Policies and Uniform Information — Payment Information — FAQ

Refund policy:
Arts in Motion makes every effort to hold each class offered. In the event that a class does not reach the minimum number of students, AiM reserves the right to cancel any class. If such an instance should occur, you will be notified by telephone and we will discuss suitable alternatives for your child. If none can be agreed upon, AiM will refund your tuition payment in full. We do not give refunds for any other reason, including but not limited to illness, vacations, inclement weather, etc.

Absentee policy:
We encourage consistent attendance in order to achieve the most familiarity, comprehension, and progress, but understand that sometimes there are circumstances in which students must be absent. Arts in Motion does not give refunds for absences. If you are absent from class, we will help you choose a makeup class. Makeup classes need to be scheduled at least one week in advance.

Inclement Weather policy:
In the event of inclement weather, or if it is questionable, please call Arts in Motion, after 2:00pm, at 314.968.4583 and listen for a voicemail message regarding classes. If you class is cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions, we will help you choose a makeup class.

Liability:
Students must be supervised by parents when not in class. Students must wait inside the building and be picked up from class on time. Transportation, before care, after care, and meal services are NOT provided. A $15.00 late fee is charged for late pick-ups and early drop-offs exceeding 20 minutes.

Insurance and Legal:
AiM does not carry medical insurance for its students. Although all activities are performed with the students' safety as the utmost concern, all students are required to be covered under their own families' insurance policies. If an injury should occur, you will only be compensated through your own family insurance policy.

By enrolling your child in classes or camps, you are indicating that you accept the following:

Arts in Motion, LLC, is not to be held responsible for any and all liability, claims, demands, and causes of action whatsoever, arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by the participant, while in or upon the premises or any premises under the control and supervision of Arts in Motion, LLC, its owners and operators or in route to or from any of said premises.

Payment Information
Fall tuition is due by the 15th of August, Spring tuition is due by the 1st of January. You have the option to pay for the 16-week semester in full, or finance in two equal installments according to the price list below. There are two 16-week semesters throughout the school year.

We accept payments via cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express.

A 20% family discount is given if you are enrolled in more than 2 hours of full semester classes.

Full semester 2008-2009 (16 weeks)
30-minute class: $135 / semester
45-minute class: $200 / semester
60-minute class: $255 / semester

Financing schedule 2008-2009 (two equal payments per semester)*
30-minute class: $90 / $90
45-minute class: $115 / $115
60-minute class: $145 / $145

* Fall semester payments are due August 15th and October 15th, Spring semester payments are due January 1st and March 1st.

There will be a $15.00 late fee applied to the account balance for payments over 10 days past due and a $25.00 late fee applied for payments over 30 days past due. There is a $20.00 returned check charge for any checks returned by the bank.

Dress Code and Shoe Requirements
We sell leotards and tights that conform to the dress code at the studio for your convenience. Uniforms and shoes may be purchased anywhere, but must be consistent with Arts in Motion requirements.

All female students must wear footless tights (white, pink, suntan, or black).

Ages 2.5-4 — light pink leotards
Ages 5-6 — light blue leotards
Ages 7-9 — cobalt blue or purple leotards
Ages 10-12 — navy blue leotards
Ages 13 and up — any color dancewear — no baggy t-shirts, no midriffs
All Boys — dark sweat pants, shorts, or black leggings with a t-shirt

NEW Shoe requirement:
Shoes are required for all traditional Ballet and Tap classes, Level 1 and above. This includes the Ballet portions of Ballet/Modern and other combo classes. Any shoes worn outdoors may not be worn in the studio. All Jumpin' for Joy, Magnificent Moving Kidz, and Aimdance for Kidz classes are done in bare feet.

Ballet and Pointe Prep — pink canvas or leather split sole ballet slippers
Pointe — permission required; see instructor for recommendations on the fitting process
Tap — black or tan low-heeled tap shoes (with tie-savers or elastic for children age 6-7)
Jazz — soft-soled tan gore boots are recommended, but optional
Modern — bare feet

Hair must be pulled off of face and secured for all classes. Ponytails, buns, and braids are acceptable.

FAQ:

What do I need to bring to class?

• The proper uniform for all participants.


• A diaper is required for any child who is not toilet trained.


• Long hair should be securely tied or fastened so it stays out of their eyes.


• Shoes fitted to your child's feet for Traditional classes, Level 1 or above. Please make sure child's name is clearly written inside each shoe. No shoes are necessary for Jumpin' for Joy, Magnificent Moving Kidz, or Aimdance for Kidz classes.


• A dance bag is recommended. It is helpful to have something to keep belongings (i.e. shoes and uniform) contained on the way to and from class.

How can I make sure my child has the best experience possible?

• Allow plenty of time before class so your child is not rushed.
  This includes time for changing into dancewear, removing shoes, using the restroom, etc. You and your child coming into class late is a huge distraction for those children already in class, and can make it more difficult for your own child to focus.


• Limit observers to one or two per child.
  While we love it when parents take an active interest in their child's progress, there comes a point when too many observers are detrimental to the classroom learning environment. This could be due to a variety of factors, including an increased noise level, cell phones ringing, people entering/leaving the room, the presence of cameras, snacks, water bottles, toys, etc. Keep in mind, if each class has the maximum of 12 students, and each child has 2 observers, that's 24 people in the room — potential for multiple distractions.


• If your child gets upset or refuses to participate...
  Either of these is a natural expression of a child's discomfort or fear which can come from an unfamiliar and new experience, or may be an effort to draw attention away from the other students. Parents need to keep a positive attitude and show confidence in their instructor without reinforcing the child’s behavior. We will never do anything to intimidate your child. Our instructors are qualified and committed to working with your child to help him or her to overcome their reservations.

Do you encourage taking classes year-round or taking a break?
Consistency and repetition are very important for children to acquire and maintain skills and concepts. The longer they are away from dancing, the longer it takes the child to work back to their previous skill level. In addition, there is a chance they could lose confidence or become fearful during a break. In addition to Fall and Spring classes, we offer Summer classes so students have the opportunity to maintain and improve their dance skills without the usual distractions of school and other activities.

What about recitals?
Please read more on our philosophy. We don't do recitals because we believe that working on those recital pieces for an all-important, one-time only performance takes away valuable time for learning and progress, in addition to taking the joy and artistry out of dance. Yes, gaining performance experience is valuable for developing into stronger, more technical dancers, but we don't think it should be forced onto young children. For students who wish to have performance experience, we have developed the AimDance Ensemble Program for ages 6 and up. We think this is a much more valuable way to for students to experience the excitement and joy of performance.

What if I have a question or concern?
We would be happy to meet with you and address your concerns. However, instead of trying to fit those questions in before or after class, we ask that you set up an appointment. This is so that we can devote our full attention to you and not be distracted or rushed to start the next class.