2022 Handbook - Preschool classes
We can’t wait to welcome your child to our Kinderballet classes. Have a read of the information below to learn more about the year ahead at Nook!
Start with a trial class
We recommend starting off with a trial class. This allows your child to experience the class and then decide whether or not they would like to continue for the rest of the term. Trial invoices need to be paid prior to your child’s trial class.
Some kids settle into their class immediately and don’t want to go home afterwards while others hide behind their caregiver’s leg for the entire class but later exclaim that they ‘LOVED IT’ and ‘can’t wait to return next week!’ All kids are different and we respect that. If your child needs a second trial class before deciding whether or not to continue, that can be arranged.
Typically, parents/guardians of ‘Tots’ and ‘Jumping Jacks’ students wait in the waiting area at the venue. For trial classes, we invite the parent/guardian of the trial student to stay in the room with us to assist with settling in. Some preschoolers need their parent/guardian to stay in the room with us for a few classes after their trial before they are confident on their own and that is fine. Parents/guardians can be in the room with us as long as the child needs them.
Where to wait
Once your child is settled in, you are required to wait in the waiting area at the venue for the duration of the class. This is because preschoolers occasionally ask to go to the toilet during class (sometimes even when they went before class!) and we require the parent/guardian of the child to take them to the toilet. Nook Dance Centre staff cannot take students to the toilet and we prefer not to have to ask another parent.
No audience except for watching day (if possible)
3-5 year-olds are easily distracted, so having extra people in the room watching the class every week doesn’t provide the best environment for them to learn in. We do understand that family members want to witness the ‘cuteness overload’ of a preschooler learning dance, which is why we have ‘Watching Day’ on the last class of every term. On Watching Day you can invite family and friends to watch the class and see what we have been up to during the term.
On the last class of the year, we will have an end-of-year ‘Presentation Day’ which is like Watching Day but a bit more special. The dancers all wear a costume and get a medal at the end to reward them for their hard work throughout the year! 'Presentation Day is optional and we will provide more information about Presentation Day in term 4.
Sometimes, family members from interstate/overseas visit during the term and wont be able to make it to Watching Day. We do make exceptions in these cases and allow a few audience members from time to time. We just ask that you let us know prior to the class so that we know to expect some extra visitors on the day.
No photos or videos please
Please refrain from taking any photos or videos during our classes at any time. This is for child-safety reasons. You are welcome to take photos of your child before or after classes.
Nook Dance Centre staff occasionally take photos to share on our social media accounts. If you do not give permission for us to share photos with your child in them, you must indicate this on your enrolment form.
What to wear
There is no uniform at Nook, so all dancers can wear whatever they like! Bare feet are perfectly fine for all Preschool classes. Some kids love to wear ballet shoes for classes but please note that these are not a requirement.
If you would like to purchase ballet shoes for your child, we do insist that you purchase ‘purpose-made’ ballet shoes with a soft sole. We do not allow any participants to wear ‘ballet flats’ with a hard sole (intended for street wear) as these do not allow full range of movement of the foot and are not safe to dance in.
If you would like to purchase Ballet shoes we suggest the following retailers:
The Kinderballet online shop: www.kinderballet.com.au
Le Pointe Dance Shop: 49 Sydney Road, Brunswick.
Energetiks Ivanhoe: 4/63 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe.
Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree often have second hand pairs for sale!
What to bring
Please bring a (full) water bottle for your child. We prefer that you keep their water bottle with you in the waiting room and that preschoolers have a drink of water before and after class. We have found over the years that having water bottles in the dance space with us can be an unnecessary distraction for preschoolers. On particularly warm days, we will take group water breaks during the class when required.
If you miss a class
Once enrolled, if you need to miss a class, we can’t provide any refunds but we can provide make-up classes. This means you can attend any other age-appropriate class during the week to make up for the class you missed. Make-up classes must be booked within the same term as the missed class.
If you can’t make any of the other classes we offer during the week, we can organise a make-up class in a different Kinderballet location e.g. Flemington, Richmond, Prahran etc.
2022 Dates
Term 1:
Monday the 31st of January - Saturday the 9th of April
(NO CLASSES ON SATURDAY THE 12TH OF MARCH)
Term 2:
Tuesday the 26th of April - Saturday the 25th of June.
Term 3:
Monday the 11th of July - Saturday the 17th of September.
Term 4:
Monday the 3rd of October - Saturday the 10th of December.
(NO CLASES ON TUESDAY THE 1ST OF NOVEMBER)
Presentation Day will take place in your child’s regular class time during the week of the 5th-10th of December, 2022.
INVOICING
All ‘Tots’ and ‘Jumping Jacks’ classes are approximately $180.00 per term (based on a 10-week term). You will be sent an invoice before each term commences and invoices need to be paid prior to your child’s first class back. If you ever have any issues with paying invoices, please get in contact and we can arrange a payment plan.
COVID-19
There will still be some COVID-safe requirements in place in 2022. All Nook Dance Centre parents/guardians, staff and students will be required to adhere to these requirements. We will be in touch to notify you about the COVID-safe requirements that apply to you closer to your start date.
Meet your teacher
Hello! My name is Tammy and I will be your dance teacher. I love making new friends so I can’t wait to meet you at your first class! My favourite colours are green and yellow, my favourite food is pizza and my favourite animal is a penguin. I love all styles of dance and have been dancing since I was 3-years-old! I think we will have a lot of fun together in our dance classes!
That’s all from us for now! If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. See you in class!