Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are you still taking enrollment?
A. Yes! We have open enrollment all year as long as a class is not full.
Q. What age can children begin classes?
A. Children ages 2.5 and up can begin classes.
Q. Where are you located?
A. Our Briargate Studio is located off of Research Parkway across from the US Post Office. Our address is 8570 Criterion Drive Suite 154, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
Q. How much is tuition?
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Each family’s tuition fee is determined by the number of hours danced per week.
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Tuition fees are calculated by the number of hours danced per week multiplied by the number of weeks in the Season.
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​Primary Division classes are calculated for a 45-week period, from August 7th, 2023, through July 27th, 2024, excluding scheduled closures.
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Secondary, Upper and Pre-Professional Division classes are calculated for a 38-week period from August 7th, 2023 – May 25th, 2024, excluding scheduled closures.
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Tuition payments are based on dividing the total tuition fee into equal monthly installments.
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​Primary Division tuition payments will yield 12 equal monthly payments, from August through July.
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Secondary, Upper and Pre-Professional Division tuition payments will yield 10 equal monthly
payments, August through May. -
Adult Spanish & Pas de Deux are calculated at a special rate:
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​These classes will run from August through October 2023 and January through March
2024 for x2 12-week sessions -
Each 12 week session will be calculated for a total of $250 per session
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The total for both 12 week session is $500 for the year
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For those that pay for the year in FULL, they will receive a discounted rate of $450
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Tuition is due on the 1st of each month and is considered late after the 5th of each month.
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Open enrollment is available all season.
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Sample Tuition: A Secondary/Upper Division dancer who dances 10 hours/week will pay a tuition rate of $12.50/hour, based on the table below. At 10 hours/week, this student will dance a total of 38 weeks (recalculate based on # of weeks update) over the full 38-week Season. This calculates to a total tuition fee of $4,750/Season. The payments are spread equally across the 10 months of the Season, August through May, resulting in 10 equal payments of $475/month.
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The formula works like this: Hours/week x Tuition Rate x Participation Weeks = Tuition Fee Total Tuition Fee Total/Participation Months = Tuition Payment/Month​
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Q. Do you offer more than just ballet?
A. Yes! We offer many styles of dance including: Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Broadway, Hip hop, Acro, Worship, Conditioning, Stretch, Sparkle Dance, and Superheroes.
Q. Do you offer a free trial class?
A. Yes! One complimentary (FREE) trial placement class, in a dance style of your choice, is available to you when you schedule your trial with the Front Desk at 719-272-7078.
Q. What should prospective students wear to their free trial class?
A. If your dancer does NOT have dancewear, they can wear any form-fitting athletic clothing, with their hair pulled back. If they don't have the prescribed footwear for class, they may wear socks. Once they register with us, please note that we are a uniform school and they will need to purchase the proper uniform requirements.
Q. What are your Front Desk hours?
A. Our normal hours of operation are below. However, whenever there is a holiday break, we will post amended hours on our homepage slider.
Monday: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Things Every Parent Should Know Before Choosing a Dance Studio:
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What is the size of the studio and what type of dance floor is used?
Dance is about movement and therefore it is important for students to be able to move across the floor uninhibited. A large studio gives students the advantages of having room to express themselves and move freely. For more advanced dancers, a professional-sized studio allows them to learn variations and works from the classical repertoire without compromise while rehearsing for upcoming performances.
The best way to prevent potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional sprung floor. Dance is a very physical activity that requires much jumping which can put stress on the bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place pressure on the ankles, knees, and back of the dancer. A sprung floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of padding to absorb the shock of jumping. It is superior to a raised floor, which usually consists of wood built on top of a concrete floor.
The top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. A "marley" floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface for recreational and professional dance. Facilities such as American Ballet Theater in New York and the Royal Academy of Dance in London use marley floors as their dance surface. A marley floor allows dancers to move with a degree of control so there is less risk of slips and falls.
Our five independent studio rooms are very large (40 x 56, 40 x 40, 40 x 30, and 45 x 28, 42 x 40) and have sprung floors with a marley surface. Our special floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without tiring. Our state-of-the-art facility includes beautiful large viewing windows, a welcoming lobby, air conditioning, heating, costume shop, study rooms, kitchen, and student areas.
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What makes the instruction excellent?
A dance teacher can give a class or teach a class. The difference is enormous. A well taught class will bring out the best in each student. Imaginations are sparked as individuals develop their gifts and grow in confidence. This is done by having a professionally trained faculty following a written school syllabus. Teachers get to know each student personally as they challenge and mentor them.
Our school trains its faculty and follows a written syllabus of clean, well-rounded American technique that draws the best components from different styles. Our faculty holds regular meetings to discuss the progress and goal for the different levels. Our faculty also gives each student regular feedback and corrections to guide them to personal satisfaction. Full classes incorporate a teaching assistant for more personalized contact.
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How do you create a healthy environment that also honors the "child" in dancers?
A healthy environment is a question of training the "whole person" rather than just a physique. It is also constant guidance in educating the students about their bodies and how to take care of them. Proper training also ensures less wear and tear on a young body and creates a positive atmosphere.
It is common for studios to put on a year-end performance for all students where parents and guests may be uncomfortable with either the costumes, type of movement in the choreography, or the music used for the performance.
We provide several performing opportunities throughout the year with modest and age appropriate costumes, choreography, and music. All music is screened for classes and a dress code is followed. We believe in a balanced approach that looks at the student as a whole and invites them to be an active part of their dance experience. Our pre-pointe program incorporates physical therapy and Pilates exercises, information on the anatomy of the foot and pointe shoe, lessons on how to care for feet and shoes, and history about ballet and pointe.
We also have an in-studio physical therapist who comes on a monthly basis to address potential problems before they become chronic. There is opportunity through this program to have follow-up visits in a clinic at a discounted rate. We also offer a full Pilates program for cross training and strength building, and weekly massage appointments.
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What special programs and performances do you offer?
Most schools offer one end-of-the-year performance opportunity where each class performs a piece of choreography chosen by their teacher individually. Classes are offered in several styles of dance broken down into levels. Priority is given to different areas in different schools. Is this a good fit for your family needs?
We have three divisions in our program to offer something for each student's chosen expression: Primary Division, Secondary Division, Upper Division, and a Pre-Professional Division. Each one has a year-end performance that has a unique theme created specifically with our students in mind. This teaches the students the value of being part of a larger production and unifies the school. It is also very entertaining and engaging for our audience members. We also offer performance opportunities throughout the community with other arts organizations of distinction and have three resident companies: Colorado Youth Ballet, Connexus Dance Collective, and Praise Dance Ensemble.
Summer programs are offered in each Division. For the Pre-Professional division there is the special Summer Ballet Intensive with guest teachers from around the world and includes specialty classes not offered during the school year. Young Dancers Workshop is a program for the intermediate students in levels 2 and 3. Fun, theme inspired Dance Camps are held for our youngest dancers; and we offer a Broadway Workshop and a Worship Workshop for all ages and abilities.