School Policies & Procedures

To ensure a safe, organized, and positive environment for all of our dancers and families, we ask that you thoroughly review our studio guidelines, tuition structures, and safety procedures.

Please read through the details below to familiarize yourself with our expectations for the upcoming season. If you prefer to save a copy for your records or print it out at home, you can also download the full handbook directly using the button below.

Download the School Handbook

Arrival/Dismissal

  • Dancers should arrive 10-15 minutes before their class start time.
  • Dancers must have shoes on and be ready to dance when entering dance spaces.
  • All parents must park in designated parking spaces when dropping off & picking up.
  • Parents are not permitted to wait in their vehicles curbside. Please come inside to drop off and pick up your dancer promptly.
  • We are unable to take responsibility for students before or after their scheduled class time.
  • It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure their child gets dropped off and picked up in a timely manner.
  • In the event of an unavoidable delay or emergency, please let us know immediately so that we can wait with your child until they can be picked up.
  • All school/studio updates and information (including studio closures) will be relayed via email, text, and/or social media post.

Inside the Studio

Food & Drinks

  • Food & Drinks may only be consumed in the waiting area. Only water is permitted in dance spaces.
  • NO GUM is allowed in the studio.

Electronics

  • Phones may NOT be used by dancers in class and must be out of sight and silenced when in dance spaces.

Personal Belongings

  • Please leave toys, stuffed animals, and other personal belongings at home.
  • Any personal belongings brought into the studio may be confiscated and held by Instructors until the end of class.

Registration Fee

  • An annual fee is required at time of registration.
  • $25 for a single dancer / $40 for families.
  • Registration fees are non-refundable.

Tuition Payments

  • Tuition payments are made tri-annually (every 3 months).
  • The following forms of payment are accepted – credit card (online only), cash, check.
  • Discounts are available for full year payments, siblings, and multi-class enrollment.
  • Payments must be made in a timely matter, following the payment schedule published on our website.
  • Payments made after the posted deadline will incur a $50 late fee.
  • Tuition is non-refundable; in the event of injury or illness a full or partial tuition refund will be assessed.

Attendance

  • Our dance season runs from September to June.
  • Regular weekly class attendance is expected and important for all dancers.
  • All school events, mandatory practices, and studio closures are outlined on our studio calendar (downloadable via our website).

Tardiness

  • Advanced notice of expected lateness is required.
  • Dancers that arrive more than 15 minutes after their class’ start time may be required to sit out and observe to avoid the risk of injury due to improper warm up.

Absence / Early Dissmisal

  • Illness, injury, or emergency are the only absences we accept as “excused.”
  • Students with more than 3 unexcused absences/early dismissals in a trimester may be subject to reduced
  • performance participation.
  • There are no make up classes, dancers are responsible for catching up on material on their own.

Performance Participation

  • Signing up for any type of performance means dancers are committed to attending any/all practices and the performance itself.
  • Missing mandatory practices or backing out of a performance commitment may result in dancer suspension from future performances for a determined amount of time.

Illness

  • Please keep your child home if they are sick.
  • Dancers must be 24 hours free of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea before returning to class.
  • Please make instructors aware in advance of any absence due to illness.

Injury

  • If injured, but physically able to, dancers may still be required to attend class for observation purposes only.
  • In the event of an injury, a dancer will not be permitted to practice/perform until written clearance is obtained from a doctor.

Class Attire

  • Street clothes are NOT permitted in class
  • Dance shoes are mandatory for class participation
  • Sweatpants must be removed after warming up
  • Hair must be neatly pulled back off of the face
  • No large jewelry is permitted in class
  • Please practice good personal hygiene

Dancers that arrive to class without dance shoes or proper apparel may be asked to sit out to avoid risking injury.

Costumes

  • School Costumes are worn for Feiseanna (competitions), Parades, & Recitals.
  • Dancers are responsible for purchasing & maintaining their own costumes year to year.
  • Dance shoes may only be purchased from approved vendors.
  • All costume information and links to order/purchase can be found online in our Studio Hub.
  • Additional costume pieces are required for parade participation (view details in costume section of Studio Hub).
  • Solo dresses may only be worn by competitive dancers that have reached the full Intermediate level.

Dancers

  • All dancers are expected to uphold appropriate and respectful language & behavior in studio and at events.
  • Dancers will treat the studio with respect & care and are expected to clean up after themselves.
  • In class, dancers must be quiet, courteous, and fully engaged in the material being taught.
  • Playing, sitting, excessive talking, or other disruptive behavior during class may result in removal from class.
  • Criticizing, blaming, bullying, or physical violence towards other dancers WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

Parents

  • Parents will support the learning efforts of their dancer by demonstrating patience and respect towards
  • Instructors and students.
  • Parents will ensure their dancer gets to class consistently and on time.
  • Parents must supervise and take responsibility for their dancer before and after their scheduled class time.
  • Parents accept full responsibility for damages to the studio created by unsupervised children.
  • At competitions, parent will not criticize adjudicators or judging decisions openly or verbally. Concerns regardingfeis results must be submitted to Amelia in writing.
  • All payments will be made on time. Payment delinquency may result in your dancer’s removal from our program.
  • It is the parent’s responsibility to check their emails and stay connected with us for studio updates.

Failure to follow our Codes of Conduct may result in any of the following actions: dancer removal from class, verbal warnings to student and/or parents, written warnings, dancer suspension from performances, or complete removal from our program.

Reasons for Disciplinary Actions

The following situations will result in disciplinary action. There are NO exceptions.

  • Disregard for the student or parent codes of conduct and the policies set forth by Nicholl Irish Dancers.
  • Inappropriate, disrespectful, or violent words or actions towards fellow dancers or Instructors.
  • Consistently disruptive behavior in class, at events, or at feiseanna.
  • Dancer or parent attitude not promoting teamwork or sportsmanship.
  • Lack of commitment/dedication shown by dancer in class or at performances or feiseanna.
  • Failure to attend mandatory practices or backing out of a performance commitment.
  • Excessive unexcused absences, tardiness, or early dismissals from class.
  • Lack of knowledge by dancer of class material or group routines.