Guidelines Jacksonville

Classes:

Classes begin the first week of September and run through the first week of June. Registration is open all year EXCEPT from February 1st until June 1st, due to recital conflicts. Weekly dance instruction including both TAP and BALLET classes plus age-appropriate HIP HOP mixed in. There is a summer break, unless otherwise indicated by your preschool. Classes will be held for 45 minutes or less – or terminated if there are three or less dancers. Classes consist of a maximum of ten dancers, less depending on the dance space provided as we strive for quality, not quantity with some schools allowing for multiple classes to be held. If your school only allows for one class and it is full, dancers can be placed on a wait list upon registration. Full classes are indicated in red on the class schedule page. Should your preschool be closed or cancel a dance class for ANY reason – weather, holidays, field trips, etc.- we are not responsible for a make-up class. Should we cancel a class for any reason; a refund will be given if the class can not be rescheduled. See the Calendar page for a listing of our holidays as we do not follow public schools nor VPK calendars. A sweet treat is provided to dancers who participate in class and we provide one Skittle or one Smartie (our sweet treat) is provided to dancers who participate in class – Both sweet treats are made in a peanut free factory and is gluten free. Let us know if your dancer can NOT have one sweet treat in our weekly class. Some dance instructors use devices like a phone to play music or take attendance. Classes are not movement classes, we strive to teach basic ballet and tap techniques along with the terminology. Dancers must be three years of age, potty trained and registered to participate in our program. Dancers are not automatically signed up from previous seasons. Dance instructors are to instruct, direct any questions/concerns to Melissa Baker.

Dance Attire:

Dancers need both tap and ballet shoes. For your convenience, dance items can be purchased on our website. We do not require a certain type, brand name, nor color of shoe(s) or dance wear. Tap shoes come in black patent leather, tan or white and have silver metal taps on the bottom. Ballet shoes come in ballet pink, black or white with an elastic drawstring which make buying a size bigger better! Should dance wear not be purchased, your dancer is to wear comfortable gym type clothing on dance day to allow for maximum mobility (no dresses). **Dancer name/initials are to be written on each of their items and should be in a separate bag from their school backpack.** If dance class is in the morning and your dancer does not wear a uniform, have your dancer ready and dressed for dance class. To allow more dance time, tights are NOT allowed – unless your dancer arrives to school in tights (socks can be included to wear with their tap shoes). A small portion of dance class time is used to dress for class. By wearing less items on dance day, enables your child to receive more dance time. Our dancers wear underwear with their leotard. Have only dance items and change of clothing in a separate bag from their school backpack.

For immediate purchase – Shoes can be purchased at: *Academy Sports & Outdoors, Target, Wal-Mart, consignment shops – Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child. Boys can wear black tap shoes (replace ribbons with elastic bands) and wear black ballet shoes or socks.
Other dance items can be purchased at: Target, Wal-Mart, consignment shops – Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child, Make Believe Costumes & Dancewear, Julian’s Dancewear or any other dance wear location near you.

*Kid to Kid located at 10601 San Jose Blvd (513-3910), Make Believe Costumes & Dancewear located at 1855 Parental Home Road (645-6337). Julian’s Dancewear located at 9825 San Jose Boulevard (880-0111).

Dance Instructors:

Instructors are hired to teach basic dance techniques with the terminology for ballet and tap. Instructors may provide incorrect information or not know answers to your questions, direct all questions to Melissa Baker to littledancingstars1@comcast.net. Some of our instructors utilize their cell phones or iPods (which look like a phone) to play our music and use their instructor app to take attendance. This does not mean they are using their phones for personal use.

Recital:

Recital usually takes place the second Saturday of June, you will be notified in November of the exact recital date. Each class will participate in either a ballet OR tap routine, not both and is determined upon the previous year with rotating each year. Recital/Event fee is in addition to your regular monthly tuition. Recital information is emailed in November. Recital fee includes; a costume, any accessories, tights, parking fees, venue and recital entrance. Tickets are required and go on sale in May. Recital fees are non-refundable and are split into two payments for your convenience – December 5th and March 5th or paid in full by December 5th. See the Dance Recital page for additional information/pricing. You are responsible for notifying us if your dancer is not participating in the recital so that we are able to delete those charges from your account. Payments can be made at any time towards the recital fee. Each dance class will prepare for and participate in a FULL scale recital that will end the dance season. Participation is optional. This is an all day event; no other plans should be made on recital day. We are a Christian company and do not pray during our class time, but will have a prayer prior to beginning our recitals.

Tuition:

Monthly tuition is due by the 5th of each month and made directly to LDS via our website. DO NOT SEND DANCE TUITION TO YOUR PRESCHOOL! Neither your school, nor instructors are allowed to take payment. Tuition is based on our dance season, September thru May and is broken into monthly payments for your convenience. Tuition is not prorated unless your dancer starts classes mid-month. There is a yearly $25.00 registration fee due upon registering and will reserve a spot. On-line payments are accepted on our website at www.Littledancingstars.com. If paying by personal check, indicate your dancers name in the memo portion and mail to us. Confirmation emails are sent upon registering your dancer.

PARENT PORTAL: To register, make a payment, set up auto pay or inquire about financial history; select the PARENT PORTAL located in the top right corner of LDS website. Enter an email address and password to log in. Select ‘forgot password’ and this will enable you to set a new password – Do not create another account. Sign up for auto pay and that we be deducted on the 5th of each month and you will avoid a late fee.

LATE FEE: of $15.00 is added to your account if payment is not received by the 5th of each month
RETURNED ITEMS: There is a return check charge of $12.00 on all items returned. If a second check is returned, all future payments must be made in the form of cash, money order or credit card.
NON-PAYMENTS: Dancers are subject to termination should your account become delinquent and there is no contact with Melissa Baker to make arrangements.

Parent Observation:

We do not send progress reports for dance class, more information on dance classes can be found via our website under “News”. We encourage you to visit dance classes at least once a dance season, we do not suggest visiting the first month of our dance season as everyone is excited. We must establish our dance rules, routines, expectations and personalities of each dancer. We have found through experience, that when a visitor comes to watch classes some children – sometimes yours or someone else – do not dance. Visitors are asked to watch from outside of the dance area through a window or from another room and that none of our dancers see you until dance class is completed. Visitors can be disruptive to the dance instruction and we want to retain the attention of our dancers at all times. Do not take photos nor videotape dancers other than your own dancer. Only school staff and staff of Little Dancing Stars are permitted to help dancers get dressed or use the restroom; our instructors are screened per the requirements of the Department of Children and Families.

Transfer/Withdrawal:

When a dancer transfers to another school/dance class – there is no guarantee that a spot will be available for your dancer. We must be contacted if your dancer transfers. Please refer to recital concerning transfers and costume orders. Notification of dancer withdrawal from class must be in writing. If notification is NOT given by dancer parent/guardian to LDS, then any refund is void. Your school is not responsible for informing us of the status of your dancer. You may not “hold” your dancer out of class one month and then include your dancer the next month. We do not “hold” spots, unless prior approval by LDS.

Special Notes:

We make every attempt to discuss and correct any problem that may arise concerning a dancers behavior during dance classes. However, LITTLE DANCING STARS reserves the right to terminate any dancers enrollment for any reason and at any time. A parent/guardian may withdraw, with notice, for any reason and at any time. LITTLE DANCING STARS reserves the right to use individual/group photos taken during class or at the dance recital of your dancer to include, but not limited to our program promotions, social media, displays and training material. Names will not be indicated. Email is our main form of communication, do not select on your parent portal to not receive emails from us as we will not be held responsible for information you do not receive.