Welcome to Leap Dance Center! We pride ourselves in enthusiasm and professionalism and are dedicated to our students. In order to serve you more efficiently, we are providing you with this Policies & Procedures Guide (P & P Guide) to use as a reference regarding your family’s enrollment here. Your adherence to our policies and procedures will make our organization run smoothly and will allow us to provide you with the utmost attention. Thank you for enrolling at Leap Dance Center!
Registration
Registration requires the completion of an information form, payment of a registration fee, first month’s tuition, and your signature (or electronic signature) on our enrollment agreement. You are acknowledging that you understand our monthly tuition charges and the procedure for discontinuing classes. The registration fee is non refundable. It insures you a place in class, assures us that you intend to be there, and covers the business clerical costs associated with your enrollment at Leap Dance Center. The registration fee is annual—from August of this year to July of next year.
Tuition
Tuition is due in full on the 1st day of every calendar month. Your regular tuition rate is listed online in your parent portal. We require a credit card on file for each account. You have the option to also pay by cash or check, however the payment must be made before the 1st of the month (paying by cash or check eliminates the 2.99% +$.30 fee). If we do not have a payment by cash or check before the 1st, your card will automatically be charged on the 1st of the month. We will accept payments by credit card online through your parent portal as well as in person. To update your card on auto-pay, simply log in to your parent portal and click on the "account" tab and then on "account settings". From there you need to selection "automatic payments" and enter your new card information. Please note that credit cards will incur a 2.99% +$.30 convenience fee, as merchant fees are not calculated into our tuition rates. A $15 declined payment fee will be added to accounts whose cards on file are declined or not up to date. We will only send out statements for overdue accounts.
Tuition rates are based on the full season and divided into monthly payments for simplicity. Tuition rates are not based on individual months or classes. Holidays are considered before calculating the monthly tuition rates. You do not pay for holidays.
For specific tuition rates and multi class discounts please email or call us at [email protected] or 281-890-9999.
Mid-Month Registration
If you register in the middle of a month, your tuition for the current month is due the day you register. Obviously, you will have missed some of your classes for that month. At the time of registration, you will have the option of paying your monthly tuition in full and making up the missed classes, or you may pay by the class for the remainder of the classes in that month.
Missed Classes
For each child’s safety and comfort as well as those of our instructors, we cannot allow sick children to attend class. A child who becomes ill will be isolated and the parent notified promptly to pick him or her up. If you know in advance that you will miss a class, please notify our office manager or log your child's absence through the parent portal. To do this log in to your parent portal and click on the "Attendance" check mark icon. Then click on "report absence." Our office manager will be able to inform you of the availability of another class in which you may make up the missed lesson. Classes that are full may not be available for make ups, so please be sure you check in with our office on availability. Absences must be made up by April 1. No special classes will be scheduled for makeups. Makeup classes must be taken in other classes beside the one in which you are enrolled or have been enrolled in this season. Otherwise, we assume you are paying for your class and will bill you for the lessons. When you take a makeup class, be sure to check in with our office to receive an admission pass for class.
Discontinuing Classes
We assume you are currently enrolled through the recital date unless you notify us otherwise. To discontinue a class, the parent must simply complete a termination of enrollment form in the office. Failure to do so will make you liable for the subsequent months’ tuition. Refunds are not given on tuition payments. A $50 fee per class will be charged to any student who decides to drop out of the recital after March 10, 2023. This fee covers the cost to revise choreography, staging and additional rehearsals. Also, be aware that reenrollment will require the payment of another registration fee unless arrangements have been made in advance for special cases such as long term illness, vacations, etc.
Dancewear
Leap Dance Center stocks dancewear and shoes for both children and adults. Designated sizing days will be determined before the start of the dance year for you to order all necessary attire for your child. Please be on the lookout for an email regarding sizing days. You can’t beat this convenience!
Recital
This year will culminate with a recital. Be aware now that a recital involves a lot of hard work, time, and of course expense. We hope by explaining our recital procedures now, that we will enable you to budget yourself for the recital at the end of the school year. As soon as the recital date is finalized, we will post a notice in the studio, on the parent portal, and send out an email. Performing in the recital is strictly optional. However, we assume that your child will perform unless you notify us otherwise, in advance. Please watch for a recital letter to be sent home with your child or to be emailed sometime in October. This recital booklet will be posted on your parent portal in late February/early March. The recital booklet explains all the details concerning the rehearsals and recital.
Recital Fees
Recitals fees will be announced in October. This fee covers our expenses for the auditorium rental, dressing room rentals, lighting, sound, stagehands, etc. The recital fee is NOT refundable and must be paid by the due date listed in the calendar above to receive a discounted rate. Recital fees paid after this date will increase to the regular rate. All recital fees must be paid no later than 15 days after the due date. This year’s recital fee amount will be determined and a notice will be posted in the studio, on the parental portal, and sent out in an email.
Costumes
Prefabricated costumes are purchased from several different manufacturers. Occasionally, costumes are custom made. Note that making costumes by hand is not necessarily less expensive, because the supplies must be purchased at retail prices. Please check with our office manager for our costume prices. Remember that your child will need one costume per class, as each class will perform a routine in the recital. Combo classes will have one costume per discipline. We measure and order costumes as early as November. Full payment for your costumes is due by the date shown on the calendar. More costume details including sizing information will be sent home with your child in October. Please note: if you register after December 1st, or decide not to order your costume on the costume measurement days, there is a chance that we will not be able to get your child a costume in time for the recital. Late costume orders (any order placed after our main order in November) may be subject to extra shipping charges to insure delivery by our recital date.
Rehearsals
Two rehearsals will be held in preparation for the recital. One rehearsal will be held at the studio, the other at the theater. Both rehearsals are mandatory if you intend to perform in the show. We will post these dates at the same time we notify you of the recital date.
Solos, Duets, & Trios
A limited number of solos, duets, and trios will be included in the next recital based on the show time constraints. To perform in one of these specialty numbers, the student will need to determine the type of (ballet, tap, jazz, etc.) of number and other student partners in the case of a duet or trio. To apply for a specialty number, a parent must make this election at the time of registration and complete the necessary forms. Students that preregister in the spring for the subsequent year nearly always take specialty numbers. Preregistration is a must if you would like to apply for a specialty number. The number is choreographed by the instructor at an ability level to challenge the student. Any music suggestions the student may have must be made at the time of registration, however the instructor will make the final selection. Specialty numbers are taught through a series of private lessons, typically 7 to 10 half-hour lessons, the first three of which are audition lessons. If the instructor feels the student is not progressing properly at the end of the three audition lessons, the number will be discontinued. All costumes for specialty numbers must be ordered from a manufacturer.
Split Club
In order to qualify as a member of the split club, you must be able to do a right, left, and center straddle split and hold each one for one minute. Tryouts are held in the first ballet and jazz class of October, December, February, and April. Upon qualification for the club, you will get a free Leap Split Club T-shirt and your picture on our Split Club wall. Your T-shirt may be worn in any of your classes, and additional shirts may be purchased in our front office.
Picking Up Your Child
It is the parents’ responsibility to pick up their children from class on time. We are not responsible for your child other than the time he or she is in the classroom. Pick up and arrival of children should be immediately before and after class unless prior arrangements have been made. Leap Dance Center does not provide any babysitting services. A $10 charge will be assessed to a student’s account if parents are more than 15 minutes late in picking up their child after Leap Dance Center closing hours.
Miscellaneous
We are very proud of our building, and we feel it is the best in the greater Houston area. Please treat it with respect by being neat.
In consideration of others, please be prompt to class.
Since one of our goals is to promote health and fitness through dance, smoking is not permitted in/on our property.
We reserve the right to dismiss any student from class who is continually disruptive.
Stay up to date of any news or changes concerning our studio by checking our website, Facebook page, and your email periodically.
Please feel free to call or email our director, Demi Knight, with any dance class related question, or our office manager with any account questions.
We thank you for the privilege of exposing you to the art of dance and hope you enjoy your time with us.