Our Philosophy
Providing a comfortable, supportive environment where each student has the opportunity to reach his or her potential in dance. We focus on creating fun, energetic and challenging classes that encourage artistic expression while maintaining a strong technical basis. We develop self-esteem, self-discipline, team work and a strong desire for achievement.

Student Placement
Okanagan Dance Studio’s faculty make all class placement decisions. These placements are determined with the student’s best interest in mind. Placement will depend on ability and experience, not age.  During the first month some students may be moved to a more appropriate class. 

Registration
Students are fully registered when all the payment requirements and costume fees have been completed.  If paying by post-dated cheques, all 10 cheques are required with registration form. Costume fees must be on a separate cheque dated October 15. Only fully registered students may participate in classes. 

Attendance
All students are required to attend their classes on a regular basis. Frequent, repetitive class work is essential to muscle development and memory. If a student does not attend classes on a regular basis they will fall behind and risk being removed from choreography or possibly being put into a lower level class. It is also extremely important that students do not come late to classes.  Dance classes are designed to begin with a warm-up and then graduate to more difficult work, missing the warm-up could result in injury.  
When a student has to miss a class, please let the teacher know by calling the office. 

Class Cancellation and Holidays
Every effort is made to hold all classes at their regularly scheduled time.  On the rare occasion when a class must be cancelled due to events like festival or studio trips, a make up class will be held.  Teachers will inform students and parents of any cancellations and make up classes. There are no regular classes held on statuary holidays.
A student must give one month’s notice when withdrawing from a class. There is no refund for any classes not attended mid-month. Please let the office know in writing what classes are being dropped so that the next month’s payment can be adjusted.

Observation Week
Parents are invited to observe their child’s classes the last week of the month except, September, December and March. Please keep in mind that students are often distracted by noise at watching week, please keep voices down outside of the studio. 

 
Kitchen and Waiting Areas
Belongings are left in the waiting areas at the student’s risk. Please put dance bags and belongings in the shelves provided for you. Label all dancewear and shoes. A lost and found shelve is provided, it will be emptied at Christmas, Spring Break and at the end of the year. Please feel free to use the microwave and refrigerator in the kitchen. Food and beverages are not allowed in the studios, please respect the property of Okanagan Dance Studio by tidying up after yourself and keeping all areas clean. 

Parking
Okanagan Dance Studio parking is ONLY directly in front of building or in empty lot before airplane hangers on Dakota Ave. You may not park in front of flying club building, any hangers or any gates. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed. 

Communication
All important information will be posted on the bulletin board. Newsletters will be handed out to students. As we cannot ensure all parents have received  important notices, we strongly urge parents to check studio bulletin board frequently. Please also check out our web-site for news and information
Concerns regarding an individual student should be raised with the particular teacher. Please make an appointment, as there is no time between classes for a teacher to discuss concerns in a private setting.

Festival and Competitions
Okanagan Dance Studios is proud to support the Penticton Kiwanis Music and Dance Festival. Not all classes will be entered in competitions or festivals. The decision to enter any classes is completely up to the teacher. Entry fees are not included in tuition fees. Many students find the teamwork aspect of competition very rewarding. There are also opportunities to enter solo, duo, and trios as well. These all require a choreography cost and a very strong commitment from the student and the parent. If a teacher feels the student has not been able to commit to the group or the choreography, they may decide to pull the dancer from the routine. All dancers that are entered in competitions and festivals must attend all group dress rehearsals, any dancer missing a dress rehearsal will be pulled from the group routine.

Year End Production
All students of Okanagan Dance Studios will have the opportunity to perform in the production. This is the students chance to showcase their hard work and growth made throughout the year. The production and dress rehearsals take place at the Cleland Theatre. Tickets will go on sale a month in advance and all costumes will be completed and handed out to students.