Studio Policies

Parent/Student Handbook | Policy and Procedures

We are so glad you chose Avant Garde Theatre of Dance and want your dance experience to be superlative! To help with that experience, we are including a few tips and guidelines to follow at the studio and in class. If you have questions, please feel free to call, contact us online, or ask any teacher/staff member.

Parking

There is absolutely NO Parking in the alley behind the studio. You must park in one of the spaces that are available around the building or across the street at the Dollar General Parking Lot. This space has been made public for us to use. If you are parked in the alley behind the school your vehicle will be towed at the owners expense.

Lobby Etiquette

All children in the lobby are to be accompanied by an adult. There is no running, jumping, or making loud noise while in the lobby area. We have neighbors inside the building that we must be respectful towards and try to keep our noise down while waiting for our students. Violation of this could result in a meeting; in which management can request that the family waits in their car or in another area outside of the lobby while their child is taking class.

Class Etiquette

Students are required to use a certain amount of discipline in all classes of dance; whether it’s Competitive or Recreational. Students should respect teachers and staff; as well as their peers. Avant Garde strives for perfection, but always puts humbleness first, above all. Avant Garde does not tolerate bullying and has the right to remove students from class and hold Parent/Teacher meetings, if seen fit by director and owners. Students are required to raise their hand to ask a question and no talking unless called upon. Classes are structured much like school. This way, students can learn at a faster and more advanced rate, without distraction. Each student will applaud and bow to the instructor after each class has finished. This is etiquette that has been passed down through many generations of dance.

Please be on time to class. We spend the beginning of class warming up and that is a very important part of dance training and perfecting technique. If students are 15 minutes later or more, the teacher has the right to have the student sit in the front of the class and take educational notes. Notes will be turned into the teacher at the end of the class.

The first 15 minutes of all classes are used to warm up specific parts of the body. Injuries can occur if the body is not properly warmed up. Please wear hair up and out of the face. Specific hairstyles for specific techniques are listed later. This way, teachers can observe the neckline of the dancer and it helps the student when learning how to spot while turning.

No jewelry in class. Please no food or drink in the studio. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle in their dance bag. No gum in class. Please no street shoes on the dance floors and do not wear your dance shoes outside of the studio. Change into dance shoes before class begins. Please WRITE YOUR NAME in all dance bags, shoes, etc. It’s easy to mix up shoes and having them labeled gets them back in the right place and to the right student. Students should not enter the dance rooms until an instructor arrives. Please have your student visit the restroom before class…even if they don’t need to at that moment, especially little ones.

Restroom Breaks

All students are allowed 1 restroom break during class. However, please ensure that your child uses the restroom before each class, this can cause a dominoe effect and cause big disruptions to the other students.

Students between the ages of 3 and 5, it is highly recommended that a parent stay in the lobby during class. We will not take children to the restroom and help them, this must be done by a parent or guardian.

Studio Schedule

We follow the Ennis ISD calendar for most major holidays and breaks. There are several Monday holidays on the school calendar and Avant Garde will not close on those days. Those days are clearly marked on The Avant Garde Calendar and we will send out email notifications, at least two weeks prior.

We will also post notifications on The Avant Garde Mobile App. If you move or your contact information changes, please update this in your Avant Garde Mobile App profile or notify the studio to ensure that emails and notices are being sent to the correct address. Please check the bulletin boards in The Avant Garde Mobile App for important reminders and information.

Our full dance season begins in August and continues through May/first of June, depending on the date of the Spring Show! Annual Show dates are announced every year as soon as the venue confirms our date. We will post and announce our Annual Show date by October/November each year. Annual Shows and performing are an important part of dance, so our dance season runs until immediately following the Annual Spring Show. We also have a Summer Program and Dance Camps that are announced each year in the Spring and posted on the website.

Show dates will be posted during the fall. It is not a requirement to participate in the Annual Shows, though performance is an important part of dance training and we encourage everyone to participate. Avant Garde Theatre of Dance will use photos taken during performances and in class for advertising, website and social media. All students will sign a waiver to allow Avant Garde Theatre of Dance to use their photos; if a waiver has not been signed then their photo will not be used for advertising purposes.

Tuition, Payments, and Late Fees

The registration fee and first month of Tuition is due at time of enrollment and is non-refundable. If the student is starting in the middle of a month, their first month’s tuition will be prorated. Monthly Tuition is due on the 1st of each month. All payments are automatically billed using a card that is held on file in the office and manageable on The Avant Garde Parent App.

Costume payments are due by September 1st for the Christmas Show and November 1st for the Spring Show. Performance payments are due no later than October 1st and February 1st. All Costume and Show payments are non-refundable. All of these payments can be divided up into monthly payments and added into your tuition, please get with the front desk for more details.

If Tuition is not paid each month by the 6th, the card on file will be automatically charged a $25 late fee. Tuition is to be paid in full during holiday months as rates are based on a 4-week month. Some months are longer and the additional classes make up the holidays. There is no price reduction for missed classes. There are no discounts or reimbursements for classes missed due to vacation or school functions. If your student decides to discontinue class, Avant Garde Theatre of Dance must be informed in writing via email, prior to the next billing cycle and a cancellation fee of $35 per class will be automatically charged. No refunds, pro-rating, credits, or tuition transfers will be applied for missed classes or mid-month withdrawal. Monthly statements are sent every month.

Tuition fees, costume fees, competition entry fees, and registration fees are non-refundable. However, merchandise is refundable, if you return the product unused.

A $5 per month charge will be added for non-autopay accounts.

Acknowledgement of Inherent Risk

In dance, as in any physical activity, there is an inherent risk of injury. By acknowledging this document, the parent or legal guardian acknowledges that the risk of injury and spread of illness is possible in the student’s dance class and will not hold Avant Garde Theatre of Dance, LLC. responsible for any such injury. Furthermore, the parent or legal guardian should inform the instructor and studio director of any past injuries or medical conditions that could affect the student in class.

Dress Code

This is the required dress code for all classes. A notice will be sent to the Parent in The Avant Garde Parent App if student is not following the dress code. After the third notice, we will schedule a Parent/Teacher meeting to resolve the issue.

• Tiny Tumblers
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics) with Pink Tights - Recommended Not Required
  • OR Tight-Fit Short Sleeve Tee-Shirt with Leggings or Shorts
  • Pink, Flat, Split-Sole, Canvas Ballet Shoes, or Barefoot, or Dark-Colored Socks
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Combo Class (Ballet & Jazz)
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Convertible, Footed, Seamed Ballet Tights
  • Pink, Flat, Split-Sole, Canvas Ballet Shoes & Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Combo Class (Jazz & Acro)
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants
  • Optional Ballet Wrap Skirt (if Not Wearing Jazz Pants)
  • Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Ballet
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Convertible, Footed, Seamed Ballet Tights
  • Pink, Flat, Split-Sole, Canvas Ballet Shoes
  • Optional Ballet Skirt
  • Hair in Ballet Bun
  Buy Required Attire
• Pre-Pointe
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Convertible, Footed, Seamed Ballet Tights
  • Pink, Flat, Split-Sole, Canvas Ballet Shoes
  • Optional Ballet Skirt
  • Hair in Ballet Bun
  Buy Required Attire
• Pointe
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Convertible, Footed, Seamed Ballet Tights
  • Pointe Shoes (Mrs. Sarah Approved)
  • Optional Ballet Skirt
  • Hair in Ballet Bun
  Buy Required Attire
• Hip Hop
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants
  • Optional Ballet Wrap Skirt (if Not Wearing Jazz Pants)
  • Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • OR Solid Black or Solid White Hip Hop Tennis Shoes (specifically for dance; cannot be worn outside of studio)
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Jazz
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants
  • Optional Ballet Wrap Skirt (if Not Wearing Jazz Pants)
  • Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Contemporary
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink or Black Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants or Leggings
  • Optional Ballet Wrap Skirt (if Not Wearing Jazz Pants)
  • Dark-Colored Socks or Ballet Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Acrobatics
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink or Black Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants or Leggings
  • Dark-Colored Socks or Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Leaps, Turns & Technique
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics)
  • Pink or Black Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants or Leggings
  • Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Adult Ballet Class
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics) - Recommended NOT Required
  • Pink or Black Mesh Convertible Tights (if wearing Leotard) or Jazz Pants or Leggings
  • ! Avoid Crop Tops or Suggestive Language/Branding !
  • Pink, Flat, Split-Sole, Canvas Ballet Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Adult Hip Hop Class
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics) - Recommended NOT Required
  • Pink or Black Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants or Leggings
  • Avoid Crop Tops
  • Black Neoprine Jazz Shoes
  • OR Solid Black or Solid White Hip Hop Tennis Shoes (specifically for dance; cannot be worn outside of studio)
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire
• Tap Class
  • Leotard for Dance (Not Gymnastics) - Recommended NOT Required
  • Pink or Black Mesh Convertible Tights or Jazz Pants or Leggings
  • Avoid Crop Tops
  • Black Tap Shoes
  • Hair in Ballet Bun, Ponytail, or Braid
  Buy Required Attire

Please feel free to reach out to us with any additional questions at [email protected].

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