Academic Year 2011 – 2012
Welcome to Piqué Dance Studio! In an attempt to make registration as simple as possible, we have put together this letter outlining our programs. We hope that it will answer many of your questions. If you have further questions please call us at the studio at (613) 692-0520.
Classes start Monday September 12, 2011.
We are a B.A.T.D. and A.D.A.P.T. school. This means that we teach classes according to the British Association of Teacher of Dancing and the Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers Syllabi. Our students progress year by year through grade and/or medal levels and attain certificates and medals after having successfully taken an examination held each Fall and Spring. An examiner comes to our studio, either from another part of Canada or from Britain, and spends the week assessing the student’s work. Each child is assessed individually, and has the potential to follow through to professional levels. The examinations are standardized and therefore if your family moved to another area, your child could fit into another B.A.T.D. or A.D.A.P.T. school with ease.Examinations are optional and students may take examination classes without taking the exam. We feel, however, that examinations give the students a personal sense of accomplishment and a goal to aim for. To date we have achieved 100% pass rate. We encourage students to start exams at the Starlite level as it increases their confidence in exams as they get older.
Please note that:
- Jazz exams are taken in late November, early December, using the ADAPT Syllabi. You must take the ADAPT class plus the regular class to participate in this exam.
- Our Teen Recreation program is set up to allow teens, who have not danced at progressive levels, to take classes in a fun relaxed atmosphere with students their own age.
- Our Hip Hop classes are recreational. Opportunities for individual Hip Hop exams need to be discussed with the class teacher.
Holidays
The studio will be closed during the following times:
| Thanksgiving: | Monday Oct. 10/11 |
|---|---|
| Halloween: | Monday October 31/11 |
| Christmas Break: | Saturday Dec. 24/11 – Friday, Jan. 6/12 |
| Family Day: | Monday, Feb. 20, 2012 |
| March Break: | Monday, Mar. 12/12 – Saturday, Mar. 18/12 |
| Easter Holiday: | Friday. Apr. 6/12 – Saturday, Apr. 7/12 – Open Monday April 9/12 |
* The studio will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the BATD exam period in the spring.
Policies and Procedures
Fees and Discounts
Our year is divided into two terms - Fall/Winter (September 12 – end January 21 and Winter/Spring (January 22 – Monday June 4, 2012). Our class fees are charged per term for starlite and tiny classes. Classes mini level and higher are charged per year with payment made in two instalments, HST must be added.
If registering for more than 1 class within a family a discount is applicable. When registering in September we will collect fees for Term II, in the form of a post dated cheque for Feb. 1, 2012.
Exam fees are separate and paid to us and then directly to the examiner to cover costs, as well as for medals and certificates. They start around $20.00 per exam. They are due one month before exams.
Refund Policy
A refund will be given if your child decides not to stay with us (this doesn't happen very often); however, after 4 weeks no refunds will be given. An administration fee of $10.00 will be charged for refunds given for children that have tried classes but are not happy. There is no fee to switch into a different class.
Second term payment is refundable if your child does not return to the studio for the second term. Please notify the office prior to the start of the second term if your child is not returning. A $25.00 administration fee is charged if you do not notify the office by January 15.
We offer early registration for the next year for dancers that are currently with the studio. There is a $25.00 cancellation fee should you pre-register and then withdraw from the studio.
Policy for Closing During Bad Weather
In cases of bad weather it is sometimes required that for the safety of dancers and staff the studio be closed. If we are closing the first thing we do is place an announcement on the telephone answering machine, and post an announcement on our website. If you are unsure if the studio is closed please call and listen to the message, or visit the website. We try to make decisions regarding closing by 2:00 pm so that no one is driving.
Recital and Parents Evening
In the month of December, we invite the parents of Starlite, Tiny and Mini students to come and watch your child(ren)'s classes . This has become, over the years, a very popular event and gives you the chance to see what your child has learned. Open House 2011 has been set for the following dates: Thursday, Dec. 1 – Wednesday, Dec. 7.
At the end of the Winter/Spring term we have our annual recitals. Date for Recital 2012 is Sunday May 27/to be confirmed.A costume deposit and recital commitment will be requested in January. Each class performs one routine. We try very hard to keep the cost to you for costumes and tickets as low as possible. We generally provide the costumes for the younger students on a rental basis as well as the older students whenever possible. We have a fabulous studio wardrobe which grows by the year. The cost for older students can be as much as $70.00 per costume, however, we try to incorporate rental costumes for our Junior, Intermediate and Senior dancers as much as possible. We strongly believe that you should not have to spend a fortune for something that your child will wear for five minutes. The tickets for the show are intended to cover the cost of the hall rental, lighting and sound system. There will be a deposit requested and confirmation of participation in recital once the date has been confirmed.
The studio produces three different recitals. We divide our dancers from Mom and Me up to and including Mini Level into two short afternoon recitals. Junior Level dancers and above are in our evening recital. For the afternoon recital, dancers who take classes on Mon-Thurs will be in one recital and dancers from the Fri-Sat classes will be in the other.
We hope that this has been useful. Please call us if you have any questions (613) 692-0520.