STUDIO POLICIES
Register Online at: originsdance.com
Classes begin September 5th, 2023

TUITION FEES AND PAYMENTS
Tuition rates are for the full season (including studio holidays) from September 5th through the Recital in June, not by the number of classes in the month. A full season of dance includes a minimum of 35 lessons. Tuition fees are paid monthly or annually. June 1st will be the last tuition payment of the season.
After registering (paying for 1st Month + annual membership fee), monthly tuition must be paid by automatic EFT, debit, or credit card payment. Tuition will be debited from your account (or charged to your credit card) on the 1st day of each remaining month.
All new members will be charged an annual membership fee, regardless of the date of the first registered class.
Accounts not paid within terms are subject to an accruing 5% monthly finance charge and discontinued services until paid. Accounts more than 60 days past due may be submitted to collection services.
Any dancer needing to change or drop a class may do so by submitting a class change or drop form to the front desk.
The studio requires 30 days notice to drop classes. No Exceptions.
Recital fees will be automatically charged to your account. See payment schedule below.
December 1st: $40 Per Family Show Participation Fee
December 1st: $30 Costume Fee Per Class
January 1st: $30 Costume Fee Per Class
February 1st: $30 Costume Fee Per Class
March 1st: $30 Costume Fee Per Class
Non-sufficient funds on paper checks, auto-debit, or auto-charge payments will incur a $25 NSF fee which must be paid along with the tuition.

ROLLOVER REGISTRATION
For your convenience, and to reserve a space for the following season, annual membership fees will be automatically renewed and applied to your account on July 1st, 2024. An opportunity to “Opt Out” will be given to parents in advance.

WITHDRAW FROM CLASS
There is a one month minimum for all lessons.
One-month notice from the first of the month is required to discontinue any payments for the following month.
To withdraw, a parent must complete, sign and submit a withdrawal form.
Automatic bank debiting or credit card charges will stop after the one-month notice period.

PRIVATE LESSONS/CANCELLATION POLICY
Private rates range from $55 - $100 per hour.
Privates can be shared with a maximum of 3 dancers.
All private lessons canceled with more than 24 hours notice will not be billed.
No-show private lessons or private lessons canceled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full amount.

RESCHEDULING, TEACHER AND CLASS SUBSTITUTION
ODA reserves the right to reschedule or combine classes.
ODA reserves the right to provide a substitute or replacement teacher as ODA may deem necessary.
ODA reserves the right to deliver class content via an online system in
the event that classes are not able to be conducted live for any reason including, but not limited to: weather, teacher absence, or governmental advisory.

REFUNDS/CREDITS ON ACCOUNT
Tuition, membership fees and costume fees are non refundable.
Refunds/Credits are only issued when ODA cancels a class due to low enrollment.
Account credit will be issued when the student or parent initiates the schedule change.
Credits applied can be used toward any ODA tuition or fees due within one year.

ATTENDANCE
Consistent attendance is VITAL to student progress and group choreography.
Students may make up missed classes within 30 days of missed class until April 1st.
Missing more than two of the final eight classes before recital, may result in dismissal from participating in the recital routine at the discretion of the teacher.
Please report all absences via email or by phone.
In the event only 1 dancer is in attendance, class will be shortened to 30 minutes.

DRESS CODE
Proper attire and hair etiquette are required for all classes. - See Dress Code.
For your convenience shoes, tights and dancewear are available for purchase at our ODA Store.

CONDUCT CODE
Our model of discipline management is preventative, supportive and corrective with the ramification hierarchy below.
Dancer Warning - Lesson of questionable behavior and how to do better moving forward.
Dancer/Parent Meeting - If further action is needed after initial warning to the dancer, then a parent will be contacted.
Dancer/Parent Email - If further action is needed after a dancer/parent meeting, an email will be sent for further action, which may result in another dancer/parent meeting, suspension or removal from ODA. Each incident will be handled appropriately based on the severity of the questionable behavior.

SAFER STUDIO CODE
ODA requires all staff and students to stay home when they are ill.
In order to create a healthy and safe environment, we follow best practices and recommendations from our local health department and from our industry associations, More Than Just Great Dancing!® and Youth Protection Advocates in Dance. ODA focuses on a hierarchy of measures beginning with keeping ill people home, followed by frequent hand cleaning and good hygiene practices, amplified cleaning, and curricular and facility adaptations. We do not anticipate online learning, however, in the event a class is unable to be held at the studio, classes may convert to an online learning platform until in-studio classes can resume.

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS
ODA works diligently to keep you informed and up to date on regular studio happenings.
ODA offers a private members only website to keep parents up to date on Director Messages and Current Events at the studio.
Once registered as an ODA member, parents will receive access to ODA Online.
Other forms of communication include Robo Text, ODA Online Updates, Emails and Lobby Communication Center.
Follow @originsdanceacademy on Facebook and @origins_dance_academy on Instagram for weekly updates with faculty and families.
Questions - We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your dancer or our programs. Let us know if we can help you in any way!

PARENT OBSERVATION
Studio lobby is open for class, private and rehearsal observation.
As of 7/1/22, we no longer offer online observation.
Due to the limited size of our lobby, we ask that only one family member plus siblings observe.
Please no loitering in the lobby unless actively observing.
Please observe quietly and monitor siblings. Please do not tap on the viewing window or distract dancers.
Please keep faculty communication in between teaching to a minimum, so that faculty can start and end on time.
Faculty can always be reached via email at office@originsdance.com or by phone at (219) 662-2632.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
In the event of inclement weather, an email will be sent and a social media post made by 2pm, if in person classes are canceled.
Please note that we do not necessarily follow school closings as roads are often cleared by the time studio classes begin.
Any canceled classes may be made up on your own time from our regular schedule of classes, based upon availability. In the event there is not a makeup class available, a replacement lesson opportunity will be scheduled.

JUNE RECITAL
ODA celebrates the end of the season with our June Recital. We encourage but do not require participation.
The June Recital will be held at a local theater, depending on availability.
June Recital and mandatory dress rehearsal dates will be announced prior to November 1st.
Show and rehearsal schedules will be tentatively published in the Spring.
Tickets will be available for purchase through an online ticketing service in May (date TBA).
Ticket prices typically range from $16-25, depending on venue.

RECITAL COSTUME ORDERS/EXCHANGES
All classes will have a recital costume.
Kinder and Kinder 2 will perform two routines and will have two costumes.
To help break up the costs, Recital costume fees will be split up over five months. - See Tuition Fees and Payments.
Recital costume fees will be paid by automatic EFT, debit or credit card payment and are not refundable.
Costumes will not be released unless payment is received in full.
Students are measured for costumes in classes.
If a costume does not fit, we are able to exchange, pending availability.

Registering online informs us that you have read, understand and agree to abide by these policies.