MMSD RULES & POLICY
I agree to abide by all rules & policies of the Margaret McCann School of Dance. I understand that failure to do so may result in my family’s dismissal from the studio with no refunds for any fees paid.
STUDIO POLICY & RULES:
CURRICULUM: Classes consist of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop & lyrical. All students are required to take at least 1 ballet class per week. As they progress to technique levels, a minimum of 2 ballet classes is necessary.
Students are accepted into the program at age 4. Ages 4 through 8 are considered the Young Dancer Program which includes the Primary and PreBallet divisions. Ballet technique begins about age 9. Your teacher will let you know when you are ready for tap (about age 6), jazz (about age 9), and pointe (about age 13). Pointe students must take at least 2 ballet classes per week in addition to their pointe class. A student must have a firm foundation in ballet & jazz before adding hip hop or lyrical classes.
Boys only Hip Hop classes are offered at age 6. Boys younger than 6 are incorporated into coed classes.
EXTRA CLASSES: When dancers are advanced to the level of black leotards, they must take a minimum of 2 ballet classes each week. They are encouraged to dance more than one weekly class in other subjects. There is no additional charge for these classes. Your basic monthly fee entitles you take as many classes (in a subject) at your level, or a lower one, as you wish to take.
TUITION: Tuition payments are due with the first lesson of each month. We prefer that you make your payment by check. If you are making a payment for anything else at the same time, please issue a separate check.
All unpaid bills over 30 days may be charged a late fee of $10.00 per month.
Please understand that you are making installment payments on a yearly tuition, therefore each monthly payment is always the same amount. There is no credit for holidays and likewise, there is no additional charge for months containing 5 class days (such as 5 Mondays). By registering for classes you agree to 9 monthly payments Sept to May.
REFUNDS are not given for any reason; however missed lessons may be made up in another class as possible.
ABSENCES: Absence from class is not refundable. There are no pro-rated fees for missed classes or holidays. There are no refunds for classes missed due to illness or injuries. Payments may not be reduced in order to accommodate family vacations or school conflicts.
Students with consistent attendance earn the right to a clean and well rehearsed dance for presentation in the end of the year showcase; therefore, the studio reserves the right to exclude any student who has erratic attendance from class, recital choreography & / or performance.
Students with erratic attendance risk the possibility of not moving to the next level with their class. Poor attendance WILL effect progression as will missing the Summer Session.
Regular attendance is required. Students missing more than 5 classes after February 1 may be pulled from the year end dance recital in June, regardless if a costume has been paid for or not.
DROPPED CLASSES: In the event a student chooses to discontinue a class, tuition payments will cease at the end of that month. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the office if they are dropping a class.
DANCE ATTIRE: In keeping with the high standards set for our students, the studio has a strict dress code as explained on a separate sheet. Dancers are expected to be neat, clean, and properly dressed for all classes. Be sure that your name is on each piece of equipment. For your convenience, all dancewear may be purchased through the studio.
Hair must always be tied back and pinned up off the face and neck. Dangling or distracting jewelry is not allowed. Dancers in black leotards must wear their hair in a bun.
Never wear your dance shoes to or from the studio. These are inside shoes only. Be sure to wear a skirt or other clothing over your leotard when not in the studio.
We reserve the right to have a child observe class if they continually are not properly dressed. We understand that things do get forgotten at home on occasion. If this happens, check with the office. We do have some dancewear you can borrow. Borrowed dancewear should be washed after use & returned to the studio the next time you come to class.
UNDERGARMENTS: Bras must be covered with a sports bra if they are visible under your leotard. Underpants are not worn under tights. Tights are a dancer’s underwear.
COSTUMES: A non-refundable deposit on costumes for the June show is due in November. We strive to keep costume costs affordable and age appropriate. Costumes will not be ordered without a deposit.
GUM, FOOD OR DRNKS OTHER THAN WATER are not allowed in the dance room. Smoking is prohibited on studio property.
LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS: The studio is not responsible for any personal items such as dance bags, dancewear, general clothing, cell phones, jewelry, wallets, purses, and all other items of personal or monetary value brought into the studio or left on site. All items found by the studio will be placed in the “lost and found basket†located in our lobby. The studio donates all unclaimed items 3 times annually to local nonprofit charities, once in December over the holiday break, in June after the recital & again in August. Please check it regularly. Â
CELL PHONES brought to class must be left in a dance bag.  Students MAY NOT accept phone calls, texts, etc. during class. If a parent needs to contact their child in the event of an emergency, they should call the office and have them deliver a message.
CLASS OBSERVATION: When watching your child through our windows, please do not communicate with them, as it is a distraction to the students and the instructors. Please be as unobtrusive as possible.
HOLIDAYS: Check your studio calendar for our holiday schedule. When the Juniata County schools are closed, we will be too.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: When weather conditions make traveling hazardous, our studio will cancel classes. Please check with the studio before attempting the roads. A message regarding cancellations will be on the voice mail & on our Facebook page no later than 3:00. Should such conditions arise while we are in class, you may pick up your child early. When the Juniata County schools are closed for bad weather, we are too. We will also close when the Juniata Schools send students home early due to impending bad weather.
RECITAL: Our annual student recital is held in the month of June. Official dates are announced in the spring, once the school system finalizes their own internal needs for the auditorium. We strongly suggest you keep the first 2 weekends in June free until our date is confirmed.
INFORMATION: It is the responsibility of the parent/student to be aware of all studio activities, such as recitals, rehearsals, and dates the studio is open or closed. MMSD will email all such notices. It is the parents responsibility to regularly check and read studio emails to ensure they are informed & to also regularly check the student’s dance bag for written notices. It is also the responsibility of the parents/students to inform the school of any student contact information changes.
CHANGES IN CONTACT INFORMATION: We require all families to update their contact information including newly changed telephone numbers, home addresses, email address, etc as this information would be required in the event of a emergency. Please contact the office team to update your information.
QUESTIONS / CONCERNS / FEEDBACK: Communication with our students and their families is very important to us. If in the event a problem or concern does arise, or you would like to provide feedback about any of our classes or operations, please contact Miss Margaret. By policy instructors are to remain focused on their class and the development of their students and may only be interrupted in the event of an extreme emergency.
EMAIL: Most of our external announcements and communication to families regarding student affairs is distributed through email. Therefore it is imperative that families update the studio in the event of any email address changes.
VIDEO uploading of MMSD classes or performances to YouTube or other such sites is strictly prohibited without written permission from the studio.
BULLYING: Respect is something we take very seriously at MMSD. We absolutely will not tolerate unhealthy behavior from anyone, dancers and parents included. Everyone is expected to be working towards the common goal of our dancers learning & growing in a safe & welcoming environment. We can and will remove any family that is unable to follow these guidelines. Dancers or their families found representing MMSD in a negative way may be removed, regardless of what point it is in the dance season.
MEDICAL CHANGES: The studio must be notified immediately of any changes relating to a student’s overall health. This includes allergies to any foods or medications, or newly developed ailments. Please provide our front desk with this information as it may be critical in the event of an emergency.
PHOTOS: MMSD is hereby granted permission to take photographs of the student to use in brochures, web sites, posters, social media, advertisements and other promotional materials the school creates.
CLASS BEHAVIOR: We all want your child to enjoy dance class, however, it is very important that the class dynamics remain in control. Students are expected to behave respectfully to fellow students as well as the instructor, staff & others. Students who are disruptive during class will be asked to either take "time out" within the class room or, depending on the situation and age of the student, be asked to leave the room for the duration of the class. If difficulties persist, a meeting will be requested to determine what would be the best possible long-term solution.
Younger students such as those enrolled in the Primary classes must be able to focus on the class and the tasks presented for the entire 45 minute period. We do however understand that some days are better then others when considering this age group and we look at the overall class experience versus one or two particular incidents.
The Margaret McCann School of Dance reserves the right to refuse service.
The studio reserves the right to dismiss any student or family member who disrupts the harmony of the classroom or the studio.
PARENTS: Parents, teachers, and students comprise the formula of any successful educational program. the success of our annual recital proves what can be accomplished when there is communication, cooperation, and understanding among all. We appreciate you choosing the Margaret McCann School of Dance for your child. We hope you will be with us for a long time.
