Studio Policies

Registration

Fall registration / Open to all students

Each fall we open up registration to all students, new and returning. Fall registration is done on a first-come, first-served basis. The first day is always in late July. A couple of weeks before that day, we will email Returning students an email alerting them that their recommended classes and class schedules are available at our Web site. New students also will be able to obtain a list of recommended classes before registration begins.

Beginning in fall of 2010, registration will be available online. You also may come into our main location. Phone registration is not available on the first day of registration. It's available on subsequent days with an added administrative charge of $10. You also may mail in registration to our main location.

Spring registration / Priority to fall students

Spring registration has a "priority" window of several weeks in which we allow current students to re-signup for the class they had in fall. After that, we have a "Shuffle Week" in which current students may transfer to another class, on a space-available basis. Following that is Open Registration at which point new students may join and registration is taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summer registration

Summer registration is always on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not do recommendations for summer but office staff will help you choose appropriate classes. Camps are directed at certain age groups, toward multiple skills levels. 

Early, early, early

Almost half the classes at the studio have waiting lists, which means it's always advisable to register as early as allowed to have the best chance to get a roster spot. A class spot is secured after payment is made. We cannot hold a spot without payment. 

For key registration dates, please see our Calendar page

Cancelled classes 
All classes are subject to possible cancellation based on low enrollment. This only happens occasionally -- no later than the second week of each session). In the case of summer camps, cancellations, if any, will be made no later than one week prior to the schedule start of the camp.

In the event that your class or camp is canceled, we will make every attempt to find a comparable class at a suitable day and time. If your schedule does not allow for a change, you will have the option of either a refund or credit, pro-rated based on the number of classes taken.

Payment

Payment options are cash, check or Visa or Mastercard (sorry but we do not accept Discover or American Express). You can sign up online, in person or via snail mail. We charge a $10 administrative fee for phone registration. We are no longer able to accept split payment of checks due to excessive administrative costs associated with them. If your family is taking multiple classes, however, you are welcome to pay for half of your classes via check and the other half via credit card.

 

Refunds/Credits/Dropped classes 
Refund requests are best done in person. This helps ensure that our staff is able to gather complete and accurate information, communicate policies and document receipt of your request.

Please be sure that you understand this policy before registering. By registering (which means submitting a registration form and payment), you are agreeing to all studio policies.

Refunds

Refunds are available less a $20 drop fee to anyone who drops a class before the first day of the SESSION. To request a refund, please come to the office and fill out a Refund/Credit Request Form. In addition, the $30 Annual Family Registration Fee that you pay once per school year is not refundable.

Summer camps: The same policy applies regarding the drop deadline. In order to get a refund, less a $20 drop fee, the drop of the camp must occur before the summer session begins (usually about the second week of June), no matter what the date of the camp is. The reason is that we commit all resources and staff time to holding the camp at the commencement of the summer session. It may be possible, however, to shuffle into another camp. Please ask our office staff about this.

Please note:

• Refunds must be requested in person at our office. They cannot be issued over the phone, via email or snail mail.
• Refunds will be issued the second week of each SESSION. You will receive the amount paid, minus $20, in the form of a check by the third week of the semester.
• IMPORTANT: We offer full refunds (minus classes taken, based on pro-rated rate) if we cancel a class or move a class to a day/time the student cannot attend. 
• In addition, the $30 Annual Family Registration Fee that you pay once per school year is not refundable.

Credits

Credit for 50 percent of tuition fees paid (minus $30 non-refundable Annual Family Registration Fee) is available if you withdraw from a class before the END of the third week of the SESSION. To request a credit, please come to our office and fill our a Refund/Credit Request Form.

• Credits must be requested in person at our office. They cannot be issued over the phone, via email or snail mail.
• ALL credits will be issued during the fourth week of the session. Students/parents will receive half of the amount of tuition paid (regardless of the date they dropped) in the form of a credit slip.

Deadline dates listed above will be strictly enforced. For key these deadlines, for a particular semester, please consult our Calendar Page. In all cases, the annual Family Registration Fee of $30 is non-refundable.

Class placement/Personalized Recommendations

All class placements are done via Personalized Recommendations, which are the key to an enriching dance experience for the greatest number of dancers. The recommendations are made based on experience, skill level and age. Proper class placements are extremely important, which is why we put a lot of energy and expertise into them for each and every one of our dancers, new and returning.

Returning students 
Shortly before registration for each Summer Session and Fall Session, instructors will make personalized class recommendations for every current student. Shortly before Fall Session, instructors also will provide class-specific checklists for each dancer. The checklists are tied to the All That Dance curriculum, which is designed to help each student progress in skill development for the type of dance they are taking. Each checklist is tied to the student's type of dance and level. After completing the checklists, instructors work with faculty department leads to make class recommendations for each dancer for the next semester.

This system, which we have continued to refine over the past 15 years, enables us to create an environment in each class in which all dancers develop their skills while being appropriately challenged -- and having fun! This system, coupled with our studio's high enrollment, enables us to place dancers closely together based on age and skill level, essential for creating an optimal learning environment.

This is different from many studios where classes are made up of students with an extremely wide range in age and skill level. In fact, this system is a great strength of All That Dance, and one of the many reasons we are Seattle's leading dance studio for Kids, Teens and Adults.

New students 
For dancers who come to us with experience at other studios or who have skipped a semester or two with us, we ask a few questions to learn more. Then an All That Dance staff person will consult with instructors and/or department faculty leads and contact you with recommendations and/or a plan for a trial/placement class. In some cases (often for more experienced dancers), an instructor or faculty department lead will work with you.

Each dancer and each situation is different, which is why tailor our response to create truly personalized recommendations.

All students 
All students are eligible to sign up for age-appropriate beginner level classes. 

Makeup classes

If you or your student miss a class, you are allowed to do a makeup at a class of similar level and age group -- with prior approval from office staff or an instructor. To request a makeup class, please call us at (206) 524-8944 or email us.

If you know you will be absent ahead of time, we encourage you to work with office staff to find and schedule approved makeup classes ahead of time. Some classes are closed to makeups due to a full enrollment or other class issues.

We do not allow classes to be made up during the final week of a semester (Watching Week) nor do we allow makeups to be carried over, i.e., made up in the subsequent semester. 

Attire & Hair

For all classes, we require:

• Attire: Please no stocking feet or tights without shoes. Also baggy clothing is not acceptable as it is difficult for instructors to see placement in oversized outfits.
• Hair: Long hair must be pulled up in a ponytail or bun. Short hair must be pulled away from face with barrettes or a headband. Should students need help, an instructor or staff member will be happy to help give a quick lesson.

Specific class requirements:

• Ballet-Creative Ballet: Leotard/tights, ballet shoes with elastic (any color, any style).
• Tap: Tights and leotard, stretch pants/shorts and shirt, tap shoes (for younger students, please replace the ribbons in the shoes with elastic for easy slip-on).
• Hip Hop: Only clean sport-type shoes are allowed on our dance floors. Students must wipe feet before walking onto dance floor. Sweats and workout type clothing are recommended. Baggy clothes must be kept to a minumum so instructors can see placement.
• Irish Step: Ballet or jazz shoes, shorts/T-shirt, leotard/tights (any color/any style).
• Jazz: Tights and leotard, stretch pants/shorts and shirt, jazz shoes.
• Swing-Ballroom: Comfortable clothing, character shoes or white-soled shoes.
• Modern: Leotard and tights, comfortable clothing, bare feet.

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Watching class 
Our main studio lobby has seating and windows that look into our two dance floors through thinly veiled windows. Watching is OK but we ask that you do so discreetly with younger children to reduce distractions. We call this our "Discreet Watching" policy and it works very well. Please inform your child (especially younger children) prior to their first class that they will be in the class with their instructor and classmates and that you will be nearby, just outside the door or windows.

A great opportunity to watch your students is during Watching Week, which is during the final week of each semester. Parents, friends and family are invited onto the studio floor to watch the entire lesson. See Watching Week dates or our Calendar Page.

Drop-off/Pickup/Parking 
Parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up students on time. If students are picked up late a single time, our office staff will call the parent and let them know about it. If it happens again, we reserve the right to remove the child from the class and apply our Credit/Refund Policy as though it were a dropped class.

For younger students, please arrive to class early as it helps to alleviate anxiety and helps to focus them on class. Classes will begin on time. 

Whenever possible, please come into the studio to pick up your child. This rule will be strictly enforced for younger children. You are welcome to wait for part or the entire class in our studio lobby. Students who are minors must be accompanied by an adult when leaving their lesson. Please notify your child's instructor if a different adult will be picking him/her up.

At the main location, ample street parking is available. Please do not park in the alley behind the building -- it's for staff only and is frequently used for staff coming and going. If you park behind someone there,  you will block them and they might not be able to make it to Studio B to teach a class or another important appointment.

At Studio B, a few parking stalls are available directly behind our building. Please do not park in spaces allocated to other businesses.

Placement/Removal from Studio Activities

Students are carefully placed in each class according to age, ability level, attention span and effort. Instructors may recommend that a student move to a suitable class after the first week of the semester. This is a reflection of caring teachers who want to find a class that best suits each dancer's needs. If a dancer is unable to attend a different class, please understand our instructors will do their best to keep you child progressing at his/her level within their current class, but it may not be the best placement possible.

All That Dance also reserves the right to 1, discontinue a child's participation in class if the child's behavior becomes a distraction for the instructor and/or other students. In this instance, we will make every effort  to work with the child -- in concert with the parent -- to resolve any behavior issues; and 2, All That Dance also reserves the right to discontinue a child's participation in class, the ATD Company or any other related studio activities if All That Dance determines that the child's parent has treated staff, instructors, other students or other parents in a rude, threatening, demeaning way or in any other manner it deems unacceptable in light of All That Dance's positive, friendly community environment. In both cased 1 & 2 above, the parent would be refunded for the remaining number of classes, stage time or instructor time on a pro-rated basis.

Communication

We try our best to keep you informed -- well in advance at that -- of important deadlines and dates. We encourage all parents to put key dates in their personal calendars as soon as they are announced.

We will let you know about these dates via:

• Our Calendar Page, which is available in list and calendar format.
• Bulletin boards at the main studio and Studio B.
• Fliers handed out after classes.
• Fliers mailed home.

We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions. For the best ways to reach us and when, check out our Contact us page.