Policies

We offer classes for ages 18 months - adult. Beginning in August 2024, Dance Academy West will be transitioning to a year round progressive program. This curriculum will allow for all dancers, recreational and competitive, to have more opportunities to set and achieve personal goals. This method coincides with our studio philosophy, which is to provide the necessary training for each student to reach their highest potential. Summer and school year sessions will no longer be separate, instead, our program will offer a continuous, year round curriculum to better serve the needs of our dancers. Classes are divided by grade and ability.  DAW staff is happy to assist in choosing a path that will best suit your child's needs and allow for him or her to reach their highest dance potential. The experience gained here at DAW may differ from experience gained at other dance studios. If your child is placed in a level in the middle of our season, or has come from another studio, we may feel the need to move him or her to a different level in order for them to receive the best dance experience possible. For some classes, levels may be combined. We reserve the right to cancel classes with less than 5 students and change class instructors. In the case of class cancellations, we will do our best to transfer students to a similar class.  DAW does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

In accordance with our 12 month progressive program tuition is collected on a monthly basis, 12 months out of the year. Tuition will not be increased or pro-rated for months that have more than or less than four weeks. Tuition will only change if a class is added or dropped. Students are allowed to add / drop classes up to two weeks after enrollment during the months of August-December and anytime during the months June-July. Add / Drop is strongly discouraged during the months January-May. We accept new enrollment throughout the season and have special non-recital classes for dancers who register after February 15th. A six class max applies, meaning any amount of classes taken over six is free! Our unique progressive program allows dancers and their families a sense of assurance and ease, without having to re-register each summer and fall. July 2025 and each July thereafter will be named “Level Up Month!” This will be the time that dancers will receive evaluation results and recommendations for new placement or additional classes. A $60 Registration Fee will be charged to new customers beginning with the 2024-25 season. This fee does not apply to current customers and is not charged on an annual basis. This fee will only be reassessed if a dancer withdrawals from the program and chooses to re-enroll. 

All students must adhere to the studio dress code and should wear a cover-up when entering and exiting the building. Students should never wear their dance shoes outside. 

Students should not be dropped off or picked up any longer than 5 minutes before or after class. Dropping your child off too early or picking him/her up later than the 5-minute allowance will result in additional tuition costs of $1 per minute.

We are happy to offer areas for parents to observe their child's classes from time to time; however, weekly observation is only allowed for Twirl & Tap and Twirl & Groove classes. Parent Watch Weeks will be scheduled, sporadically throughout the season, for K-12th grade classes. Parents / guardians of new students will be allowed to observe their child's first two weeks of classes. Parents should not address instructors between classes or during class time. 

DAW students are expected to act kindly to their classmates and instructors. If a student exhibits rude or disrespectful behavior, he / she will be asked to sit out or leave the room, and the parent will be notified. If poor behavior becomes a recurring issue, DAW reserves the right to dismiss the student from the program. In this case, any tuition or fee previously paid will be forfeited. 

If you choose to withdraw at any time, notification must be received by the 15th of the month to prevent your account from being charged tuition for the following month. Any dancer on the competition team will be responsible for all fees outlined in their contract for the remainder of the season. Any previously collected tuition or fees, including costume fee(s) and the performance fee are non-refundable. If a dancer withdraws prior to the distribution of costumes he / she forfeits their costume and related fee(s). Dancers who withdraw and choose to re-enroll will be charged the membership fee.