Studio Policies

PERFECT POINTE'S STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our core value of diversity to us means that we strive not only to welcome, but to actively seek out, voices from a variety of races, religions, ethnicities, backgrounds, ages, socio-economic status, abilities, genders and gender identities, in our staff, students, curriculum and community. We promise to promote and seek out true diversity through our hiring practices, in the way we welcome students and community members in our physical space, with our choices in community outreach activities, by providing scholarship opportunities to students of diverse backgrounds, and in our curriculum choices and implementation.

CLASS PLACEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT

Placement in the appropriate class is important to each student’s skill development and personal growth. For students younger than six, placement is based on the student’s age as of the first day of class. For students age six and older, skill level and experience are also considered. Premature advancement to the next level can have a profound and negative impact both on a student’s self-confidence, and on skill acquisition and development of proper technique. The instructor's placement decisions are final and are always meant to be in the best interest of the student.

REGISTRATION / TUITION

A membership fee is due at the time of registration. This fee holds your place in the class and is non-refundable. The membership fee covers a full year of membership so you will not be charged a membership fee again for any classes you register for during the next year. The current membership fee is listed on the session page and/or class brochure.

Tuition is due at the time of registration, and by the first class of each month for those on the installment plan. Installment payments are determined by dividing the annual tuition into 10 equal payments; therefore, each monthly installment payment is the same regardless of holidays, closings, days missed, etc. Tuition is owed whether classes are provided in person or virtually. It is always Perfect Pointe's preference to provide as many in-person classes as possible but due to social distancing requirements and other safety concerns, it may not always be possible to provide in-studio classes. By registering, you agree to accept classes in either in-person or virtual format. When social distancing requirements necessitate a lower number of students in studio than typical class size (10-16 students depending on level & style), an in-studio rotation will be created to give all students who wish to attend in-person equal opportunity to do so. 

A 5% discount is offered for full school year students if tuition is paid in full by the first week of classes. Installment plan students are encouraged to keep a credit/debit card on file to be billed automatically the first week of each month. Students who do not wish to keep a card on file are responsible for making payments on time each month. You can do so through our on-line parent portal or in person at the desk. Late payments are subject to a $5 late fee per week. All returned checks will be subject to a $35 fee. Please make all checks payable to "Perfect Pointe Dance Studio."

PHOTO AND VIDEO RELEASE

At time of registration, you must grant Perfect Pointe and its agents and employees the irrevocable and unrestricted right to reproduce the photographs and/or video images taken of yourself and your student, for publication, promotion, illustration, advertising, or trade, in any manner or in any medium. You must release Perfect Pointe, LLC and its legal representatives for all claims and liability relating to said images or video.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

Withdrawal from a class requires a two-week notice and must be given directly to the desk staff, NOT TO THE TEACHER. Refunds for any pre-paid tuition will be issued in the form of a studio account credit for the full amount of any remaining classes after the two-week notice period, or in the form of the original payment for the full amount of any remaining classes minus a $25 administrative fee. Withdrawals from the school year session cannot be processed after March 15th. No refunds will be issued after March 15th and installment payments will still be owed through June, regardless of classes attended. This is inclusive of virtual and hybrid classes.

Summer Camp Tuition is non-refundable but is transferable to another open camp, intensive, or future class with a minimum two-week notice.

PARENT / GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES

As per Arlington County requirements, all students 10 years old and younger must be escorted to and from the studio by a parent or responsible adult, i.e. they may not be dropped off or picked up in the parking lot.

Students and parents are encouraged to park in the free garage under the Harris Teeter. There is a sidewalk behind the building leading from the garage to the back door of the lower level. Perfect Pointe is down the hall to the right from this entrance.

When classes are in person, parents of Pre-school Combo students must either remain on premises during class or ask another adult who is staying to be responsible for taking their child to the restroom when needed. Parents of other classes who do not wish their child to be allowed to go to the restroom unsupervised should follow the same guidelines.

Based on social distancing guidelines parents/siblings may or may not be allowed in the lobbies and common areas. Please pay close attention to studio e-mail communications.

COMMUNICATION POLICY

Important class information and announcements will be posted on our website each week, as well as announced in class, and an e-mail newsletter sent at least once per month. It is each student or parent’s responsibility to follow these communications regularly to make sure you stay up to date. You may also wish to subscribe to our google calendar and/or follow us on FB and/or Instagram.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event of inclement weather, Perfect Pointe in-person class cancellations generally follow Arlington County School District closings. We will post all cancellations on our website and Facebook page for your convenience. Please note that if school has been cancelled, we may still open for afternoon and evening classes if road conditions improve. When in doubt, always check the website – we try to make closing decisions at least 2 hours prior to any affected classes. Refunds/credits are not given for classes canceled due to inclement weather unless an individual class misses more than two over the course of the school year or more than one over the course of a shorter session. You are welcome to schedule make-ups for any classes canceled due to inclement weather.

MAKE-UP CLASSES

If you miss a class for any reason, you may access the video recording of the missed class on your class content page at any time. You may also call or e-mail the studio to set up a time to make-up in another class of similar level and style, space permitting. Please notify the studio as soon as possible if you are going to miss a class. This opens up make-up spaces for other students and ensures the availability of future spaces for you. All make-ups must be done within the same session (School Year, Spring, Summer, etc) and within four weeks of the original absence. Please note that attendance is important to the learning process and you are expected to be in your assigned class each week unless an unavoidable problem arises. Excessive absenteeism may result in your inability to participate in upcoming performances and will inhibit your advancement to the next class level.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private lessons are available in any dance style subject to teacher and space availability; call the studio to inquire. In order to perform a solo/duet in the recital, the student must be enrolled in a technique class corresponding to the solo/duet style as well as a ballet class, or do a full year private lesson as their technique class. Please see our private lesson flyer for additional information and policies.

POINTE

Pointe can be a beautiful and exciting extension of a student's ballet training. However, going en pointe is a serious commitment and not something to be undertaken lightly. It is Perfect Pointe's policy that no student will be allowed to start pointe work before they are both physically and technically prepared. Readiness will be determined by the instructor and all decisions made by the instructor in this matter are final. General guidelines for pointe readiness are as follows:

• No student will be allowed to go en pointe until they are at least 11 years old. The average age is 12 - 14.
• No student will be allowed to go en pointe until they have at least 3 years of prior dance experience.
• No student will be allowed to go en pointe before they have developed sufficient strength in their feet, legs, and center to maintain proper alignment and balance in flat shoes.
• All decisions made by the instructor are final and are meant to be in the best interest of the student.

RECITAL

Every school year session student is eligible to perform in our annual recital. Classes that do not run for the full school year (Creative Movers, Spring and Summer session classes) do not perform in a recital but have a smaller, in-class demonstration instead. Teen/Adult Open classes may or may not perform in recital depending on the class’s preference. The annual recital gives students the opportunity to showcase what they have learned throughout the school year and is meant to be a fun and exciting way to cap off the season.

The cost to participate in recital is typically between $140 and $200 for each student, per class, + tickets. Recital fee can be paid in full when ordering costumes - no later than December 1^st, or split into two payments with first half due December 1^st and second half due March 1^st. Costume orders and recital fees are non-refundable. Students must have a costume to perform. Students must attend classes consistently in order to master choreography and proper technique. We reserve the right to pull students from dances or require private lessons if attendance requirements are not met.

If you are interested in additional performance opportunities, please inquire about our award-winning performance companies for dedicated dancers in kindergarten through high school.

DRESS CODE

It’s important to us at Perfect Pointe Music & Dance that students of any gender identity are comfortable participating in our classes, camps, and workshops. Please choose the dress code option that is most comfortable for you/your child. Whichever option you choose, all items must be from within that option. For example, you may not choose clothes from option B but shoes from option A, and this will include recital costuming – i.e. if you choose option B for classes but option A for recital, you will be required to buy the appropriate option A shoes for recital.

Hair: For all classes, hair that falls onto the shoulders or face must be pulled back securely. For Ballet & Acro, hair must be fully pulled back in a bun, pinned braids, twist, or other secure hairstyle. No loose ponytails or anything that will hit you in the face while turning or tumbling!

Adult classes: Please see style guidelines below for shoes. For clothes, feel free to wear leggings or other work-out clothes—whatever you feel comfortable in so long as instructors are able to see alignment.

Undergarments: Undergarments should not be visible at the bottom of a leotard. Most dancers choose not to wear them. Adolescent and adult dancers may need additional support in the form of a dance bra, a sports bra, or a dance belt. We’d be happy to connect you with these resources.