Applicable to: Kids, Preteens, Teens, and all other Competition Teams

Effective Date: Upon acceptance by the parent/guardian and confirmation of team membership by Adrija Dance Academy

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Our Philosophy

Being selected for the Competition Team at Adrija Dance Academy is both an achievement and a responsibility.

Our Competition Teams are designed for dancers who demonstrate exceptional commitment, consistency, discipline, talent, and a genuine passion for performing.

Competition Teams offer advanced training, exposure to major performances, and opportunities to compete with other talented dancers. However, these opportunities come with greater responsibilities than those associated with regular dance classes.

Membership in the Competition Team is not permanent or unconditional. Continued participation depends on the dancer consistently meeting the Academy's expectations.

By accepting a position, the dancer and their parent/guardian agree to the following terms.

1. Selection, Eligibility, and Continued Membership

1.1. Competition Team membership is by invitation, selection, or evaluation conducted by the Academy's teachers and/or Artistic Director.

1.2. As a general eligibility guideline, dancers must have completed approximately one year of training with Adrija Dance Academy and must demonstrate the technical abilities, performance readiness, discipline, and maturity expected at the Competition Team level.

1.3. Exceptions to the minimum training period may be approved by the Academy's Artistic Director.

1.4. Selection into a Competition Team does not guarantee permanent membership, participation in every event, or continued placement at the same level.

1.5. Teachers may periodically reassess dancers based on their technical ability, progress, consistency, preparation, attendance, behavior, and contribution to the team.

1.6. Based on these evaluations, the Academy may retain, promote, temporarily suspend, or reassign a dancer to another suitable batch, including an Advanced, Senior, Intermediate, or Elementary level, as appropriate.

2. Attendance, Consistency, and Commitment

Consistency and commitment are non-negotiable expectations of Competition Team membership.

2.1. Once the Academy communicates a performance or competition schedule, participating families must review the dates and confirm whether they can fulfill the commitment.

2.2. Families may decline participation in a particular competition or performance before confirming their involvement, without that decision automatically affecting continued team membership.

2.3. Once participation has been confirmed, the dancer is expected to attend all mandatory rehearsals, preparation classes, and scheduled events, subject to the absence allowances communicated by the teacher.

2.4. For each competition or performance, the teacher will communicate the maximum number of permissible absences and any mandatory rehearsal dates.

Example: If a competition requires eight weeks of preparation, the teacher may permit a maximum of two absences during that period, with no planned absences permitted during the final two weekends before the event.

2.5. All planned absences must be communicated in advance through the Academy's designated official communication channel. Advance notification does not automatically constitute approval or exemption from attendance requirements.

2.6. Unapproved absences, repeated last-minute cancellations, failure to disclose known scheduling conflicts, or absences exceeding the announced limits may result in a recorded attendance strike.

2.7. Two recorded attendance strikes may result in formal probation. A third attendance strike may result in removal from the assigned performance and/or reassignment out of the Competition Team.

2.8. Missing a mandatory final rehearsal may result in removal from the upcoming performance or competition, even if the dancer has not accumulated previous strikes, where the teacher determines that participation would compromise readiness or team coordination.

2.9. Emergencies, significant illnesses, injuries, and exceptional circumstances will be reviewed individually by the teacher and/or Academy owner.

2.10. Academic commitments, examinations, family vacations, and other extracurricular activities should be considered before a family confirms participation. The Academy respects these priorities but cannot guarantee scheduling accommodations after a commitment has been made.

3. Preparation, Choreography, and Individual Responsibility

3.1. Competition Team dancers are expected to arrive at each rehearsal prepared to perform the choreography previously taught.

3.2. Dancers are responsible for reviewing class videos, practicing independently, remembering formations, and implementing corrections communicated by teachers.

3.3. Repeatedly forgetting choreography, failing to practice, arriving unprepared, or demonstrating insufficient progress may be considered a lack of preparation.

3.4. Dancers must also comply with instructions and timelines relating to:

• Costumes, alterations, and fittings

• Hairstyles, makeup, accessories, and footwear

• Props and other performance materials

• Rehearsal videos and practice assignments

• Stage formations and performance blocking

• Mandatory rehearsals, reporting times, and costume checks

3.5. All instructions and deadlines communicated by the Academy are considered part of the dancer's preparation responsibilities.

3.6. Parents/guardians are responsible for helping younger dancers meet these requirements.

3.7. Two documented preparation strikes may result in formal probation. A third preparation strike may result in removal from the assigned performance and/or reassignment to a non-competition batch.

3.8. A dancer who is not sufficiently prepared by the final rehearsal or costume-readiness deadline may be excluded from the performance regardless of their strike history, if necessary for safety, presentation quality, or team readiness.

4. Merit-Based Opportunities, Formations, and Lead Roles

Competition Teams operate on merit, not guaranteed equality of stage placement.

4.1. Being a member of a Competition Team does not guarantee equal front-row placement, center-stage positioning, solo opportunities, featured roles, lead characters, or identical performance exposure.

4.2. Teachers determine choreography placements, formations, and character assignments based on factors including:

• Technical ability and dance proficiency

• Quality and consistency of execution

• Expressions and stage presence

• Musicality, rhythm, and coordination

• Ability to retain and execute choreography

• Preparation, commitment, and attendance

• Performance confidence, discipline, and overall suitability for the role

• Artistic, theatrical, and formation requirements

4.3. The Academy is committed to providing all dancers with fair access to instruction, constructive feedback, professional attention, and appropriate opportunities to develop.

4.4. Wherever practical, the Academy will aim to provide balanced participation opportunities across performances and competitions.

4.5. Fair opportunity does not mean equal stage time, identical formations, equal front-row or center-stage exposure, or an equal distribution of lead characters.

4.6. A dancer may receive more prominent positioning in one routine and a different position in another, depending on performance requirements and readiness.

4.7. Teachers may change formations or reassign roles at any point during preparation to maintain artistic quality, team coordination, or competition readiness.

4.8. Artistic and casting decisions are made by the assigned teachers and/or Artistic Director. Parents and dancers are expected to respect those professional decisions.

4.9. Constructive feedback and progress discussions are welcome through the Academy's official communication channels. However, no parent or dancer may demand a specific position, role, or formation.

5. Tuition, Additional Training Time, and No Makeup Classes

5.1. Competition Team dancers frequently receive significantly more instructional and rehearsal time than dancers enrolled in regular classes.

5.2. Depending on preparation requirements, Competition Team members may receive approximately two to five hours of training and rehearsal time over a weekend, while currently being charged only one regular class credit for the applicable weekly team session.

5.3. This additional training time is provided at the Academy's discretion and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed number of weekly instructional hours.

5.4. No makeup classes or replacement class credits will be provided for dancer-missed Competition Team classes or rehearsals.

5.5. Missed rehearsals remain the responsibility of the dancer, who must independently review and learn the missed material before the next class.

5.6. The Academy may recommend additional practice or private instruction where necessary. Any additional paid instruction will be communicated and agreed upon in advance.

5.7. The Academy reserves the right to revise its Competition Team pricing structure, class-credit model, or supplemental rehearsal charges prospectively, with advance written notification.

6. Withdrawal, Temporary Breaks, and Refund Policy

6.1. Competition Team placements involve advance planning of choreography, formations, roles, rehearsal schedules, and team composition.

6.2. Unlike regular classes, Competition Team vacancies cannot easily be filled after the preparation cycle has started.

6.3. The Academy generally selects Competition Team dancers after substantial training and evaluation within its program. Replacement dancers must demonstrate the required proficiency and preparation before they can be considered.

6.4. Once a dancer accepts Competition Team membership and begins an agreed, paid Competition Team enrollment cycle, unused credits from that cycle are non-refundable if the dancer voluntarily withdraws, pauses enrollment, or discontinues participation.

6.5. This Competition Team-specific provision applies as an exception to the Academy's general 12-class cancellation and refund policy.

6.6. Any refund, credit, transfer, or deferral exception must be approved in writing by the Academy's owner or authorized teacher, subject to applicable law.

6.7. Temporary breaks do not guarantee that the dancer's Competition Team position, previously assigned role, or place in the current choreography will remain available upon return.

6.8. A returning dancer may be required to undergo reassessment before being readmitted to the Competition Team.

6.9. Fees paid directly to third-party event organizers, or expenses already incurred for costumes, props, registrations, or other committed services, are subject to the applicable cancellation and refund terms disclosed for those expenses.

7. Competition, Performance, Costume, and Prop Expenses

7.1. Competition Team membership may involve expenses beyond regular class tuition.

7.2. Depending on the event, these may include:

• Competition registration and entry fees

• Performance or participation fees

• Costume purchases, rentals, and alterations

• Props, accessories, makeup, footwear, and hairstyling supplies

• Travel, accommodation, transportation, and parking

• Additional event-specific expenses disclosed in advance

7.3. Whenever possible, the Academy will communicate known fees, schedules, deadlines, and other requirements before asking families to confirm participation.

7.4. Families have the right to decline participation in an individual event before confirming their commitment.

7.5. Once participation is confirmed, families accept responsibility for the disclosed costs associated with that event, including non-recoverable expenses or financial commitments already incurred on their behalf.

7.6. The Academy may occasionally provide selected props, accessories, or costumes. However, the availability of these items is not guaranteed, and families should generally expect to arrange or purchase their own required materials.

7.7. Costume and prop purchases, alterations, and readiness must be completed by the specified deadlines.

7.8. Failure to comply with financial or material-readiness requirements may affect the dancer's eligibility for the corresponding performance.

8. Discipline, Conduct, and Team Culture

8.1. Competition Team members must demonstrate respect toward teachers, fellow dancers, event organizers, volunteers, and other participants.

8.2. Students must follow instructions, respond constructively to corrections, maintain focus, and contribute positively to the team.

8.3. Repeated disruption, disregard for teacher instructions, bullying, harassment, disrespect, or behavior that negatively affects team morale is unacceptable.

8.4. Parents and guardians are expected to maintain the same standards of respectful communication and professionalism.

8.5. Concerns must be communicated privately through official Academy channels rather than through arguments during rehearsals or confrontations involving other students.

8.6. The Academy may issue behavioral warnings, require a parent meeting, place a dancer on probation, or remove a dancer from the team when necessary.

8.7. Serious safety violations, bullying, harassment, or threatening behavior may warrant immediate action without prior strikes.

9. Rehearsal, Performance, and Backstage Protocol

9.1. All dancers must arrive at the reporting time provided by the Academy for rehearsals, competitions, and performances.

9.2. Dancers must report with their complete costume, accessories, props, footwear, hair, and makeup as instructed.

9.3. Parents may not enter active rehearsal spaces, backstage areas, or restricted preparation zones unless expressly authorized.

9.4. Dancers must remain with their assigned group and follow instructions from teachers, coordinators, and designated volunteers.

9.5. Failure to follow event-day instructions, arriving substantially late, or arriving without required materials may result in removal from the performance.

9.6. The Academy may revise formations, choreography, or event participation arrangements when necessary due to venue requirements, safety considerations, technical limitations, or performance readiness.

10. Official Communication and Parent Responsibilities

10.1. Email is the Academy's official channel for Competition Team schedules, commitments, deadlines, policy notices, and important instructions.

10.2. Parents/guardians are responsible for reading communications carefully, tracking deadlines, and ensuring that their dancer is prepared.

10.3. Absences must also be recorded using the Academy's designated reporting process whenever required. For competition-specific approval, parents must follow the instructions provided by the teacher.

10.4. Verbal conversations, informal messages through other parents, or communications to fellow dancers do not replace required official notifications.

10.5. Parents must disclose known conflicts before accepting a competition or performance commitment.

10.6. The Academy may communicate reasonable event-specific requirements, and dancers are expected to follow them once participation has been confirmed.

11. Opportunity Availability and Competition Results

11.1. The Academy will seek to provide its Competition Teams with suitable competitive and performance opportunities, taking into consideration age groups, skill levels, readiness, schedules, and event availability.

11.2. Participation in a particular competition, show, or external event is not guaranteed for every dancer.

11.3. All participation opportunities are subject to event requirements, artistic decisions, team readiness, and organizer eligibility rules.

11.4. Competition results, rankings, medals, trophies, and awards depend on external judging criteria and cannot be guaranteed by the Academy.

11.5. The Academy expects all dancers and families to demonstrate good sportsmanship, regardless of competition outcomes.

12. Probation, Reassignment, and Removal

12.1. The Academy may maintain separate attendance and preparation records to monitor compliance with Competition Team expectations.

12.2. A documented strike will identify the incident, the expectation not met, and the corrective action required.

12.3. Unless the circumstances justify immediate intervention, the Academy will ordinarily follow this progression:

• First strike: Documented warning and corrective feedback.

• Second strike: Formal warning and possible probation.

• Third strike: Possible removal from an assigned routine, suspension from Competition Team activities, or reassignment to an appropriate non-competition batch.

12.4. Recorded strikes do not automatically reset between consecutive competitions or performances. The Academy will communicate the applicable review period or any reset decision in writing.

12.5. Serious or repeated violations may result in immediate action, including removal from an upcoming performance, regardless of the number of prior warnings.

12.6. Probation or reassignment decisions will consider the dancer's overall conduct, progress, attendance history, preparation, and the impact on fellow team members.

12.7. Decisions regarding placement, promotions, reassignment, choreography, and participation will be made by the Academy's teachers and/or Artistic Director.

12.8. Families will be informed through official communication when a formal probation, reassignment, or removal decision is made.

13. Health, Safety, and Exceptional Circumstances

13.1. Dancers should not attend training when participation would pose a significant health or safety concern to themselves or others.

13.2. Parents must notify the Academy promptly of an injury or health-related restriction that could affect safe participation.

13.3. The Academy may request appropriate clearance before allowing a dancer to return to physically demanding training following a significant injury.

13.4. Medical emergencies, significant illness, family emergencies, and other exceptional circumstances may be considered for reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis.

13.5. An exception to an attendance or financial policy does not necessarily guarantee performance eligibility if a dancer is unable to safely or adequately execute the assigned choreography.

14. Review and Acceptance of Terms

14.1. Competition Team membership requires acknowledgment and acceptance of these Terms & Conditions by the parent/guardian, and by the dancer where age-appropriate.

14.2. Parents/guardians must review the complete agreement before confirming acceptance of a Competition Team invitation.

14.3. Written acknowledgment must be provided by replying to the Academy's official email with the following statement:

"I have reviewed, understood, and accept the Adrija Dance Academy Competition Team Terms & Conditions on behalf of my child. I understand the expectations relating to attendance, preparation, commitment, merit-based opportunities, fees, refunds, and continued team eligibility. I agree to comply with these requirements as a condition of Competition Team membership."

14.4. Competition Team membership will be formally confirmed only after the Academy receives and records the required written acknowledgment.

14.5. The Academy may update these terms prospectively. Material changes affecting fees, attendance requirements, or enrollment commitments will be communicated in writing before they take effect.

This Competition Team Agreement supplements the Academy's general Terms & Conditions. Where a specific Competition Team provision conflicts with a general policy, the specific Competition Team provision will govern to the extent permitted by applicable law.