Creative Ground Studio Policies

DRESS CODE

At Creative Ground Studio it’s important to us that students are comfortable and given opportunity to express their individuality, therefor we do not enforce a uniform. However, we do encourage and expect students to wear age-appropriate, well-fitting dance attire that promotes comfort and confidence during classes. This may include:
  • Dance leotards or crops
  • Dance shorts, skirts, or leggings
  • Dance tights
It's important to note that loose-fitting clothing such as t-shirts or track pants can hinder our teachers' ability to correct and critique a dancer's technique effectively. If you need assistance in purchasing appropriate dancewear, please don't hesitate to consult a Creative Ground Studio staff member, who will be happy to assist you.
Hair:
For the safety and convenience of all students, hair must be worn in a slick ponytail or bun for all classes at Creative Ground Studio. Students arriving with unsecured hair will be asked to fix it before participating in class.
Jewelry:
To ensure safety during dance activities, only sleepers and studs are permitted as earrings. Necklaces and bracelets are not allowed (except for medic alert bracelets). Students will be required to remove any unsafe jewelry before entering the studio. It is the student's responsibility to remove their own jewelry before the start of class.
Ballet Attire:
Ballet, being an art form that demands professionalism and discipline, requires appropriate attire. Ballet students are required to adhere to the following attire guidelines:
  • Full-length convertible ballet stockings matching their skin tone (non-glossy)
  • Appropriately fitting leotard (any color or style)
  • Ballet skirt (elastic or wrap style)
  • Appropriately fitting canvas or leather ballet shoes
  • Hair should be secured in a slicked-back bun using bobby pins (and hair net if necessary).
Footwear:
Please ensure that your dancer wears well-fitting dance shoes suitable for each genre. If you're unsure about the footwear your child requires, feel free to consult a Creative Ground Studio staff member for assistance. Socks are not permitted to be worn in class (unless they are dance specific socks).

Extreme Weather Policy 

Term 1 and Term 4 are notorious for hot summer days, we have put this policy in place to ensure the comfort and safety of you and your child. 
This policy is based on the current temperature of 2:30 pm for afternoon classes, or based on the predicted weather forecast in the morning. 
Class will be cancelled on days with temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius. Parents and students will be notified via text, email, or social media as soon as possible. If temperatures are expected to reduce as the evening continues, later classes will still run. This decision will be made according to weather forecasts, which will too be communicated at the earliest possible time. On these hot summer days, please keep an eye out for these updates if possible. 
For temperatures up to 36 degrees Celsius classes will continue to run but in a modified manner. This may include low-impact activity such as stretching/conditioning/technique, or combinations with very minimal travelling or explosive movements.  
On hot days we will take the following steps to ensure the comfort of students:  
  • Dance and skills will be broken up with dancing-related activities that are less strenuous i.e. theory work, a long stretch, yoga, terminology lessons/quizzes.
  • This will give our students a chance to breathe and relax while still learning and experiencing the benefits of a great class.
  • Give longer and more frequent drink breaks. Relax uniform expectations (eg no tights for ballet)
  • Run large portable cooling systems and industrial-sized fans in the studio and waiting room before and during class.
Students and Parents:
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day leading up to class. A large 1-liter bottle or two smaller water bottles are ideal. Consider using ice packs or freezing water for added refreshment.
  • Avoid caffeine and sugary drinks; consider Hydralyte for extra hydration if needed. Pack a wet towel in a snap-lock bag for your child to use to cool down during class.
  • Take it easy and arrive at class calm and relaxed. Avoid excessive silliness, running around, or extra exercise, as they can drain your energy.
  • Bring refreshing snacks such as grapes, watermelon, or apples, especially if attending multiple classes or coming straight from school.
  • Feel free to use our fridge to store water and snacks, but please avoid taking items that aren't yours.
  • Parents, consider a "drop and go" approach to minimize crowding in our small space and keep temperatures comfortable.
  • Listen to your body and be kind to yourself. If you're not feeling well, don't push through it. Remember, slowing down doesn't mean you're lazy.
  • Speak up if you need water, feel unwell, or need to take a break. Let your teacher know so they can assist you, and look out for your friends too.
  • Be considerate of your teachers, who also feel the heat and often teach multiple classes in a row.

ILLNESS POLICY

Colds, flu, and other contagious diseases occur frequently and spread easily among children, especially when in close proximity within a studio. To minimise the chance of cantagion at CGS and the safetly of your child, we ask that you please keep your child at home if they present with any of the following symptoms: 
• Nasal discharge that is green or yellow 
• Complaints of ear pain 
• Consistent cough 
• Severe sore throat 
• Eyes that are pink, burning, itching, or producing discharge 
• Diarrhea or vomiting 
• Fever 
If these symptoms or other conditions deemed contagious are observed in your child during a class, you may be called to pick up your child immediately.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHONE POLICY

At CGS we respect the rights of students to utilise social media, however we kindly as that students leave their phone in their bags during class. Additionally students must not film routines or combinations with their personal phones. Videos taken by teachers can be distributed to students either through AirDrop, Band or Email.  
The studio is a phone free space, teachers will only use their phones for music, note taking/plans, or filming (only if child/s have signed yes to filming and social media on registration form). Students should leave their phones in their bags whilst at CGS unless they are required to contact parent. 
We politely ask that students do not take Snapchats, make Instagram Reels or TikToks in the studio. This is to protect our dancers and the studios reputation, please don’t post silly or inappropriate content in CGS or wearing your CGS Merch/Uniform. We remind students that whatever is posted on social media will remain there for years to come. 
CGS students must also agree to:
  • No photos or videos taken in change room or bathroom
  • Not to post photos of videos of other dancers without their expressed consent,
  • Do not post material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, slanderous, hateful or embarrassing to any other person or entity
  • Do not make/post comments which violate the privacy of CGS students and/or their families.
When you enrol your child into Creative Ground Studio Dance Classes you are required to indicate whether you permit your child to have Photos and/or Videos taken of them, and feature on our social medias (Instagram or Facebook). Its important to us that your privacy and boundaries are respected and protected. Teachers will double check with students if they are comfortable being filmed or photographed during class. Students have no obligation to be videoed or photographed, even if you have selected ‘yes’ on their enrolment form.

BULLYING POLICY


At Creative Ground Studio, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where all dancers, staff, and visitors are treated with respect and dignity. Bullying in any form is unacceptable and will not be tolerated within our studio community. 

For this policy, bullying is defined as repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards an individual or group that creates a risk to health and safety. This includes, but is not limited to, physical, verbal, and social forms of bullying."

 -  Physical Bullying: Any form of bodily harm or threat of damage, including hitting, pushing, or damaging personal belongings.
 -  Verbal Bullying: Use of words to belittle, threaten, or insult another person, including name-calling, teasing, and derogatory comments.
 -  Social Bullying: Excluding individuals from group activities, spreading rumours, or engaging in malicious gossip.


All members of the Creative Ground Studio community, including students, parents, and faculty/staff, are responsible for maintaining a positive and respectful environment free from bullying and mistreatment. Members of our community should practice positive mindsets and encouragement. Staff members must model appropriate behaviour and intervene in instances of bullying.

Any individual who experiences or witnesses bullying is encouraged to report the behaviour to a designated staff member either through a private conversation or email. Reports of bullying will be taken seriously and looked into quickly, with the appropriate measures taken to address and resolve the issue.

Upon receiving a report of bullying, the studio will conduct a thorough investigation and implement necessary actions to stop the behaviour and prevent recurrence. Actions may include disciplinary measures, mediation sessions, or support services for affected individuals.

 Support will be provided to individuals who have been affected by bullying, including reassurance of their safety and well-being and suggestions for counciling. CGS will work to ensure that individuals affected by bullying can continue participating in a supportive and safe environment. 


CGS will promote a culture of respect and inclusivity through ongoing initiatives and positive reinforcement.

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and to make necessary updates in response to any new challenges or feedback.
  Feedback from the studio community will be sought to continually improve our approach to preventing and addressing bullying.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONAL BELONGINGS POLICY

Your personal property and belongings are not our responsibility, please label all your belongings. If you leave anything behind, it will be placed in the lost property box (see CGS faculty for locaiton). At the end of each semester the lost property box will be cleared.

Belongings with names will be returned to students by staff. Items with no name visible will be put in the lost property box.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

At Creative Ground Studio, we value attendance as an important reflection of each student’s commitment to their dance training. Regular attendance is crucial for skill development, progress, and the success of group performances. However, we understand that circumstances such as illness, family emergencies, or other unforeseen events may prevent a student from attending class, and we respect these situations.
Punctuality:
Arriving on time is essential to avoid missing warm-ups and reduce the risk of injury. We ask that students arrive at least 5 minutes before class begins to ensure they are prepared and ready to start.
Communicating Absences:
We encourage clear communication about any absences, as it helps our teachers plan and manage each class effectively. Absences can be reported via phone, email, or in person.
Consequences for Excessive Absences (Concert Season):
Frequent absences during concert season can affect a student’s ability to progress and may impact their eligibility to participate in performances. If a student misses more than two classes leading up to the End of Year (EOY) showcase, the teacher may decide to exclude the student from sections of the routine they missed.
Injuries and Illness:
If a student is injured or mildly ill (non-contagious), we ask that they attend class to observe and stay engaged, especially in the lead-up to the EOY showcase. Teachers will ensure that injured or sick students feel comfortable while observing the class.
Class Numbers:
Even if a class has three or fewer students, it will still take place as scheduled to maintain consistency in training and ensure all students continue their development.

TUITION AND PAYMENT POLICY

Tuition Payments - Tuition payments at Creative Ground Studio are processed via invoice in blocks of 5 weeks. Full payment for each block must be made before a student is permitted to participate in classes. If payment is not received, the student will not be allowed to attend.

Class Enrolment and Changes - Class enrolments are fixed for the duration of each 5-week block. Changes to a student’s class schedule can only be made at the beginning of a new block. If a student chooses not to continue in a class during a current block, no refunds will be provided for that 5-week period. If a student wishes to enroll in a new class mid-block, the parent or guardian will be invoiced starting from that date onward.

Class Cancellations - In the event that a class is canceled due to weather, illness, or a public holiday, the cost of the canceled class will be either credited toward the client’s next payment or refunded to the card originally used for the transaction, or the class will be rescheduled. 

Communication of Cancellations - All cancellations, whether due to weather, illness, or other circumstances, will be communicated via email as soon as possible.

Give Us Your Feedback and Suggestions

CGS aspires to create the safest, welcoming, and enriching environment for all our dancers. As we work on finalizing our Studio Policies, your feedback is important to us in shaping our approach and ensuring that our policies reflect the needs and expectations of our community.

We value your perspective and would greatly appreciate your thoughts on your experience with us so far. Whether it's regarding our class structure, communication practices, facility amenities, or any other aspect of our studio, your input will help us make informed decisions that benefit everyone involved.

Your feedback will not only assist us in creating effective policies and procedures but also in continuously improving and enhancing the overall experience for all our dancers and families.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Together, we can make Creative Ground Studio the best it can be!