Pennsylvania

Dance Institute

Welcome!
We’re so glad you are interested in our school.

If you would like to schedule a visit to our studios or a trial class, please email padanceinstitute@gmail.com to set up a date & time.

 

Early Registration Discount – $25.00 Off

 

CLASSES START SEPTEMBER 9TH

Handbook

Welcome

Welcome and thank you for choosing the Pennsylvania Dance Institute to train and cultivate your young artist.

Calendar

Please refer to our Studio Calendar for dates pertaining to sessions, studio closings, holidays & breaks.

Dress Code

It is expected of all students to attend class in the appropriate dance uniform attire and with properly fitting shoes.  Please keep dance shoes in your child’s dance bag when at home / not in dance class.  Please also keep an extra pair of tights in the dance bag in the event of emergency.  Please refer to our Dress Code for more information.

Hair should be neatly pulled back off the face and secured in a ballet bun.

It is encouraged for students to wear clothing that covers up their dance attire before entering/exiting the building.

Tuition Policies

Pennsylvania Dance Institute maintains a graduated tuition schedule based on the number of class hours per week. Payment plans are available and must be established at registration.

Click HERE for Tuition Breakdown & Terms & Conditions.

Please fill out a PDI registration form / Waiver and return it to the studio along with your registration fee.

REFUNDS

No refunds are given for tuition payments. A student’s absenteeism does not affect tuition payments.  Please see our ‘Make Up Policy’

WITHDRAW

Students who choose to pay tuition by The Installment Plan must give Pennsylvania Dance Institute written notice one (1) month prior to dropping a class. PDI will discontinue billing the student one month after receiving written notice. All students must pay the first two months of tuition, regardless of whether they drop classes before the two months is finished.

BILLING DATES / LATE FEE

Tuition may be paid in full at the time of registration or divided into Ten (10)  Equal Payments.

 

A non-refundable deposit will be billed upon registering (First/Last Month).

 

Subsequent tuition installments will be charged to the Credit/Debit Card on file on on: 9/6/22, 10/3/22, 11/7/22, 12/5/22, 1/2/22, 2/6/23, 3/6/23, 4/3/23, 5/1/23 & 6/5/23.

 

All accounts will be charged a $25 late fee after the 15th of the month.

At two payments past due, the student will not be permitted to attend class/perform until the account is made current.

 

A $45.00 Registration Fee will be charged upon registering.

DISCOUNTS

A family discount is available when two or more children are enrolled full-time in dance classes.

REFERRAL

For every student you recommend, you will receive a $10.00 referral credit on your account. (Cannot be paid as cash.) You will receive the credit after their third month of classes. A referred student must mention you on their registration form for you to receive credit. Only one student can receive credit for a recommendation.

FEES & PAYMENT PLANS

A Registration Fee:
$

Deposit:
An Initial Deposit of First two payments are due at registration.

Payment Options:
Half-session | payments earn 2% discount

Full-session | payments earn 3% discount

10-Payment Installment Plan
(automatic credit/debit card charge or post-dated checks due on the 1st of the month)

Policies
& Procedures

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STUDIO ETIQUETTE

Students and parents are expected to behave respectfully and courteously in class  and common areas and follow studio policies at all times.

Students are expected to arrive with their hair neatly in a bun, in appropriate class attire & ballet shoes.

No street shoes, Food, Gum or Glass bottles are permitted in the studios.

Parents and students are expected to keep their belongings in their dance bag, to clean up after themselves, and be respectful of common and shared areas.

Should a student not comply, the parent will be notified and a conference will be scheduled with the teacher and director to discuss the problem.

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL

Please arrive on time.
Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may be asked to sit and observe class (as it is both disruptive and they have missed necessary warm-up).

Students under the age of 14 years of age must be accompanied into & out of the building by a Guardian.

Guardians must come into the building to pick up their students 14 yrs or under.

Please notify the office if a guardian other than a parent will be picking up your child.

Students 15 years of age or older are permitted to leave when their guardian or carpool, but are required to wait inside the building until arrived.

ATTENDANCE

Students must consistently attend regularly scheduled class. Arriving on time is factored into class attendance assessment.

Class attendance is an integral factor in proper progression and development of your young dancer as each class/level builds on the previous.

Ultimately, PADI has the right to hold a student back and/or remove from a performance for inconsistency.

REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Minimum of 1 class per week required for Pre-Ballet and Ballet I.

Minimum of 2 classes per week required for Ballet II.

Minimum of 3 classes per week & approved Summer study required for levels III and above.

* It is highly recommended that all new students take an (age appropriate) ballet fundamentals class in addition to their placement level regardless of ability.

** It is encouraged to complete a year of pre-pointe or supplement beginning pointe with pre-pointe to improve metatarsal and ankle strength and prevent injury or premature damage to the foot.

Students meeting the above class requirements are invited and encouraged to participate in Dance Del Bello’s Annual Spring Production, with rehearsals taking place outside of valuable class time.

MISSED CLASSES / MAKE UP POLICY

A student is permitted 2 excused absences. If a student misses a class for an excused absence, they are permitted to make-up their class by taking an equal or lower level class. Please coordinate your make-up class with your teacher in advance. It is preferred classes are made up immediately; Classes may be made up any week of the session but technical theatre weeks.

*No tuition deductions or reimbursement for missed classes.

ILLNESS / INJURY

Please contact school administrators in the event of illness / injury.

 

Illness / Injury should be accompanied by a doctor’s note.

 

If your child is sick or has any symptoms, relating, pertaining to Covid-19, please stay home.  Please refer to Our Covid Guidelines for more information.

 

If Injured, your child is still required to attend class and observe as to not miss any lessons, material or choreography.  Watching and listening to lessons and rehearsals are excellent learning tools.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is a serious health concern that affects everyone and every business. To us, there’s nothing more important than the health and well-being of our students, our staff, and their families. To ensure everyone’s safety, we have adopted policies and procedures that apply to everyone, including guests and visitors.

Please do not come to class if suspect you have or have come into contact with Covid-19 and its variants.

If you have come into contact with Covid-19, please let us know.  Please isolate for 5 days and as long as you are not exhibiting symptoms, please mask for additional 5 Days.

Please refer to our Guidelines here.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private lessons are scheduled on a recommendation basis and are available as a supplement to regularly scheduled lessons and do not replace or constitute as a “make up” for regularly scheduled class work.

Private Lessons may be coordinated with the office during an available time slot if the studio/time are open.

Privates are a min of $70/hr. Payment is made at the time of scheduling. Private lesson slots are limited. Due to their limited availability, 7 Day cancellations notice are required. There will be no refund if you cancel within 48 hrs as the teaching artist’s time is valuable.

PHONES & DEVICES

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STUDIO CLOSINGS

If Pennsylvania Dance Institute needs to close due to inclement weather there will be a specific message on the answering machine. There will be a message by 2 PM for afternoon and evening classes and between 6PM & 9 AM for morning classes.

We do not follow a specific school district or news media region when it comes to closing. Please call if the weather is at all questionable. Please drive safely and at your own risk.

GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION

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LOST & FOUND

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PERFORMANCE PARTICIPATION

In the spring, all students enrolled in the ballet program have the opportunity to perform in a full-length or excerpted work from Dance Del Bello’s repertoire. Past performances have included Beauty and the Beast, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.


Rehearsals: 

Rehearsals are scheduled outside valuable class time, and sometimes take place during holiday weekends.   Performing is not only a way to show off hard work in the classroom, but it also teaches our students artistry, responsibility, & commitment.  Please try to plan family activities around this commitment.  Students are permitted two (2) excused absences.  It is the student’s (by extension) Parent’s responsibility to know the rehearsal schedule, dates, times & changes.
Theatre week rehearsals & Dress rehearsals are mandatory.

 

Readiness:
The Artistic Directors and PA Dance Institute Instructors have 30+ experience placing children, teenagers and young adults within a professional rehearsal and performance environment. In order to nurture the pressure of this artistic experience, we take great care and deliberation in deciding when your child is:
1). Ready to make their debut on stage,
2). Ready to perform on Pointe, and
3). Ready for soloist casting
Please trust our “long term” judgement on the proficiency and readiness of your young artist.

PARENT OBSERVATIONS

Parent (& Sibling/Grandparent) Observations and In-Class demonstrations are scheduled each session for you to observe and celebrate your child’s progress.

This is also a great opportunity for you to become familiar with the teaching artists, and other parents of PADI.

If a parent/guardian feels it is necessary to observe a class at a different time, please arrange it with the desk staff prior to the day of the class.

PARENT / STUDENT MEETINGS

If a parent/guardian feels it is necessary to discuss student’s progress, issue or concern,  please arrange it with the desk staff prior to the day of the class.