"A well educated mind will always have more questions than answers." -Helen Keller
"Wait, you mean dance is not the same as it was last year?"
I know, as if there weren't already enough questions and uncertainty in the world, right?!
So let's get some things cleared up for you, shall we?
Q: Is Margaret still the studio owner?
A: She is not. In June, Whitney McKee purchased Teton Valley Dance Academy. You can find out more about Whitney and our other faculty here. Margaret still has a great love for the students and for dance. We hope she will continue to be a part of the arts in our community in the future.
Q: Are there still sessions?
A: We will refer to the time of year we are dancing as "semesters" (Fall semester is Aug. 31-December 18, Winter semester is January 4-May 31. But students will now have monthly tuition rather than signing up for an entire session. This does provide more flexibility from month to month for those who are involved in other activities or are seasonal residents. However, once classes are full enrollment will be closed. Be aware of "add/drop deadlines" as well to avoid unwanted fees.
Q: What if there is a shutdown in the middle of a month I already paid for?
A: We are set up for online classes in the event that we can't meet in person for a time. If this happens, you have 3 options. 1) Attend the classes you're enrolled in weekly on Zoom until we can return to the studio. 2) Have that month's tuition credited to your account for future use. 3) Request a refund at a prorated amount, depending on what point in the pay cycle we are in.
Q: Do we have an online option like the public schools have if we're not comfortable attending in person yet?
A: Absolutely. You can find out more about this option here.
Q: What are your Covid precautions?
A: On our website, click on the red box labeled "Covid-19 message" for all of the details of how we are safely running our classes.
Q: There are so many options; how do I know which class would be right for my child?
A: My personal opinion is take as many classes as you are eligible for! But I understand that is not always an option. If you are trying to decide on ONE right class, you can read more about what each class offers here or you can contact me to discuss your options further.
Q: What is Acro?
Q: My child really wants to do a type of dance that you don't offer. Will you be adding other types of classes?
A: I have big goals for this studio. Right now our only limitation is space! Hip hop and musical theater are two styles that I hope to incorporate very soon if possible. If there is something you're interested in specifically, we'd love to hear your recommendations!
Q: I'd love to sign my child up for classes but we just can't afford it. Do you have any financial assistance options?
A: If it weren't for financial assistance there's no way I could have taken dance classes! This is a HUGE priority for me. My hope is that we will be able to develop a scholarship fund from which we can offer assistance to qualifying families. If you know any businesses or individuals who would like to sponsor a dance student, please direct them to me! In the meantime, there are a lot of expenses associated with owning and operating a business, especially where we want to offer our students the BEST opportunities.
Q: Can my son take dance classes or is it just for girls?
A: YES, boys can and should dance if they want to! Nonetheless, the road of a male dancer tends to be the one less traveled. As they grow into young adulthood, they really need the encouragement and support of the people who care about them the most if they're going to succeed and grow up to be confident and strong male dancers. Here's one small example of the encouragement we can offer the expanding world of boys in dance. I like how Gene Kelly put it: "Any man who looks like a sissy while dancing is just a lousy dancer."
Q: Are you ever going to do The Nutcracker or 'Twas the Night Before Christmas again?
A: This answer would be the same whether it was coming from Margaret last year or me right now. Our choices regarding performance opportunities vary depending on several factors: the ages and skill levels of our current students, our ability to fund a large show, and [now] the health risk it poses to the community. I can't say what the future will bring, but I can say that performing is an important part of dance education and we will do our best to offer memorable and valuable experiences.
Q: Will there be a dance company and if so what are the requirements for my child to join?
A: We will have auditions for the Summit Legacy Company on October 31st. Find out all about it here!
Have additional questions or suggestions?
If you'd like to set up a meeting or chat on the phone, please contact us at 208-354-1711 or Whitney@summitschoolofthearts.com.
Most of your questions can be answered on our website. I find it easier to navigate when I do so on a desktop computer rather than a phone, but both offer the same capabilities.
A sincere THANK YOU for your interest and support in dance!
