Studio Policy

Jan’s Dance Studio Policy Letter 2024-2025
Jan’s Dance Studio Inc.
Main Campus: 16 Cottonwood Drive, Chatham, IL 62629
Annex Campus: 348 and 352 Williams Lane, Chatham, IL 62629
217-483-3688 | jansdancestudioinc@gmail.com

The following is the studio policy for the 2024/2025 season. Please read carefully.

• Important Dates:
• First Day of Class- Tuesday Sept. 3rd
• GHS Homecoming Parade- Studio closed Wednesday Oct. 9th
• Bring Your Boo (friend)- Thurs. Oct. 24th, Mon. Oct 28th-Wed. Oct 30th
• Halloween- Thursday Oct. 31st No Class
• Election Day- Studio closed Tuesday Nov. 5th
• Parent Observation Last 15 Min of Class- Nov. 18th-21st
• Thanksgiving (Fall Break) Vacation– Nov. 25-28th
• Holiday Break– December 23rd-Dec. 26th and Dec. 30-January 2nd
• Spring Break- March 24th-28th
• Memorial Day– Monday May 26th the studio will be closed
• Recital- TBA- June 14th is our first choice but it will be determined later in the season for sure.
• All other local or federal holidays the studio will be open

Payment Policy: We offer the following options for monthly tuition. Every family must be on autopay using one of the following for monthly tuition:

1. Automated ACH Autopay: This is an auto deduction of your monthly tuition from a bank account. Sometimes this is called an electronic check. Tuition will be withdrawn on the first day of the month (September will be on the sixth). There is no surcharge to use this option. Please note: Payments made by ACH that come back as NSF will be charged a $25 fee. This method is comparable to writing a check.
2. Credit or Debit Card Autopay: This is an automatic charge of your monthly tuition made to your credit or debit card. The monthly payment will be processed the first day of the month (September will be on the sixth). There will be a surcharge of 2.5% on all credit or debit card transactions. Examples: $50 is a $1.25 surcharge, $75 is a $1.86 surcharge, $150 is a $3.75 surcharge.

Autopay is only for monthly tuition. You will be able to choose if you want to use a credit card on file (with 2.5% surcharge), ACH or pay by check or cash at the studio for costume fees, competition fees and recital fees. We will always make sure to have your approval via email, text or permission slip before processing a transaction.

Students withdrawing from the studio or from a class must inform the studio in writing before the first day of the month or be held responsible for payment. There will be no refunds once tuition has been paid and no credits for missed classes. Once the recital fees have been paid, there will be no refunds for costumes or show fee.

Attendance: Students are expected to regularly attend and be prompt to all classes. Please call or email if your student will be absent. There are no refunds for missed classes. There will be no refunds once tuition is paid. A student taking a vacation during the dance season must make monthly payments to retain placement in class. Makeup lessons may be available. Please contact the studio director, if interested.

Illness Clause: If your child is not feeling well, has a new or worsening cough, a temperature, sore throat, we ask that they not attend dance until they are cleared to return to school.

Dropping and Adding Classes: Please email the studio director at jansdancestudioinc@gmail.com. Drops must be done before the first day of the month or you will be responsible for payment for the remainder of the month.

Drop Off: Please stay with your child until class begins and the teacher invites the students into the room. We are not responsible for children when they are not in the classroom.

Pick Up: Children will only be dismissed to a parent unless otherwise discussed. Younger students will be dismissed at the front door (next to the parking lot) at both campuses. Parents must come up to the sidewalk to identify their child and escort them to their vehicle.

Inclement Weather Policy: In the case of severe weather and the need to cancel, we will notify you by email and also post on social media by 4 p.m. We do not always do what the local school districts do in regards to cancellations. If you have a question regarding closure, please check your email before heading to the studio. Refunds are not offered for weather cancellations however you can request to schedule a makeup lesson.

Registration Fee: All students will pay a $25 non-refundable registration fee at the time of enrollment.

Class Placement: The placing of students is at the director’s professional discretion.

NEW! Observation:  Weekly observation of children’s classes is not allowed.  Parents are invited to watch at parent observation week for the last 15 minutes of class. Observation is not meant to be a recital but more of a check in on how classes are going. Please schedule a private conference with your child’s teacher if you have questions or concerns regarding their progress.  No street shoes will be allowed in the studio- please take shoes off before entering the studio.

Dancer Responsibilities: (Parents please read with child before the season begins)

• Please be properly dressed and on time for class. Tights are required for ballet.
• Please use the restroom before class because it takes time out of class (unless it is an emergency).
• Please be quiet in the lobby so you do not disrupt the class in session.
• Cell phones must be left in the lobby and must be turned off or on silent mode. There will be no use of cell phones during class. Please have parents call the studio to speak with a student during class.
• Please do not correct other dancers.
• Please do not touch or pick up other dancers.
• Please raise your hand to speak.
• Please do not talk in line.
• Please do not touch the mirrors or hang on the barre.
• Please keep from entering someone’s personal space.
• Please enter the studio quietly and sit down until the teacher instructs you further.
• Failure to not follow the rules and/or oral and/or written instruction from your teacher will result in being excused from class.
• Please be positive and proceed with a “can do” attitude.

Parent Responsibilities:

• Please review and go over the responsibilities stated above with your student.
• Please make your best effort to get your child to class on time every week because regular attendance is key to good training.
• Please be sure your child is outfitted properly for class.
• Please call about all absences and be diligent about making sure to not spread illness by allowing students to attend class if feeling unwell.
• Please check your child’s bag for notices and check your email for updates from the studio.
• Please avoid participating in studio gossip and contact us directly to discuss concerns and questions.
• Please trust your child’s teacher’s evaluations because they are a professional dance educator and only have your child’s best interest at heart. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or concerns. Our teachers have an obligation to start their next class on time but will either email or call you as soon as possible. All teachers are available for private conferences, if scheduled in advance.

Dress & Shoe Requirements

Toddler Movement: Play clothes with bare feet or socks.

Creative Movement: Tights (any color), leotard or dance dress/tutu, hair pulled back from face, pink leather ballet shoes without ties (preferred), black patent Mary Jane tap shoes with elastic sewn instead of ties or Velcro, dance bag. Please label all shoes with initial or name.

Combination Class: Tights (any color), leotard or dance dress/tutu, hair pulled back from face, pink leather ballet shoes without ties (preferred), black patent Mary Jane tap shoes with elastic sewn instead of ties or Velcro, dance bag. Please label all shoes with initial or name.

Kinder Hop: Comfortable, movable clothing, hair pulled back from face, tennis shoes that have never been worn outside and are changed into every week at the studio – no black soles.

Beginner I/II/III Ballet/Tap/Jazz: Tights (any color), leotard or dance dress/tutu, hair pulled back from face, pink leather ballet shoes, black tap shoes (slip on or tie), tan split sole slip on jazz bootie, dance bag. Please label all shoes with initial or name.

Advanced Beginner I, II, III Ballet/Tap/Jazz, Intermediate I, II, III and Advanced I & II, Teen Class: Tights (any color), leotard or dance dress/tutu, hair pulled back from face, pink leather split sole ballet shoes, black tie tap shoes, tan split sole slip on jazz bootie, dance bag. Please label all shoes with initial or name.

All Hip Hop: Clean tennis shoes – no black soles. Easy to move in clothing – no jeans.

All Lyrical: Tights and leotard or tight-fitting boy shorts and fitted tank, tan split sole slip on jazz bootie, dance bag. Please label all shoes with initial or name.

Acrobatic Dance “Acro” and Tumbling: Students will not wear shoes or socks. Leotard with shorts or leggings or footless tights over the top. No loose-fitting clothes and no footed tights.

Pointe: Those enrolled in pointe will need to be fitted at either the Dance Bag or St. Louis Dancewear, both in the St. Louis area. For those new to pointe, please wait for further instruction about when to schedule a fitting. Pointe shoes must be fit by a professional – ordering online is not an option.