Frequently Asked Questions

Some children take a little time to get used to new environments. This is very normal. To help them gain confidence, we will work with you to gradually transition from needing Mum or Dad in the dance room, to be able to do the whole lesson all by themselves. This may take 2 or 3 sessions but is perfectly normal with young children. The glass doors in the studio will allow your dancer to see you while they dance which will help them to feel confident.

Our waiting area has glass doors and a TV monitor of the studio. It is the perfect place to allow your toddler to stretch their legs, without distracting your dancer in the class. You will still be able to see your dancer in action. We do request that you keep toddlers away from the studio door. Little people banging on the door while class is in progress means our dancers take their focus away from the teacher. Why not enrol your Toddler in the 2 year old Toddler Program too?

During the trial period, it is fine to wear your own dance clothes from home, so long as they are firm fitting and not too baggy. A small skirt, t-­shirt or leggings are best, depending on the style of the class. For ballet, Non‐slip socks or bare feet are best. For Jazz and tap white soled, runners are recommended. Once enrolled for the term, you will need to purchase the correct uniform. Wearing a uniform helps the students focus on the lesson, rather than comparing their outfit with everyone else, or being distracted by loose-fitting clothing that hinders the movements required. Uniform information will be supplied to you upon enrolment.

The best uniform suppliers are:

Energetiks Ivanhoe -­ Shop 4 ‐ 5, 63 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe Ph: 9497 2933

We sell ballet skirts at our studio and can order leotards for you if you can't get to Ivanhoe.

Pop into our office and we will be happy to assist you.

Ok, hang on, don’t panic. It’s all “can do”. First of all, we know how hard it is to be the parent of a 3-year-old. No need to do ballet buns for kinder and preps. However, once they are in grade 1 at school, if they are enrolled in ballet, you will have to do a correct ballet bun. If your dancer is enrolled in jazz, tap, hip-hop or another dance style, a neat ponytail or plaits are absolutely fine. We can provide you with a tutorial video on the perfect ballet bun.

Don’t worry, you can do anything when you know how. Our senior students and teachers will happily teach you the skills required to do a ballet bun. You will be responsible for purchasing hair nets, hair ties, and hairpins. We will teach you everything else you need to do. With a little bit of practice, you will soon be an expert. PS. At age 10 ‐ we set a goal for the children to do their own hair all by themselves for class! Mum and Dad are off the hook from now on! Watch our video below to see some pointers on doing a bun.

Our studio is next door to the Watsonia RSL. There is plentiful parking along the median strip of Morwell Avenue. We don’t offer onsite parking, the few spaces we have are for staff use only. There is a pedestrian crossing directly in front of the RSL which all families are expected to use, for the safety of our students.

That depends on how old your child is. Our Student/Parent code of conduct requires parents of primary school age children to come in to pick up your child. You are welcome to do a bit of shopping, have a coffee in the nearby cafes or visit the Watsonia library while class is on, but we expect you to be on time to collect your child right at the end of class. If you are a few minutes late, don't panic. Things happen, but do let us know if you are going to be more than 10 minutes late for pick up. We will NEVER allow primary school children to leave the building without a parent/guardian. Secondary School students are able to meet parents at the car. However, if it is after dark, they will not be permitted to leave the premises alone.

Enrolments are on a termly basis. If you are absent, there is no refund. We expect students to attend every week. Absences cause your dancer to lose confidence and fall behind their class standard. Muscle memory is a critical part of becoming a strong dancer. Missing just one lesson will have an impact on the speed of progress.

Enrolments are on a ten-week termly basis, as per the Victorian School Term dates. If you choose to be away during the term, you forfeit those lessons. Full-term fees are payable. We recommend taking holidays during the school term periods.

The concert is the highlight of the year for our dancers.

We have two concerts – Primary Dance for our 3-6 years dancers, and our Main Performance for Junior to Advanced dancers (grade 1 at school onwards)

Primaries are on a weekend in Mid December, close by at the MPAC theatre, Loyola College – the show is approximately 45-60 minutes long. Children come to the theatre in the morning, do a short rehearsal on the stage, and then perform the show for an appreciative audience of Mums & Dads and family. We welcome a team of volunteer parents to help in the dressing rooms with our little people. You will be able to watch the show from the side of the stage.

Our Main Performance is usually Mid December it incorporates all dance styes, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hop hp, acro and more.

Dates are determined by the Theatre’s schedule. We publish the exact date in Term 1 each year so you can book it into your diary nice and early.

Concerts are a huge TEAM challenge. You need to commit to attending every lesson in term four leading up to the big day. It is unrealistic to expect your dancer to remember his or her part if they are absent. Absence from class during this time is not acceptable, as it lets down other class members. If you know your dancer will be away in term four, you will need to withdraw from the concert for that year.

The week before the show is a COMPULSORY Rehearsal Week, and all dancers are required to attend extra rehearsals. The schedule is given to all families in September. Please put the dates in your Diary promptly. If for any reason your dancer cannot attend any part of the rehearsal week, he or she will need to withdraw from the performance. (VCE exam students have some flexibility in this period, we understand the importance of this). Ask any of our senior students and they will tell you, that their time at dancing provides a healthy break from study, and actually helps them study more effectively! The high standard of school exam results we see in our students speaks for itself!

No, you do not have to do exams or competitions. This is not for everyone. Students can choose the best pathway for them.

We encourage all students to complete exams. Working towards a goal makes the dancers push themselves further in their classes. It also helps them be confident in school exams later in life.

Competition team is an optional extra class. Students must apply to be accepted into the Competition team. A number of criteria must be met, including additional hours of training beyond the weekly classes, and commitment to home practice. All students are welcome to attend recreational classes purely for the purpose of fitness, friendship and enjoyment.

For all students, beginners to competition students, we have an expectation of a positive attitude to learning. Come prepared to listen to the teacher, ask questions if you need to, and focus on dancing to the best of your ability. You don’t need to be the next Fred Astaire, you might even have“ two left feet”. That’s ok.

Disruptive and anti-­social behavior in class is not ok. So please restrict your social time with friends to the waiting area, and come into the studio with a “can do” mindset, ready to learn. Be a highly‐valued team member. We ask that you show respect, try your best and be helpful to others when needed.

Click the Book Classes button and sign up through Class Manager then enroll into your desired class. If you get a little lost please don't hesitate to contact us on the contact form or by email and we will help you with the process