Handbook
Classes will run August 19, 2024 -May 31, 2025 with show week events June 2-7, 2025
Tuition
Tuition is due by the twenty-first (21st) of the month and is a yearly rate broken into 10 monthly installments. Along with classes, you will receive a free digital copy of our Spring recital, and tights for recital. Tuition is not prorated and refunds are not given for canceled classes due to Snow Day or bad weather. There are no discounts when a class is instructed by a substitute. A 6% Sales tax will be applied to all tuition and fees per the State of West Virginia. A late fee of $10 will be added for each month the tuition is past due.
30 min class $45 per month/$450 per year
45 min class $50 per month/$500 per year
60 min class $55 per month/$550 per year
75 min class $60 per month/$600 per year
Unlimited Price $360
These prices are based on a 10 month payment plan, August 2024-May 2025. There is also an option to break your tuition into a 12 month payment plan as well.
Recital- We work toward a final show, the annual recital, throughout the season. Our final week of classes, June 2 - 6, 2024, is show week. Recital costumes are a separate monthly bill due the 21st and is charged monthly from August through December. Strength and Ballet Tech have no recital costumes. If you have any questions about recital, please contact the office.
Family Discounts: 10% family discount on the total family monthly price. A max tuition pricing will not exceed $360 for on (1) family member. $75 additional cost for every additional family member. The max tuition pricing will take effect after the family discount is applied.
Full Year Discount: A 10% discount will be applied to the total annual price if full year tuition is paid in full at registration. If combining the family and full year discounts, you will receive a total of 15% as a combined discount on total tuition. If a student is withdrawn from classes during the season, a partial refund will be given. Amount will be worked out through the front office.
Class Withdraw: If it is necessary for a student to withdraw from classes mid season, please contact the office at Offiice@bettertogetherdance.com as early as possible. We will contact back as soon as possible with any outstanding balance obligations. If withdraw happens before December 21st, a 50% refund of costume payments will be given. If the withdraw is on or after December 21st, no costume refund will be given and you will receive the paid for costume.
Attendance
We take our roles as mentors and teachers in your child’s life very seriously. It is our objective to inspire a passion for the art of dance in every child who passes through our doors. In the process, we strive to set the right example and help your child (and you) create memories that will last a lifetime. It is a fundamental necessity for the teacher/choreographer to have the time to work with the student. When students are not present for class/choreography the students’ technique and dance numbers become weak. The absent student becomes disinterested and insecure with their knowledge and ability. Classmates get frustrated with the absent student as a result of repetitive instruction and restaging of steps and choreography for the absent student’s benefit. As a result, students’ positions become altered, replaced, or possibly removed.
Multiple absences or tardiness to class can severely hamper a student’s progress and result in injury as the class progresses. Poor attendance may require a student to switch to a lower level, repeat a level, lose a spot in the Competition Team, or be dismissed from the studio.
The Maximum number of acceptable absences, between August-June, is 10 (ten). Absences are documented by the office/instructor(s) and amended in the master role books as EXCUSED and UNEXCUSED.
All absences should be reported to the studio email, office@bettertogetherdance.com or through the parent portal.
Excused vs Unexcused
Excused and Unexcused: Excused absences are based on situations that are beyond the student’s control. Unexcused absences are situations in which the student/parent/guardian makes the decision to do something instead of the student attending their dance class.
Excused Absence: (These items do not count as absences for the student. Please Contact the office if there are any questions about an absence.)
- A doctor’s note stating the student is restricted due to illness or injury. (A copy must be on file with the front office.)
- Hospitalization of the student or an immediate family member or a death of a family member.
- Student’s graduation or immediate family member’s graduation.
Examples of Non-Exceptions to policy: (But not limited to)
- Non-hospitalized illness
- School Dances
- School Concerts (including required ones)
- Sports Events
- Going out for dinner
- Staying the night with a friend
- Going to a movie
- Birthday Party
- A friend’s graduation
The last two weeks of class and the Recital week are mandatory for all students. If a student exceeds the number of unexcused absences for the first half of the Dance term, the student may be moved down one level. If the student exceeds the number of unexcused absences in the second half of the Dance term, the students/parent/guardian must pay for the costume fee, but the student will not be allowed to perform in their dance for the recital.
Please note that if the dancer misses rehearsals for any reason, they may be recast. If a dancer misses a dress rehearsal they will not be allowed to perform.
Closures
Studio Closures: Better Together Dance observes the holiday breaks of Thanksgiving week, Winter Break, and Spring Break. We will send out a Studio Closure Schedule via email to all current students/parents in September.
Better Together Dance’s Inclement Weather Policy: A decision will be made at 2:00 p.m. (if applicable) if the studio will be open or closed for class. Please check the studio social media page for posts after 2:00 p.m. We will also send out an email at 2:00 p.m. informing of the status as well. As a reminder, we do not run with any specific school system. If we are closed due to inclement weather, we will make all attempts to schedule a makeup class or if there is another class available on the schedule, the student will make up in that class.
Tardiness: Dance is a physical activity that requires the body to be warmed up in order to execute movement safely. Late students miss the proper warm-up and/or barre and therefore may sustain injury. Students who arrive more than ten (10) minutes late may be asked to observe class for reasons of personal safety.
Make up Classes: The student is encouraged to make up absences in an equivalent class or one class level below during the month the absences occur. Please check with the office to determine the best make up class for your child.
Illness
Illness: Colds, flu, and other contagious diseases occur frequently and spread easily among children. To help protect your own child’s health and to minimize the possibility of contagion at school, please keep your child at home if you observe any of the following symptoms:
- Nasal discharge that is green or yellow
- Complaints of ear pain
- Consistent cough
- Severe sore throat
- Eyes that are pink, burning, itching, or producing discharge
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Fever
If these symptoms or other conditions deemed contagious are observed in your child during a class, you may be called to pick your child up immediately. When your child has a fever, please keep him/her at home until the temperature returns to normal. If there are any lingering signs of illness, such as glassy or watery eyes, listlessness, or drowsiness, please keep your child at home. This will help to ensure that the illness has passed and that your child will be well enough to resume class activities the following week.
Code of Conduct
It is the policy of Better Together Dance (BTD) to maintain a positive, healthy, productive learning and working environment for all students, staff and dancers. As part of the dancers training, BTD students are expected to behave in a responsible and disciplined manner and to adhere to the school’s rules and regulations, both inside the BTD facility and outside in the greater community as representatives of BTD. Students are expected to treat BTD staff with respect and maintain a positive attitude. If a dancer is unable to maintain the proper etiquette in class, the teacher may excuse the student from the class. If the dancer is excused from class, parents will be notified by the office. BTD strives to ensure that all rules are clear and reasonable. Students are expected to observe the established Code of Conduct. BTD reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any student whose conduct or attitude is found to be unsatisfactory. Please respect the expertise and decisions of the BTD faculty and staff. The following are absolutely forbidden at Better Together Dance:
Physical intimidation or injury, verbal harassment, theft, destruction of studio property or property of others, verbal abuse, lewd, vulgar conduct, profanity, sexual harassment or coercion, firearms or weapons of any kind, self-destructive behavior, willful destruction or misuse of BTD or another person’s property, inappropriate use of the internet and improper use of cell phones.
Any of the above actions will be reported immediately to the Office, who will decide the appropriate disciplinary action.
Penalties may include (but are not limited to):
- Probation
- Suspension from classes
- Referral to counseling
- Fines
- Dismissal from the School
Possession of drugs and/or alcohol: Any student found using drugs, or consuming or under the influence of alcohol (including providing drugs or alcohol to another student) will face expulsion and legal actions may be necessary.
Please keep this copy for your records.
Dress code
Hair is expected to be up and off the dancer's neck for all classes. Below you will find our dress code for classes. This is put in place so the teachers are able to see your dancer for proper alignment and promote proper skill work. You will be able to find such items online at ...
Apolla Dance Socks https://www.apollaperformance.com/pages/apolla-shocks
Discount Dance Supply https://www.discountdance.com/search/teacherid:142147?tp=142147
In Person Shops
Footlights in Frederick, MD https://www.dancefootlights.com/
Barre and Pointe in Leesburg,VA https://barreandpointe.com/
The Cinnamon Tree Dance Shop in Herndon, VA https://ctreedanceshop.com/
Kinder/Primary
Leotard color- Purple or Pink family
Tights-Skin tone Tights
Shoes- Ballet- Canvas shoes
Tap- Black Mary Jane Buckle Shoes
Ballet
Leotard color- Junior- Blue family
Teen- Black
Senior- Dancer's Choice
Tights- Skin Tone Tights
Shoes- Tan Canvas Ballet shoes
Apolla Dance Socks
Pointe Shoes *
*For those of appropriate age and strength determined by instructor
Contemporary, Jazz Lyrical, Liturgical
Juniors- Class leotard
Black bike shorts or Leggings
Apolla socks
*Bloch Pulse Jazz Shoe
Teen/Seniors- Class leotard or Fitted top
Shorts/Leggings
Apolla socks
*Bloch Pulse Jazz Shoe
*Performance shoe for
Lyrical(Tan) and Jazz(Black)
Tap
Solid color top
Shorts, Capris or leggings...Teacher must be able to see dancer's ankles
Tap shoes- Junior*-Bloch Chole and Maud Black
Teen/Senior- Capezio Roxy or
Bloch Jason Samuel Smith
*Shoes WITHOUT the rubber skid pad
Hip Hop/Adult
Clothes comfortable to move in. Be thoughtful with your layers so you are not distracted while you dance, ie extra long sleeves, jackets, pants that fall down as you move
Hip Hop- Sneakers- new black/white shoes for in studio only
Adult- This is a roulette class that will cover tap at some point. Apolla socks are a good go to for most styles.
Men
Top-Solid color fitted top
Bottom-Men's tights for ballet
Black Shorts or fitted dark pants
Shoes- Black Canvas Ballet Shoes
Apolla Socks
Tap see above
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