DCSP Policies

• Registering for class with the Dance Center of Severna Park (DCSP) confirms that you have read, understood and acknowledged all policies listed below.  
• You acknowledge that you are financially responsible for all payments of the monthly tuition and additional fees.  
• You grant permission for your dancer's photograph to be used in marketing materials, including print, electronic, web and social media for DCSP and the Severna Park Community Center.  
• Additionally, you agree to release and discharge DCSP, its employees and agents from responsibility for any injuries sustained or aggravated as a result of participation in DCSP activities.

Click on the titles below for all policy detail. A printable version can be found here.

Registration Information

1. Participation in class without prior registration is not allowed.  Please ensure that all registration materials have been submitted and that payment has been made to DCSP prior to attending class.  All students must register for a combination class (except session students).No trial classes are permitted.
2. Students may be assigned to a comparable class if class size minimums are not met.  Reassignments will be first discussed with the financially responsible party.
3. Registration and class placement is limited to those students who are physically and mentally able to receive group instruction.  While teachers will make every effort to provide individual attention, it is at the sole discretion of the teacher to determine if a student has the ability to continue in a group class.
4. Hip Hop participation is limited to students with at least year of Jazz experience.  Modern and Lyrical class participation is limited to those students in 6th grade or higher. Modern and Spanish is limited to those in 8th grade and older with at least 5 years of Ballet/Tap/Jazz experience.
5. Registration for Cecchetti Syllabus class or Pointe class is provided on an invitation-only basis.  Continuation in the  program for subsequent years is based on teacher discretion.

Classes

Lessons: Most classes will receive a minimum of 36 lessons during the regular dance season.  Non-recital classes will receive 32 lessons.  In some instances, certain classes may have additional classes scheduled for June.  Classes run as session classes will run for the stated time period.

Make up classes:

• Cancelled classes:  If students do not receive the full amount of lessons as a result of class cancellations, make-up classes will be scheduled and/or a refund will be provided at the end of the year, solely at the discretion of DCSP.  It may be necessary to combine make-up classes/regular classes due to studio availability.  It also may be necessary to schedule make-up classes during holiday breaks (Thanksgiving, winter or spring).
• Classes missed by students: Check with the teacher/office regarding appropriate class to attend for make-up.  Check with teacher/office regarding appropriate class to attend for make-up/must be scheduled within two weeks of missed class;
  
• Every attempt to schedule a make-up class will be made but, in some cases (esp. some upper level/specialty classes), there may not be another class of the same level; Some upper level/specialty classes may not have an available class for makeups.  Classes missed in May will not be able to made up due to recital preparation.
• Inclement weather closures: DCSP will make decisions based on weather forecasts/conditions and weather related closures.  Please check our website or our Facebook page for updates on cancellations.

DCSP does not follow the AACPS holiday schedule.  A schedule of holiday closings will be posted. 

Students should be accompanied to/from class by an adult or other responsible party.  Please do not drop children at the front door  This is the policy of the Severna Park Community Center.  *Parents, please do NOT wait at the SPCC entrance in your car- this causes a back up in the parking lot and makes for an unsafe situation.

Students must arrive to and be picked up from class on time.  If a parent is not present at dismissal, the burden falls solely to the dance instructor to ensure the student's safety.  Please be respectful of the instructors' schedules.

If for any reason is a student is asked to, or requests to, not participate in class, an attempt to contact a parent or guardian will be made.  If a parent or guardian cannot be reached, the student will be required to remain in class until a parent or guardian arrives.

Parent Observation Days:  The last class of the month, through January, will be Parent Observation Day.  We encourage all parents to attend this class to observe the progress of their children.

Attendance

Regular class attendance is required.​  When a student misses a class, it impacts their progress and the progress of the entire class.  Please inform your teacher by phone/email if you know you will miss a class.  If multiple classes will be missed due to illness, please inform the office.  Chronic absences on the part of a student will be reviewed by DCSP staff.  

Note: excessive absences from a Cecchetti class could result in not participating in upcoming exams. Excessive absences can also result in not participating in certain choreography for dance recitals and/or affect class placement for the following year.  It is the student's responsibility to master choreography when she/he is absent from learning.

Payment

1. Monthly tuition is based on a 36-week program and is payable in 9 equal installments.  Any class in addition to the 36 will be billed separately in June. Payments may be made by cash, check or credit card.  Automatic monthly credit card payment processing is available starting with the October payment;  please ask for the enrollment form if you are interested. When paying by check, please ensure that the student's name(s) appear on the check.  DCSP cannot be responsible for any errors or delays in processing a check without a student name. A $20 NSF fee will be assessed to any account when a check is returned to DCSP for non-payment.
2. Payments are due on the 1st day of each month.  Accounts with unpaid balances after the 8th of each month ​will be assessed a $10 late fee for amounts up to $200 or 5% of the balance for amounts greater than $200.  Late fees must be settled no later than the 1st payment due following the late payment.  The final payment of the year is due on May 1, except in certain cases where classes may be charged for additional time in June.  Payment must be received in the DCSP offices no later than May 15th.  Please contact the DCSP Business Office if the financially responsible party is unable to make a required monthly payment.
3. Accounts more than 60 days in arrears will be notified by mail or phone that class participation will not be allowed until the account is brought current.  If an interruption of class participation results from non-payment, the financially responsible party will be expected to pay for all classes during the period of interruption.  
4. Students wishing to drop, add or withdraw from a class must notify the DCSP Business Office in writing prior to the 28th day of the month prior to the change taking effect.
5. COSTUMES: Costumes will be purchased by each student for recital.  The first payment for combination class costumes (ballet, tap, and jazz)  is due on November 1.  Students age 4 through 5th grade will be ordered a child's size costume; students in 6th grade and older will be ordered an adult's size.  The second payment for the balance (specialty costumes) is due December 1.  Costume payments are not refundable after January 1.
6. RECITAL FEE: Recital fees are due on April 1.  Recital planning and budgeting takes place in advance of recitals, therefore, this fee is nonrefundable. Student's accounts must be paid in full to receive costumes and participate in the recital. Recital Fee will include streaming access to recital videos with upload ability – no videotaping or taking of pictures will be permitted at recitals but will be allowed at dress rehearsals.
7. Account balances will be audited each June.  Accounts with balances greater than $5 will be refunded; accounts with balances less than $5 will not.
8. DISCOUNTS: a family discount is available.  For the 2nd student in the same family, a discount of 10% will be applied to the least expensive combination class.  For the 3rd student in the same family, a discount of 20% will be applied to the last expensive combination class.  Active duty military families receive a discount of 10% off of their combination class.

Required Dress

Dance Supplies, Etc in Park Plaza has the list of approved shoe and dress requirements.

• Kindergarten and younger students: Pink leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, black tap shoes, pull on skirt, if desired.
• 1st grade and older students: Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, black tap shoes (younger dancers may wear a pull on skirt, if desired)
• Jazz Class: Students taking a jazz class lasting 1/2 hour or more must purchase black jazz shoes and may be required to purchase additional tights for recital.
• Pointe Class: New students taking Pointe 1 should not purchase pointe shoes prior to the first class.
• All Classes: Hair must be pulled back off the face and secured in a bun.