Class Protocol

• Please be mindful of classes in session and keep noise to a minimum while in the lobby. The lobby is for the drop off and pick up of AKA dancers, as well as, to make cash, credit card and check etc. payments.

• Due to the limited parking and lobby space, we ask that everyone drops off their dancers and take advantage of our live streaming service which is included in your tuition fees. The studio(s) doors will be kept closed during all classes to ensure that our dancers have the best opportunity to get the most out of their classes and avoid the distraction of a busy lobby. At no time may parents enter the class to observe unless expressly invited by a teacher.

• All students and parents/guardians are expected to be respectful, supportive and encouraging to each other and to the studio’s instructors and staff. Being mindful of your verbiage at all times so as to keep conversations family friendly and mindful of our youngest dancers that overhear and often repeat things. The studio is no place for inappropriate talk.

• Please plan to drop off your dancer at the studio 2-5 minutes before the start of their 1st class and to arrive promptly at the end of class to pick them up.

• Respect the building and supplies by keeping the lobby and lobby restrooms: neat, clean, and in good condition. Clean up after yourself. Store your personal belongings nicely in your dance bag. Don’t use things that are not yours or that you do not have permission to use. Do not turn things on/off, up/down in the space without permission.

Tuition is due on the 1st of each month August-May. The first (August) payment is due at registration. There is a $25 late fee applied on the 8th of each month. Tuition is prorated based on at least 32 weeks of class. You are not paying for any holidays.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. All registrations are processed in the order received. Class size limitations will be observed. We require a minimum number of two students to run a class. A registration fee of $30 is due at registration, along with the first month’s tuition. Returning families receive a $5 discount for each new season’s registration.

A dancer can make-up a maximum of 3 missed classes of a single style. The make-up class should be in a similar class of the same or lower level. We encourage consistent attendance as the curriculum is ongoing and cumulative. Too many absences will result in the dancer falling behind. You can schedule your make-up class through your Parent Portal.

A private is a great way for your dancer to work on their technique and to work on any issues they are struggling to fix in their normal classes. Non-studio students are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $45. This deposit will be put towards the price of the private. If you need to cancel or reschedule your private, you must do so at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled private. If you miss your private without canceling, you will be charged a missed private fee (half of the regular cost). Privates can be made from your parent portal under “Events” with any dance instructor.

Our dress code was established to promote the dancer’s freedom of movement and instructor’s observation of correct technique. We have differentiated the levels of Ballet by color of leotard, which gives the dancer a sense of accomplishment as the dancer moves up in levels. See dress code information on the class schedule page.

All dancers must wear their hair in a low bun for all classes. Bun kits are available for $2 at the front desk! Dance shoes used inside the studio should not be worn outside. Dancers will have a two week grace period on dress code violations. Please visit our local dance stores for all of your dance wear needs!

All students are expected to arrive on time and in the appropriate attire. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you may be asked to sit and watch the class. Coming into a class that has already started may cause injury, as your muscles will not have been properly warmed up.

If a student is sick (including any fevers), please do not attend class. We do not want the dancer to get worse or transmit the disease to their classmates. If the student is not contagious and would still like to come and observe class, please email the studio.

In case of a medical condition which prevents a student from dancing and exists for 30 days or more, please contact the studio to discuss the next step. Dancers may continue to attend and observe their classes, as to not fall behind in the curriculum. If an injury occurs, please see a doctor as soon as possible.

If the weather creates a situation we believe would be hazardous to attend class (hurricane, tornado or flood), we may cancel classes. Generally, we follow Osceola & Orange county weather closures. However, the weather may clear in time for our afternoon classes. The final decision will be made by 2PM. All severe weather updates can be found on our social media and sent via email.

If a class needs to be canceled due to studio issues, we will reschedule class on the next available Saturday. If a class needs to be canceled due to a situation out of AKA’s control (such as bad weather, power outages, etc.), classes will not be rescheduled and refunds cannot be offered. However, classes missed because of weather closures may be made up in a similar class according to our make-up policy.

All of our classes are divided into different levels based on a student’s ability and technical knowledge, not necessarily by age (except for students under 7 years old). Each level’s curriculum is created with 3-5 years of technical training in mind. We believe that it is important for a student to be placed appropriately to get the most out of each class.

Our levels may not coincide with other studios. To compare levels, it is important to look at the curriculum, not the number of years of training. A copy of our level requirements are available through the front desk.

Initial student evaluation involves determining a student’s present ability (in light of previous dance experience), individual skill, and muscle development. New students who would like to register for a class above our beginning levels should take our placement exam. Please contact the studio for more information about our placement exam.

If you are interested in transferring into a different class, or adding a new class, you may do so via your Parent Portal. If you are unsure of what level your child is ready for, please email the studio for help. There is no fee to transfer classes. However, if you transfer or join a new class after costumes have been ordered, there may be an additional costume fee.

In the case that you no longer wish to continue in your registered class, you may withdraw by filling out our ‘‘withdrawal form’’ located at the front desk. We do require at least 30 days notice. This means if you would like to withdraw by December 1st, you will need to fill out the withdrawal form and deliver it by November 1st.

Once your withdrawal from a class is complete, your spot in the class will no longer be held.

Important studio dates throughout the dance season are posted on our season calendar — please refer to the calendar for additional information. Private dance lessons may occur during studio closures. Please email the studio for more information.

Dancers should remain well hydrated and are encouraged to bring a water bottle to class. Dancers are also encouraged to get an adequate amount of sleep and keep their body properly nourished. Dance training does not end when class ends—please continue your stretching and conditioning at home! Our goal is to keep each dancer’s body healthy and strong to prevent future mobility issues.

We encourage parental involvement, especially during Parent’s Week! During AKA’s Parent’s Week, parents are invited to join their dancer’s class. Whether you wish to observe or dance with your child, please be respectful to the other dancers in the class. Younger siblings may find it difficult to sit through an entire class, so please consider making other arrangements.

Instructors may occasionally take class photos or choreography videos to post on AKA social media platforms and the AKA website. Please refer to the Photography & Videography Policy signed during registration for more details.

Please label all belongings. The studio cannot be held responsible for lost items. Any items that are found in the studio will be held by studio management for one month. If the item has not been claimed by then, it will be discarded.