Our Premier Policies 

Thank you for choosing Premier Dance Company for your child’s dance education. At Premier Dance Company (PDC), we are dedicated to providing your child with a positive, esteem-building experience and to helping each child develop into the best dancer she can be. The following policies are designed to provide your child with the best possible experience.

Class Placement and Schedule - Class placement, especially in our Companies, is primarily based on technique; ages listed for classes are approximate and may differ depending on the technique level of the child. Other considerations for proper class placement include current age, age at the time of previous dance experience, type of dance previously studied, and maturity of dancer. PDC reserves the right to place dancers in the classes we determine will benefit them the most. 

Our teachers and our class schedule are subject to change without notice. PDC reserves the right to provide a substitute teacher if the regularly scheduled teacher is ill or otherwise unable to teach classes.

​Individual courses are not guaranteed and may be cancelled due to low enrollment.

Attendance - A dancer who misses two consecutive classes and has not paid tuition will be dropped from the class so that another dancer on the waiting list may enroll.

Throughout the year, dancers learn choreographed dances that are showcased in our Spring Show, and they learn the technical skills required for those dances. Our classes are structured to develop these skills as the year progresses.  Our goal is to see each dancer improve throughout the year and that requires both attendance and commitment.

Dancers who are absent miss instructional material and put the entire group at a disadvantage; teachers will not slow the pace of their classes to accommodate dancers who do not attend class regularly. Dancers who miss too many classes lose interest in dance as they fall behind their peers.

If a dancer is not attending classes on a regular basis, the studio reserves the right to limit dancer participation in performance pieces including those scheduled for the Spring Show. In an effort to avoid this, the following steps will be taken at the studio’s discretion for dancers who have multiple absences that are affecting her performance or threatening to interfere with her class’s progress:

• After the second absence an email may be sent home stressing the importance of attending classes and reminding the dancer and her family of our attendance policy.
• After the third absence the dancer may be asked to schedule a private lesson at a cost of $25 per half-hour.

Company members who miss more than two classes during second semester jeopardize their participation in the Spring Show. Any dancer who is excessively absent within the 30 days prior to the Spring Show can be removed from the show at the studio’s discretion.

Studio Etiquette/Parent Info - Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the start of your dancer’s class and remain in the waiting room with your child until the instructor opens the classroom. Be sure to arrive promptly at the end of your child’s class. PDC is unable to supervise children before and after their classes. Please note that spectators are not allowed in the classroom.

Please be sure that small children have a bathroom break before class to reduce the need for breaks during class.

Dancers arriving late will miss the beginning of their warm-up. Please make every effort to be on time as warming up the muscles is important before dancing. If your child is late to class, please do not accompany them into the classroom as this creates more of a distraction to the other dancers.

For safety reasons, dancers under the age of 8 must be dropped off and picked up inside the studio.

All dancers and siblings should refrain from horseplay anywhere in the studio. Siblings may remain in the waiting room if they are quiet and well supervised by the parent. Never leave any child unattended in the waiting room; no one is allowed in a classroom without an instructor present.

Dispose of trash in the trashcans.

If you need to speak with your child’s teacher please make an appointment with the office noting what you wish to discuss. Due to our teachers’ class schedules unexpected conversations are disruptive to our other dancers. Please note that neither the teachers nor the staff of PDC will discuss other dancers or their opportunities, strengths, or weaknesses with you.

Classroom Attire - Dancers are expected to practice in appropriate dance attire (leotard, dance shorts or pants/tops) and dance shoes (please see "Shoe Requirements" below) specific to the type of dance being practiced. Company dancers will need up to four pairs of dance shoes. All dancers must wear their hair pulled back from their faces and secured tightly in a ponytail if it is long enough and in a half ponytail if it is not. No jewelry, please. Jeans are not acceptable for any class or rehearsal. Please be sure to label all clothing and shoes with the dancer’s name.

Shoe Requirements - Dancers age 3 through 3rd grade must wear low-heeled TAN tap shoes with tan ties and PINK ballet slippers for dance and BLACK jazz shoes for hip-hop. Dancers 4th grade and older will receive information about up to three pairs of shoes, depending on the classes they are taking. Information about which shoes are required for each class will be shared during the first two weeks of classes; please wait until that information is shared to purchase shoes. The studio will host  Shoe Week, during which time dancers can try on and purchase the shoes required for their classes. Dancers who do not order shoes from the studio during Shoe Week are required to purchase shoes independently; these websites may be helpful:  edgewisesportssupply.com, allabout dance.com, and dance4less.com.

Communication - Parents are responsible for reading email messages, studio newsletters and for checking the waiting room weekly for posted announcements and/or personal messages. Newsletters, weather cancelations, t-shirt order forms, Spring Show DVD order forms, etc. are sent via email and/or posted on our website. We cannot be responsible for missed activities, announcements, or information regarding t-shirt name checks, shoe orders, payments, etc. PLEASE BE SURE WE HAVE A CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS FOR YOUR FAMILY and check our website frequently.

Health Concerns - If your child has any health related concerns of which his or her teacher should be aware, please document this information and submit it to the office. If your child has an elevated temperature, absence from school for illness, head lice, or any infectious disease, please be considerate of the other dancers and staff by keeping him or her home.

Costumes - Dancers should plan to order one costume per class (exceptions are noted below) at a cost of approximately $95 each (this cost is dependent on the companies who supply costumes and is subject to change annually). 

Company dancers should plan on at least four-five costumes at an average of $95 per costume. 

Dancers who serve as demonstrators and teachers’ assistants should plan on additional costumes. 

Costumes will NOT be ordered for any dancer who has an outstanding balance or who has not paid the costume cost and the annual recital fee in full by the deadline or whose parent has not provided us with measurements and a size. SIZES WILL NOT BE CHOSEN FOR DANCERS. 

Dancers must be uniform in their appearance in order to participate with their class(es) in studio portraits and performances.

There are no refunds, exchanges or returns on costumes. Please see “Payments” below.

Tuition and Fees - Tuition for the regular season is due twice each year in September and January. Special clinics and summer classes are priced separately. New dancers pay a one-time only non-refundable enrollment fee of $30 per family. Please note that enrollment fees/checks will be held until we can confirm placement for your dancer and will likely be deposited in mid- to late-August. Dancers who return to Premier after an absence are considered new dancers, and the enrollment fee will apply. Each family also pays an annual $35 recital fee in lieu of selling tickets to the annual Spring Show. You will not receive an invoice prior to the tuition deadline. A general reminder will be sent via email, but payment is due regardless of whether or not the email is received or viewed. There will be an invoice provided for costumes; costume payment is due in November and should not be confused with tuition, which is due in both September and January. Please see “Payments” below.

Payments - Please make payments by check or money order for costumes, tuition, etc. There is a $25 charge for returned checks, and a late fee of $5 will be assessed for every week payment is late. There is a drop box in the hall outside the office for your convenience—the teachers will not accept payments in any form. Please be sure your child’s name is included with the payment. We are not responsible for cash left in the drop box, in our mailbox, in or on the office desk. The studio cannot make change. 

Teacher’s Assistants and Demonstrators - PDC has a limited need for teacher’s assistants and demonstrators; students are selected for these positions by the studio based on many criteria, including but not limited to their level of expertise, commitment, attitude, willingness to take instruction and direction, and teacher recommendation. These positions are honorary and applications are not taken. PDC regrets that there are not enough of these positions for all of our amazing dancers.

Performances - Dancers will perform in a full-scale Spring Show at the end of second semester. Other performance opportunities may be offered throughout the dance seasons or during the summer break, especially for our Company dancers.

Weather Cancellations - Weather cancellations will be sent via email and posted on Facebook. There are no refunds for lessons missed due to extreme weather or events beyond our control, such as power outages, but additional practices may be scheduled as necessary due to such cancellations.

Medical Insurance - Premier Dance Company does not carry medical insurance for its dancers, but requires that each dancer be covered by his or her own family insurance policy. If an injury occurs, it is understood that the family’s personal policy is the only source of reimbursement.

Waiver - Dance involves physical activity and possesses the potential for injury to the participant. Regardless of the amount of safety precautions and training, there is always the possibility of accidental injury. Each participant must have a signed Participant Agreement, Release & Acknowledgement of Risk form on file (provided on the back of the enrollment form) before attending the first class. Please note that NO CHILD can be on the dance floor without a completed enrollment/waiver form signed by a parent.

Refunds and Schedule Changes - Dancers may switch classes or withdraw from classes without penalty before the fall semester tuition is due. Dancers who pay tuition early but withdraw within the first three weeks of the semester may be eligible for a tuition refund. Tuition deposits made to hold Company Class positions are non-refundable.

Photo Release - Dancers’ pictures may be taken before, after, and during class, studio events and performances, and/or the Spring Show for the sole purpose of publicity and may be used on our studio website, newsletter, promotional flyers, posters, ads, mailers, and/or banners. Dancers who do not wish to have their photo taken must submit a letter in writing indicating revocation of consent at the time of registration. Photos are chosen for their quality; an attempt is made to feature as many dancers as possible, but it is not guaranteed that each dancer’s photo can be taken and/or utilized.

Lost and Found - PDC is not responsible for missing or lost items. Do NOT bring valuable items to the studio. Items that are found in the studio will be left in “Lost and Found” in the office. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity at the end of each month.

Premier Dance Company LLC reserves the right to terminate or refuse service to any dancer or parent displaying disrespect toward the studio or staff.