Student Handbook


Apr 27, 2024 09:13 PM


Dance Center of San Antonio
Policies

Attendance/Tardiness
• Consistent attendance is expected. In order for your child to progress and benefit the most from their training, active, continuous and timely participation is required.
• No refunds or tuition adjustments are given for missed classes. Make-up classes may be scheduled and taken within 2 weeks of the missed class.
• Absenteeism affects the entire class and group choreography. Students are responsible for knowing the missed material by consulting a classmate or scheduling a private lesson.
• Classes will begin promptly at the scheduled time. Students are expected to be on time, in proper attire, and prepared for class.
• Students may be asked to observe class if they arrive more than 10 minutes late and have missed important warming-up.

Attire
• All students are expected to comply with the dress code and come to class with the appropriate hair style.
• No street shoes are permitted in the dance studio and dance shoes should not be worn outside of the studio.
• Dancers should wear cover-ups and street shoes to and from the school.
• Ballet Attire for Girls
♣ Hair pulled back securely in a bun.
♣ Shoes: pink Revolution ballet slippers (Pre-professional dancers Level 3 and higher need ribbons) and pink pointe shoes (approved by Mrs. Bessler) where applicable.
♣ Class uniform is required for all pre-professional dancers. Class uniform is recommended for all other dancers.
♣ Class uniform is Corsu red leotard, Corsu red belt, and Corsu red skirt.
♣ Pink footed or convertible tights required.
• Ballet Attire for Boys
• White shirt, black pants, white socks, and black Revolution ballet shoes.
• Dance belt required
• There are 2 planned days per month that are considered Spirit Days. Spirit Day attire consists of DCSA branded clothing (T-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.) or any other clothing that is appropriate for that specific class.
• Attire for Non-Ballet Classes
• Girls – Dance Center of San Antonio T-shirt and black leggings, and black socks. Folkorico class: Folklorico skirt as well.
• Boys – Dance Center of San Antonio (without the dancer) t-shirt, black shorts or pants, and black socks.
• Girls and Boys shoes according to discipline:
o Folklorico Black Folklorico shoes
o Hip Hop Black Hip Hop sneakers
o Irish Black Irish shoes
o Jazz Black Jazz shoes
o Tap Black Tap shoes


Classroom Etiquette
Proper classroom etiquette is essential to the education and training of dancers. 
• Be prompt to arrive. Late arrivals disrupt the class and cause the late student to miss important warm up exercises.
• Knock before entering the classroom, if a class is in progress
• If a student needs to leave before class is over, he/she must ask to be excused by the teacher. Please do so discretely so as not to disrupt class.
• No gum chewing, eating, or drinking is allowed in the studios. Water is okay. No cell phones during class.
• Always show respect to teacher.
• Please refrain from “dancing ahead” when reviewing or relearning choreography.
• Eyes and attention must always be on the teacher.
• Be appreciative of corrections and earnestly apply them.
• Be kind and respectful to your classmates. Displays of temper and disrespect are unacceptable.
• When class is finished, clap and thank the teacher for class.
• Do not leave behind hair pins, water bottles, or clothing. Be sure to take all of your belongings.

Class Placement

♣ Upon registration, class placement is determined by age, physical development, and level of previous training.
♣ Class placement decisions are at the discretion of the teachers and the director of the Dance Center of San Antonio
♣ Over time, class placement will be based on class participation, attendance, progress, attentiveness, ability, attitude, and consistency.
♣ Each student progresses at their own rate, and not that of their friends and all placement decisions are made strictly regarding the best interest of each individual student.
♣ Two students of the same age and years of experience may have completely different capabilities and, as a result, be placed in different levels of training.
♣ Negative issues regarding class placement will inhibit a student’s progress.
♣ Students placed in their correct level become solid in their technical training.
♣ Dance levels are not like grades at school. Students may remain in the same level for 2-3 years before they are physically and mentally ready to accept the challenges of the next level.


Payment methods
• Payments to DCSA may be made in person at the DCSA front desk or through the customer portal.
• All students must have a credit card and auto draft authorization on file with DCSA at all times.
• Automatic Payment: DCSA’s preferred method of payment is Automatic Payment, through which your monthly tuition payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on file. Payments will be Auto Drafted on the 2nd business day of each month for that month of dance instruction. Should you wish to use another method for payment, you are welcome to do so but payment must be made before the 2nd to avoid the auto draft. (There are no exception to this practice).
• Manual Tuition Payments:  DCSA accepts Visa, Master Card, cash, check, and debit cards with a Visa or Master Card logo on them. Manual payments are subject to late fees.  A $35 fee will be charged for returned checks.
• All other fees, e.g., choreography, costumes, private lessons, etc. will be charged when incurred.
• All accounts will receive an emailed receipt after any charges are made.


Registration
Upon enrollment, a non-refundable annual registration fee of $50 per student is due. All parents/enrolling students are required to complete the registration forms through DanceStudio-Pro, the Dance Center of San Antonio’s “customer portal.” Once a student is registered, parents have online access to their account information via the “customer portal.



Studio Etiquette & Policies
• Upon entering the facility, a positive and professional attitude is expected by all students and family members.
• Students and family members must be respectful at all times to DCSA teachers and staff as well as other students, parents, guardians and family members.
• Profanity, gossip, and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated at the Dance Center of San Antonio. Gossiping and bullying among students and parents is not permitted and may result in removal from the school.  If you have a question or need to discuss something, please contact us!
• Trust in the faculty and staff is imperative for a positive relationship between parent, student, and instructor. Please share and discuss concerns or questions with the Director. 
• Students must be ready and properly dressed for class before entering the classroom.
• Please leave valuables at home. DCSA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Please use restroom before class, to avoid a loss of class time.
• Dance bags and belongings should be stored in the cubbies during class. Older dancers may be assigned a locker in the Changing Room for their private use during a semester.
• Only water is permitted in the studios. Food and drinks are allowed only in waiting areas outside each studio.
• Inform a teacher and front desk if a child needs to leave a class prior to the scheduled end time. In early departure situations, A DCSA staff member will retrieve you child from class.
• Students must arrive for class on time and be picked up promptly after class.
• Unsupervised children are not permitted in DCSA. Siblings of dancers in class must be supervised and kept under control and safe by their parent or guardian. DCSA staff are focused on the safety of children waiting to go into a class or to be picked up by a guardian and are not able to supervise children who are not enrolled in classes.
• Classrooms are closed.  Parent Observation will be held once each season.  We ask that parents observe their child’s class during these designated times only.  
• Parents and students are expected to pick up after themselves.  Please leave the waiting area, dressing rooms, and parking lot free of trash.
• The Dance Center of San Antonio is a tobacco free facility and, as such, any use of tobacco products in any form is prohibited.

Student Progress
Progress significantly depends on how students approach their learning.
• Participate with positive energy!
• Focus, work hard and earnestly apply corrections
• Practice, Practice, Practice! Repetitive practice is essential for steady progress and refining dance skills. Practice is probably the most under-rated aspect of a student’s learning. Those students who practice, invariably show more consistent progress than those who do not.

Tuition Policies
• Tuition is charged in full upon registration for any DCSA class or program.
• Tuition payments may be paid in full prior to the first day of classes each term (Fall, Spring, etc.), on a monthly basis, or at a drop-in rate of $20 per class.
• Monthly tuition is determined from an average of entire classes from that particular term (Fall, Spring, etc).
• Tuition payments are due on the 1st day of each month.
• Payments not received by the 3rd of the month will be charged to the credit card on file.  Declined payments, to include returned checks, or accounts with no payment information on file will incur a $25 late fee. Late fees are charged in addition to any returned check fees.
• Tuition fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Tuition fees are semester based (not weekly), regardless of how many lessons per month. Some months may have more lessons than others and some months may have a holiday.
• No tuition adjustments or credits are given for missed classes.
• Students with accounts over 30 days in arrears will not be allowed into the classroom.


Summer Intensives

Summer Intensives are week-long classes led by various teachers from all over the world.
Fees are adjusted based on the instructor and time of classes.
Payment for summer intensives are charged for the week and are due prior to the start of the first class.

Use of Electronic Devices
Students may not use electronic devices while in the studio during class time, except at the request of teacher for educational purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, music devices, gaming systems, and video or digital cameras.
• Except in the case of a verified emergency, students are not permitted to leave class to take phone calls.
• Students may not take pictures or video of other students while in the studio, bathrooms, or dressing areas.

Withdrawal Policy
Upon class enrollment, students are expected to complete the dance term. (Please note, enrollment in the Pre-professional Day Program is a full year commitment, August 1 – May 15.) Fourteen (14) business days written notice is required to discontinue any class. There are no exceptions to this policy and there are no refunds given on tuition if you cancel after the 1st day of classes in a given term. Registration fee will be re-applied if dancer continues at a later date.
 
Your account will remain active until withdrawal procedures have been followed.