Parent Resources
2024-2025 Handbook
LEVEL PLACEMENT
Level placements allow EFAD’s faculty to place each student where they will benefit the most. Please
know that EFAD has every student’s best interest in mind. Students promoted too soon will miss valuable
training and struggle in the next level, which is unnecessary, frustrating and may lead to injury. Students
are placed in the levels that will encourage the most progress. Therefore, level placements are not
subject to parent or student negotiation.
It is normal for a dancer to stay at the same level for two or more years, even when they are clearly
growing and progressing. This is especially the case for levels 2 & 3, where our instructors cover a
substantial amount of material, and dancers are expected to learn and develop a great deal. This process
cannot be rushed.
LEVELS
EFAD has six levels within the program. Please understand while age is taken into consideration; EFAD
levels students based on their abilities.
EFAD is committed to providing exceptional technical dance training in a supportive and nurturing
environment, offering every student the opportunity to achieve their individual training goals. We realize
that our students are young men and women that are demonstrating the highest level of passion and
commitment to their growth as trained dancers.
Pre-Dance (Ages 3-6)
Level 1 (Ages 6-11)
Level 2 (Ages 10-18)
Level 3 (Ages 11-18)
Level 4 (Ages 13-18)
Conservatory- Invite Only (Ages 13-18)
CONSERVATORY
1. EFAD offers 3 conservatory classes taught by Elise Flagg. These classes represent the most
vigorous training offered by EFAD and will be the only classes taught by Elise Flagg.
2. These classes are offered through invite or audition only except for the Wednesday Conservatory class
which is open to all Level 4 Embody dancers.
3. Conservatory classes are NOT subject to the Maximum Tuition Discount.
4. Only those conservatory dancers taking all three conservatory classes are eligible to take private
lessons with Elise Flagg. Privates may be recommended but not required. Extra fees apply.
5. YAGP variations are recommended but not mandatory. Extra fees apply.
6. Those dancers with a commitment to ballet and professional aspirations may participate in Embody
Dance Company, but no more than 2 group dances and 1 solo. If a conservatory invitee would like to do
more than 2 group dances for Embody, they may, however they will not be eligible to participate in any
Conservatory Spring Showcase pieces.
7. Only those dancers taking all three conservatory classes will be cast in the conservatory Spring
Showcase pieces.
8. Only those dancers taking all three conservatory classes will get priority casting for Nutcracker.
RECOMMENDED CLASSES
EFAD does not have minimum class requirement. However, we do have a recommended number of
hours for each level. We encourage dancers to take as many classes as their interest and schedule allow.
We recommend that dancers with professional aspirations, or those simply wanting to grow at a faster
pace, take the maximum number of classes available to them.
Dancers who train more will progress at a faster rate than those students who take the minimum required
classes, will take less than the standard time to be considered for promotion to the next level and will
have more performance opportunities. In dance, as with any sport, students progress at their own pace.
Of course, the time they put into their training is one factor in how well and how quickly they progress.
Recommend Classes per Level
Pre-Dance: 1 Class per Week
Level 1: 2 Ballet Classes per Week, 1 Additional Class (Conditioning or Jazz)
Level 2: 2 Ballet Classes per Week, 3 Additional Classes (Jazz, Contemporary, or Conditioning)
Level 3: 3 Ballet Classes per Week, 4 Additional (Jazz, Contemporary, Conditioning, Pre-Pointe, or
Modern)
Level 4: 3 Ballet Classes per Week, 4 Additional (Jazz, Contemporary, Conditioning, Pointe, or Modern)
EFAD Session Classes
Please note, schedule is subject to change due to low enrollment.
Monthly Pricing
Ballet
Pre-Ballet (30 Minutes) - $35
Ballet 1 (60 minutes) - $60
Ballet 2/3 (90 minutes) - $80
Ballet 4 (90 minutes)- $90
**Conservatory Mon/Tues (2 hrs. 45 minutes)- $165
**Conservatory Wed (2 hours) - $120
All Pointe classes (60 minutes) - $60
All Pilates classes (45 minutes) - $45
Jazz
Pre-Jazz (30 Minutes) - $35
Jazz 1 (45 minutes) - $45
Jazz 2 (60 minutes) - $60
Jazz 3/4 (90 minutes) - $75
Contemporary
Contemporary 2 (60 minutes) - $60
Contemporary 3/4 (90 minutes) - $75
Supplemental Classes
**Modern 3/4 (90 minutes) - $75
**These classes are not included under the Maximum Tuition Discount.
Maximum Tuition Discount - $525/month
The maximum tuition discount applies to all ballet, pointe, Pilates, contemporary and jazz classes.
Conservatory and supplementary classes are NOT included in the maximum tuition discount calculation
and will be billed in addition to the $525 maximum tuition discount if applicable.
TUITION & FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1. A non-refundable Annual Registration fee of $50 per student, regardless of level and not subject to
sibling discount, will be charged with the Registration deposit for the Fall session only.
2. Each session's tuition may be paid in full (at a 5% discount) or in monthly installments. Monthly
installment invoices will be invoiced 7 days prior to each month and due on the 1st of the month.
3. Grace period - we ask that all invoices be paid on time and in full each month, however we will offer a
10-day grace period. After the 10th of each month, a $25/month late fee will be assessed AND enforced!
If accounts are assessed the $25 late fee and those are not paid, they will accrue to the next billing cycle.
4. Registration for any Academic Year session, Nutcracker, Showcase and/or Summer Intensive will
ONLY be open to those who are fully up to date with their accounts, INCLUDING any late fees.
5. All pricing considers holidays and studio closings. There will be no additional prorations.
Credit Card Policy
EFAD accepts all major credit cards. Please note, a 3.5% surcharge will be assessed on all credit card
payments. This represents the fee the credit card companies charge EFAD to process the payments.
EFAD has made the decision to not factor this fee into its tuition as that would not be fair to those families
who choose to pay via cash or check.
Cash/Check Policy
The credit card fee can be avoided by paying via cash or check. Each invoice will show a subtotal prior to
the credit card fee charge. If paying via cash or check, please use the subtotal. Please make checks
payable to Elise Flagg Academy of Dance. Checks should be deposited in the EFAD lockbox in the studio
lobby. If checks are being delivered directly from a family’s bank, please schedule payment early enough
to meet our deadlines.
Returned Payments
It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian listed as the billing contact, to ensure that their billing
information is accurate in the Family Portal prior to the first of each month. Any payments returned or
declined for any reason will incur a $35 reprocessing fee.Tuition Refund Policy
Monthly tuition paid is non-refundable and non-transferable to another student. Students are eligible for a
prorated tuition refund only if they withdraw from classes due to prolonged illness or severe injury, verified
by a doctor’s certificate. Refunds will be in the form of a credit applied to the student’s account, that can
then be applied to future invoices.
No refunds are given for classes missed because of illness, injury, vacation, or weather.
Costume Fees
All dancers participating in the Spring Showcase will be charged a costume fee of $75 per costume.
Costume fees will be invoiced in January and due in February. Any unpaid costume fee will result in the
costume not being ordered and the dancer removed from the showcase piece.
Registration Information
EFAD will offer two sessions, Fall and Spring, during the Academic Year Program. Registration is required
for both sessions separately. The Fall session will run from September 3, 2024 - December 21, 2024. The
Spring session will run from January 6, 2025 - May 24, 2025.
Registration for any Academic Year session, Nutcracker, Showcase and/or Summer Intensive will ONLY
be open to those who are fully up to date with their accounts, INCLUDING any late fees.
Registration Deposit
A $250 per student Registration Deposit is due immediately upon registering your dancer(s). Your
registration will not be considered complete until this deposit is paid. There are no discounts of any kind
applied to this deposit. The deposit will be applied to the September fee invoice. If the deposit is higher
than your monthly tuition, a credit will be applied to your account for future months.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
From a Class
Any class may be dropped, without penalty, within 30 days of the 1st day of class per session. After 30
days, classes may not be dropped until the end of the session and will be billed each month regardless of
attendance.
To withdraw a student from a class, EFAD must receive written notice including the student’s name and
the date the student will withdraw from the class. The Parent or Guardian will be responsible for the full
monthly fee of the dropped class. There will be no prorations for classes dropped mid-month. Verbal
notification of withdrawal will not be accepted.
From the School
To withdraw a student prior to the end of a session of the Academic Year Program, EFAD must receive
written notice including the student’s name and the date the student will officially withdraw from the
program. The Parent or Guardian will be responsible for all tuition payments due until a written notice of
withdrawal is received stating the date of withdrawal. Verbal notification of withdrawal will not be
accepted. Please see the EFAD Refund Policy.
ATTENDANCE
It’s not just important to be enrolled in classes. It is crucial to attend classes and engage in themwholeheartedly. Students should make their best effort to attend all their classes and only miss when it is
necessary. Student absences, both planned and unplanned (illness/injury), must be reported through the
parent portal, by the family, in order for the class to be eligible for a makeup. Makeup classes cannot be
scheduled for absences that are not reported in the parent portal. Families must schedule makeup
classes in the parent portal as well. If a student is injured and can watch class, we recommend they come
and observe. Students can still learn from watching and listening to teachers’ instructions and corrections
given during the class.
First Class Rule: Students must attend their first class of the day to participate in all subsequent classes
that day. Exceptions may be made for excused absences and tardies. Excused absences and tardies
include school events, unforeseen family circumstances, doctors’ appointments or necessary medical
procedures.
There are no refunds for missed classes.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons are available for all EFAD students, however only those students enrolled in all three
conservatory classes are eligible to reserve private lessons with Elise Flagg.
1. Teachers set their own rate and are paid directly at the time of the lesson, except for Elise Flagg.
2. Elise Flagg private fees will be invoiced in advance and must be paid prior to the start of the private.
3. A $25/hour studio rental fee will be assessed and billed separately to the dancer's account at the end of
each month. If a private lesson includes more than one dancer, the hourly fee will be divided accordingly.
4. Students participating in private lessons must arrange for them through support@eliseflagg.com.
Private classes cannot conflict with regular classes at any time, nor be used as make-up hours for missed
regular classes.
Please note that private lessons are optional and scheduled at the discretion of each student and their
family. While teachers may recommend private lessons to a student, they may not require them. However,
in some cases, where necessary, teachers reserve the right to offer a student the option of choosing
between scheduling private lessons or being removed from a performance piece.
STUDIO COMMUNICATIONS
We realize that communication between the studio and our families is very important. We are committed
to making communication better and more streamlined.
Please follow this communication guide for all questions and/or concerns.
Registration questions Leah Diamond support@eliseflagg.com
Billing/Financial Questions Liz Brubaker billing@eliseflagg.com
Teacher meeting request Leah Diamond support@eliseflagg.com
Embody Questions Jaclyn Allott jaclyn@embodydancecompany.com
Administrative Question Liz Brubaker billing@eliseflagg.com
Nutcracker/ EFAD Showcase/ Conservatory Questions: Leah Diamond - support@eliseflagg.com
Please DO NOT text or call teachers directly. All parent/teacher discussions must be initiated through
email with Leah Diamond.
Parents should expect to get a response to their email within 48 hours.
SPRING SHOWCASE
In addition to The Nutcracker, which is casted based on auditions, EFAD offers an Annual Spring
Showcase. Students in Pre-Dance, Level 1 and Level 2 must be enrolled in the SHOWCASE CLASS to
participate. Dancers in Level 3 Ballet, Level 4 Ballet and Conservatory must enroll in the SaturdaySHOWCASE REHEARSAL. Level 3 and 4 Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Hip hop, and Tap will rehearse
during class time. Students enrolled in classes for other styles are invited to participate in those styles as
well. Registration date for Showcase is on the Studio Calendar.
As a reminder: Only those dancers enrolled in all three conservatory classes AND limiting Embody group
dances to only 2 will be eligible to be cast in the Conservatory Spring Showcase pieces.
CELL PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA
All cell phones and electronic devices must be silenced and stored away when at EFAD. Cell phones are
not allowed in the studios during class time. Students are not allowed to create social media accounts
representing EFAD, Embody or our Nutcracker. However, they can post, tag us, or list the above in their
bios. Dancers should not share videos of themselves or other EFAD students performing EFAD related
choreography until after the live performances.
CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT
Students can store conditioning equipment if they have an assigned locker. Lockers are assigned based
on enrollment in conditioning classes and number of hours dancers are at the studio. Exercise balls must
be taken home daily. All conditioning equipment should be kept with the rest of your students’ belongings
and remember to label all of your equipment. Items without names or items left not in a locker at the
studio for more than 48 hours will be thrown away.
LOBBY AREA
To help keep the lobby as neat as possible and prevent misplaced items, students should store as much
as possible in their lockers. There are coat hooks and space underneath benches for dancer's items.
Please avoid sitting items on the lobby floor and be sure to take all your belongings with you when you
leave at the end of your day!
CLASS OBSERVATION
Parents are always welcome to observe classes through the classroom windows. Classes are taught be
experienced teachers. Please let the teachers handle classroom discipline if it is necessary.
During the year, we have a Parent Observation Week where parents can observe class within the
classroom. Please check the Studio Calendar for more information.
LOST AND FOUND
All personal belongings left in the studio will be placed in the lost and found box in the lobby. The lost and
found box will be emptied on a weekly basis and all items will either be thrown away or donated.
EMERGENCY CLOSING
At times, emergencies such as a pandemic, severe weather, power failures, etc. can disrupt operations.
In extreme cases, these circumstances may require the EFAD to cancel classes. In these cases, EFAD
will communicate through email. Information will be available as soon as possible.
Introducing Embody Dance Company
Elise Flagg Academy of Dance is very excited to introduce Embody Dance Company, founded by our very own JacLyn Allott!
In partnership with EFAD, Embody Dance Company will offer its dancers high quality dance instruction that embraces both the value is technique and performance, in an effort to develop strong technical dancers that are capable of performing with effortless artistry.
All members of Embody Dance Company are required to train at Elise Flagg Academy of Dance. However, EFAD dancers are not required to join the company. Of course, are EFAD students are invited to audition and we hope that you do!
In addition to the annual EFAD showcase and anticipated in-studio performances, Embody dancers will have an opportunity to perform in outside performances/events, as well as a chance to participate in two dance conventions and/or two dance competitions.
For more information about Embody Dance Company, visit www.embodydancecompany.com! If you have any questions about the company email JacLyn@embodydancecompany.com.
