STUDIO POLICY

MORITA’S SCHOOL OF DANCE STUDIO POLICY

26 Melody Lane, Hermon, ME 04401

This will be a great year for all our dancers! We are looking forward to dancing with you this season!

WELCOME! Thank you for choosing Morita’s School of Dance for your child’s dance education. We are entering our 58th season and are proud to have built a strong reputation for well-rounded dance instruction. We are confident that your dancer will have a positive and enriching experience, building confidence, enhancing self-expression, and developing a lifelong love of dance -as well as friendships that extend far beyond our studio walls.

Below are some policies to ensure the best possible experience for all. We will be communicating to you mostly through email. Information will also be posted on the website listed above & information board in the studio lobby. Please check your email and our website frequently for important information.

Let us know if your email or telephone number changes. Thanks!

COMMUNICATION:

Email: msdancestudio68@hotmail.com
Telephone: (207) 848-5083
Website: www.moritasschoolofdance.com
Social Media:
- Facebook: Morita’s School of Dance
- Instagram: @moritasschoolofdance

Check your email and our website regularly for updates. We use email as the main form of communication to our dance families. Please be sure to update your online portal account if/when an email change happens. If you are not receiving our emails, please let us know.

We use email as the preferred method of communication with all general inquiries as well as communication with staff as they often have back-to-back classes.

TUITION: Tuition is based on the full studio year term beginning with classes in September and culminating with recital, mid-May 2026. Tuition is not prorated for student absences, sickness or scheduled holiday breaks. Missed classes may be made up, schedule permitting, during the same month.

The monthly tuition amount has been determined by taking the annual tuition and dividing it into equal monthly installments, making the monthly payment the same amount every month regardless of missed classes or holidays/school vacations.

If a student’s account is past due more than 60 days, he/she will not be allowed to attend classes or perform in any performance until the account is current.

RECURRING AUTOPAY: All accounts will be required to have a Debit or Credit Card placed on file within our system, and our system will automatically draft from this form of payment on the 1st day of each month (September through May). This will ensure that your payments are received on time. PLEASE NOTE: To activate automatic payments, please log into your portal and enter your payment details on the "Auto-Pay" page.

You may pay by cash or check in advance but be sure your payment is received at least 5 days prior to the due date to ensure your payment is made to your account. If a check is returned, the payee is required to pay a $25.00 charge and must replace the payment with cash or money order.

Autopay will run for all payments (tuition, costumes, recital media, etc.) throughout the year.

DANCER DROP OFF AND PICK-UP: While we care deeply about your children, please note that Morita’s School of Dance is not a childcare facility. We are responsible for our students only during their scheduled class times.

The safety of every student is very important to us, and we encourage all families to be mindful of safety when arriving and departing from the studio. The safest practice is to park your vehicle and walk your child into the lobby before class begins. We also strongly recommend that you come into the lobby to pick up your child promptly after class.

Please make every effort to arrive on time for pick-up. In the event of an emergency or unavoidable delay, contact the studio immediately at (207) 848-5083 so we can ensure your child remains safe and calm until you arrive.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work together to keep our students safe.

2025-2026 STUDIO CALENDAR: Classes begin in September or October, depending on the location of the studio, and end with the annual production at Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School in May. This schedule allows one snow day to be missed. If more snow days are missed, they will be made up during vacation weeks or on a different day during the week.

September 8, 2025 – Classes Begin for the new dance season in our Hermon Studio
October 7, 2025 – Classes Begin for the new dance season in our Dover Studio
October 13, 2025 – Indigenous People’s Day – ALL CLASSES HELD
October 20, 2025 – Recital Costume Fees Due (automatically processed on this day)
November 11, 2025 – Veteran’s Day – ALL CLASSES HELD
November 22-30, 2025 – Thanksgiving Break – NO CLASSES HELD
December 6, 2025 – Festival of Lights Parade
December 8-12, 2025 – Holiday Recital Rehearsal Week, Peakes Auditorium
December 13-14, 2025 – Holiday Recital Weekend (Show Dates/Times TBD)
December 15, 2025-January 2, 2026 – Winter Break – NO CLASSES HELD
January 3, 2026 – Classes Resume in Hermon and Dover Studios
January 19, 2026 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – ALL CLASSES HELD
February 15-22, 2026 – February Vacation – NO CLASSES HELD
April 19-26, 2026 – April Vacation – NO CLASSES HELD
May 11-15, 2026 – End of Year Recital Rehearsal Week, Peakes Auditorium
May 16-17, 2026 – End of Year Recital Weekend (Show Dates/Times TBD)

SNOW DAYS: In case of snow days, please check the studio Facebook page, the studio Instagram page and/or your e-mail. School cancellation is NOT an automatic dance cancellation. There are times when some schools cancel and some do not, so if there is any question, call/email the studio or check our Facebook page. Missed classes, if more than one, will be rescheduled with other classes during the week or during school breaks.

ABSENCES: Good attendance is imperative to a dancer’s progress. Students will be allowed to make-up class at or below their level for a missed class. Students with inconsistent attendance may be dismissed from their class and/or moved to another class. Failure to attend regularly may result in removal from performances.

If your dancer will not be in class, please email msdancestudio68@hotmail.com to let us know, or complete the online absence form found within our portal.

CLASS PLACEMENT: The teachers will be evaluating both former students and new students in the first few weeks of classes. Students may be asked to try a few classes to help place them where they are best suited according to their age and ability. We do not place friends, siblings, or relatives in the same class for convenience, if their ability is not suited to the class. Promotion to the next class level is strictly based on the individual dancer’s ability, attitude & maturity. Entire classes will NOT automatically be moved up together, unless deemed appropriate.

TEACHER CONFERENCES: The teachers will be happy to discuss the progress of your child and answer any questions you may have. Since it is the teacher’s prime concern to teach, we request that you set up an appointment for a phone conference or a meeting rather than take class time from the teacher. Their next class will be waiting, and we must be fair to every student.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES: As the students get older and progress in their dancing abilities, we attend certain competitions and festivals from time to time. Competition is NOT the focus of our studio. It is a great learning experience for the dancers to attend a competition, to perform and learn by watching the many other studios. Maine Dance Teachers Workshop is for students 8 yrs. and older are invited and encouraged to attend the Maine Dance Teachers Workshops.

The Stars Dance Team-Mini Stars, Rising Stars, Shooting Stars, and Elite Stars - Please ask for information if your dancer is interested. This is for dancers in kindergarten and older, with at least one full dance season’s worth of experience. Being on the dance team gives the dancers many more performing opportunities, more dance and rehearsal time and improves the dancer's ability with all the extra practice. It is a great team-bonding experience for all ages, with the older dancers being great mentors to the younger dancers.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS: Photos will be taken in the spring. Many lovely picture packages are available for you to purchase. All students are required to attend the photo shoot, but it is your choice to purchase the pictures.

THE DRESS CODE: Our dancewear shop, The Happy Feet Boutique, helps you get everything you need all from one location! We carry high-quality shoes, tights, leotards, and other dancewear items available to order at any time throughout the dance season! Proper shoes, dancewear and hairstyle are important for the study of dance for the purpose of seeing bodylines and proper placement.

Hair: Must be tied back in a ponytail for all classes and in a bun for ballet and contemporary. If you forget your hair tie, we always have extras available at the front desk!

Please label all students dancewear and their shoes with their full name

ACRO (Pre-School)

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts and ballet shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and ballet shoes.

ACRO (Grade K and up)

Girls: Any color leotard with convertible or footless tights, dance leggings or dance shorts and bare feet.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and bare feet.

BALLET

Girls: Any color leotard with tights and pink ballet shoes. Ballet skirts may be worn in addition to leotard and tights.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or jazz pants and black ballet slippers.

CONTEMPORARY

Girls: Any color leotard with convertible tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, and contemporary shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and contemporary shoes.

HIP HOP

Girls: T-shirts or tank tops, sweatpants, dance pants and hip-hop sneakers.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and hip-hop sneakers.

HIPPITY HOP

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, and tan jazz shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and black jazz shoes.

JAZZ

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, and tan jazz shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and black jazz shoes.

LYRICAL

Girls: Any color leotard with convertible tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, and ballet shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and ballet shoes.

MUSICAL THEATRE

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, and tan jazz shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants and black jazz shoes.

POINTE

Girls: Any color leotard with tights and pink pointe shoes. Ballet skirts may be worn in addition to leotard and tights.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or jazz pants and black ballet slippers.

TAP

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, and black tap shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or jazz pants and black tap shoes.

TAP & BALLET COMBINATION

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, black tap shoes and pink ballet shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or jazz pants, black tap shoes and pink ballet shoes.

TAP, BALLET & JAZZ COMBINATION

Girls: Any color leotard with tights, dance leggings or dance shorts, black tap shoes, pink ballet shoes and tan jazz shoes.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or jazz pants, black tap shoes, pink ballet shoes and black jazz shoes.

TINY TOTS

Girls: T-shirts or tank tops, leotards, sweatpants, dance pants/leggings, and socks or ballet slippers.
Boys: T-shirt or tank top, shorts or sweatpants, and socks or ballet slippers.

RECITALS: We have a Holiday Production in December and a Recital Production in May, and all students will perform. Throughout the year, certain classes may be asked to perform at charity events, festivals, etc. Dance is a performing art, and we like to take the opportunity for the dancers to perform whenever possible.

RECITAL COSTUMES: Recital costume payment will be automatically charged to the form of payment placed on your account on October 20th, 2025. COSTUMES WILL BE USED FOR THE HOLIDAY AND SPRING SHOWS. All dancers taking class are required to purchase their costume for their dancer to wear in our Holiday Production in December and Recital Production in May. Your dancer’s costume package will include their costume, tights, accessories, garment bag, tax, and shipping for your convenience.

The Minimum Costume Package will be between $90 & $100 plus tax. Prices will vary for students taking more than 1 hour per week. Costumes are not returnable and therefore non-refundable. Exchanges can take up to 6 weeks for delivery. Students will be measured for their costumes in October. Costumes are released ONLY when all costume and lesson payments are up to date.

RECITAL MEDIA FEE: There will be a $40 (plus tax) recital media fee (one per family) which is posted to accounts March 15th, and the fee is due April 1st. The Media Fee covers a digital copy of all recital videos. FinePrints video production will be filming. All families pay the media fee in order to participate in the recital, and they will receive a download link once the videographer has completed the finished product. Due to the ease of sharing digital content, the media fee is mandatory. The one fee covers all performances that are held on recital weekend. Your media fee will be charged to the form of payment on file on April 1st.

CODE OF CONDUCT: Our most important rule: RESPECT. At Morita’s School of Dance, respect is the foundation of everything we do. All students, parents, and siblings are expected to demonstrate proper respect for the director, faculty, curriculum, and fellow students at all times.

If a student is not actively participating or is not showing appropriate respect, the staff reserves the right to ask them to take a brief break from class to regroup. Additionally, the studio reserves the right to dismiss any student—at any time—if their behavior, or the behavior of their parent/guardian, is not in alignment with the studio’s philosophy, values, and policies.

We believe that maintaining a respectful and supportive environment is essential to every dancer’s growth and success.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE AND POLICIES:

Students may bring water in closed, spillproof, water bottles into class.No juices, sodas, coffees or teas.
Observers are not permitted into the classrooms unless invited by an instructor.
Cell phones are not permitted in the classrooms.
Food and Gum are not permitted in the classrooms.
Students should not touch mirrors or hang on barres.
Absolutely no running in the classroom and/or hallways and waiting areas.
Students/siblings are not allowed in classrooms without an instructor.
Street shoes are not allowed on the dance floors.

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY:

Personal Social Media Use

We encourage you to share your dance journey! Please tag us (@moritasschoolofdance) and use our official hashtag (#idanceatmoritas).
Respect other students’ privacy - do not post photos or videos of other dancers without their parents’ consent.
Keep comments and interactions positive, kind, respectful and uplifting.
Do not use the studio’s name to promote unrelated businesses or causes without prior approval.

Online Behavior Expectations

Bullying, harassment, or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated - on or offline.
If any inappropriate or concerning content is identified, please report it to studio management immediately.
The studio reserves the right to ask individuals to remove content involving the studio that violates this policy.

Consequences for Violations - Violations of this policy may result in

A warning and discussion with the studio director.
Disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal from the studio, for severe or repeated violations.

WAIVER & AGREEMENT

PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THIS PORTION. KEEP THE REST FOR YOUR RECORDS.

Morita’s School of Dance, Morland, LLC or any other location where classes are held along with any heirs, its employees and staff will be held harmless from liability or claims resulting from your child’s participation in this program. Morita’s School of Dance, Morland, LLC or other locations classes are held at are not responsible for personal injury, loss, or damage of personal items. I understand with any physical activity; there is a chance of injury.

I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE STUDIO POLICIES.

Please Print Student’s Name(s): ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature of Parent or Guardian (if under 18) or Student 18 & over:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________________________