Policies

GENERAL INFORMATION and IMPORTANT DATES:

Horizons runs a 9-month dance season beginning Monday, August 25, 2025 and concluding late May 2026.

Horizons will be closed on Labor Day, Thanksgiving Eve & Thanksgiving (Nov. 26 & 27), Christmas Eve through New Year's Break (Dec. 24 - Jan. 4).

All tuition payments are due the 1st of each month (unless otherwise noted).

The 2026 Spring Showcase date is Saturday, May 16th at 7 pm (The Miller Center for the Arts).

Tuition rates have been revamped and based upon the experience & education level of the Horizons' staff as well as on the tuition scale of businesses offering similar services within the surrounding area.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

All recordings posted on social media must give credit to @horizonsdance, @doniellebaileyhorst, etc. If a student wishes to video during class, permission must be given. Do not bring cell phones into class without express permission from the instructor. Choreography is the property of the Horizons' Staff.

CONTACTING US for ABSENCES, etc.:

Students should not text staff members regarding absences or with additional questions. All communication should go through a parent or guardian via email: horizonsdanceconservatory@gmail.com. The personal time of our staff is valued by Horizons and should be valued by our clientele as well.

QUIET & CONSIDERATION:

If you enter the studio during a regularly scheduled class, please make your way quietly through the entrance and back to the hallway. If you come early to warm-up and to properly prepare for your class, please do so with respect for any dancers and staff currently in a teaching/learning environment. As a rule, we value kindness and appreciate your consideration and empathy for your fellow dancers.

SATURDAY CLASSES:

Horizons will offer options for Saturday classes. Students will be notified via email, social media, or during regularly scheduled class times of any opportunities. Additional fees apply.

REFORMER SESSIONS and PRIVATE LESSONS:

Reformer sessions are open to all dancers and all adults. Donielle Bailey Horst is a trained Pilates Practitioner on both the mat and reformer equipment. We also offer private dance lessons. Please see prices and duration of lessons on the tuition rates page.

DRESS CODE: Our dancers generally wear a black leotard or black sports bra with black shorts or black leggings. For BALLET, if a dancer is not wearing a leotard, make sure to have a form-fitting black tank or shirt over your sports bra; ballet classes require ballet slippers or pointe shoes--no socks--and ballet dancers may wear warm-up shorts or pants. For HIP HOP, please wear clean sneakers. All other dance disciplines will go barefoot or dancers may wear BLACK socks when needed.The last full week of each month (beginning with the week of Sept. 22nd) is colored week where dancers are not required to wear black.

Injuries

Please tell your instructor immediately in case of an injury. We will provide ice and needed aid and contact a parent when necessary. Each injury will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students may observe class during an injured period but no refunds will be given.

Snow Days

Notification of closures will be sent via email. Snow days will be made up when needed. Horizons runs on a 36-week season.

Attendance

While we understand that students may also want to participate in sports, musical productions, etc., missing more than 3 classes within a short period of time will create a deficit within the learning environment. Please discuss any extended absences with the Horizons' staff in advance.

Competition Group Information

While competition is valuable for the self-confidence and growth of our dancers, we at Horizons Dance Conservatory uphold training and the social aspects of dance above all else. If you are looking to attend National Summer events, Horizons does not attend these as a group experience. We are happy to register soloists for National events for a fee of $75 per dancer. Keep in mind, a competitive event cannot be attended without the express permission of Horizons' directors as the choreography and preparation occurred during our business hours and we own the rights.

Horizons attends regional competitions beginning in November with an additional one in January/February, generally two in March, and one in April. Competition is not mandatory for all students and not all classes attend competition. Students & parents of participating classes will be notified in advance. The average cost of one group number is $75 per dancer. Duos and Trios are normally around $90 per person and Soloists range from $150 to $190 per number.

HORIZONS' SMALL GROUPS:

The final Monday night hour (7:30 pm) is set aside for Small Groups. Dancers may sign-up for that hour, and they will be placed in one small competitive group (4 to 9 members). Our Competitive Small Groups compete at all regional competitions we attend.

SPECIALTY GROUPS:

Our Specialty Group Rehearsal hour on Thursday nights will take place from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. Students will be placed in up to 2 Group numbers. Thursday, August 28th will serve as the audition hour at 8:00 pm. This audition includes a movement and interview portion for each interested dancer. Please register for this class hour on the Parent Portal, so you are included on the audition list. This hour will also offer Special Events for the dancers on occasion ... TBA.

*Each member of all Small Groups as well as Specialty Groups will be charged an additional level of tuition each month. This is based upon our tuition rate scale.

Competitive Solos

At Horizons, we encourage the artistic practice of each individual. Performing a solo at competition allows for the development of each unique artist. Our soloists are coached through song choice, the dance discipline each wishes to perform, the collaborative process of choreography, and the expression of each individual via their physical context (costume choice) and storytelling narrative.

The staff at Horizons will work with each dancer to determine the best fit for each season's solo experience. A fee of $225 must be paid in advance by each soloist. This includes choreography and music editing. All additional coaching and in-studio time will require additional fees.

Sign up on the Parent Portal. The $225 fee will be charged when you sign up. We will contact you to set up your first choreography session.

A schedule for soloists to utilize studio space will be available each week. Please sign up on the clipboard provided at the studio. A coach will also be accessible during these time slots. Studio space will be shared with other dancers. Additional fees apply.

Competitive Duos/Trios

Dancers wishing to compete Duos and Trios at competition should sign up for the Thursday 5 to 6:00 pm Contemporary Warm-up & Duo/Trio rehearsal. If you wish to work with a particular dancer or dancers, please let us know via email. We will consider your request. Staff members have final say over competitive pairings. If you do not request a partner or partners, one or two will be chosen for you.

Extra choreography rehearsals will be needed to complete each dance piece, and therefore, all Duo and Trio members will be charged a one-time choreography fee of $50. Members of Duos & Trios participating in the

5:00 pm Thursday rehearsal will be charged an additional level of tuition each month (based on the tuition scale). Dancers will be coached during this hour-long rehearsal.