Studio Policies 2023-2024
Dance Year: September 5, 2023- May 19, 2024
PRICING STRUCTURE
Fall Registration: $125 annual registration fee per student and first semester’s tuition is due at the time of enrollment
Spring Registration (for those wishing to only dance January-May): $150 registration fee per student and second semester’s tuition is due at the time of enrollment.
SEMESTER PAYMENT
Class prices are listed for the full year. 50% is due before the start of classes in August. The second half is due January 1st.
There is a 2 week grace period for semester payments, after classes start. Non-payment after 2 weeks will result in immediate dismissal, with no possibility of refund.
Monthly auto-pay available in 10 month increments. August and May must be paid upfront, then auto-pay will run the 1st of each month September through April. In order to join auto-pay, a year-long contract must be signed.
WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS
Our program runs the length of the school year. A student is considered enrolled and will be charged tuition until the office receives a completed drop-form (found on our website). All students are offered the opportunity to withdraw before the 2nd semester payment is due in January.
30 Day Guarantee: Please allow a month for your child to get used to our routine and for us to show you and your child how we offer quality training by investing in each child. We fully believe you’ll be happy, otherwise we’ll gladly refund your money after the first month.
EXCEPTION: We cannot refund tuition payments due to a change in COVID restrictions or other unforeseen events such as pandemics, war, AI overthrow, alien invasions, zombie apocalypse, or the end of the Mayan calendar.
Referral Bonuses
Invite your friends to come dance with us. If they sign up for classes (and dance through the end of the semester), you'll each receive a $25 credit toward the following semester AND you'll both have your picture added to our social media with a special message!
EXPECTATIONS
ATTENDANCE
Excellent attendance is expected of all students. Please call or text the office and leave a message if your child will miss class. Students who arrive more than 10minutes late will be asked to observe class and are not permitted to dance that day.
There are no tuition adjustments for missed classes or holidays. Students who plan to miss a class or who feel ill must let the office know (by emailing eleve@durangodance.com or texting 970.403.5974) at least 2 hours prior to their missed class. Some in-class make-up options may be available depending on enrollment. Students cannot make-up a class by dropping in without prior studio approval.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR
We expect all dance students to behave responsibly while in class and in the building. Absolutely no gum, food, drinks (except water), cell phones, or street shoes in the studios! Please do not leave your valuables in the waiting room or dressing room during class. Durango Dance is not responsible for any stolen or lost property. Please do not touch things that do not belong to you. Clean up after yourself and throw away any trash or recycling. Most importantly, please treat yourself, fellow students, and instructors with respect at all times. Students caught stealing, bullying, breaking the law, or using drugs or alcohol are subject to dismissal.
PARENT AND FAMILY BEHAVIOR
Parents are asked to aid us in setting the tone for a positive experience for all our students. Feel free to socialize in the waiting area and check-in with your child’s teacher before or after class. Long conversations should be scheduled outside of class time (speak to the front desk about this). Siblings are asked to play quietly in the waiting area or watch from windows and not enter studios in their street shoes.
Parents or guardians picking up children should be sober and in safe frame of mind. We are mandatory reporters and will call the authorities if a parent arrives intoxicated for pick-up or drop-off.
INCLUSION
Durango Dance is a safe, inclusive space. It is our mission to not only accept but honor each individual who walks through our doors. People are not welcome regardless of their differences, rather we celebrate them in regard of their differences. Durango Dance welcomes the spectrum of gender expression, sexual orientation, spiritual and religious practices, neurodiversity, and able or disabled embodiment. If you find that your family’s unique qualities could be better honored, we humbly ask that you let one of our directors know, so we can better serve your family.
DRESS CODE (all provided with inclusive tuition EXCEPT pre-pointe and pointe shoes)
Imagine Dance - light pink leotard
Imagine Ballet/Tap - light pink leotard, white socks, skin-tone ballet shoes, black velcro tap shoes
Discover Ballet/Tap – light blue leotard, skin-tone tights, skin-tone ballet shoes, black velcro tap shoes
Explore Ballet - lavender leotard, skin-tone tights, skin-tone ballet shoes
Explore Tap/Jazz- lavender leotard, skin-tone tights, black velcro tap shoes, skin-tone slip-on jazz shoes.
Explore Contemporary/Hip Hop - lavender leotard, skin-tone tights, non-skid sneakers dedicated to indoor dance, socks
Engage Ballet - dark pink leotard, skin-tone tights, skin-tone ballet shoes
Engage Tap/Jazz- dark pink leotard, skin-tone tights, black velcro tap shoes, skin-tone slip-on jazz shoes.
Engage Contemporary/Hip Hop - dark pink leotard, skin-tone tights, non-skid sneakers dedicated to indoor dance, socks
Compose Ballet - navy leotard, black tights, skin-tone ballet shoes. Skirt optional. Some students may be asked to purchase Pre-Pointe or Pointe shoes based on teacher’s discretion.
Compose Contemporary - navy leotard, black tights. Leggings optional.
Compose Jazz – navy leotard, black tights, skin-tone jazz shoes. Shorts or leggings optional.
Compose Tap - navy leotard, black tights, black tap shoes. Optional shorts, skirt, or jazz pants.
Compose/Innovate Hip Hop - Durango Dance T-shirt, joggers, high-top shoes dedicated to indoor dance. Athletic shorts and knee pads optional.
Innovate Ballet - plum leotard, black tights, skin-tone ballet shoes. Skirt optional. Some students may be asked to purchase Pre-Pointe or Pointe shoes based on teacher’s discretion.
Innovate Contemporary - plum leotard, black tights. Leggings optional.
Innovate Jazz – plum leotard, black tights, skin-tone jazz shoes. Shorts or leggings optional.
Dress Code Alternatives (Please designate at registration if your child would prefer the alternatives)
Ballet - solid T-shirt, black pants, black ballet shoes.
Contemporary -Â solid fitted shirt, solid pants, and bare feet.
Imagine Dance - solid T-shirt, black pants, black ballet shoes.
Jazz – solid shirt, black jazz pants, black jazz shoes.
Hip Hop - solid colored t-shirt, loose-fitting athletic pants, high-top shoes.
Tap - solid T-shirt, black pants, black tap shoes.
HAIR
Short hair must be pulled back out of face. Long hair must be pulled back in a ponytail, braid, or bun. Buns or similar hair style required for Explore ballet and higher levels. No jewelry should be worn for class, except small earrings.
DANCE SHOES
Dance shoes may not be worn outside for any reason. Dirt on the bottoms of shoes destroys dance floors and ruins shoes.
RECITAL ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students who miss more than three classes in a semester may not be allowed to participate in the end-of-semester performance. Individual instructors determine that the student is prepared. Attendance at the dress rehearsal prior to the performances is MANDATORY. Students must attend all performances of their pieces. Students who cannot be at all performances will not be permitted to perform.
Spring Recitals - May 18-19 Subject to change. Final date will be announced by March 1st.
Due to changes in rental prices and policies at our local theater, recital tickets are available for purchase and not included in registration or tuition fees. Families who need help with ticketing are asked to please reach out to our directors for ticketing options.
STUDIO POLICIES
OUR GOALS AND PHILOSOPHY
Our purpose at Durango Dance is to give children a place where they are seen as the unique and creative people they are. We do that by guiding them as individuals toward safe technique and creative expression. Our teachers make a point to invest in the individual. Music has a positive, inspirational message. Critiques are given to build up our dancers. Technique is taught progressively. Opportunities to perform are plentiful. We believe a community learning environment is key to student success, and we work together as teachers and families to provide the best dance experience for your child.
LEVEL PLACEMENT
Per our goals and philosophy, level placement is based on the needs of the individual dancer. For the safety of our students and to maintain the quality of training, dancers cannot always be placed in the same class with friends.
DROP OFF AND PICK UP
Imagine and Discover Dancers - please wait with your student until class starts. Students may arrive up to 15 minutes before the first class of the day. Students may use that time to change, use the restroom, and eat a clean snack in the waiting room before class. Students must be picked up immediately following each class.
PARENT OBSERVATION
Observation is always allowed through the studio windows or doors. Please watch quietly and refrain from distracting students. In-room parent observation is permitted on an announced dates or upon invitation of the instructor. Special guests are allowed into the studios by permission of the instructor, as long as they observe quietly (no cell phone use when observing in class).
LOST AND FOUND
Lost & Found bin is located at the front office. It is emptied at the end of each month. Please ask a staff member to look through the bin.
SNOW CLOSURE
Durango Dance will follow 9R district closings for snow or weather closures.
Additional Opportunities
Summer Camps
Summer camps are offered in week-long sessions. Dancers may attend school-year classes without also taking summer camps, and vise versa. Summer Camp dancers and parents must abide by all policies including student and family behavior. Summer Camps are offered in a tiered pricing structure and are non-refundable.
Parents’ Nights Out
Dancers may attend school year classes without also attending PNO, and vise versa. PNO dancers and parents must abide by all policies including student and family behavior. PNO nights are refundable with 24 hours notice and credits may be issued for illness or emergencies.