Scheduling and Cancellation Policies
Children’s School Year Classes
The School Year program is a full year commitment (September – May). There are no refunds or prorates for missed classes. Even if your child does not attend class, you are still responsible for the entire year’s tuition.
Adult Classes, Private Lessons, and Massage Therapy
ITM has a 24-hour no exceptions cancellation policy for all adult classes (non-series), private lessons, and massage therapy sessions. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please do so at least 24 hours in advance or you will still be responsible for the full session cost. Cancellation can be done online up to 48 hours prior to your session. Otherwise, please call the studio to cancel. We reserve this time especially for you and appreciate your understanding.
Studio Rules
Pilates Equipment
Ballet and Dance students may not touch or “play on” the Pilates equipment in the center space. Absolutely NO unsupervised children should be in the Pilates room at any time. If you do not have a Pilates lesson or class, you may not be in the Pilates room.
Shoes on the Dance Floors
Please do NOT walk on the dance floor with shoes other than dance shoes. Other shoes may damage the dance floor. You are welcome to leave your shoes in a cubby in the lobby area.
Waiting/Lobby area
While in the waiting room please try to keep the volume down as much as possible. If any spills or messes do happen, please clean those up promptly as other classes will soon be entering to wait in this space as well. If you cannot clean it up, please notify the teacher or office staff so that they can clean it up.
Food/Drink
There is no food or drink allowed on the dance floor. Students in the intermediate to pre-professional division may bring water bottles, but they must be kept off the dance floor and in designated areas.
Bags and Coats
All dance bags and street clothes must be kept in the waiting room or a designated area given by the teacher.
Inclement Weather
Weather-related cancellations will be announced via email and on social media. Weather-related cancellations may occur up to 90 minutes before each class time, so it is good practice to check notifications if you are unsure.
Meeting with Teachers
If you have questions for your child’s teacher, please do NOT ask them before or after class, as classes generally meet “back to back.” If you need to speak with the teacher, please call or email the studio to set up a time to meet. We want to make sure there is enough time to focus on your question/concern!
Dance Etiquette
Arrive on Time!
It is generally considered disrespectful to the teacher and your classmates to arrive late, and it disrupts the class to enter late. However, things happen and sometimes late arrival is unavoidable. If you arrive late, please ask the teacher if you may join class. The teacher will then direct you to either warm up and join class or, if too much time has elapsed (20 min or more), you may be directed to sit and observe class while taking notes on what you missed. This is for the safety of the dancer, since joining a class in progress without warmup can result in injury.
Warm up Time
Students ages 8 and up are expected to arrive a little early so that they can warm up before class. Instructors will demonstrate some stretches and strengthening exercises that students can use to help avoid injury during dance training.
Asking Questions
Asking questions is a wonderful way to learn and to clarify your knowledge. If you have a question during class, do NOT speak when the teacher is speaking. Raise your hand and the teacher will call on you when it is your turn to speak. Ending Class – Reverance
Students in Ballet and pre-professional classes will end class with Reverance. Reverance shows respect for the teacher and allows students to thank their teacher and each other for a job well done. Reverance is followed by applause!
Cooperation and Community
ITM believes that dance and movement are for everyone! Our studio is a place of inclusion and safety for all, which means that we expect students and visitors to respect others and the space. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying are not tolerated in our studio or at any studio sponsored events. We support our students and our studio community by:
- Honoring and using students’ preferred names and pronouns
- Adopting a gender-neutral dress code (provided in a separate document)
- Respecting religious headwear
- Modifying technique for those with movement differences
- Avoiding discussion of body type/size, dieting/diet culture, or food restriction (though study and analysis of anatomy is a critical part of learning dance, and such discussion is encouraged)
- Not placing limits on participation in classes, performances, workshops, or other studio events based on someone’s age, race, body size, religious affiliation, gender expression, sexual orientation, or other characteristics
Observing Class and Performance Opportunities
Visitation Days
Families are welcome to come and observe class during Visitation Weeks, which are scheduled in January and May. During Winter Visitation, you may come in and see what your students have been working on during the last 10-20 minutes of class (duration varies according to level). During Spring Visitation, you may observe the
entire class. You may bring cameras and take as many photos as you like, but video recording is prohibited.
No Recitals
Inspiration to Movement, Inc. is a serious dance school focused on learning the true ART of dance. We focus on giving students a solid foundation that they can build on as they develop as artists. This means that we use time in class to build skills rather than learn choreography. Hence, we do not do recitals. Students will demonstrate what they are learning during Visitation Days.
There are performance opportunities available for students ages 8 and up who are interested (see below).
Performing Opportunities
Children’s Production: Children ages 8 and up may audition to perform in Oyo Dance Company’s Annual Children’s Production. Extra rehearsals are required and mandatory if chosen to perform. All rehearsals and costumes are sponsored by Oyo Dance Company and are provided at no extra charge to the student. Company Tracking: The Company Tracking Program is open to serious students ages 10 and up. Company Tracking is a more intensive course of study for young dancers that are considering a professional dance career. Special Company Tracking classes are required and membership dues are separate and in addition to regular school classes. Company Tracking students may also have opportunities to work with guest teachers and choreographers. More details will be offered to students interested in pursuing this avenue of study.
Pre-Professional Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship is offered by audition and invitation only for ages 15 – 18. Pre-professional students have the opportunity to take class with Oyo Dance Company members and may be asked to understudy company members. They will have performance opportunities.
Extra classes and rehearsals are required for Pre-Professional Apprenticeships, and Membership dues are separate and in addition to regular school classes. Pre-professional students receive mentorship from professional dancers, will have the opportunity to prepare for professional company auditions, and will have opportunities to work with guest teachers and choreographers.
Professional Company: Oyo Dance Company is a professional dance company in residence at ITM. Students ages 18 and up may audition for placement in the training company (Oyo II) or the main company (Oyo). Company membership is a serious commitment, and involves studying ballet, modern, and ballroom dance as well as Pilates. The Company season runs from September to June each year. Audition information will be provided to interested dancers.
ABSOLUTELY no scheduling or cancellations will be accepted via email or text.
Please call the studio if you need to schedule, reschedule or cancel.
