POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Tuition
Tuition is based on the season September – June, not by the month.  Regardless of how many classes occur in one month, tuition remains the same.  You may choose to pay your tuition as follows:
             A) Season tuition payment in full - due 1st class the year
             B)  Three term payments:

Fall term payment due 1st class of September
Winter term payment due 1st class of December
Spring term payment due 1st class of April

Tuition checks should be made payable to individual instructors.  There will be an additional $5.00 late fee for any accounts past due.

Class Visitation
Visitation and observation of classes are by instructor invitation ONLY. Each individual instructor will communicate visitation days for parents. We appreciate your interest and enthusiasm in your child’s dance, however please appreciate our jobs, as instructors trying to maintain a disturbance free classroom where children are focused and kept on task.

Dress Code
Columbia Gorge Dance Academy is a performing arts school! Proper dance attire is mandatory. Individual instructors set dress code requirements. Students ignoring dress codes or forgetting dance attire will be given 1 warning. A second time, the student will be asked to wear dance attire provided by CGDA. The student will also be asked to wash and return the loaner clothes to the school within 1 week. A third time, the student will be asked to sit out during the class (with individual instructor’s discretion). No gum is allowed in the studio at any time. Hair should be neatly styled away from the face. Dress codes allow the class to be uniform and provide best freedom of movement for all students. A higher standard is maintained and achieved when students take pride and care of their appearance.

School Closures
Columbia Gorge Dance Academy is closed during the following holidays: Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break and Memorial Day.  School teacher conference days, early release days, and other holidays do not affect the Academy. Classes will be canceled due to bad weather at the discretion of the Academy. Public announcements about the Academy closure can be heard on local radio stations. KIHR 1340 a.m. or KIHR 105.5 f.m., posted on the web site or heard on the Academy phone line at 541.386.3267.

Dressing Rooms
Dressing rooms, with the attached restroom, are for our female dancers only.  For the male dancers, there is a unisex restroom / dressing room, located at the north end of the waiting area. DO NOT leave items of value in the dressing room/restrooms. This includes purses, wallets and CELL PHONES.  CGDA is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Purses and wallets may be inside the studios as long as no cell phone is inside. LEAVE YOUR CELL PHONES AT HOME, OR IN YOUR CAR.

Etiquette
PLEASE DO NOT WEAR DANCE SHOES OUTSIDE ON THE STREET OR SIDEWALK!  Small rocks, gravel, dirt and dust become embedded in the shoes and then are tracked into the studio, which scratch the floor. This applies to ballet shoes, tap shoes, jazz shoes, hip hop sneakers and pointe shoes. Also walking in dance shoes outside, wears the shoes out much quicker and replacements are needed sooner.

Food & Drink
Food and drink are NOT allowed in any studio at any time. Individual water bottles are allowed in the studios but should not leak or contain anything but water. Soda Pop and Gum is never allowed at CGDA.

Parking
Parking is allowed in designated parking spaces located on the West side of CGDA ONLY!! Please do not park in the drop-off and pick-up zone or in the Hood River Physical Therapy lot….you will be towed, no exceptions.

Attendance
Regular attendance is a must. Each class is a continuation of the previous class, and progress is interrupted when a student is absent, so regular attendance is essential for growth. Should an absence occur due to illness or another conflict, a make-up class may be taken within one month upon instructor’s approval. Out of consideration, we do request a phone call or message left on the instructor’s phone or the school phone when an absence is anticipated.

Concerts
Dance is a performing art.  Performing provides an opportunity for students to display their talents, skills and accomplishments in dance. CGDA students are given two opportunities to perform during the dance term.  Ballet students perform in the December Nutcracker and all students perform in the June Spring Dance Recital.  Advanced students may also have the opportunity to participate in local, national and international performances, competitions, master classes and auditions.