Things to Know Before Class Starts!
Session Dates
Mark these dates on your calendar!
FOR WINTER ONLY CLASSES:
The winter session starts on Monday, January 6 and ends on Sunday, April 5. There are no planned studio closures for the winter session.
FOR WINTER/SPRING CLASSES:
The winter/spring session starts on Monday, January 6 and ends on Saturday, June 6. Spring Break will be from Monday, April 6 through Sunday, April 12. Studios are closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. Classes will meet over Memorial Day weekend (May 22 – 24).
Winter/Spring Class Performance: June 7
FOR WINTER ONLY CLASSES:
The last week of class is observation week! From Monday, March 30 – Sunday, April 5 families will have the opportunity to see a portion of their dancers’ class.
FOR WINTER/SPRING CLASSES:
Winter/Spring classes will participate in our annual spring dance festival, JoyFest, on June 7, 2020. JoyFest showcases 750+ youth dancers in grades 1-12 from all eight Wards of DC, plus Maryland and Virginia, performing ballet, flamenco, hip hop, jazz, modern, and tap — and capturing the power and joy of dance education in the local region. If your student will not be participating in the festival, please let your studio staff know by February 10.
Please note: there is no Observation Week for JoyFest classes as the classes culminate in a performance.
Winter/Spring Class Attendance: The last four classes of the session are mandatory for participation in JoyFest. If students miss a large number of Winter/Spring classes, their instructor may remove them from the performance entirely or restrict their participation to portions of the piece. Costume measurements will be taken early in the session (January 20 – February 2). Please ensure your student attends class during that time!
Inclement Weather or Unplanned Studio Closures
Closures related to weather or citywide events will be posted on the top banner here on our website. Always check before you leave for class if the weather is questionable or if a major event is taking place in the area.
What to Expect
Do your best to attend every class and arrive a little early — and remember to check-in for every class at the front desk or on the iPad. For all dancers, the best way to learn and progress is through repetition and practice!
Please do not take any photos or videos during class, either in the studio or from the lobby.
What to Wear: Finding what to wear to class can be tricky! We’ve put together some tips on recommended attire for class. Please do not wear street shoes in the studio or dance shoes in the street. Students (ages 4+) who are in style-specific classes should bring shoes for those styles, such as ballet or tap shoes.
Classes involve hands-on corrections and adjustments in accordance with our Code of Conduct. Please let the instructor know if your dancer would prefer those hands-on corrections not be used in their instruction. Students are welcome to change their personal preferences at any time.
Community Policies
Here are some things to keep in mind to help your dancer to be successful in class:
Joy of Motion offers makeup class options for missed Series classes. However, a class may only be made up within the same session (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) in which the student is enrolled. Remaining makeup classes cannot be “rolled over” into any future sessions. Please ask studio staff to help you find a makeup class in an appropriate level and style. For Winter/Spring classes, students will not be allowed to take make up classes after spring break, as classes will be focusing on rehearsing performance choreography after that point.
We are committed to cultivating a diverse community of dance students, educators, artists, and audiences in the DC metropolitan area by providing exceptional dance education and performances that open doors for learners of all ages and abilities. See all our policies here.
