Virtual Studio HandBook

It’s our absolute pleasure to welcome you into our Moore Than Dance family! Our team is thrilled to see many familiar faces return to the studio and excited to see some new faces join our community. We have created this handbook to shed some light on how things will run throughout the year as well as answer a lot of questions you may have before the year begins. Please take time to read through this handbook. You are responsible for knowing the information. All of this information is also on our studio HUB on our website. Please see the front desk for login information. Remember, our staff is always here to help if you have questions.

QUICK REFERENCE STUDIO INFORMATION
Address: 1220 East Moore Lake Drive

Fridley, MN 55432

Phone Number: 763-432-0950
Email: angela@moorethandance.com

Our mission is to provide wholesome and family-friendly Performing Arts Training.
Moore Than Dance students learn how to sing, dance, act and appreciate
their God-given talents.

It’s important to us at Moore Than Dance that all members of our team share our vision, our purpose and the philosophy that encompasses everything we do both inside and outside of our classes. This is a vision that is shared and demonstrated by the directors, teachers and staff members at our studio and it is the driving force behind every interaction with our students and their families.

Moore Than Dance is a place where people of all ages, shapes and sizes learn to dance, sing and perform. This is a studio where creativity, individuality and self-expression are encouraged. We have a community of teachers, students and families who are passionate about the performing arts. Our goal is to create a positive and happy experience for all of our students. We strive to nurture and develop talent, celebrate the achievements of all students and inspire a love and appreciation of all styles of dance and the arts. We are committed to providing a safe and positive environment in which all students can feel empowered, comfortable and free to express themselves.

Before lacing up those jazz shoes, it’s important that ALL students and/or parents – whether returning or new – login to our website and sign your registration paperwork so we can ensure we have the most up-to-date contact details for you. This information includes your registration form, media release form and public liability / insurance contract.

Please make sure your email address is current. Email is the preferred method of communication for the studio. Should you need another way for us to contact you, please notify the front desk.

Our annual registration fee is $25.00 per student account/ $35.00 per family account and must be paid in full prior to the commencement of classes. If a family has a split account (child lives in more than one home and more than one parent pays for the class) they will need a registration fee for EACH address/payment on file.

Class schedules are available online and at the studio. Moore Than Dance management reserves the right to change classes or teachers when necessary at any time throughout the year.

As we allow ongoing registration at Moore than Dance, you may see new friends in class throughout the season. We encourage all of our students and families to try a variety of dance styles and we are more than happy to accommodate trial classes for existing students who are wanting to try something a bit different. Please contact reception if you would like to try a new class and we will happily schedule a quick meeting and fit you in for a trial (provided the class has not reached capacity.)

Communication is vital to us here at Moore Than Dance. It is our goal to respond to all questions within 24-hours. For convenience, our primary means of communication is via email.

Our office staff can be contacted via email at angela@moorethandance.com .

You may also call us at 763-432-0950.

Every month you will receive our “Dancers Digest” newsletter via email. Please ensure you have provided the studio with an up-to-date email address that is checked regularly. We are happy to include multiple email addresses per family if you would like correspondence sent to numerous recipients. Don’t forget to add our email address angela@moorethandance.com to your contacts so we don’t end up in the dreaded Spam folder!

Facebook is a great way for us to keep in touch with a large number of people at once, so we encourage all families to join our Moore Than Dance Families Facebook group.

This closed group will be monitored to ensure all content is appropriate and relevant.

We also display important information, dates and studio details in our lobby and reception so please have a quick look when dropping off and picking up in case there is anything you may have missed. If you need any clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Angela also has office hours when you can come in to discuss issues or suggestions.

Next, we have the studio yearly calendar and a list of some of our most important “Save the Dates.” We will send more information (including times, costumes, requirements, etc.) via email, closer to events.

Studio Pictures: April 3-9
Easter Break: No Classes April 10-13

Summer Sampler: April 25

Parent watch: May 1-7
Re-Enrollment May 1-21

Memorial Weekend: No Classes May 22-25

June

Recital 2020: June 5,6,7 & 12,13,14

Recital – Recital is a very special time where we get to share all that we have learned with our friends and family. Please look at the section on Recital in this handbook. You will receive a recital packet in April with more detailed information.

We expect our dance families to adhere to this code of conduct. It is important for the safety and well being of our students and studio.

Our Code of Conduct is designed to ensure the smooth, safe running of Moore Than Dance. As always, we are open to feedback, so if any of the requirements outlined below are unclear or concerning, please contact us to discuss further. Following a formal meeting, we do reserve the right to dismiss or take disciplinary action on any students or parents who breach our studio’s code of conduct.

Families who do not comply with their fee or costume payment obligations will be charged a late fee, and/or excluded from performances. External debt collection may occur when fees remain overdue and this will be at the expense of the client. Costume expenses are the responsibility of the parent, and costumes will not be issued to students with unpaid class fees.

No classes (including private lessons) are to be disturbed unless it is an emergency. Parents are not to approach teachers or students during class and if messages or food/drink/medication needs to be passed on to a student, it must be done through a front desk staff member. All parents must wait in the waiting areas or outside of the studios until classes have been dismissed.

It is very important for the successful learning of all that students are in class when it begins. Our youngest students get very distracted when others are late and it can cause a disturbance in the class. Any student who is more than 10 minutes late will not be able to participate in that day’s classes unless given approval from the front desk. If you arrive late, you must wait until the teacher opens the door.

Our studio opens a half hour before the first class of the day. Your child will need to wait if you have arrived before that time. We are unable to take responsibility for students before or after their scheduled classes and it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure their child is picked up and dropped off on time. In the case of an emergency or unavoidable delay, please contact the studio immediately to inform us of the situation so we can keep your child calm and safe until they can be collected.

Any questions or complaints must go through reception – parents and students are not permitted to contact Moore Than Dance teachers via phone, in person, or via email / social networking with studio issues unless it has been discussed with the Owner first. Personal meetings with the studio Owner can be arranged via reception.

If a student is dismissed from our program, no refunds on previously attended classes or costumes will be given.

Moore Than Dance management reserves the right to change teachers or classes when necessary at any time throughout the year.

Choreography, costuming and studio policies remain the intellectual property of Moore Than Dance and may not be reproduced or sold by any students, parents or staff without permission of the Owner.

No student or family member is allowed in designated “Staff Only” areas. If this occurs, students may be dismissed from the studio.

With the safety of our families a number one priority, Moore Than Dance is very serious about upholding Child Protection laws and policies within the studio as well as at public performances and in the online arena (website and social media.)

As part of your registration, you will have read and signed a media waiver allowing us to proudly use images and video footage of your student for advertising and promotional purposes.

Students may not be alone with a teacher at the studio. If a private lesson occurs when our front office team is not working, a parent MUST remain at the studio for the entire lesson.

We understand how inconvenient it can sometimes be to walk into and out of the studio with your child. Students are allowed to walk into the studio by themselves only if they are dropped off right at the door. However, we will not allow any student under the age of 10 to leave the building without their ride coming inside to pick them up.

Please also understand that it can be hard to see children in the parking lot and some of the plaza tenants drive extremely fast. Please talk to your child about safety in our parking lot.

You will find within our enrollment paperwork a public liability / insurance statement. Please read this document carefully and sign it prior to the commencement of classes so you fully understand the rights and responsibilities of your family and our studio.

When you register with Moore Than Dance, the information we collect from you includes your name, address, telephone numbers, email addresses, possible medical information and perhaps credit card or bank details. It may also include details of the products and services we provide to you as well as the status of your enrollment. We only collect information directly from our students or their parents/guardians primarily for the purpose of providing services and products to you and to administer and manage invoicing and debt collection.

We will never sell or pass on any of your information to third parties unless required by government authorities or in the event of debt recovery. Any information passed on will be done so with appropriate privacy and confidentiality protection.

Information is stored securely in electronic form and is accessible only by authorized personnel.

If you would like to update your information, please login to your account and choose

Just as soccer players put on their shin guards before going out on the field, dancers need to have the proper “equipment” for rehearsals and performances. Our dress code is very important at Moore Than Dance and all students and parents must adhere to it. If a student is found out of dress code, they will receive a note/email. Failure to adhere to dress code more than 2 times may result in removal of the student from class. No refunds for missed classes will be given for students who are out of dress code.

All students must have the correct shoes for their class. If your child grows out of their shoes during the season, they must be replaced in two weeks.

**Ballet slippers and barre shoes are NOT allowed as they are unsafe. Non-competition ballet students must wear NON-TIE ballet shoes (no ribbon or elastic strings!)

Our Dress Code:

Dress code items can be purchased year-round from the studio or from our website.

Please ensure ALL of your child’s clothes are clearly labeled – individual shoes, socks, jackets…you’ll be amazed at the amount of lost property we generate!

Further style-specific dress code requirements are as follows:

Dress Code/Class Attire

Tuition installments are due the 1st of the month. A late fee of $20.00/per week will accrue after the 10th of the month. If all fees are not paid by the end of the month, students will not be permitted to participate in their lessons.

Families who do not comply with their fee or costume payment obligations will be charged a late fee, and/or excluded from performances. External debt collection may occur when fees remain overdue and this will be at the expense of the client. Costume expenses are the responsibility of the parent, and costumes will not be issued to students with unpaid class fees.

Automatic Payments –Your fees are paid in monthly installments through our website and your Studio Director account. Clients who have previously paid by automatic payments will still need to manage their account through our website (i.e. keep your account current, update your credit card, make payments for items not included in tuition, etc.) If your credit card has changed, please log in to your account and change it or contact the front desk so you do not incur a late fee.

Please note: All students are invoiced based on a 9-month term so your invoice will be the same each term unless you change classes. Monthly installments are the same September-May. Because of recital, June is a pro-rated month.

Refunds will not be issued for missed classes. Students are able to make up a class in a similar class/style within the semester, only with permission from the teacher. You must check with the front desk before attending any make up classes.

If you wish to withdraw from classes at Moore Than Dance it is a requirement that you fill out a withdrawal form 30 days before termination, otherwise you will be billed for the month. Forms are available at the front desk.

Although our recital is in June, costume companies need their orders placed by October. We will be sizing your child the week of October 7-12 during class. Please assist us by staying during that class and dressing your child in a leotard and tights.

Our costume fees include all costume pieces, tights, accessories, and alterations on our chosen alteration dates. Please note, if you do not come to our selected alteration dates, you will need to pay a fee to have them altered. Shoes are NOT included in costume fees and must be purchased separately.

Costume fees are due November 5, 2019. Once they are ordered, costumes are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Students enrolled before April 1st are able to participate in recital. However, after the November costume order, an additional shipping fee will be added and costume availability is not guaranteed.

The directors and staff at Moore Than Dance are educated in the negative impact of inappropriate music and costume selection when it comes to performing dance routines. We are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring children in all of our performances are not subjected to any inappropriate songs or costuming. We recognize that songs with sexist, explicit, violent, racist, or criminal content may influence our dancers and/or audience and we will never use such music. We are committed to restricting costumes that project sexuality, contain explicit graphic or textual content.

Recital Fees are due February 1st and are mandatory for all students who will be participating in recital. You may choose which recital level, Bronze, Silver or Gold that you would like to purchase. Recital package details will be emailed to families in our recital packet or on the HUB.

Feel free to speak to the teacher or the owner if you have any concerns or questions about your child participating in recital. We are here to help!

Your child’s attendance in class is very important to their peers, their learning and our teaching staff. As a member of the team, it is a commitment for you to ensure your child attends their classes on time each week and attends all lessons planned for them. Not only do absences impact the performances we create, it also impacts the social and confidence-building principals we work hard to foster in each age group.

Moore Than Dance’s Social Media Policy refers to all social networking sites, video/photo sharing sites, blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, podcasts, forums, instant messaging and geo-spatial tagging (for example, Facebook check-ins.) Please see below for our regulations regarding Social Media and feel free to contact our office staff if you have any questions.