COVID PREVENTION POLICIES:
UPDATE 9/26/2022
We were hoping that Covid would be eliminated enough to call it an epidemic instead of a continuing pandemic but have come to realized that Covid will be with us for a long time. With that being said we have decided to modify our mask policy so that masks will be optional in classes and camps while numbers are coming down and when they start to go up again probably in December-January we will mandate masks again for all classes and camps.
Masks optional:
- Masks are optional for all students in classes and camps starting Monday Sept. 16 until numbers go up again.
- Students may not attend class or camp if they have cold symptoms. They must take a Covid test and register negative or wait 10 days before returning and have 85% of their symptoms resolved. When they return, they must wear a KN95 mask until all of their symptoms are resolved.
Masks are Mandatory:
- PAKS pre-k and kindergarten kids must wear a mask unless they are eating, at the park or in one of their dance, circus or theater classes.
- Afterschool kids must wear a mask unless they are eating, or in one of their dance, circus or theater classes.
- Parents waiting in lobby should wear kn95 masks. This will reduce the risk for children.
- Audience members must wear KN95 masks.
- At this time we are not allowing parents to sit in the lobby unless their child needs them or they will need help in the bathroom. Parents must wear a KN95 or better mask while inside.
- Zoom links will be provided to allow you to watch your child's class
COMING AND LEAVING CLASS:
Drop off: Parents drop off students at the front door or back gate depending on their class location.
Pick up: The front door will be opened after class for vaccinated and masked parents to come in to help their child put their shoes on. The on weekends back gate will be opened by the instructor to invite masked parents to enter the yard at the end of class to help put shoes on. The yard is off limits during class. The play structure is not available for students or siblings at anytime. Once shoes are on everyone should proceed out the gate.
-Properly worn masks must be worn by those attending class Optional as of 9/26/22
- Mask requirement for Musical Theater: All must wear KN95's or N94's due to the aerobic activity with singing indoors. Optional as of 9/26/22
-Students with symptoms less than 85% resolved may not attend classes. This means very infrequent coughing, sniffling is expected. Non students waiting for students in the lobby may not wait inside if they have any cold symptoms.
-If your child has symptoms and can not attend class: Email with a notice of this and do not return until symptoms have resolved 85% AND they have a negative rapid Covid test. If they have any residual symptoms they must mask.
-If you discover your child has Covid and can not attend class: Email us the date of the positive test. They may not return to class until the 6th day after the positive test only if they have a negative rapid Covid test, or the 1oth day without at test.
- No walk-ins signups available. You must email and reserve a spot for make ups or drop ins.
Dance Program FAQ's
How do I choose a class?
Classes are scheduled according to age (18 months-3 years, 27 month-31/2, 3-5, 4-6) but the ages are over lapping. These guidelines will help you
18 months-3 yrs for parents and children who would like to dance together.
27 months-3.5 yrs for children who are not quite ready to be without a parent but would like to dance independently. Parents may stay in the room watching and just jump up as needed.
3-5 yr old classes for children ready to participate in a class independently of their parent. If needed, parents may transition their child for the first couple classes by coming into the room. After the first couple of classes we may ask you to move to a 27 month-31/2 year old class if it seems more appropriate for your child’s transition. We have large monitors in the lobby to view your child’s class.
4-6 year old classes for children who are either 5 or 6 and just starting dance with us or children who are 4 years old and have had a full year of the 3-5 year old class.
6-and up classes for children who are ready for an experience of dance steps and combinations without all of the creative imagery. This is recommended for children in first grade and up.
What clothing is needed for dance classes?
For dancers under 4 years of age we advise wearing comfortable clothing that allows for free movement. Many like to dress in leotards, tights and skirts or tutu's. This is fine, however, bulky tutus are not practical, especially since each class has costumes to wear over clothing . Bare feet or ballet shoes are required. Tights or socks alone leads to slips and falls.
For dancers over 4 years of age that are not doing hip hop or tap, we prefer dance attire and ballet shoes. Hip hop dancers can be in bare feat or jazz shoes - no jeans. Tap dancers need tap shoes.
Do you have loaner shoes?
We have a small selection of ballet and tap loaner shoes that remain at the studio. We can not guarantee your size will be available, though, and time needs to be taken to find matching pairs.
Why can't I be in the room with my child who needs me present?
We have classes especially for children who feel better with their parents with them. They are: Parent & Me and Creative Movement. As dancer mature they often start getting self-conscious with parents watching. We want to promote an environment that encourages freedom to take risks and build new skills. Understandably, the first couple classes of the session some tentative children may need to have their parents present. We are flexible during this adjustment period, but if after a couple of classes parent's are still needed we will advise switching to another class.
Can we watch classes?
As much as we love to watch our kids in action, many dancers feel less free to explore new skills with others watching. For this reason, we give you the option to view from flat screened tv's in our lobbies. At our Oakland facility both studios can be viewed from the front lobby screens and the back studio can also be viewed on the downstairs back hall lobby screen.
Do classes have presentations?
Every class always has an informal presentation on the last day of the session. A selection of dances are presented to show the session's accomplishments. We welcome all friends and families to attend.
Are there stage shows?
We have 1-2 seasonal dance shows. Participants in 6-9 year old classes are given the option to participate with their class. It is optional. There are no charges for costumes, however we do charge $5 for tickets to cover production costs: sound and light staff, back stage staff, receptionist, stage and platform set up, and video editing of link of show that is emailed to you.
POLICIES
MAKE UP CLASSES
We want you be able to take advantage of the money you have invested in classes, so we try to be as flexible as possible with our make up policy. Our make up policy allows students to make up their missed classes in any non-theater class that is not full and is age appropriate. Make ups must be finished within the session that you are in and cannot be extended into the next session. Make ups cannot be done in Aerial classes unless your child is proficient at aerial. If you choose to make up in a class that with a higher per class fee, you will be charged the difference. Make up can not be scheduled on the last day of the sessions as it is presentation day.
HOW DO YOU SCHEDULE A MAKE UP?
Email in advance to check on availability and make a reservation.
WHEN ARE MAKE UPS ALLOWED?
Make ups are allowed only within your current session except for the last day of the session when we have presentations.
CAN I EXTEND MY ENROLLMENT FOR A MAKE UP?
No, your make up period ends when your enrollment ends. For example, if you purchase a 4 week series and miss a class, you must makeup the class during the 4 week period. Your make up could not be extended into the fifth week.
REFUNDS
Is a class not working out for your child? Depending on the class, you have different options:
DANCE CLASS REFUNDS
Refunds are only given when we cancel a class. Freeze your enrollment if you need to stop taking classes.
FREEZING YOUR DANCE/GYMNASTICS CLASS ENROLLMENT
If you have remaining classes that you no longer want your child to attend, you may freeze your child’s enrollment for them to use on a later date. All requests to freeze enrollment must be emailed or submitted in writing and confirmation from our office must be provided in order for it to be active.
These classes can only be transferred as a consecutive group of classes and any difference in cost must be paid if moving to attend a more expensive class. For instance, prorated single theater classes and gymnastic classes are more expensive than dance, so if you are applying frozen dance classes you are charged the added amount for those.
In addition to being transferred as a group frozen classes must be applied to another session. The balance of the session must be paid for when frozen classes are used. For example, if you have six frozen classes you can apply them to a new 10 week session and then you must pay for the remaining four in the session. If you have more frozen classes than remain in a current session, you may use them to complete the session and the remaining can be applied to another session's registration. For example, if you have six remaining classes and you would like to register for the last four classes of the session you may do so. The remaining two classes must be used towards a full or half session enrollment as offered. Frozen enrollment classes can not be used for drop in classes.
Frozen enrollment can not be turned into a credit for merchandise purchases. There is no expiration on these frozen classes. It is not possible to retroactively freeze an enrollment. Classes missed prior to notification cannot be made up. Frozen enrollment is non-transferable to other family members or friends.
LITTLE THEATER OPTIONS (AGES 4-8) AFTER EARLY WITHDRAWL
Before the first class: Inform us in writing at least 72 hours before the start of class and you can get frozen enrollment for the number of classes in the session that can be used for dance or theater. This is treated as an even exchange class for class and the difference in cost is not credited (i.e.: 14 theater classes = 14 dance classes regardless of difference in cost)
Less than 72 hours before the start of class and BEFORE scripts are emailed out: Your child may drop theater if we are notified by the day after the first class, before scripts are emailed out and receive an exchange of class option. There are NO CREDITS, REFUNDS, or FROZEN ENROLLMENT options in this situation This is because there is no opportunity for us to fill that spot once the class starts. Your child may, however, transfer to a dance class during the same semester. This is treated as an even exchange and the difference in cost is not credited.
After the first class AFTER scripts are emailed out: If your child drops out after scripts have been emailed, there are NO REFUNDS, CREDITS, FROZEN ENROLLMENT or EXCHANGES. It is challenging to re-write scripts and rehearse with new lines when a cast member drops out..
MUSICAL THEATER OPTIONS FOR YOUTH & TWEEN/TEEN CASTS AFTER EARLY WITHDRAWL
Before the first class: There are NO REFUNDS, CREDIT, OR FROZEN ENROLLMENT OPTIONS unless your spot gets filled prior to the first class. Ask us to check our waitlist. A $25 administrative fee is deducted from your refund if a replacement is found.
After the first class: Once your child signs up for the show, s/he is signed up for the entire play from beginning to end. If a child is having second thoughts, we ask that you encourage your child to participate and finish the show. It is challenging to re-write scripts and rehearse with new lines when a cast member drops out. If a child drops out after the first class, there are NO REFUNDS, CREDIT, OR FROZEN ENROLLMENT OPTIONS.
SCHOOL SITE MUSICAL THEATER REFUNDS
Your child may drop theater and receive a refund if we are notified by the day after the first class, before scripts are emailed out. There are no NO REFUNDS, CREDITS, or EXCHANGES otherwise.
WATCHING YOUR CHILD IN CLASS
Parents love to watch their children and younger children often are more comfortable with parents near them, however the flow of the class often gets disrupted by dancers checking in with their parents and the overall quality of the class deteriorates. In addition, some dancers become more self conscious in front of an audience and we want to give them the freedom to feel comfortable in class. Our way of “meeting in the middle” is to provide flat screen TV for parents to watch dancers from the lobby.
Our Oakland facility has two studios. The front studio, Studio A, has a screen in the front lobby. The back studio, Studio B, has a screen in the back hallway and in our upstairs lobby. During school days, the upstairs lobby is closed as it is used by our after school program.
WHAT IF MY CHILD REALLY NEEDS ME IN CLASS?
Our Creative Movement classes are designed just for this reason. Parents are allowed in the class, but don’t fully participate as they would in a Parent & Me class. If your child is new to classes with us, is Pre-ballet aged and tentative, we allow you to come in for the first couple of classes. If you child is still uncomfortable without you after that time, staff will brainstorm options with you.
CHECKING-IN
When you arrive for your dance class, you can check-in using the i-pads located near each entrance. Follow the directions posted. If it is not working for you, we appreciate letting our staff know.
LATE PICK UP
We are not in a position to properly supervise a child after class is dismissed and it is often very stressful for younger children. We reserve the right to charge you $1/minute for every minute after dismissal if you are not present.
ENTERING THE DANCE STUDIO
Class begins when students are invited into the dance room by their instructor. Please do not allow your child to enter the studio before that time.
POTTY NEEDS DURING DANCE CLASS
Please make every effort to have your child use the restroom before class. It is disruptive to class when a restroom break is needed – usually it has a domino effect. Sometimes it can’t be helped, though. If your child needs to use the restroom during class, they should tell their teacher and they will be directed to the restroom. If they can’t do this independently, please sit outside of the studio so that you can be called to assist your child.
If your child happens to have an accident, we ask that you address your child’s needs and if possible, help us clean the floor.