Parent Resources
2023-2024 School Year Policies
2023-2024 LEVELS
Conservatory, Pre, 1, 2, 3, 4
LEVEL PLACEMENT
Level placements allow EFAD’s Artistic Leadership to place each student where they will benefit the most. Please know that EFAD has every student’s best interest in mind. Students promoted too soon will miss valuable training and struggle in the next level, which is unnecessary, frustrating and may lead to injury. Students are placed in the levels that will encourage the most progress. Therefore, level placements are not subject to parent or student negotiation.
It is normal for a dancer to stay at the same level for two or more years, even when they are clearly growing and progressing. This is especially the case for levels 2 & 3, where our instructors cover a substantial amount of material and dancers are expected to learn and develop a great deal. This process cannot be rushed.
2023-2024 BALLET LEVEL MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
Students are required to meet the minimum class requirement for their ballet level in order to maintain enrollment at EFAD and to be invited to perform in the Annual Showcase. No exceptions will be made. If a dancer cannot maintain the minimum enrollment requirement for their level, they will be moved to the level that coincides with the level of commitment they can maintain.
Please note that these are the minimum requirements for each level. We encourage dancers to take as many classes as their interest and schedule allow. We recommend that dancers with professional aspirations, or those simply wanting to grow at a faster pace, take the maximum number of classes available to them.
Level 1
1 ballet class required
2 ballet classes recommended
1 conditioning class recommended
Level 2
2 ballet classes required
3 ballet classes recommended
1 conditioning class required
Level 3
3 ballet classes required
4 ballet classes recommended
2 conditioning classes required
1 pre-pointe/pointe class recommended
Level 4
4 ballet classes required
5 ballet classes recommended
2 pointe classes required
3 pointe classes recommended
2 conditioning classes required
3 conditioning classes recommended
Conservatory
6 ballet/pointe classes required
1 variations class required
1 contemporary class required
3 conditioning classes required
Additional training (See invitation.)
ATTENDANCE
EFAD is committed to providing exceptional technical dance training in a supportive and nurturing environment, offering every student the opportunity to achieve their individual training goals. We realize that our students are young men and women that are demonstrating the highest level of passion and commitment to their growth as trained dancers.
In dance, as with any sport, students progress at their own pace. Of course, the time they put into their training is one factor in how well and how quickly they progress. Below is a visual that illustrates the correlation between time and progress.
Class Schedule: Takes less than the required classes
Likely Outcome:
Progress at a slower rate than those who take the required hours.
Will take longer to be considered for promotion to the next level.
Limited, or no, performance opportunities.
Class Schedule: Takes the minimum required classes
Likely Outcome:
Progress at the expected rate for our students.
Will take the standard time (2-3 years) to be considered for promotion to the next level.
Will have opportunities to perform in the annual showcase and the EFAD Nutcracker, based on technical readiness.
Class Schedule: Takes the maximum required classes
Likely Outcome:
Progress at a faster rate than those students who take the minimum required classes.
Will take less than the standard time to be considered for promotion to the next level.
Performance opportunities increase exponentially as the number of training hours increase.
It’s not just important to be enrolled in classes. It is crucial to attend classes and engage in them wholeheartedly. Students should make their best effort to attend all of their classes and only miss when it is absolutely necessary.
Student absences, both planned and unplanned (illness/injury), must be reported through the parent portal, by the family, in order for the class to be eligible for a makeup. Makeup classes cannot be scheduled for absences that are not reported in the parent portal. Families must schedule makeup classes in the parent portal as well. If a student is injured and can watch class, we recommend they come and observe. Students can still learn from watching and listening to teachers instructions and corrections given during the class.
First Class Rule: Students must attend their first class of the day in order to participate in all subsequent classes that day. Exceptions may be made for excused absences and tardies. Excused absences and tardies include school events, unforeseen family circumstances, doctors appointments or necessary medical procedures.
Rehearsals: Students must attend their classes in order to attend rehearsals scheduled on the same day.
CELL PHONES
All cell phones and electronic devices must be silenced and stored away when at EFAD. Cell phones are not allowed in the studios during class time. Students are not allowed to create social media accounts representing EFAD, Embody or our Nutcracker. However, they can post, tag us, or list the above in their bios. Dancers should not share videos of themselves or other EFAD students performing EFAD or Embody related choreography until after the live performances.
CLASS OBSERVATIONS
EFAD will host Class Observation Week November 20 - November 23, 2023. A specific observation schedule will be shared closer to the date.
CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT
All conditioning equipment should be kept with the rest of your student’s belongings and taken home at the end of their day. Please remember to label all of your equipment. Items without names that are left at the studio may be thrown away.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
At times, emergencies such as a pandemic, severe weather, power failures, etc. can disrupt operations. In extreme cases, these circumstances may require the EFAD to cancel classes. In these cases, EFAD will communicate through email. Information will be available as soon as possible.
LOCKER ASSIGNMENTS
Lockers 1-27 will be assigned to specific students.
Lockers 28 and above are available for any student to use, at any time!
To help keep the lobby as neat as possible and prevent misplaced items, students should store as much as possible in their lockers. Please avoid sitting items around the lobby as much as possible and be sure to take all of your belongings with you when you leave at the end of your day!
LOST AND FOUND
All personal belongings left in the studio will be placed in the lost and found box in the lobby. The lost and found box will be emptied on a weekly basis and all items will either be thrown away or donated.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to The Nutcracker, which is casted based on auditions, EFAD offers an Annual Spring Showcase. Students that meet the minimum required training requirement for ballet are invited to participate in the ballet pieces. Students enrolled in classes for other styles are invited to participate in those styles as well. Additionally, there are a small number of “invite-only” pieces included in the Showcase every year. Casting for these pieces are at the discretion of the EFAD Artistic Leadership.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are available for all EFAD students.
Students participating in private lessons must arrange for them through support@eliseflagg.com. Private classes cannot conflict with regular classes at any time, nor be used as make-up hours for missed regular classes.
The teachers set their own rate and are paid directly at the time of the lesson, with the exception of Elise Flagg. Elise Flagg private fees will be invoiced in advance and must be paid prior to the start of the private. The studio rental fee ($10 per hour) is collected through an automatic charge against the credit card or bank draft in the Family Portal.
Please note that private lessons are optional and scheduled at the discretion of each student and their family. While teachers may recommend private lessons to a student, they may not require them. However, in some cases, where necessary, teachers reserve the right to offer a student the option of choosing between scheduling private lessons or being removed from a performance piece.
TUITION & FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Academic Year Program tuition may be paid in full (at a 5% discount) or in monthly installments according to the payment schedule below. At the time of registration a non-refundable Annual Registration and Registration Deposit is required.
This school year will run September 5, 2023- June 1, 2024, but divide tuition payments into 9 monthly installments, September-May. All pricing takes into account holidays and studio closings. There will be no additional prorations.
Credit Card Policy
A valid credit card is required to be held on file in your Family Portal. EFAD accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Your dancer(s) is not considered fully enrolled without a valid credit card on file and are at risk of being unenrolled from their classes. If unenrolled, families may re-enroll their dancer(s) once a card has been added to the account, based on availability at that time.
Tuition Schedule
Due Date
Registration Deposit and Annual Fee: Due Upon Registration
September 2024 Tuition: Due by August 15th, or immediately upon registration, whichever is sooner.
October 2023 - May 2024: 1st of the Month
Please note that EFAD accepts Check or credit card payments only. Please make checks payable to Elise Flagg Academy of Dance. Checks should be deposited in the EFAD lockbox in the studio lobby.
Annual Registration Fee
The 2023-2034 Annual Registration Fee is $50 per student, regardless of level. There is no sibling discount for the annual registration fee.
Registration Deposit
A $250 per student Registration Deposit is due immediately upon registering your dancer(s). Your registration will not be considered complete until this deposit is paid. There are no discounts of any kind applied to this deposit. The deposit will be applied to the September fee invoice. If the deposit is higher than your monthly tuition, a credit will be applied to your account for future months.
Late Payments
Invoices will be sent out 7 days prior to the first of the month and are due on the first of the month. Families that choose to be automatically charged will be charged the day the invoice is issued.
Families may pay the monthly tuition by check, if received by the 1st day of the month. If checks are being delivered directly from a family’s bank, please schedule payment early enough to meet our deadlines.
Unpaid monthly tuition will be automatically charged to the credit card on file on the 2nd of each month. An outstanding balance, after the 5th of each month, will result in a $25 late fee. An outstanding balance, after 30 days, will result in a dancer being automatically dropped from their classes and the dancer may not re-enroll until balance is paid in full, including late fees.
Returned Payments
It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian listed as the billing contact, to ensure that their billing information is accurate in the Family Portal prior to the first of each month. Any payments returned or declined for any reason will incur a $35 reprocessing fee.
Tuition Refund Policy
Monthly tuition paid is non-refundable and non-transferable to another student. Students are eligible for a prorated tuition refund only if they withdraw from classes due to prolonged illness or severe injury, verified by a doctor’s certificate. Refunds will be in the form of a credit applied to the student’s account, that can then be applied to future invoices.
No refunds are given for classes missed because of illness, injury, vacation, or weather.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
From a Class
To withdraw a student from a class, EFAD must receive written notice including the student’s name and the date the student will withdraw from the class. The Parent or Guardian will be responsible for the full monthly fee of the dropped class. There will be no prorations for classes dropped mid-month. Verbal notification of withdrawal will not be accepted.
From the School
To withdraw a student prior to the end of the Academic Year, EFAD must receive written notice including the student’s name and the date the student will officially withdraw from the program. The Parent or Guardian will be responsible for all tuition payments due until a written notice of withdrawal is received stating the date of withdrawal. Verbal notification of withdrawal will not be accepted. Please see the EFAD Refund Policy.
Introducing Embody Dance Company
Elise Flagg Academy of Dance is very excited to introduce Embody Dance Company, founded by our very own JacLyn Allott!
In partnership with EFAD, Embody Dance Company will offer its dancers high quality dance instruction that embraces both the value is technique and performance, in an effort to develop strong technical dancers that are capable of performing with effortless artistry.
All members of Embody Dance Company are required to train at Elise Flagg Academy of Dance. However, EFAD dancers are not required to join the company. Of course, are EFAD students are invited to audition and we hope that you do!
In addition to the annual EFAD showcase and anticipated in-studio performances, Embody dancers will have an opportunity to perform in outside performances/events, as well as a chance to participate in two dance conventions and/or two dance competitions.
For more information about Embody Dance Company, visit www.embodydancecompany.com! If you have any questions about the company email JacLyn@embodydancecompany.com.
