questions about anything entailed in this contract, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Board of Directors prior to signing.
This contract is valid for the entire dance season from mid-September 2024 until the end of year recital in early May 2025.
GENERAL TERMS/ VOTING MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS
1. Absolute Dance is a registered non-profit dance club, organized and operated by a parent volunteer Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are elected through the General Meeting by the membership (all paying members). Each family is required to pay a nominal yearly membership fee (one fee per family). One person from each dance family maintains one counted vote at all membership related forums. As part of a not-for-profit organization, it is required to attend at least one of the two General Membership Meetings to present membership needs to the Board of Directors and cast votes on studio decisions to enhance the operations and value the dance studio provides to its membership. These meetings occur biannually, with one scheduled in the fall and spring over each dance season. Attendance at one General Membership meeting is mandatory and attendance will be tracked.
PAYMENTS / FEES & ATTENDANCE
2. Payments for registration in recreational classes can be made via cheque or e-transfer to absolutedance.info@gmail.com. Please indicate dancer name on cheque or e-transfer. Payments must be received prior to the start of first class or dancer may be removed.
3. Any Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) cheques will be charged a $25 administration fee.
4. Costumes will be selected by the dance teacher for each recreational class and a fee of $50 per dance will apply. Costume fee is included in the total cost of registration fees per class.
5. A professional digital copy of the video of the year-end recital is provided to each dance family (one copy per family) for a fee of $25.00 - fee is charged once per family only and collected at time of registration.
6. Absolute Dance thrives from the involvement of parent volunteers. The recreational dance membership fee of $35 per family and is in-lieu of mandatory volunteer duties. We welcome any parent members who are interested in supporting the studio with volunteering at studio special events, additional planning/organizing, recital or rehearsals, or participating on a sub-committee (as applicable). The membership fee supports studio operations (ie. professional cleaning) and provides families with access to member discounted events throughout the year.
7. Parent reps are required for each class to assist dancers on rehearsal and recital days. Please contact our volunteer coordinator following registration if you are interested in fulfilling this role. Parent rep positions will receive free admission to the recital.
8. Consistent attendance is important for all recreational classes. Please remember that the absence of your child from classes negatively affects the others in their group and their recital performance. Please make every effort for consistent attendance and report any known upcoming absences to the teacher in a timely manner.
9. Consistent absences from recreational classes (without reasonable rationale and communication with the Board of Directors) may result in the dancer or family being asked to leave the dance club. No refunds will be issued in these instances.
10. It is our goal to provide a fun and educational opportunity for youth in our community. It is important for the dancer to be placed in the correct class for their interest and ability level. Every effort will be made to fit dancers appropriately in the correct classes. If there is a reason to adjust classes under the recommendation of a Dance Instructor, a member of the Board of Directors will be in contact with you to discuss.
REFUNDS/ CLASS CANCELLATIONS
11. A $30.00 processing fee will be charged in the event of a requested refund. Class changes and refunds are not allowed after 4 weeks of class.
12. The goal of our dance year is the spring recital. Please notify the Registrar at
absolutedance.registrar@gmail.com by December 1st, if your child is NOT attending the recital. Dancers not participating in the recital, will be removed from the last 4 weeks of classes to allow the others in the class time to adjust to the routine without them present. There is no refund or rebate for these circumstances.
13. In the event that a dancer is unable to complete the dance year, either by choice or by extreme circumstances i.e. pandemics and mandatory closures, no refunds will be issued after the initial four week period. If a dancer misses a recital for any reason, no refunds will be provided for video fees, however, dance families will be entitled to receive a copy of the recital video.
14. Classes may need to be canceled or rescheduled due to holidays, inclement weather, teacher illness (where a substitute cannot be found), government-ordered closures or other unusual circumstances. Should the studio be required to close due to public health mandates, classes will be provided in an online format. There will be no classes held on Thanksgiving Monday, Halloween, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday. No classes will be held during Christmas holidays or March Break – following the school calendar – starting the Saturday before and returning the first Monday following the holidays i.e. classes will resume the Monday after the New Year and the day school resumes.
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR / HARASSMENT POLICY
15. Absolute Dance encourages a fun, safe, inclusive and supportive learning for all dancers that respects each person as a unique individual. We expect that all parents, teachers, members of the Board of Directors act in a respectful and courteous manner. Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated at Absolute Dance within the studio or at any outside events hosted by the studio.. Any inappropriate behaviour towards teachers or other dancers, may result in the dancer or family being asked to leave the dance club, at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. No refunds will be issued in these instances.
QUESTIONS/ CONCERNS/ OTHER
16. Questions regarding Absolute Dance may be directed to the teacher involved or any member of the Board of Directors. If you would like to speak with a teacher, please arrange a mutually agreeable time in advance with a member of the Board. These meetings must be scheduled outside of their regular class hours so as not to interrupt the teaching of classes. The Board of Directors may be reached through email at absolutedanceontario@gmail.com.
17. If you have any concerns, comments, feedback or compliments it is your responsibility to communicate them in a timely manner to a member of the Board of Directors via email or in person. We strive to resolve any issues or concerns in a mutually agreeable way, respecting all parties involved and in the best interest of the dancer(s).
CONDITIONS OF USE:
I, the undersigned understand that Absolute Dance and the instructors thereof are not liable for personal injuries or loss of, or damage to, personal property. I understand that participating in dance classes involves the possibility of physical injury. I,therefore, assume all risks involved in the participation of all dance instruction for the dancer named herein for the year 2024-2025. I exempt, release and indemnify – Absolute Dance and the faculty thereof, including assistants, volunteers and Board of Directors from any and all liability claims, demands or causes of action whatsoever from any damage, loss or physical injury to myself or my participating minor child.
All dance families are reminded that should their dancer(s) be diagnosed with a suspected concussion at the studio or elsewhere, that they should refrain from participation from dance at Absolute. Absolute Dance will require documentation from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner prior to allowing them to return to dance classes.
I DECLARE THAT:
I authorize the Absolute Dance Club to release my child’s name, age, and photograph, as long as this release has been sanctioned by a member of the Absolute Dance Club Executive Committee or a member of the Dance studio’s teaching staff. This includes publications within the Absolute Dance Club and dancing community at large, in addition to external mediums including but not limited to the Absolute Dance Club’s website and social media accounts (ie. Instagram, Facebook).
I agree that our phone number and email address can be used by Absolute Dance to facilitate the distribution of the studio newsletter, meeting updates, informational emails, emergency contact, and for a phone directory. I acknowledge that any other personal information will not be released without my prior expressed consent.