• All dancers must wear appropriate attire for their class and keep their hair up effectively. Follow the Dress Code for information on all disciplines.

• No gum, food, or drinks allowed during class. Water breaks will be permitted at the discretion of the dance instructor.

• No foul language. This includes foul language on clothing worn in the studio.

• Bring your best to the space. Focus, work ethic, and accountability for your instructors, your peers, and yourself.

• Leave your fears at the door. Celebrate loudly, learn unapologetically, and be a positive force to everyone around you.

• Be disciplined & accountable. Dedicate the time you to need to develop your dance practice at home so that you are arriving prepared.

• Always put kindness first. Taking the time to say thank you, clean up your surroundings, and look out for others are all acts of kindness in our studio.

• Allow yourself to be open & have fun!

Our promise to you is to provide a safe, welcoming space for your dancer to thrive. We deliver high quality, professional dance instruction using age-appropriate choreography, costumes, and music. We build up dancers when we see progress, support them with genuine feedback, and celebrate their successes with kindness.

Our studio has a beautiful lobby that parents and dancers are welcome to use between classes. This space can be very busy at times - we ask that guardians be mindful of our guidelines below to help us keep the space welcoming for everyone.

• Please arrive on time for drop off and pick up. Dancers shouldn’t be more than 10 minutes early for their class. We understand that things come up on occasion - give us a call to let us know!

• Guardians are not permitted in the dance studios while classes are in session unless the instructor invites you in. If your child needs extra support on occasion, we're happy to make exceptions. We appreciate open communication regarding ins and outs - our goal is to allow dancers the best chance possible to focus on their growth in dance and making new friends.

• We ask all dancers and families to respect The Happening’s lines of communication. We don’t offer the personal emails or phone numbers of our staff out to families - all inquiries must go through our admin team, and we can connect you from there regarding next steps.

• It is crucial for our community to resolve any conflicts or disputes through respectful forms of communication. If a conflict arises, we ask that you take the time to process your intentions before sending an email to address the issue. If our staff receive written or verbal communication that is disrespectful or demeaning, the family will be asked to leave The Happening Dance Company, and a refund will not be issued.

Consistent attendance is key to a dancer’s growth, confidence, and success. Each class builds on the last, helping dancers develop skills, stay connected to their team, and feel fully prepared and confident as the season progresses. We ask that all dancers review our attendance policies before committing to our programs.

• Attendance is taken at the start of each class by your instructor. You need to let us know if your dancer will not be in class at least 24 hours in advance. It is your responsibility to communicate ALL planned absences through email.

• Dancers will receive two unexplained absences before we follow up with a phone call or email. After three unexplained absences, you may be removed from the class.

• Regular tardiness for class is not tolerated. In emergencies, please call or email the studio to let us know the situation. If tardiness is regularly disrupting the class, you may be withdrawn.

• In the case of injury or medical needs, you are encouraged to attend class and observe if you’re well enough to be here but unable to dance. Let us know in advance so that we can communicate this to your instructors.

• When missing class, all dancers are responsible for catching up on their own time and connecting with other dancers in the class for help. We provide access to a Google Drive for class videos to use for practice.

• Although we try to be as understanding as possible when things come up that prevent a dancer from attending class, absences do have significant impacts on the teacher, the class, and the absent student. Regardless of the circumstance, this can limit a student’s participation in the year-end recital choreography and could have an impact on them moving up to the next level.

At The Happening Dance, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment where every dancer can learn, grow, and thrive. We believe that kindness, respect, and inclusion are fundamental values that should be upheld by all members of our dance community.

Bullying is defined as any deliberate act of intimidation, harassment, or aggression towards another individual, whether physical, verbal, or social. This includes, but is not limited to, teasing, name-calling, spreading rumors, exclusion, physical violence, and cyberbullying.

TYPES OF BULLYING

• Verbal Bullying

  • Name-calling or teasing based on appearance, dance ability, or other personal attributes.

  • Making hurtful comments or spreading rumors about another dancer.

• Physical Bullying

  • Pushing, hitting, kicking, or other physical acts of aggression towards another dancer.

  • Intentionally tripping or blocking another dancer's path.

• Social Bullying

  • Excluding or isolating a dancer from group activities or conversations.

  • Spreading gossip or rumors about a dancer to undermine their reputation or social standing.

• Cyberbullying

  • Sending hurtful or threatening messages via social media, text messages, or other digital platforms.

  • Posting embarrassing or humiliating photos or videos of another dancer without their consent.

• Emotional Bullying

  • Manipulating or coercing another dancer into doing something they are uncomfortable with.

  • Undermining a dancer's confidence or self-esteem through constant criticism or belittling comments.

• Discriminatory Bullying

  • Targeting a dancer based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

  • Making derogatory remarks or jokes that perpetuate stereotypes or prejudices.

• Power Imbalance

  • Bullying behavior may be more pronounced when there is a perceived power imbalance, such as when older dancers target younger or less experienced dancers.

  • Dancers in positions of authority, such as team captains or lead roles, may use their status to bully or manipulate others.

OUR COMMITMENT

• We are committed to fostering a culture of kindness and respect where every dancer feels safe and valued. 

• We take all reports of bullying seriously and will investigate each case thoroughly and promptly.

• We will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual found to have engaged in bullying behavior, up to and including suspension or expulsion from our dance programs.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

• Any dancer who experiences or witnesses bullying behavior is encouraged to report it to a trusted staff member or instructor immediately.

• Reports can be made in person, in writing, or anonymously through our confidential reporting system.

• All reports will be handled with sensitivity and confidentiality to protect the privacy of those involved.

SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION

• We are committed to providing support to victims of bullying and will take immediate steps to ensure their safety and well-being.

• We will work with all parties involved to address the underlying issues and promote positive behavior change.

• We will provide resources and support services to help victims of bullying cope and recover from their experiences.

PREVENTION AND EDUCATION

• We will educate our dancers, staff, and parents about the importance of kindness, respect, and inclusion through ongoing communication and training.

• We will incorporate anti-bullying lessons and discussions into our dance curriculum to promote empathy and conflict resolution skills.

• We will actively work to create a supportive and inclusive dance environment where every student feels accepted and valued for who they are.