Frequently Asked questions
Jump to section:
getting started
When can my child start dance classes?
Studio C offers dance classes beginning at age 3.
Our KinderDance program is designed specifically for our youngest dancers, introducing children to movement, rhythm, coordination, balance and expression through age-appropriate instruction.
As dancers grow, Studio C offers a range of Recreational, Competitive and Apprentice programs designed to provide opportunities for continued training at different ages and levels of experience.
Does my child need previous dance experience?
Not at all! Dancers are welcome to begin at Studio C at many different ages.
Our programs include classes suitable for complete beginners as well as dancers with previous training. Whether your child is taking their very first dance class at age 3, beginning at age 10, or discovering dance as a teenager, we'll help find a class that is appropriate for their age and experience.
If your dancer has trained previously at another studio, please let us know when you inquire or register so that we can help determine the most appropriate placement.
Does my child need previous dance experience?
Studio C places dancers according to both age and ability.
For new dancers, age and previous dance experience will help us determine the best place to begin. Dancers with previous training may be placed in a class that best reflects their current skill level rather than simply being placed according to age.
If you're unsure which class to choose, please contact us. We're happy to discuss your dancer's age, experience and interests and recommend an appropriate starting point.
Can dancers join after the season has started?
Yes! New dancers are welcome to join classes after the season has begun, space permitting.
December 1 is generally our registration cut-off for the current dance season. However, exceptions may be possible depending on the dancer, class, and time of year. Families interested in joining Studio C are always encouraged to contact us—we'd be happy to let you know what options may still be available.
Can my dancer take more than one class or style of dance?
Absolutely. Many Studio C dancers take more than one class each week.
Dancers may choose to explore different styles of dance, or take additional classes that complement one another and support their overall development. We encourage our dancers to pursue any and all dance styles that interest them.
There is no expectation that Recreational dancers take multiple classes. Families can choose the amount and type of training that best suits their dancer's interests and schedule.
What styles of dance does Studio C offer?
Studio C offers instruction in:
-
Ballet
-
Jazz
-
Tap
-
Lyrical
-
Musical Theatre
-
Acro
Our youngest dancers can begin with KinderDance, while our Combination Classes introduce dancers ages 5–8 to Jazz and Tap within a single class. Dancers in this age bracket can also pursue Acro or Ballet classes.
Available styles vary by age and program. Our Programs section provides more information about the classes available at each stage of a dancer's training.
Registration, Tuition & fees
When does registration open?
Registration for our upcoming dance season opens in August, with priority registration offered to returning Studio C families before registration opens to the general public.
Classes begin in September and many have limited enrolment, so families are encouraged to register early to secure their preferred classes.
How do I register for classes?
Registration is completed online through Studio C’s registration system.
Once your registration has been received, Studio C will confirm your dancer’s class selections and provide additional information to help you prepare for the upcoming season.
If you’re unsure which classes to choose, please contact us before registering. We’re always happy to help you find the classes that best suit your dancer’s age, experience, and interests.
How long is the dance season?
Our regular dance season runs from September through May, concluding with our annual year-end Recital at Aultsville Theatre.
Registration is for the full dance season rather than individual sessions. This allows dancers to build skills progressively throughout the year, develop relationships with their classmates and instructors, and prepare for their year-end performance.
How much does dance cost?
Tuition varies depending on the number and length of classes a dancer takes each week.
Studio C charges an annual tuition fee for the full dance season. For the convenience of our families, annual tuition can be divided into monthly payments throughout the season.
Current tuition rates can be found on our Registration page by selecting the Recreational Schedule.
What is included in tuition?
Studio C tuition includes your dancer’s regular weekly instruction for the full dance season, as well as their professionally fitted recital costume.
HST is also included in our advertised tuition rates, so the price you see is the price you pay.
How are tuition payments made?
Studio C tuition is calculated as an annual fee for the complete dance season, rather than as a month-to-month membership.
Families may choose to pay their annual tuition in full or divide the cost into nine monthly payments for convenience. Monthly payments represent instalments toward the annual tuition and are not based on the number of classes held in any particular month.
Monthly tuition invoices are sent by email on the first of each month and payment is due by the 10th. Payments can be made by e-transfer, cash, debit, or credit card.
Are costumes included in dance fees?
Yes. Recital costumes are included in Studio C’s dance fees.
Our Recreational dancers receive professionally fitted costumes for their year-end performances, with no separate costume fee added later in the season.
Costumes are distributed during Picture Week in May.
Are there any additional costs during the season?
While tuition and recital costumes are included in Studio C’s dance fees, families should expect a few additional expenses throughout the season. These may include:
-
Required dance shoes and tights
-
CDTA examination fees, when applicable
-
Tickets to our Annual Year-End Recital
There is no registration or administration fee. There is also no charge for Picture Week photographs; professional photos are provided to families as free digital downloads through a secure online site.
Dancers performing in the recital do not require a ticket. Tickets are only required for family members and guests attending the performance.
What happens if my dancer decides to withdraw from a class?
We understand that circumstances and interests can change throughout the dance season. Families who choose to withdraw are not financially responsible for tuition beyond the month in which the withdrawal occurs.
If annual tuition has already been paid in full, any tuition paid for future months will be refunded.
Recital costumes are provided only when annual tuition has been paid in full. Dancers who withdraw before completing their annual tuition payments will not receive their recital costume.
CLASSES & STUDIO LIFE
How long are classes?
Class length varies depending on the dancer’s age, level, and style of dance.
Our youngest dancers begin with 30-minute KinderDance classes. Most Recreational classes are 45 minutes in length and meet once per week, while some advanced and specialized classes may have different training times.
Current class lengths can be found on our registration schedule.
What should my dancer wear to class?
Studio C has a flexible dress code. We want dancers to feel comfortable—both physically and socially—while participating in class.
Dancers should wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for movement. Traditional dancewear such as bodysuits, tights, dance shorts, and leggings is always welcome, but dancers are not required to wear a specific uniform to their regular weekly classes.
Different dance styles do require specific footwear. Please refer to our shoe requirements for the appropriate shoes for your dancer's class.
What shoes does my dancer need?
Different dance styles require different footwear:
-
KinderAcro: Bare feet
-
Acro: Bare feet
-
KinderDance: Beginner black dance shoes
-
Combination: Beginner black dance shoes & black patent tap shoes
-
Jazz: Beginner black dance shoes OR black leather jazz shoes
-
Tap: Black patent tap shoes
-
Lyrical: Half-sole lyrical shoes
-
Ballet: Pink canvas ballet shoes
-
Musical Theatre: Beginner black dance shoes OR black leather jazz shoes
Where can I purchase dancewear and shoes?
Studio C carries a selection of dance shoes and dancewear for the convenience of our families. Items can be purchased through our Online Shop or directly at the studio.
We also offer private shoe fittings to help ensure dancers have the correct style and fit for their class. Families can book a private shoe fitting online at a convenient time.
Families are always welcome to purchase dancewear elsewhere, and our flexible dress code means that dancers are not required to purchase a specific brand or studio uniform.
Can parents watch classes?
Yes. Studio C has observation windows and an open-access lobby, allowing parents and guardians to observe their dancer's progress throughout the season.
We believe families should be able to see what happens in the classroom and watch their dancers learn and grow.
What happens if my dancer misses a class?
We understand that dancers will occasionally need to miss class due to illness, conflicting commitments, weather, or other circumstances. Families do not need to notify the studio of individual absences.
Missed classes are not made up, transferred to another class, or refunded. Studio C tuition is an annual fee for the complete dance season, with monthly payments offered as a convenience; therefore, tuition does not change based on the number of classes an individual dancer attends.
A full Studio C dance season consists of a minimum of 32 classes.
What happens when classes are cancelled because of bad weather?
Occasionally, classes may need to be cancelled due to inclement weather or unsafe travel conditions. When a cancellation is necessary, Studio C will notify families as soon as possible by email and through our social media pages.
Weather-related cancellations are not typically rescheduled and do not alter annual tuition or monthly payments. Studio C guarantees a minimum of 32 classes per dance season; should cancellations result in the season falling below that minimum, appropriate adjustments would be made.
How are dancers placed into class levels?
Studio C places dancers according to both age and ability. Our goal is to ensure that dancers are appropriately challenged while developing the skills and confidence needed for continued progress.
For dancers already training at Studio C, instructors consider technical development, demonstrated skills, and readiness when recommending the appropriate level for the following season. Dancers do not necessarily progress to a new level simply because they are a year older.
For dancers joining Studio C with previous dance experience, we consider both age and previous training when determining the most appropriate starting point. If you're unsure which level to select during registration, please contact us—we're happy to help determine the best fit for your dancer.
TRAINING & PROGRESSION
Does Studio C follow a dance syllabus or curriculum?
Yes. Studio C provides structured, progressive dance training designed to build skills safely and consistently as dancers develop.
Our Jazz and Tap programs incorporate the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (CDTA) graded syllabus, while our Acro program follows the Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA) syllabus. These established training systems provide instructors with structured skill progressions and help ensure that dancers develop the appropriate technical foundations before advancing to more difficult skills.
What is the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (CDTA)?
The Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (CDTA) is a nationally recognized dance organization that provides professional teacher certification and graded dance syllabi.
Studio C is proud to be a CDTA-certified studio. Our instructors use CDTA curriculum to provide structured, progressive training in Jazz and Tap, allowing dancers to build their technique through clearly defined levels as they grow.
The CDTA syllabus is an important part of both our Recreational and Competitive programs and provides dancers with a strong technical foundation for continued dance training.
Does Studio C offer dance examinations?
Yes. Studio C offers CDTA Jazz and Tap examinations.
CDTA principles and skill progressions are incorporated into all of our Jazz and Tap classes, providing dancers with structured, progressive technical training whether they participate in examinations or not.
Recreational dancers who would like to work toward a CDTA examination can register for an additional weekly CDTA syllabus class in Jazz and/or Tap. These classes provide the focused syllabus training and preparation required for examination. Additional class and examination fees apply.
For our Competitive dancers, CDTA syllabus training and examinations are a required part of the program. Competitive dancers prepare for and complete the appropriate examinations as they become ready, and successful completion of the appropriate CDTA level is one of the readiness requirements for progression through our Competitive Program.
How does my dancer progress from one level to the next?
Dance training is progressive, and dancers develop at different rates. At Studio C, progression is based on both age and demonstrated readiness rather than automatically moving dancers to a new level each year.
Instructors consider a dancer’s technical development, strength, flexibility, coordination, understanding of the required skills, and overall readiness for the expectations of the next level. Depending on the program and level, it is completely normal for a dancer to spend more than one season developing the skills required before progressing.
Our goal is to ensure that dancers have the foundations they need to be successful when they move forward.
Does Studio C offer Pointe? How does a dancer become eligible?
Yes. Studio C offers Pointe training for eligible Ballet dancers.
Dancers begin preparing for Pointe through our Intermediate Ballet program, where they develop the strength, alignment, turnout, technique, and work habits necessary to eventually train safely en pointe.
Pointe is available only with instructor approval. A dancer will not begin Pointe based solely on age or the number of years they have taken Ballet. Approval is given when the instructor determines that the dancer has developed the physical strength, technical proficiency, maturity, and consistency required to begin Pointe safely.
Once approved, dancers continue developing their Classical Ballet technique while learning the specialized skills required for dancing en pointe.
Does Studio C offer Acro?
Yes. Studio C offers progressive Acro training beginning with Pre-Junior Acro and continuing through advanced levels.
Our Acro program emphasizes strength, flexibility, body awareness, and correct technique. Dancers progress through skills in a structured way, developing the foundations necessary before moving on to increasingly challenging tricks and tumbling.
Studio C’s Acro instructors are certified through the Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA), and our program uses the ADTA syllabus to support safe and effective skill progression.
What qualifications do Studio C instructors have?
Studio C instructors are experienced dance educators with training and certification in the disciplines they teach.
Studio C is the only dance studio in the Cornwall area with instructors certified through the Canadian Dance Teachers’ Association (CDTA) and offering a graded dance education system through this nationally recognized organization. Our Acro instructors are also certified through the Acro Dance Teachers Association (ADTA).
Our faculty works collaboratively to provide consistent, progressive instruction across our programs. Instructors focus not only on choreography and performance, but on developing the technique, artistry, strength, musicality, and confidence that allow dancers to continue progressing over time.
RECITAL & PERFORMANCE
Do Studio C dancers perform in a Year-End Recital?
Yes. Our dance season culminates with Studio C’s Annual Year-End Recital at Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall.
The recital gives dancers the opportunity to take the skills and choreography they have developed throughout the season onto the stage in a professional theatre setting. For many dancers, performing for family and friends is one of the highlights of the dance year.
How do recital costumes work?
Every Recreational class prepares a routine for our Annual Year-End Recital, and dancers receive a professionally fitted costume for their performance.
Costumes are fitted during the dance season and distributed during Picture Week in May, ready for photographs and the year-end performance.
Does Studio C have a Picture Week?
Yes! Studio C holds Picture Week in May, when dancers have the opportunity to be professionally photographed in their recital costumes.
There is no fee to participate and no obligation to purchase photographs. Professional photos are provided to Studio C families as free digital downloads through a secure online gallery.
Do families need to purchase recital tickets?
Yes. Family members and guests attending Studio C’s Annual Year-End Recital require a ticket. Dancers performing in the recital do not require a ticket.
Recital tickets can be purchased through our Online Shop or in person at the studio.
PROGRAMS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
What is the difference between Recreational and Competitive Dance?
Both our Recreational and Competitive programs provide quality dance instruction with a focus on developing strong technique, confidence, and a love of dance. The primary difference is the level of training and commitment involved.
Recreational dancers typically attend one or more classes each week and perform in our Annual Year-End Recital. Families can choose the styles and amount of training that best suit their dancer's interests and schedule.
Competitive dancers follow a more intensive training schedule that includes technique classes, team rehearsals, independent practice, and additional rehearsals throughout the season. They also represent Studio C at two regional dance competitions each spring.
Competitive dance requires a greater commitment of time, effort, teamwork, and responsibility, while providing dancers with additional training and performance opportunities.
How can my dancer become involved in the Competitive Program?
Studio C's Competitive Program is invitation-based. Throughout the season, our instructors identify dancers who demonstrate the readiness, commitment, and technical foundation required for the expectations of the program.
Competitive opportunities are available across our Mini, Junior, Intermediate, Teen levels and in the Senior Elite Program.
Families who are new to Studio C, or who are interested in learning more about our Competitive Program, are always welcome to contact us. We'd be happy to discuss your dancer's experience and help determine the best pathway into our program.
For more detailed information about competitive training, commitments, competitions, and progression, families can also visit our Competitive Program pages and Competitive FAQ.
What is the Apprentice Program?
Studio C's Apprentice Program is a structured pathway for dancers who are interested in Competitive Dance but who would benefit from additional focused training before joining one of our Competitive Teams.
Apprentice dancers work to develop the technical skills, performance quality, confidence, and work habits required for competitive dance while also having the opportunity to experience the competition stage at the Novice level.
While Apprentice dancers are not officially members of our Competitive Team system, the program provides focused training and meaningful performance experience designed to help dancers build readiness for future competitive opportunities.
Does Studio C offer private lessons, solos or duets?
Yes. Studio C offers private lessons, solos, and duets when studio scheduling permits.
These options can provide dancers with additional individualized instruction, opportunities to work toward specific goals, or additional performance experiences.
Availability varies from season to season. Dancers and families interested in private lessons, solos, or duets are encouraged to contact the studio to inquire about current opportunities.
Still have questions?
We're always happy to help. If you have questions about classes, registration, placement, or which Studio C program might be right for your dancer, please contact us at info@studiocdancer.com.