General Studio Policies:
1. Student Conduct for Ballet Bloch Canada & North Shore Academy of
Dancing:
Students must observe the following classroom rules at all times:
- Attend class regularly and on time.
- Adhere to the Dress Code (including footwear), please see our website
for details.
- Refrain from openly challenging a teacher's expertise or choice of
choreography. If you wish to give input, please talk to the teacher after
class or send an email with your concerns.
- Always be respectful to your teachers and fellow students.
- Pay attention and keep talking to a minimum.
- Leave dance bags and cell phones outside the classroom.
- Observe quietly if you are sitting out.
- Do not chew gum.
- Ballet Bloch Program students please see the 2021-22 Professional
Program Contract. Please read the Terms & Conditions, sign and
return for completion of registration.
Failure to follow these policies may result in a review by the
instructors with the student and parent(s). Continued insubordination
will result in a student being expelled from the studio.
2. NSAD Recitals:
Every class with the exception of a few technique classes participates in
our year-end recital, InMotion. The dates for the performances and
dress rehearsals will be available on our website. The specific order of
the shows and dress rehearsals are emailed out, posted on our website
and displayed in the studio waiting area closer to the date of the
recital.
3. NSAD Costumes:
Costume charges for our annual recital are not included in the regular
monthly class fees. On April 1st accounts will be charged one costume
per dancer for each class they are enrolled, an email prior to this date
will be sent with regards to the cost. Our Performance Group Program
classes will not be charged for a recital costume since they have a
separate costume payment policy relating to competitive/performance
events.
4. Studio Parking:
There are nine marked stalls available in the studio parking lot to the
east and north of the studio front door. When dropping off your child,
please observe and respect the "no stopping" area policy in front of the
studio door. This is for the safety of our students entering and exiting
the building.
5. Attendance:
All students are required to email their respective studio
(info@nsad.ca OR info@balletbloch.com) if they are going to be absent
from any of their classes. Please use email, as opposed to leaving a
voicemail message, as this is more easily passed onto the instructor.
6. Insufficient Class Enrolment:
Ballet Bloch Canada & North Shore Academy of Dancing reserves the
right to cancel any classes with insufficient enrolment.

- NEW Registration Policy for this season: please only register for the
classes you are fully able to commit to. Due to the Covid-19 capacity
restrictions, firm policies, regarding withdrawals have been
implemented: If you withdraw prior to or during the month of
September you are required to pay 50% of the month's tuition on the
classes dropped. If you make multiple changes to your schedule prior to
or during September an admin fee of $20.00 per change will incur.
These policies have been introduced due to the Covid-19 capacity
restrictions and are in place to ensure classes are not being held for
convenience, then dropped, last minute, affecting another dancer's
opportunity to participate. We trust you respect and appreciate our new
policy.
- One month's written notice is required for withdrawal from any
classes with the deadline to withdraw without penalty being March 1st,
after which no refunds will be issued and regular tuition fees are due
and charged.
- Performance Group Program have a separate withdrawal date of
September 30th, after which no refunds are issued.
- A $35.00 plus GST fee will be charged on NSF Cheques and declined
debit or credit card payments.
- Late payments are subject to a $35.00 late fee.
- The studio reserves the right to suspend a student whose account is
outstanding for more than one month.
- Credit card numbers or pre-authorized debit information must be on
file in order for registration to proceed. Monthly fees are automatically
charged on the 1st of the month. The studio reserves the right to invoice
and charge any additional respective charges to the account (costume
fees, examination fees, etc.) using the method of payment provided on
file.
- Each family will be charged $20.00 plus GST for the NSAD recital video links, when the event is in a theatre setting. Increased fees would applied without a live audience.

NSAD Policies for the Exam Class Program (RAD & ISTD)
1. Exam Recommendations:
Examinations are offered through the Royal Academy of Dance, in the case of Ballet, or the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, in the case of Modern Dance and Vocational level Ballet. In order to take an exam, a student must receive a recommendation by their instructor in the form of a letter, sometime before the end of December. Students who are not eligible to take their exam will not receive a letter. This does not limit them from continuing in the class or from progressing to the next grade or class level the following year. For those students who are
recommended, the exam is optional. However, exams are strongly recommended since they offer many benefits including assessing progress from year to year, maintaining industry recognized standards and earning high school credits.
2. Exam Eligibility:
Recommendations are based on a student meeting the minimum technical requirements necessary to pass an exam at their age level at the time the assessment is made. Exam recommendations are made carefully by our instructors in order to avoid failing or disappointing grades. In a few cases, if a student's technical requirements are considered borderline, the instructor may still recommend them, provided they take some private lessons. Such lessons would be in addition to the extra exam sessions as outlined below. Please note that a
teacher cannot be held responsible if a student's attendance or focus on their exam work waivers after a recommendation is made and accepted. If there are any concerns in that regard, communication with the parents will be established and a reassessment and possible withdrawal may be required.
3. Extra Exam Coaching and Mock Exam:
All students who participate in an exam are required to take extra exam coaching lessons, one of which will be a mock exam. The regular monthly fees do not cover these sessions. The cost, dates and times of these sessions will be outlined when recommendations are made. It is mandatory that students taking an exam attend these extra sessions and commit to them before accepting their exam offer.

Policies for NSAD Performance Class Program:
1. NSAD Auditions
Participation in our Performance Class Program is determined through an audition placement with either the Artistic Director or Programs Director. Class levels are determined by: age group, however, exceptions may be made on an individual basis at the discretion of NSAD faculty if a student is better suited to another class.
2. NSAD Payment Policies:
In addition to the general studio payment policies, the following additional payment policies apply to the Performance Class Program:
- There is a Performance Fee of $350 plus GST per performance group class. This fee will be charged in 4 payments at $87.50 plus GST. This fee is due on the first of the month: October, November, December and January. This fee covers the cost of costumes and competition entry fees.
- Student placement and participation cannot be substituted easily once choreography has begun. Group costumes have been ordered and competition fees paid. Therefore, in the event that a student withdraws from a performance class after our September 30th deadline, the full payment of the performance class fee, will be due and charged. Exceptions may be granted in cases where extenuating circumstances prevail. Decisions are final and at the discretion of the Artistic Director.
3. NSAD Performances for Performance Program Dancers:
From September thru to June, students are required to take part in various community performances, in three competitions and in our two recitals, "SnowMotion" and "InMotion". All of the performance and competition venues will be within the Lower Mainland or within a two-hour drive from North Vancouver. Overnight stays are not required.
3a. Performance Program Community Events:
Our objective is to keep community performances to a reasonable number and provide equal performance opportunity to all classes over the course of the dance season. However, for each performance, the routines most suitable to that particular venue will be selected. In terms of scheduling, some community performances can be arranged in advance while other opportunities may arise within short notice. Despite trying to keep performances during school hours to a minimum, some opportunities may require students to miss school.
3b. Performance Program Competitions:
The specific competitions that each class participates in throughout the season is determined by our instructors who make their selections based on:
- the date the competition takes place
- the theme of the competition (general or genre specific)
- the calibre of the other competing groups based on past experience
- the quality and usefulness of the adjudication based on past experience and the overall popularity of the competition based on student feedback
4. NSAD Performance Program Choreography:
One of the main objectives of a performing class is to participate in competitions. Adjudication is based on many criteria including: costumes, dance technique, performance presence and choreographic skill. Our instructors design their choreography with all of these criteria in mind. Sometimes their artistry will include a section in a dance where one or a few dancers are featured over others. This is the nature of performing arts and a reflection of the creative process of the choreographer. Performing class students and their parents must accept and respect this process.
5. Training Policy:
It is against policy for any student taking classes within our Performance Class Program to enrol in classes with another dance school outside of Ballet Bloch Canada and NSAD. Students who violate this policy will forfeit their place in each of their performing classes. Engaging in training in more than one dance studio presents a number of potential issues, from incompatible syllabi and teaching styles, to major scheduling problems and conflicts of interest. We expect our performance class students to commit fully to our program and to our brand of training and choreography.
6. Commitment & Attendance:
Students who accept a position in the Performance Class Program must regard themselves as a team member and view their placements as a yearlong commitment including, and especially, attending all three of the competitions. Performing class students must adhere to the following rules:
- Mandatory attendance of all three competitions (only exceptions being illness or injury) COVID-19 health regulations apply
- Regular class attendance (maximum of 3 absences are permitted and strongly enforced)
- Notification of all absences must be communicated by email to: info@nsad.ca
- Compliance with the Student Conduct Rules as outlined under Studio Policies
- Prioritizing dance over all other non-academic pursuits, such as sports or theatre productions through school.
- Careful maintenance and preservation of costume(s)
- Students who do not follow the above rules run the risk of having their class placement/s forfeited.
7. Injury:
If a student encounters an injury during the dance season that has an effect on their participation, North Shore Academy of Dancing requires an email from the parent and a physician's note advising of the injury along with an active plan of recovery (preferably from a physical therapist). Students are still required to attend their classes by observing and learning visually until they can safely participate physically.

Policies for Ballet Bloch Programs:

Ballet Bloch Canada's 2021-22 Contract will be sent (via email) for parent/guardian signature upon registration.
(Please note these policies apply to the students enrolled in the Ballet Bloch Junior Program, Ballet Bloch Intermediate Program, and Ballet Bloch Advanced Program)

Prerequisites for NSAD Programs:

All performance classes require a student to be registered in a jazz technique class specific to their age group, as well as, one or two additional prerequisites that will also apply depending on the genre. The higher levels of I.S.T.D Modern and R.A.D. Ballet also have prerequisites in order to be considered for examinations. Please see the following detailed breakdown:

Performance Lyrical
• age-appropriate jazz technique class
• age-appropriate advanced lyrical technique class • 2 ballet classes

Performance Contemporary
• age-appropriate jazz technique class • 1 open contemporary class
• 1 non-performance class in any genre

Performance Jazz
• age-appropriate jazz technique class
2 syllabus classes in either Ballet (RAD/ISTD) or Modern (ISTD). Students enrolled in Intermediate Foundation modern and above must be enrolled in at least one ballet class per week.

Performance Broadway
• age-appropriate jazz technique class
• 2 syllabus classes in either Ballet (RAD/ISTD) or Modern (ISTD). Students enrolled in Intermediate Foundation modern and above must be enrolled in at least one ballet class per week.

Performance Ballet
age-appropriate jazz technique class
2 ballet classes

Performance Hip Hop
• age-appropriate jazz technique class
• 1 class in any hip hop style (video dance, street jazz, smooth groove, etc.)

R.A.D. Ballet
• Students wanting to work towards an examination in Intermediate Foundation and above must also be enrolled in a level appropriate Pointe class.
• All Vocational level students must attend the Monday Pointe class.

I.S.T.D. Modern
• Students enrolled in Intermediate Foundation modern and above must be enrolled in at least one ballet class per week.

Performance Levels: Crystal, Diamond, Black Diamond:
• Students participating in these levels must be enrolled in two ballet classes per week.

Miscellaneous Fees
Ballet Bloch Canada and North Shore Academy of Dancing have an annual Registration Fee (due upon registering), Costume Fees (amount varies depending on NSAD recital or Ballet Bloch Production: Nutcracker/Gala), Video Link fees (NSAD Recital Links fee is charged prior to show, Ballet Bloch Video Links are charged separately), additional Examination Fees (participation is by invitation), Performance Fees (for performance group students only, performance group enrolment is by audition). Our recitals/productions have ticket costs - these tickets are sold through the theatre box office and this information will be emailed to you close to the show/performance times.