Info, Rules & Regulations

Please click here to download the following GDC Studio Policies document.

IMPORTANT DATES

  • September 19th 2022 – Classes Begin

  • October 10th 2022 – Thanksgiving – No Classes

  • October 14th – Trial period over for recreational programs

  • December 8th 2022 – Tentative date for Christmas Dress Reh (At GDC) – recreational classes only

  • December 9th 2022 – Tentative date for Christmas recital (At John Elliott Theatre) – recreational classes only

  • December 20th – January 6 (inclusive) – Christmas Break – No Classes Classes resume January 7 2023

  • February 20th – Family Day – No Classes

  • March 3rd 2023– Tentative Competitive PreShow

  • March 13th-18th (inclusive) – March Break – No Classes

  • April 10th – Easter Monday – Classes Running

  • May 19th-22nd – Victoria Day Weekend – No Classes Saturday or Monday

  • June 5th – Last Day of Classes

  • June 8th – Dress rehearsal – John Elliott Theatre, Georgetown

  • June 9th – Recital Show #1 – John Elliott Theatre, Georgetown

  • June 10th – Recital Show #2 & Competitive Show – John Elliott Theatre, Georgetown

  • June 12th & 13th – Tentative photo dates

*all classes subject to change or cancellation
*classes cancelled due to inclement weather will not be rescheduled

PAYMENT OF FEES

A NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee of $20 per family is payable upon registration.

Recreational students have a trial period until the 14th of October. During this trial period there is a financial commitment of the non refundable $20 registration fee as well as payment for all enrolled classes up to and including October 14th. If a student wishes to discontinue at the end of the trial period, the parent(s) must contact the dance studio on or before October 14th via email only. After October 14th the dancer is committed to the class they are enrolled in for the remainder of the season. With this the parent(s)/guardian are committed to the full season of tuition as well as costume fees and any other fees that are listed on their studio statement. This is available to the parent(s) at any time. There are no refunds/credits of any kind.

**Families completing the last 8 weeks of classes from the spring are not obligated to any registration fees or any addition tuition/costume charges for the session of September 8th-November 2nd. As of November 3rd if a dancer wishes to continue in their class, registration fee is now applied to the account and discounted tuition for the remainder of the season applies along with a costume fee for the year end recital. Any family not wishing to continue beyond the 8 weeks of postponed classes are asked to email the studio before November 3rd.

Competitive students have a trial period until the 14th of September. During this trial period there is a financial commitment of the non refundable $20 registration fee as well as payment for all enrolled classes up to and including September 14th. If a student wishes to discontinue at the end of the trial period, the parent(s) must contact the dance studio ON OR BEFORE September 14th via email only. After September 15th the dancer is committed to the class they are enrolled in for the remainder of the season. With this the parent(s)/guardian are committed to the full season of tuition as well as costume fees and any other fees that are listed on their studio statement. This is available to the parent(s) at any time. There are no refunds/credits of any kind Please remember that young children are often intimidated by new situations and should complete the entire trial period before any final decisions are made.

In cases of illness or injury the studio may issue a credit to be applied to the next year’s tuition. Doctor’s notes are required for the credit to be issued.

PAYMENTS

Tuition for the full season is due. GDC is offering an interest free payment plan to those who require and may be paid with the following options.

Please check the option that you are agreeing to:
a) Full tuition payment upfront ________
b) 1⁄2 tuition payment upon registration and 1⁄2 tuition payment January 1st _________
c) 10 equal payments of the full tuition due the following months: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June *This option is not available if paying by cash ________

Payments can be made with the following options. Please check the option that you are agreeing to:
a) Cash _______
b) Cheque(s) ________ *all postdated cheques are due upon registration
c) E-transfer(s) _______
*all payments by cash and e-transfer are due the 1st of each month. All late payments will be charged a 2% late fee on the total
amount that is late.

* 26.4% annual interest charges (from September 1st) will be charged on all fees not paid in full by June 30th.
*there is a $20 service fee for all dishonoured cheques

8 WEEK PERFORMANCE

After 8 weeks of classes from September 8th 2020, there will be a performance to showcase our dancers in their costumes. All returning dancers from last season who are completing the 8 weeks of classes from the spring will have a costume to perform in. All new dancers are encouraged to participate in this performance, however are asked to wear just a black bodysuit/tank top and either pink ballet tights (ballet only) or black shorts (all other classes). This performance will be done in a safe way only. If an in person performance is not safe to do, we will do a virtual performance and send all performances to families free of charge. More
information on this will come as we are into the Fall.

YEAR END RECITAL

* All students are welcome to participate in our year-end recital. Students must have excellent attendance and practice their routines. Students must understand that they are part of a team and that once they have committed to participating, it is important that they fulfill their commitments.
*Students are expected to attend 80% of the classes in order to participate in the recital
*Dancers are expected to attend their last 3 classes before recitals.
*Students who are not participating in the recital must notify the studio via email only by December 1st.

*Beginner, Novice and Jr level costume fees are $70/costume.
*Teen level costume fees as well as Acro II and up are $90/costume
*Year end costume fees are non-refundable and due December 1st. Payment can be made via the following options. Please check the option you agree to.
a) Cash ______ *Due December 1st
b) Cheque ______ *Due upon Registration, dated for December 1st
c) E-transfer _______ *Due December 1st

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The following information is a guideline of Georgetown Dance Company and its team of staff and teachers. It is subject to change at the discretion of Management as they see fit.

*Parents are responsible for picking up their child immediately after their dance class has finished. Georgetown Dance Company will not be held responsible for students once they have finished classes and have left the facility. 
*Dancers are expected to respect the dress code that is posted on our website and outlined in our Studio Policies.

*Georgetown Dance Company does not tolerate fighting, bullying, theft and vandalism.
*Dancers and Parents are expected to demonstrate and encourage positive behaviour and attitudes. Georgetown Dance Company is family orientated environment that aims for the utmost excellence in welcoming, and creating a safe place for all dancers and families. Please help us keep the studio in such regard.
*Dancers and Parents are encouraged to continue positive, encouraging behaviour throughout social media.
*If there is a concern that you as the parent would like to discuss with a teacher or the Director, please speak with the receptionist, or email the studio email address to set up a meeting either in person or on the phone to discuss the concern.
*If weather conditions are poor, please contact the studio after 2pm. A message on the studio answering machine will announce any cancellations, postponements or classes moved to online platform. A studio email will also be sent. If there is no message or email, please assume classes are still running. Please use your own judgment during poor weather – we ask
that you do not put your child’s or your own health and safety at risk. Classes postponed or moved to an online platform for any reason will not be refunded. This will only happen due to poor weather conditions, severe studio wide illness, government issued closure, safety concerns for the wellbeing of the students and teachers.
*No refunds/credits are given to dancers who miss classes for any reason
*Please do not send your child to class if they are ill or if they have a contagious illness. Students who have plantar warts must keep their feet covered in the studio. Students with head lice should remain home until they are positive that is no longer there.
*Please call or email the studio if your dancer will be away from class.
** There is to be no food inside the building
*Only water is permitted for dancers during their class time. Any other drink will be not be allowed in the dance rooms.
*Due to high allergies of nuts, Georgetown Dance Company is a Peanut Free building.
*Please label all dance shoes, dancewear and water bottles with your dancer’s name.
*All articles of clothing, dance shoes, and reusable water bottles left in the class after the class has ended will be placed in the lost and found bin. Please check this regularly as it is donated monthly.
*Communication is vital. Parents are expected to check their email regularly as newsletters and updates are sent out on a regular basis. It is the responsibility of the parent to update their current email address with Georgetown Dance Company. It has happened that GDC emails have been directed to personal email spam – please check and update your spam filter. Studio newsletters are also posted on our Newsletter page.
*Please notify the studio of any changes in your phone number, address or any other important information.

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

• Upon Arrival For Class
» Before bringing/sending your dancer(s), a COVID-19 screening form must be filled out and emailed each day that your dancer comes. (Screenings are to be done the day of dance with forms filled out that day. Not prior to their day of dance)
» Dancers are to wait in outside the front door along the building with the line forming towards your right so that all dancers remain on the sidewalk (dancers ages 7 and under MUST be accompanied by a guardian) – as the sidewalk is not our property we cannot place physical distancing markers on the ground. We therefore ask everyone to space 2 meters apart.
» Everyone in line must wear a mask.
» Dancers are asked to wait outside in line until they are invited into the studio front door by a studio team member. No one is to enter the front door on their own.
• Screening
» All guardians are required to email in a completed Covid-19 screening questionnaire for their dancer(s). This can either be emailed prior to arrival, or handed in upon arrival.
» Students who do not have a completed form will not be permitted in the building NO EXCEPTIONS.
» Screenings are only valid for the day they have classes. A new screening must be done each day of classes NO EXCEPTIONS.
» Before entering the building, all dancers will have their temperature taken NO EXCEPTIONS.
» Upon entering the building, all dancers will have to either sanitize their hands or use the washroom to wash their hands.
» Only dancers/GDC staff will be permitted in the building. Our lobby is closed until further notice.
• Change rooms are closed
» Dancers will then be directed to remove their outdoors shoes put them in their own personal bag and to stand on a marker on the floor in a line to wait for their dance class to start (all markers are 2 meters apart).
» Dancers are to continue wearing their mask while in this line.
» Dancers are to bring personal belongings/needed dance shoes for the evening in one small bag directly into the class with them to designated areas.
» Dancers are to arrive wearing dance attire (may wear warmer layers over top).
» Dancers will not be permitted to change attire between classes and are therefore reminded of the dress code for ALL classes of that day/evening.
• In the dance room
» When class time arrives, dancers will be invited in one at a time and:
▪ directed where to place their bag. (At that time dancers are welcome to put on their dance shoes, remove outdoor clothing and place in their bag and remove their mask. All masks must be placed in a Ziploc back (or equivalent) and placed in their dance bag.)
▪ guided to a taped out square
» Our dance floors are taped out in 2metersx2meters squares with an ‘x’ in the middle of each square to keep dancers 2 meters apart.
» Our dancers will keep this physical distance the entire duration of the class. » Dancers are not required to wear a mask while dancing (but can wear a face shield if you choose for them to do so).
» Teachers will be wearing a mask and/or face shield at ALL times during the class.
» If progressions across the floor are part of the syllabus, dancers will be guided to a physically distanced line (taped markers on the floor) and dancers will proceed one or two at a time and will have a gap of no less than 2 meters side by side and 4 meters to the dancers following behind;
▪ This will also depend on the studio space they are in and what dance form they are doing. If they are doing progressions that could bring them closer than 2 meters side by side, then the teacher will direct them to go down the floor one at a time.
▪ Our teachers know the exercises that could possibly bring them closer and will be extremely conservative with spacing in each and every single exercise that moves our dancers down the room to ensure they are ALWAYS physically distanced.
» At the end of class dancers will be directed one at a time to collect their belongings and bring them back into their taped-out box to put all their dance shoes away, put on all their outdoor clothes and put their mask on.
• Pick Up Time
» Will be at the outdoor studio door directly from the dance room, not the front door
» Parents are asked to be prompt in the pick up time as we will not have a waiting area for dancers whom are waiting for their pick up
» A week before dance starts up, enrolled families will receive an email with which door to pick up each class from.
» Each door will be marked by an A or B on the outside of the building. Both studio doors are located at the back of the building.
» Again, we are not allowed to place markers on the ground we therefore ask parents to line up 2 meters apart.
» Face masks are required in line.
» When each parent arrives at the door to pick up their dancer, the dancer will be called out of their box to the door where they will put on their outdoor shoes, sanitize their hands and exit the building.
• Personal Hygiene
» All persons must sanitize hands upon entering the building and leaving the building.
» Sanitizing stations will be set up in every studio.
» All persons are reminded to sneeze/cough into their arm or use a tissue (dispose of the tissue right away) and to either wash hands right after or sanitize their hands.
» All persons are reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose, mouth.
» Avoid touching high contact areas and wash hands after doing do.
» Dancers will not be permitted to touch any light or fan switches.
» Wash all clothes when returning home from class.
» Food is not permitted in the class.
• Washrooms
» Will be open for use for our dancers and staff only.
» Students are to wear a mask when leaving the dance room to use the washroom.
» Students are to go directly to the washrooms without touching anything along the way.
» Students are reminded to wash hands after using the washroom.
» Students will be required to sanitize hands when returning back into the class.
» Washrooms will be disinfected after every use by a studio staff member.
• Disinfecting
» Rooms will be disinfected after every class where there are any new students entering the room (this includes but not limited to: barres, door handles and floors).
» Acro mats will be disinfected after every class.
• Liability Form
» Covid-19 liability form will be emailed before the commence of classes.
» All dancers are required to have one completed with signature before the commence of their first class (email is preferred).
» Forms are one per family.
» Students without this form will not be permitted in the building or take any classes.
» One form per family will cover the family for the duration of the season.
• Illness
» Do not send your dancer if they are sick.
» Do not send your dancer if they have come into contact or live with anyone who is currently showing signs/symptoms of COVID-19. » Do not send your dancer if they have come into contact or live with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19
» If a student starts to show symptoms or feels ill during the course of their class, the student will immediately be required to wear their mask, will be separated to a different room (that is vacant) and the guardian will be contact to pick up their child asap.
» In this situation, students are asked to go get tested for COVID-19 and let us know immeadeatly with the results.
» If the test results show negative for COVID-19, the dancer may return to class after 24hrs of showing no symptoms of sickness.
» If there is a positive case all families from the same class will be contacted. No personal information regarding the positive case will be released (this includes the name of the person).
» Individuals with positive cases of COVID-19 are not to return to the studio until for 14 days after the first day of symptoms (provided they are not showing ANY symptoms).
» Teachers will not arrive to the studio if they are ill.
• Masks
» Will be worn by all teachers, assistant teachers and admin staff (teachers may wear a face shield instead).
» Dancers are not required to wear masks while dancing.
» Dancers are allowed to wear face shields while dancing.
» Masks are to be worn while standing in line to get into the studio and when leaving the studio.
» Masks are to be worn in the building in all situations where the dancers/teachers are not physically dancing.
» Custom GDC masks can be purchased through the studio.
• Class Sizes
» We will be capping all of our recreational and competitive class sizes to ensure physical distancing.
• What If….
» These policies and procedures are in place for the foreseeable future while we are in Phase II Stage 3
» All policies may change in accordance to our Ministry of Health and the government of Ontario at any time.
» Should we be ordered by the government to close you will have the following options and you will be asked at that time to choose one of the below options:
▪ Continue with online classes within the same or similar schedule you signed up for
▪ Receive a credit for future in class dancing (no cash value)
▪ Receive a full refund for all tuition for classes not received *If this happens after September 15th, no refunds are given for competitive costumes, After January 1st no refunds are given for recreational costumes
▪ We will also give full refunds for entry fees paid if competitions do not run
▪ **These options will only be available should we be ordered as a dance studio to close. Full payment of fees for the season is expected in all other situations as per the deadlines and cut-off dates outlined in our studio policies.
• Online Options?
» We are now offering the option to sign up for a pay by term online platform. These are 10 week classes that are offered online from the comfort of your own home.
» These classes will be outside of the in class schedule.
» More info such as schedule and pricing will be out shortly!