ENROLLING NOW!

A non-refundable $45 registration fee will be collected upon enrollment. You will also need to sign up for auto-pay, or your enrollment will NOT be complete. If you do not receive a registration confirmation email, your enrollment has not been completed. Log back into your parent portal and look for any messages.

 

 

If you are auditioning for TEAM, you will ONLY register for the class “TEAM HOPEFULS” in your parent portal. Do NOT register for any other class until after auditions and the team meeting.

REGULAR SEASON POLICIES:
1) Upon final review of your registration by our staff, you will be charged a non-refundable $45 registration fee using the card information provided in the registration process.
2)Tuition is one total yearly amount that can be paid in full with a 10% discount. This full payment is due before your first class.
3)Tuition can also be paid in 10 payments according to this schedule: By automatic draft on the 5th of each month from August to May. We do not have tuition due for JUNE, although we do typically have the first week of JUNE rehearsing for our recitals which fall on the first weekend of JUNE.
3) Tuition is the same amount each month, regardless of how many actual classes fall into each month.
4)If you choose to pay in 10 equal monthly payments, that must be set up as an automatic draft through the parent portal. Any fees that are unpaid by the 6th of the month, will be automatically charged (tuition plus a 30$ late fee) to the card on file on your account. Any tuition unpaid by the end of the month, will require us to drop a dancer from class enrollments and the dancer may possibly not be allowed to re-enroll until the following season. Past due tuition would still need to be paid. All payments for individual items and fees must be paid as one in full. We require you to register for Autopay when creating your account, and we will process any unpaid tuition fees on the 5th of each month. Any declined or unpaid tuition will be charged the late fee on the 6th of the month and another auto-draft attempted. Further non-payment may result in your child not able to come to class. CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY PAYMENT DIFFICULTIES, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
3) All dancers must follow dress codes as described in each class description on the website.
4)No refunds for any payments, including costume and recital fees. Credits towards future fees MAY be applied, at the discretion of the studio owner.
6)If you decide to withdraw from class before the end of the season, a 30-day notice is required or a $50 drop fee per class will be required.
7)All final placement decisions are up to the discretion of teachers and the owner.
8)There will be studio closings throughout the year for holidays, special events, and Thanksgiving/Winter/Spring breaks. We generally follow the public school schedule for breaks but you agree to read newsletters and keep up with when the studio and classes will be closed for holidays, etc. We do not close on Mondays for Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Veteran’s Day. We do not close for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Good Friday. We do close for Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, New Years, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, These will be communicated throughout the year as well. Tuition remains the same for every month regardless of how many classes in each month.SUMMER SEASON POLICIES:(1)Your full summer tuition is due at the beginning of the summer season. Your tuition will remain the same regardless of how many classes you do or do not choose to take. WE DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS.
(2)All final placement decisions are up to the discretion of teachers and the owner.GENERAL RULES
1)Dancers need to be dropped off no earlier than 5 minutes before their scheduled classes.
2)Dancers need to be picked up on time, and must be picked up if there is a gap between their classes during the day.
3)There will be no guaranteed supervision other than when the dancers are in the classroom with their teachers.
4)All dancers must be potty trained.
5) Siblings are not allowed to wait unsupervised.
6)Parents are responsible for their children’s messes and behavior while in the studio.
7)NO FOOD, DRINK, or GUM.
8)If your dancer will be at the studio for MORE than three hours, they may bring a granola bar or something similar to keep in their bag. NO CHIPS, CANDY, MESSY SNACKS, ETC.
9)All dancers need to bring a reusable water bottle to fill up at the water fountain and bring into the classroom with them.ENTRANCE POLICIES
1)Our main entrance will have a key code and all parents will be notified of the code upon request.
2)Only trusted family and friends are allowed to also know this code if they need to drop off or pick up your child from class.
3)You agree to not share this code publicly or with anyone who might be a danger to our students and families or facility.
4)Only during hours of classes will the key code be functional , overnight and off-hours the door will be locked entirely.I hereby agree to Allow Esprit Dance Academy LLC to process my debit and/or credit cards as well as bank account for payments. I agree to pay all balances due and pay any payment declined fees. I agree to pay a returned check fee of $20 for each reversed payment.WAIVERS
PHOTO/VIDEO WAIVER
I hereby grant permission for Esprit Dance Academy LLC to take photos and/or videos of my child and/or myself for public and studio use including, but not limited to, advertising, marketing, education, etc.
I agree to refrain from taking personal photos and videos of my child or other children while they are in class.PARTICIPATION RELEASE WAIVER
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
In consideration of the risk of injury while participating in dance (whether joining online classes or in-person) (the “Activity”), and as consideration for the right to participate in the Activity, I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or personal representatives, knowingly and voluntarily enter into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising out of my participation in the Activity, and do hereby release and forever discharge Esprit Dance Academy LLC, located at 220 E Park St, Auburndale, Florida 33823, their affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorneys, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns, for any physical or psychological injury, including but not limited to illness, paralysis, death, damages, economical or emotional loss, that I may suffer as a direct result of my participation in the aforementioned Activity, including traveling to and from an event related to this Activity.I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITY AND I AM PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITY ENTIRELY AT MY OWN RISK. I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVELING TO AND FROM AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING IN THIS ACTIVITY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY, PAIN, SUFFERING, ILLNESS, DISFIGUREMENT, TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT DISABILITY (INCLUDING PARALYSIS), ECONOMIC OR EMOTIONAL LOSS, AND DEATH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE INJURIES OR OUTCOMES MAY ARISE FROM MY OWN OR OTHERS’ NEGLIGENCE, CONDITIONS RELATED TO TRAVEL, OR THE CONDITION OF THE ACTIVITY LOCATION(S). NONETHELESS, I ASSUME ALL RELATED RISKS, BOTH KNOWN OR UNKNOWN TO ME, OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THIS ACTIVITY, INCLUDING TRAVEL TO, FROM AND DURING THIS ACTIVITY.I agree to indemnify and hold harmless Esprit Dance Academy LLC against any and all claims, suits or actions of any kind whatsoever for liability, damages, compensation or otherwise brought by me or anyone on my behalf, including attorney’s fees and any related costs, if litigation arises pursuant to any claims made by me or by anyone else acting on my behalf. If Esprit Dance Academy LLC incurs any of these types of expenses, I agree to reimburse Esprit Dance Academy LLC.I acknowledge that Esprit Dance Academy LLC and their directors, officers, volunteers, representatives and agents are not responsible for errors, omissions, acts or failures to act of any party or entity conducting a specific event or activity on behalf of Esprit Dance Academy LLC.  

I acknowledge that this Activity may involve a test of a person’s physical and mental limits and may carry with it the potential for death, serious injury, and property loss. The risks may include, but are not limited to, those caused by terrain, facilities, temperature, weather, lack of hydration, condition of participants, equipment, vehicular traffic and actions of others, including but not limited to, participants, volunteers, spectators, coaches, event officials and event monitors, and/or producers of the event.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS “WAIVER AND RELEASE” AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY. I EXPRESSLY AGREE TO RELEASE AND DISCHARGE Esprit Dance Academy LLC AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATES, MANAGERS, MEMBERS, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, HEIRS, REPRESENTATIVES, PREDECESSORS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION AND I AGREE TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP OR WAIVE ANY RIGHT THAT I OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING A LEGAL ACTION AGAINST Esprit Dance Academy LLC FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

To the extent that statute or case law does not prohibit releases for negligence, this release is also for negligence on the part of Esprit Dance Academy LLC, its agents, and employees.

In the event that I should require medical care or treatment, I agree to be financially responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such treatment. I am aware and understand that I should carry my own health insurance.

In the event that any damage to equipment or facilities occurs as a result of my or my family’s willful actions, neglect or recklessness, I acknowledge and agree to be held liable for any and all costs associated with any actions of neglect or recklessness.

This Agreement was entered into at arm’s-length, without duress or coercion, and is to be interpreted as an agreement between two parties of equal bargaining strength. Both the Participant and Esprit Dance Academy LLC agree that this Agreement is clear and unambiguous as to its terms, and that no other evidence will be used or admitted to alter or explain the terms of this Agreement, but that it will be interpreted based on the language in accordance with the purposes for which it is entered into.

In the event that any provision contained within this Release of Liability shall be deemed to be severable or invalid, or if any term, condition, phrase or portion of this agreement shall be determined to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect, so long as the clause severed does not affect the intent of the parties. If a court should find that any provision of this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting said provision it would become valid and enforceable, then said provision shall be deemed to be written, construed and enforced as so limited.

In the event of an emergency, please contact the following person(s) in the order presented:

EMERGENCY CONTACT
MAIN PARENT/GUARDIAN
SECONDARY PARENT/GUARDIAN
I, the undersigned participant, affirm that I am of the age of 18 years or older, and that I am freely signing this agreement. I certify that I have read this agreement, that I fully understand its content and that this release cannot be modified orally. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract and that I am signing it of my own free will.

PARENT / GUARDIAN WAIVER FOR MINORS
In the event that the participant is under the age of consent (18 years of age), then this release must be signed by a parent or guardian, as follows:
I hereby certify that I am the parent or guardian of and do hereby give my consent without reservation to the foregoing on behalf of this individual.

BY REGISTERING AND PAYING FOR ANY CLASS, EVENT, PRIVATE LESSON, OR OTHER ACTIVITY THROUGH THIS WEBSITE, YOU ARE AGREEING TO ALL OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS AND WAIVERS. IF YOU ARE AN ATTENDEE OF OUR REGULAR CLASSES AND HAVE REGISTERED AND ENROLLED IN A CLASS THROUGH THE “PARENT PORTAL AND/OR DANCESTUDIO-PRO” YOU AGREED THROUGH THERE AS WELL. PLEASE DO NOT HAVE YOUR CHILD/YOURSELF PARTICIPATE IN ANY CLASS OR EVENT UNLESS YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS IN THIS AGREEMENT.

Your Registration Email will contain a dress code for each class, but in general:

• Dancewear that is form-fitting and not too loose(Tap and HipHop can have tshirts/hoodies that are looser-fitting.)
• Hair should be neat and preferably in a low pony or bun, flat to the head to prevent it becoming a distration or hindrance to your dancer’s movements. This especially applies to classes such as Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro/Tumbling.
• No Jewelry including necklaces/bracelets/rings/anklets.
• Ballet should include ballet tights and a black leotard. Hair should be up in either a low or high ballet bun, flat to the head and neatly groomed (no whispies, so use gel and/or hairspray). Proper bun has bobby pins, NOT wrapped up in a rubberband or scrunchy. Here is a helpful tutorial, although a bun net is not required. It does help contain the smaller hairs and makes it a bit easier to get a good bun, however.
• Each class will require proper footwear, and most will be purchased through the studio. Do not purchase shoes until verifying which specific style and color will be required for your clases! They won’t be able to be used in class, and we don’t want you to waste your money!

Many – if not most – studios require ballet class in order to take these additional classes.Ballet is the basis for many, in fact most, other basic styles of performance dance. Ballet is training in strength and control of both large and small motor movements, and helps develop the core strength necessary for a well-rounded dancer. Ballet technique and terminology is used extensively in Jazz, lyrical, contemporary and other styles, and a strong understanding and knowledge of ballet will increase your dancer’s skills and abilities in these other styles.

The strength and flexibility learned in ballet, as well as proper posture and form, will serve your dancer in all areas of their life, not just in dance.

Dancers male and female, young and old benefit greatly from ballet both in dance and in other aspects of life.

*This list applies to ballet specifically, but many items also apply to certain other styles of dance as well.*

1. IMPROVES POSTURE
   Many people spend hours sitting in front of screens or in classrooms, which can create bad postural habits with long-term effects. Well, Ballet can address that by helping achieve postural alignment. Ballet classes can help to develop correct everyday posture, improving balance and coordination. And increasing awareness of the way you might be standing, sitting or walking in your daily life.
2. BUILDS MUSCLE AND AGILITY
   Believe it or not, part of the Pilates and some endurance training took their inspiration from ballet technique! Pliés, Sautés, Pirouettes* will use your own body weight to strengthen your core and lower body. Ballet also requires you to breath with coordination throughout your dance sequence increasing your cardiovascular strength, making Ballet the complete perfect training to improve motor skills!  
   • Pliés = squatting
   • Sautés = jumps
   • Pirouettes = spins
3. IMPROVES FLEXIBILITY
   Flexibility is not a prerequisite for Ballet; you gain it through regular practice. Since Ballet involves static and dynamic stretching, doing both will contribute to your overall flexibility. Great isn’t it?!
4. IMPROVES SENSORY MOTOR PERFORMANCE
   The ability to balance yourself and react to external stimuli is indicative of how tuned your sensorimotor skills are. Participating in a Ballet class enhances these skills by engaging both hemispheres of your brain for coordinated learning. Becoming proficient in Ballet challenges your brain to synchronize your form with the expectations. A meta-analysis found that Ballet was a useful measure to limit age-related mental impairment such as dementia too.
5. IMPROVES LEARNING ABILITIES AND PERSISTENCE
   Knowing how to memorise four combinations in a week comes in handy when you need to remember seven math formulas for your next exam. Ballet dancers are asked to remember intricate routines, patterns and movements on a daily basis, and their training makes them top of the class in memorising anything! Furthermore, whether trying to conquer a difficult Ballet step or mast a physics formula, dancers understand that giving up isn’t an option.
6. MAKES BRILLIANT PROBLEM SOLVERS
   Ballet is always asking dancers to do multiple things at once, making them great at solving tricky problems. Plus, dancers always think eight Steps (or counts) ahead. Smart people plan ahead; and that’s a quality every dancer has too. Because your body couldn’t have executed that tricky turn sequence unless your brain knew it was coming three/eight-counts before.
7. MAKES AMAZING LISTENERS
   Helping us better understand and appreciate even the trickiest music, another sign of intelligence!
8. BUILDS CONFIDENCE
   In addition to its physical benefits, Ballet can also help to improve mental and emotional health. The training in Classical Ballet instils a sense of pride and accomplishment, which can boost self-esteem. As you improve and master more challenging movement combinations, they feel more self-assured, which can carry over into other areas of your life.
9. RELEASES HAPPY HORMONES
   In a Ballet class when you are focused on the placement of your body and co-ordination with the music in the moment, you are able to escape from the stresses of everyday life. The physical workout of Ballet releases endorphins giving you a real feel good factor, during and after class. Additionally, classical music has been shown to have positive, calming influences on the brain and aids focus and concentration, all helping to create happy Ballet dancers!
10. PRESENTS SOCIAL BENEFITS
    Ballet classes help foster teamwork, communication, trust and cooperation. Ballet can also help to forge new friendships, overcome shyness or awkwardness in social situations and reduce the fears associated with being in a group and performing in front of an audience.
11. STIMULATES CREATIVITY
    The smartest people are incredibly creative—and dancers, who can whip out brilliant improvisations at the drop of a hat, are pushed to explore their creativity from day one. Furthermore, Ballet is a fascinating art form with centuries of amazing tales. Once you’ve sparked an interest, there are basically no limits on what you can learn. You will even find yourself learning some of the French ballet terms… charmant!
12. DEVELOPS COMMUNICATION SKILLS
    One of the great things about seeing Ballet performed is how effective it is at telling a story without words. This sensation of communication through movement doesn’t just work one-way: it is just as exciting learning to use your body to communicate as it is for an audience on opening night. Learning Ballet in your spare time is a fantastic creative way to help you develop self-expression in new and exciting ways!
13. IMPACTS ON OTHER SPORTS
    Rio Ferdinand has claimed his footballing career was helped by Ballet training which improved his balance, strength and flexibility. Classes are still predominantly attended by women and girls, but as the physical benefits of Ballet become more widely known more men, boys and sport athletes are incorporating dance into their fitness routine. Many professional sportsmen have already discovered how Ballet can help them. Footballer Rio Ferdinand trained as a Ballet dancer; and in the US it is also common for American footballers to take classes. While these sportsmen may have no intention of becoming the next Billy Elliot, they understand that Ballet will strengthen their muscles while improving their balance and poise. The physical benefits of taking up Ballet is noticeable within a few weeks of regular attendance to classes. However, the feel-good effects of a lesson are apparent almost immediately. And investing yourself in Ballet is a valuable use of your time!

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SOURCES
Lydie Schrepfer – https://www.myballet.co.uk/blogs/benefits-of-ballet/

ConsultantKate Menzies – Scottish Ballet

John Peters/Getty

Sowmya Kshtriya

Rebecca Barnstaple

Débora B. Rabinovich

Joseph F. X. De Souza

Dance Spirit.com