SHARON PLESSL SCHOOL OF DANCE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 When do you start registering students for classes? Registration for our fall session 2008-2009 has begun! Please visit our studio anytime from 12:00 PM- 4:00PM on Saturday August 9thor Sunday August 24th to take part in our open house registration event for the fall session. If you cannot make it to our registration event, please call the studio at 610-791-0804 or  you may  pre-register online. By doing so, your child will be put on a waiting list for the classes he or she is interested in. Miss Trisha will then be in contact with you to finalize your registration process.

 At what age can my child begin at the SPSD? Enrolled children can be as young as 18 months old. All children are different and it is possible that although a child is of the appropriate age he or she may not be “ready” to take a dance class. In these situations we WILL advise you of the appropriate course of action. This may include CHANGING YOUR CLASS TO A MORE APPROPRIATE LEVEL, or not continuing with this session and trying again at a later date.

What do I need to wear for class?

Please Click Here For 2008 Dress Code

What are the qualifications of the instructors?

Please Click Here For Our Teacher's Bio's

How long is the fall session? The fall session begins after Labor Day and will run until mid June where we will conclude with a recital to showcase your children's talents.

When is tuition due? Our tuition is based on a yearly fee broken down into 9 monthly installments (prices based on 9.5 monthly rate/ June classes will be due with your May tuition) for the financial convenience of our parents. All payments are due the 25th of each month prior to the students monthly lesson. A $1o.00 late fee per class/per student will be charged if your payment is not received by the 1st of the month and the student will be required to observe class and take notes until the payment is received. First months tuition is due by August 1,2008 (if registering after this date, it will be due with your registration fee at the time of registration). Without doing so, we cannot guarantee a spot will be available in any class. If you decide not to attend class there will be no refunds or credits. Tuition payments are non-transferable. Tuition will not be suspended to accommodate vacation time or any prolonged absence. You are responsible for each month’s tuition even if you do not attend. Make up classes are available for any classes missed.

Does my child need to participate in the recital? By enrolling with SPSD during a recital session, it is our hope that you will be participating in the recital. If a student is enrolled in more than one class he or she will  learn a different dance in each class for the recital. This student is not required to perform in each one of these dances. At registration you will receive a STUDENT INFORMATION PACKAGE. This package contains all the information that you will need regarding the the entire dance season and will assist you in making an informed decision. Enclosed within the package is a “PARTICIPATION FORM”. This form MUST be filled out for each child that you have enrolled at Sharon Plessl School of Dance. A form MUST be submitted stating if you WILL or WILL NOT be participating. These forms will only be accepted from an adult (parent or guardian).

Can I stay to watch my child dance? Yes, there is an observation area provided for the parents. Each student is allowed ONE PARENT ONLY, NO SIBLINGS please. In case of an emergency and a sibling must come, the child and the parent must wait in our waiting area ( you will not be permitted to be in the veiwing area). Also, please note that “BRING A FRIEND WEEK” is NOT a time for parents/ grand-parents/ adults to come and observe classes; this week is for dancers only.

Do you take credit cards? Only cash or checks will be accepted (no credit or debit cards). Any return checks are subject to a $30.00 fee. If more than one check is returned, payments must be made in cash for the remainder of the dance season . It may be necessary for checks to clear (10-14 days) prior to receipt of certain merchandise. Only cash payments will be accepted the final weeks of any Regular dance session (Cash Only Begins April 25th).

Do you offer discounts? Yes, we offer referral discounts (for every new family you refer to us you will receive $3.00 per month for every month the student(s) remain at  SPSD). Please ask for all information concerning our family discount packages.

Where do I get the shoes that my child should wear to class? All shoes must be ordered from SPSD with the exception of pointe shoes. Specific shoes are required in order to participate in the recital and for addmittance onto the studio floor. IF you have dance shoes already, please bring them to the studio for us to review and approve. If these shoes are approved they may be used IN CLASS ONLY, you STILL MUST get the correct shoes for the recital.

Are children always placed in classes according to their age?  Yes, all children are put in classes that not only match their skill level but also are made up of children in their peer group.

My child is 13 and never danced. Will she be in class with 6 yr olds?   No, all children are put in classes that not only match their skill level but also are made up of children in their peer group.

Why am I in the same level as last year? In general you should expect to stay at a level for approximately a year, but returning students will be placed in classes according to their abilities with age being a secondary factor at the discretion of the instructors. Not all students will progress at the same rate. Evaluations will take place on a monthly basis, and will normally be finalized within 60-90 days of the start of any given session. A child will be most happy in a class where he or she is not frustrated or bored. Some students will be asked to change their classes based on these evaluations.

My daughter has danced at another studio previously, how do I know what class to place her in? All students new to SPSD are considered beginners, even if they have danced elsewhere. These students will be placed in class based on their age.  At the start of every session evaluations will take place, and will normally be finalized within 60-90 days of the start of any given session.  If it is determined that a student should be moved to another level, we will advise you upon the conclusion of that evaluation period.  In the fall session, all evaluations will be concluded by November 1st.

Do I need to stay at the studio while my child has class or can I drop off/pick up? It is recommended that parents or guardians of children under 4 years of age remain at the studio , but if you must leave, please have a responsible adult in charge of your child for bathroom breaks, etc. For older children you may drop off your child and return to pick them up when their class has concluded. We ask that you come inside to pick-up your child, pick-ups at the curb prohibit us from knowing that your child has gone home with the appropriate party.

Do you spend the entire year working on the recital dance? Classes always include a warm-up, learning technique and choreography needed for the recital piece. As recital time nears, they do spend more time on the recital dance, but classes will never be devoted only to learning the one dance. We want our students to learn the technique needed to be a well rounded dancer.

My daughter wants to dance on her toes. In order to be able to dance on her toes (Pointe) she must meet the following qualifications:

A teacher recommendation and approval by Miss Sharon/ Miss Trisha is required.

Students must be age 8 or older and have written permission from a physician.

New Pointe students must submit a doctor’s approval prior to thier participation in a pointe class.

Students must have taken three years of  consecutively of ballet and continue with ballet classes, at a minimum of one class per week.

Once approved by Miss Sharon/ Miss Trisha, and your written approval is received from the doctor, then Pointe shoes may be purchased.

After purchasing your Pointe shoes they must be brought to your next Pointe class. Your teacher must determine if the fit of the shoe is proper PRIOR to you making any alterations.

My son wants to dance. Will he be the only boy in the studio? SPSD has several male dancers enrolled in the studio. In general most of our male students are interested in our hip-hop and/or tap classes.

If we miss a class, is it possible to make it up? SPSD does allow the student to make up any lessons missed with proper notification of their absence prior to their missed lesson. Absences due to studio closings for inclement weather do not have to be made up. This will not count against the student's perfect attendance trophy. Scheduled holidays are NOT entitled to a make-up class. If you have missed a class due to illness, it is up to you if you would like to take a make-up class.  All make-up classes must be taken within 30 days of the original absence.

What If I'm late for class? If you are late to class, please wait until the instructor allows you to enter the studio. If you are more than 15 minutes late for a class you may not be permitted to participate. The start of class includes crucial warm-ups and admittance can be disruptive to the other students. We ask that in this situation you attend a make-up class. Please show consideration to your teacher and classmates and arrive on time. If this is a continued act, the student will be asked to move to another class that may be more suitable. It is expected and encouraged that classes be attended regularly. Missed classes will affect personal  and class progress.

For what holidays do you close? Please note in general we are OPEN even if regular school is closed! We will be closed for the following holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Winter Recess, Spring Break, & Memorial Day (Specific Dates TBA)

What do you do in bad weather as far as closings? In the event of inclement weather or emergency closings, it is YOUR responsibility to find out if the studio will be open. SPSD will have a message posted on our website discoverspdance.com and an announcement will also be on our machine to inform the students of studio closings, as well as having it posted on channel 69 (WFMZ) or www.wfmz.com.

If it is a hot day what can my child wear to class? A leotard and tights are required for class at all times. The leotard and tights must be black for all  dance disciplines with the exception of Ballet (for Ballet it must be a BLACK leotard and PINK tights). Other attire may be acceptable or necessary for certain classes. Please discuss these options with your teacher or view our Dress Code Policy.