Policy and Procedures

• A non-refundable registration fee and first month's tuition are due at enrollment for each dance season.
• Tuition is billed monthly and is charged the 1st of each month regardless of when your first class of the month falls.
• All families will be required to have a card on file for auto-pay.
• In the event that a credit/debit card or check is refused or returned as un-payable, the customer will be responsible for a $7 decline fee.  It is the customer’s responsibility to notify Toes of Grace of any changes in their payment information. Families can log in to their online portal to take care of any balances and update card information. 
• Any unpaid balances will result in a $15 late fee on the 6th of each month and enforced on all accounts past due. Late notices will be sent via email.
• Toes of Grace will attempt to run cards on the 1st, 6th, and 11th of each month, each time it declines the customer is responsible for an additional decline fee plus the late fee.
• Payments 30 days past due will result in lesson termination and the date and time slot will be released for new students.
• A full month’s tuition is due for ALL months (August-June). Tuition is broken up into monthly payments based on 40 weeks for your convenience. The school year will consist of (40) forty  weekly class sessions from August - June. Monthly tuition is based on the average of 3 classes per month. Some months have as few as (2) two weeks others have as many as (5) five. You are not paying for scheduled school vacations and holidays. Credit will not be given for missed classes due to illness, snow days, or personal commitments.
• Tuition is NOT pro-rated for absences, inclement weather days, holidays, Recital Picture Week, or Recital Rehearsal Weeks. 
• We offer a $5 discount for siblings.

• • The dance season runs from August to June.
  • Withdrawal from a class and/or lesson(s) requires a 30-day WRITTEN notice with payment still due.
  • Once your written withdrawal is processed, your last month’s tuition will be charged to the card on file.
  • A registration fee will be charged if a student chooses to re-enroll.
  • Lessons are paid in full within this 30-day time period.
  • There will be no refunds or credits for unattended lessons during these 30 days.
  • To request a withdrawal, please contact toesofgrace@gmail.com or speak with our admin to receive a drop form. 
  • Any recital costumes that have not been claimed within 60 days of a student's withdrawal from class will become property of Toes of Grace. 
  • Toes of Grace reserves the right at any time to cancel a class due to low enrollment, alter the class schedule, ask a child to move to a different class if that class is not appropriate for their level, or remove a child for behavior issues.

• Students should arrive promptly and be ready to go at their class time.
• Students who arrive more than 15 minutes late to class will not be allowed to participate for safety reasons.  They will be asked to watch and take notes if age appropriate.
• Parents should not video dancers through the windows without permission due to dancer safety and copyrighted material.  
• Please understand that only Toes of Grace staff is in charge of the door and classroom. If necessary, a staff member will come get the parent. 
• For any behavior issues, the parent will be notified after class. If a dancer has consistent behavior issues that disrupt classroom and instructor safety, the parent will be notified immediately and the dancer will be asked to leave class.  A written warning will be given and all following classes the parent must stay in the building until the behavior has been resolved. If the behavior hasn’t been resolved after a month of class the student will be dismissed from class.  
• All classes have security cameras running during class time for instructor and dancer safety. 
• Students should use the restroom before class/lessons. Students will not be given permission to leave class/lesson once it has begun unless it is an emergency.
•  We encourage you to stress the importance of not missing classes, unless there is an emergency or sickness. Regular and consistent attendance is important. We have found that students feel a lack of confidence in classes due to multiple absences.
• Class dress code is strictly enforced.
• Students should not be dropped off more than 15 minutes early unless previously arranged. No student under age 8 should be left unattended in the lobby. 
• Students should be picked-up from class on time. Any student picked up more than 10 minutes late from class will be charged a 10 dollar late pick-up fee, and a dollar will be added for every minute after that.

• Toes of Grace has multiple class divisions, broken down as follows:
  • Twinkle stars- For preschool age children and younger
  • Level 1-4- for Grade school age children through High School

Twinkle Stars Program

Twinkle stars classes have three class offerings and Preschool acro. Twinkle stars classes are a combination of ballet, tap, jazz, and creative movement. Toes of Grace staff follows the Twinkle star curriculum for all of these classes, to ensure that all staff members are providing an equal level of training to all of our preschool students. To be enrolled in Preschool acro, dancers must also be enrolled in and regularly attending a Twinkle stars class.

• Twinkle babies: for children who turned two by October 1st, 2022. Toes of Grace will typically start another set of Twinkle babies classes in the spring Semester for dancers who turn two later in the year.
• Twinkle Stars 1: for Children who will be three by October 1st, 2022, or will turn four over the course of the 2022-2023 school year.
• Twinkle Stars 2: For Children who will be four by October 1st 2022, Or will turn five over the course of the 2022-2023 school year.
• Preschool acro is for ages 3-6. This class is designed to build strength, flexibility, coordination, and to begin a vocabulary in preschool age dancers to develop into a strong acrodancer. Toes of Grace closely follows the curriculum laid out by Acrobatic arts for our preschool all the way up to our most advanced acro students. Acrobatic arts is an internationally recognized certification program for acrodance that focuses on approaching acro in the safest and most effective way for individual students, and puts an emphasis on what the students body is developmentally ready to perform. While the content of this class is similar to a gymnastics class, this curriculum moves slower and through a carefully laid out set of progressions that our staff has had specialized training in. Acrobatic arts certified instructors and staff are happy to provide any clarification parents may need. 
• While some students may only need one year in each level, some students may need to repeat a level. Toes of Grace teachers and staff spend time each year making sure we place each student in the level where they will be most successful, and where is developmentally appropriate for each student. 

Levels 1-4

• Toes of Grace classes for school age children are divided by grade level, as follows:
  • Level 1: Kindergarten- First Grade
  • Level 2: Second Grade- Fifth Grade
  • Level 3: Fifth Grade-Seventh Grade
  • Level 4: Seventh Grade- Twelfth Grade
• There is overlap in most of these levels, as our levels are also divided based on ability and experience. These grade levels are used as a guideline, but dancers will be placed where their teacher believes they will be most successful. The level of each student is at the final say of the instructor and artistic director.
• Some students may be split among two levels, in different styles of dance. For example, if a student is more likely to succeed in a lower level of Ballet, but a higher level of tap, those sorts of accommodations will be made.
• Certain classes have prerequisites and additional requirements, which are all listed below. All of the decisions around these requirements have been made with the dancers safety at the top priority, and follows what Toes of Grace staff and artistic director believes to be the best path for a well rounded and professional dance education.
  • Any student enrolled in Acro class must be enrolled in a level appropriate Ballet class. This is at the strong recommendation of the Acrobatic arts curriculum, to ensure the dancers safety and development. Toes of Grace closely follows the curriculum laid out by Acrobatic arts for our preschool all the way up to our most advanced acro students. Acrobatic arts is an internationally recognized certification program for acrodance that focuses on approaching acro in the safest and most effective way for individual students, and puts an emphasis on what the students body is developmentally ready to perform. While the content of this class is similar to a gymnastics class, this curriculum moves slower and through a carefully laid out set of progressions and spotting that our staff has had specialized training in. Acrobatic arts certified instructors and staff are happy to provide any clarification on this program that parents may need. 
  • Levels 3 and 4 Ballet are required to attend ballet class twice per week, and attend a progressing ballet technique cross training class appropriate to their level.
  • Any student enrolled in Contemporary and Lyrical classes must also be enrolled in a level appropriate ballet class. 
  • Any student enrolled in level 4 Jazz must also be enrolled in a level appropriate ballet class.
  • Students who wish to go en pointe are required to be enrolled in two ballet classes, and one PBT (progressing ballet technique), and be enrolled in Pre-pointe. A dancer going en pointe is a privilege worked hard for, and pointe shoes are awarded after assessment by their pre-pointe instructor and the pointe instructor. Please read the section further in our policies for more details on our policies around going en pointe and pointe shoes.
  • Students who have already gone en pointe are required to be enrolled in two ballet classes, PBT class, and pointe class. One of their ballet classes each week will be taken in their pointe shoes, and students will wear them through class, and switch to their regular ballet shoes at the discretion of the instructor. For most students, they will take barre in their pointe shoes, and switch when the dancer moves to the center, but more advanced pointe students may take all of class in their pointe shoes.

• In select cases, Toes of Grace instructors may feel it necessary to move a student to a different level throughout the year or after the first semester. Some students may take ballet classes at two different levels to prepare to transition to the next level.
• If after the schedule has been announced, and dancers placement for the year has been released, if the time commitment or schedule does not work for your families schedule, a student may take the level below to accommodate a lower level of time commitment. 
• New students may contact Toes of Grace via Email for questions about level or class placement. Some students may be asked to come in for assessment in a placement class, so instructors have the opportunity to place each student where they will be most likely to succeed. 
• Students may spend 2-3 years in each level. Every dancer needs the experience of being a follower in their class, and being a leader. Dance is a different experience for every individual body, and not one dancers journey will look the same as another. Toes of Grace staff spends time every year making sure each dancer is placed at the level they will be most successful in, taking into account the dancers experience, maturity, ability, age, and commitment level. Toes of Grace Instructors and artistic directors want nothing but success for all of their students, and have final say on each dancers class placement.

Absences

• Email toesofgrace@gmail.com, if your child will be absent from a lesson or class, so we can notify their teacher.
• It is the student/parent’s responsibility to schedule a makeup class and must be made up within 1 month of missing class.  
• Makeup classes are not offered for holidays and are not guaranteed for inclement weather cancellations.  
• In the case of inclement weather, please check the band app by 8am for morning classes and 2pm for afternoon classes regarding closing information.  We do NOT always go along with the public school cancellations.  Select Classes may be held virtually if the studio must physically close for inclement weather.
•  If the student’s teacher is unable to teach a class, we will provide an excellent substitute.  If a substitute cannot be secured, we will notify you, by email and/or phone, and a makeup class will be given.

Attendance

• Please let Toes of Grace instructors and office staff know if your student will be absent or have to leave early, as this is disruptive to class. Parents must fill out an absentee form in the band app or at the front desk. Should your student need to leave early, please understand that only Toes of Grace staff may go into the classroom to collect your student.  
• If a scheduling conflict arises that involves your student missing more than 25% of class time each week, the office management will discuss a plan for private lessons or un-enrollment at this time. Understand that Toes of Grace wishes to protect all students, instructors, and their class time. 
• For all Level 3, Level 4, and company classes, your student may not miss more than 6 classes a year. Any student who misses more than 6 classes may warrant a discussion to move the student to a lower level class.  
• Choreography and skills are highly advanced and multiple absences affect the growth and performance of the entire cohort. 
• During the year, if your student misses more than 4 classes of a specific style in a semester, their instructor may require private lesson(s) to make sure they are caught up in their class and ready for performance.  The cut off for private lessons to prepare a student for the recital is November 1st for Holiday recitals and May 1st for Spring recitals. If a student has missed more than 4 classes and has requested a private lesson after November 1st/May 1st, participation in the recital is at the discretion of the instructor.
• If your student misses 25 or more of their classes in a year, Toes of Grace can choose to not allow a student to participate in the recital - regardless of whether the student ordered a costume or not. 

Private Lessons

• In order to cancel or reschedule a private lesson, I must give the studio a 24 hours notice. Otherwise, the full payment of the lesson will be charged.

• Private lessons must be booked through the studio by emailing toesofgrace@gmail.com

• Private lesson rates may vary based on instructor, style of dance, and time.

We adhere to a strict dress code to instill discipline, give teachers the ability to provide safe corrections, and to give a sense of professionalism to the dancer. When you look like a dancer, you act like a dancer. All dress code items are required to be purchased through Toes of Grace unless otherwise noted. 

• A class leotard color and style is assigned to each level
• Shoes must be purchased through the studio only to protect the integrity of our floors
• No street shoes can be worn inside the studio rooms
• Tights with no large holes or runs, must be worn to every class.
• No visible undergarments. Including sports bras, if this is an issue for your dancer please talk to Miss Natalie.  Tights are to be worn as underwear.
• Hair must be pulled back and out of the face, hair must be in a bun for ballet one and up.
• No Baggy or athletic shorts
• Cover-ups must be worn by all dancers level one and up into and out of the studio. Warm-ups are included as cover-ups. 
• Appropriate dance warm ups such as; Leg warmers, ballet sweaters, trash bag pants/shorts, leggings, may be worn to class during the warm-up, but must be taken off at teacher request. Appropriate warm-ups can be at the discretion of the instructor, and different items may be permitted or not, especially dependent on the weather.
• Water bottles should be brought by all dancers
• Deodorant must be worn by all dancers level two and up

If a student is not in dress code:

1st time: Verbal warning and note to parents with a dress code reminder

2nd time: Written warning

3rd time: Asked to sit out and take notes, without participating in class, this will continue each class until the dress code issue has been resolved.

Pre-pointe is available for level three and up. This class is to develop strength and technique to work up to dancing en pointe.

• In some situations, dancers in pre-pointe may be required to be fitted and purchase demi-pointe shoes. 
• Dancers enrolled in pre-pointe should purchase Dance Physiotherapist, Lisa Howells book ‘The Perfect Pointe Book’. This is a great guide about each step dancers will take getting their pointe shoes.   There is also a parent companion book “The Perfect Pointe Parents manual”, for parents who are interested and may have more questions about what teachers look for, and how to best support your dancer in this part of their dance education.
• Dancer enrolled in pre-pointe are given exercises to be done at home, to help strengthen the small muscles and tendons needed in their feet to be successful en pointe. In total, these exercises should take 15-20 minutes to complete, and we ask dancers add them to their schedule 4-5 times per week. Core strength and hip (Turnout muscle) strength is also emphasized in Pointe class.  Parents may want/ be asked to help keep dancers accountable to their goal, and to doing their home work.
• Dancers may spend as little as one semester and as many as 6 semesters in pre-pointe before being approved for pointe shoes.
• On rare occasions some dancers will not be allowed to go en pointe at all, usually for anatomical reasons.
• Dancers will be assessed by their pre-pointe instructor and the pointe instructor before being awarded pointe shoes. 
• At least one instructor will be present at all pointe shoe and demi-pointe shoe fittings, and all fittings will take place at bellissimo dance boutique in Franklin. No dancer should purchase pointe shoes without prior teacher approval. Pointe shoes must be specially fitted to each dancers feet. No one should ever buy pointe shoes for your dancer ‘for fun’ or ‘just around the house’. Without a specialized fit and proper ballet training, dancers can be seriously injured. Dancers will typically be fitted for two shoes that fit them well, so that incase of an availability issue there will still be shoes available to them.
• Different dancers will have very different experiences going en pointe. Some dancers may be ready to join pointe class and perform in that semesters recital. Others may need a full semester or a full year of classes before performing en pointe in the recitals. This is at the discretion of the instructor and artistic director, and the dancers safety in this matter is the number one priority. 
• Going en pointe is a financial commitment. Pointe shoes are designed to ‘Break in’ to the dancers foot, and are not the same as normal dance shoes. Toes of Grace pointe instructors spend time teaching dancers how to properly take care of their shoes, and helping them last as long as possible, but pointe shoes inevitably don’t have a long life span, especially as dancers become more advanced. We recommend having two pairs of the dancers pointe shoes, rotating them throughout the week for classes, taking them home in a mesh shoe bag, and hanging them up to dry when the dancer gets home. This is the best way to get more longevity out of the shoes.

• Dance company is by audition only, and auditions happen in April/May.
• • Dance company represents Toes of Grace dance studio at competitions, conventions, and additional performance opportunities. 
  • These dancers are held to a higher standard of attendance, behavior, and have additional class requirements
  • Additional fees and rehearsals will apply.

• Toes of Grace will address all student behavioral issues in a polite and professional manner.  
• In the event that a concern or issue arises, parents need to fill out a parent concern form available at the desk or in the band app. Do not text the concern with an instructor or other member of staff.
• If instructors or staff witness a student or parent speaking ill of another student, dance parent, or member of staff, they may ask them to leave class or the building. 
• Toes of Grace has the right to refuse enrollment or involvement of any family or student who verbally intimidates or threatens a Toes of Grace instructor or staff person for any reason. Toes of Grace  has a zero-tolerance policy on accusations that question the integrity of an instructor or the business.  
• Many of Toes of Grace students may socialize outside of Toes of Grace. Toes of Grace can only be involved and work towards a solution when the student interactions happen physically in class or at a Toes of Grace event.  
• Toes of Grace chooses to take a more conservative approach when it comes to costuming, music selection, choreography, and creating a show. We understand that in some cases, our choices may not align with some of our families. We ask, if this is the case, that our families make the best decisions for their students, and not expect our instructors and other students to make these changes.
• All choreography, including solos, duos, and trios, is intellectual property of Toes of Grace and Toes of Grace staff. Dancers must ask permission of both the choreographer and artistic director before performing publicly or posting videos online.
• As the parent, it's your responsibility to understand the difference in techniques and choreographic styles of each genre I enroll my student in. It is not the responsibility of the instructor to adjust technique or choreography for a parent - any such change must come from the director. 
• Negative Opinions on choreography or other dancers should not be shared amongst other families or students. Voicing these thoughts openly is damaging to our Toes of Grace family and can negatively impact performances.
• Student class placement and level is at the discretion of Toes of Grace staff and artistic director.

• We plan two recitals a year, one in the winter and summer.  All dancers are invited to participate.     
• Directors and instructors may make an exception for a new student transferring into an existing class. In these cases, the new student will be prepared to join the class in technique and application knowledge. 
• Should you choose to drop out of the recital, you must communicate this by November 1st for the Christmas recital, and by April 1st for the spring recital, or be subjected to a reblocking fine of $100 per class. Emergencies or injuries that happen after this date may not be subject to the fee. 
• Recital dances are finished before Spring Break. When a student is unable to perform, this changes the choreography and blocking, adding additional rehearsal time for instructors and students. This fee helps to cover that additional practice time to ensure the class is ready for recital. 
• Attendance at Toes of Grace's dress rehearsal is very important. Failure to attend may result in my student being unable to participate in the recital. 
• No refunds are available on costumes once they are ordered.  There are no exceptions. 
•  Holiday and Spring Performances: Other fees will apply that will be determined and announced at a later date.  Tickets will be available for purchase for those who attend. Dancers will not need a ticket.
• Dancers will be required to purchase a nude colored leotard from Toes of Grace to go under their costumes.

Costumes $89.99 + tax *subject to change

*First costume will also include a $19.99 fee to include a REQUIRED Nude Leotard to wear under costumes. 

Includes Garment Bag, tights, alterations, steaming, and order processing and sorting. 

Holiday Show Costumes: Payment due with September tuition.  

Spring Recital Costumes: Payment due with October tuition.

• • Costumes CANNOT be ordered without full payment.  Late costume payments are subject to a $15 late fee.  Any costumes ordered after December will require an additional $10-20 for shipping and no guarantee of availability.  
  •  In regard to costume sizing– each student’s measurements are carefully compared to a sizing chart provided by the costume company.  Sometimes a student’s measurements fall in between two sizes, and in most cases the larger size is ordered.  The body length measurement (girth) is the most important measurement we consider when sizing.  Some costumes may need to be taken in on the sides or may require other minor alterations. Each parent is responsible for these small alterations as well as attaching straps, connecting fringe, hemming pants etc. Costumes are made to order for an “average” sized person.

• To help keep our students, teachers, and staff safe, we will give hand sanitizer prior to entering the studio.  
• The studio will be disinfected each day.
• If for any reason the studio has to temporarily close or is unable to hold in person classes, classes may be held virtually. Attendance is still required during virtual classes and all tuition and fees still apply without reduction and are non-refundable.  
• Families should notify the studio if their dancer or a family member has tested positive for COVID-19 or has come into close contact with someone who has tested positive.  This will help ensure the utmost safety of our dancers and staff.  
• Any student having symptoms related to COVID-19 should not come to class. 
• The lobby may be closed to parents until further notice and dancers will need to dropped/picked up at the door.