FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For the younger students, aged 2 yrs +, parents have the option to stay and watch, but you may find that after a few weeks, your child will gain more confidence and you won't need to stay.  It is more preferable for you not to be in the room, but it is understandable at this age that this may not be possible.  For the older students, aged 3 yrs + we ask that there are no spectators in the room, however if you are a new student, you may have a parent or guardian in the room for the first few weeks so they can settle in. Each of the venues have a waiting area, so you won't be very far away should your child need you. In order for you to see how well your little one has progressed, we have watching week, which is usually the last day of term. If you can't make this date, please contact Claire-Louise and she will allow you to watch on another date.

Any child who is attending the younger classes, 2 - 4yrs (anything under Pre-Primary) can wear anything that is comfortable and easy to move around in, such as leggings and a t-shirt and bare feet.  If after a few weeks, your child knows they want to continue, then it is recommended that they wear ballet shoes, as these will strengthen their feet.

From Pre-Primary onwards the uniform is required. You can purchase this from our website by clicking here. You can also purchase Claire-Louise Dance Academy printed merchandise through Claire-Louise. Please contact us for details.

Your child can move into Pre-Primary at around 4 years old or when they have started school.  Please speak to Claire-Louise if you are unsure of whether to move your child up. Nothing is set in stone, you can be flexible as to when you move your child up a class.

No, your child is not required to do ballet exams, but it is something that is recommended as it gives them something to work towards. Exams will take place from Primary onwards. At Pre-Primary level a class assessment will be made, which is very informal. Claire-Louise Dance Academy follows the ISTD syllabus, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and is one of the world's leading dance examination boards. http://www.istd.org/

In order for a place to be kept open for your child in our classes, payment is required monthly in advance, by subscription only.

After attending a 2 week paid trial, signing up through CLDA and setting up a subscription is the only registration and payment method CLDA will accept. We are no longer able to accept cash or cheques.

We reserve the right to make changes to these amounts and/or collection date if necessary. In this case, you will be given notice via email prior to collection. 

Fees are reviewed annually. 

The system we use is Membermeister. All registrations and payments are set up through our website which links to this system. 

Payment will be taken from the account you specify on 1st/2nd of every month (unless otherwise reviewed with C-L). Any new customers joining from the 1st April 2025 will have pay 2 months in advance for the 1st month and thereafter pay the monthly fee. They can then cancel at anytime. Existing CLDA customers will not need to pay 2 months in advance however they will need to give a month’s notice. They do not need to attend classes, but a month’s fees must be paid before the direct debit is cancelled.  Failure to make payments on time may result losing your place in chosen class(es). If you are having trouble paying, please speak to a member of our team and we will do our best to help. 

Prices are based on 37 weeks’ worth of classes and pro-rated over 12 months.

There is an annual membership fee of £30 per person collected on the 1st April each year, to cover the setting up of each student on our system/insurances and licensing. If you join throughout the year the membership fee will reflect this. For example if you join in October (half way through the year) the membership fee will be £15. (£2.50/mth pro rata’d). You will receive a CLDA t-shirt on registration when you join after April 2025. 

The subscription system ensures everyone pays on time as previously, 70% of fees were paid very late to CLDA, with some not being paid at all. 

Fees and event payments are non-refundable.

In the event of a session being cancelled due to conditions out with our control, fees will be non-refundable.  

Adult dancers still need to pay the annual fee membership as above.  They must book their class online through the website.  They have the option to pay weekly OR by monthly subscription at a slightly lower cost to the PAYG option.

Yes, we do offer a 2 week paid trial. Please click here to book your trial.

Yes, all staff members of the Claire-Louise Dance Academy will have an enhanced DBS check (formerly CRB).

You are more than welcome to take photographs during class, but we would appreciate it if the photos are not publicly used unless you get permission from the other parents. If you are happy to send us any photographs taken, we may put them on our website, with your permission and the permission of the other parents.  From time to time, we would like to add photographs of some of our Claire-Louise Dance Academy students and add them to our website and Facebook Page. If you would NOT like your child to appear in any marketing material, please can you contact Claire-Louise and she will make sure that your child will not be included in any of the photos.

Please note, we will not use their names in any of the material.