Cape Sands Ballroom: Policies

 

Cape Sands Ballroom Policies are as follows (open communication is encouraged, so please feel free to contact Karen

with questions or concerns):

 

 

SAFETY STRATEGIES

 

• See your doctor for a check-up prior to enrolling in classes if you have a medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or

haven’t exercised regularly for a long time.  

​

• Choose a dance style that is appropriate for you. For example, high impact dance styles that involve jumping and vigorous movements

are not appropriate for a person with arthritis.  

 

• Wear layers of clothing that you can take off as your body warms up.  

 

• Do warm-up stretches or activities before you begin the dance session. Cold muscles are more prone to injury.  

 

• Drink plenty of water before, during and after dancing.   To stay hydrated, please bring your own shatterproof bottle of water to every class.

 

• Respect your body’s limits. Don’t push yourself too far or too fast, especially if you are a beginner.  ​

 

• Evaluate floor conditions before dancing, and wear shoes suitable to the flooring.  Make sure soles are slippery enough to allow the foot

to turn freely without sticking to the floor.  Also make sure there is enough traction in the soles to prevent excessive sliding.

 

• Dancing should challenge your muscles in a positive way but should not cause pain.  Should you experience pain, check to ensure that

you are executing the steps as shown and consult Karen regarding correct form.   

 

• For your heart health, make sure to spend a few minutes after class cooling down.  If you are unable to dance for the full length

of class without taking seated breaks please consult your doctor regarding whether or not line dancing is a safe activity for you.   

 

​

Line dancing is generally regarded as a safe way of exercising.  But some physical and mental exertion is required, and as with any physical activity there are risks of participation.  Please verify that you have the following skills/abilities before enrolling.  Your decision affects not only you but also the dancers around you because line dancing flows in multiple directions and to be safe all dancers must flow together in the same direction at the same time. 

If uncertain about whether or not you possess the following skills/abilities please review the list with your doctor and obtain his/her approval prior to participating.  If you do not feel that you can safely participate in line dancing, alternative activities to check out are aquatic exercise and seated exercise. Please note: the best way to begin your path to safe and fun participation is to join a class on a “restart date”.  Please ask for info. 

​

The following is a Basic Skills List for all Dancers regardless of level.  To see a breakdown of additional skills required for levels above

beginner level , please see: 

https://www.capesandsballroom.com/skills-list

​

• Ability to process both voice and visual cues.

​​

• Ability to retain and execute instructions without a visual reference (i.e. when facing away from the instructor).

​​

• Good spatial orientation (i.e. understanding and following cues to turn 90, 180 or 270 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise). 

​​

• Adequate foot health to comfortably wear shoes that are considered safe for dancing which include styles having all of the following characteristics:

 closed toe, heel and instep, some flexibility in the sole, some means of staying on the foot (tie or strap). 

 Not allowed:  bare feet, stocking feet, mules, clogs, slides, platforms, sandals, and heels.  See additional shoe information below.

​​

• Doctor’s approval to participate if there is a history of any surgeries, injuries or conditions that could cause balance, gait, or cognitive issues.

​

• Ability to remain actively participating for the full length of the class.  For safety reasons, there are no seated breaks during class.  Time will be allocated after every class for participants to stretch and cool-down independently.

 

• Maintaining balance while shifting weight from foot to foot and traveling forward, backward and sideways.

​​

• Maintaining balance with weight on one foot while tapping or kicking the other foot forward, side, back, or next to the supporting foot.

​​

• Rocking weight from foot to foot with one foot positioned behind the other or next to the other.​​

​​

• Turning up to 270 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise quickly and without experiencing dizziness.

​

​

​

Shoe requirements:

 

• Please check with Karen for specific footwear requirements that may be dictated by any of the various dance spaces used by

Cape Sands Ballroom.

 

• Professionally fitted dance shoes are not required for beginner dancers, but are recommended once a dancer is certain that dancing

will be a continuing hobby. Ask Karen for details on what type of shoe to buy and where to shop.

 

• Please carry clean soled shoes to class and change upon arrival. This helps keep sand from the parking lots off the dance floor.

Shoes are required. Bare feet and stocking feet are not allowed.

 

• If using street shoes, please make sure they have the following qualities:

 

• Non marking sole

• Closed toe, closed instep, closed heel

• Flexible sole

• Sole that slides easily on floor, but provides sufficient traction to be safe when turning.  

Beware of shoes marketed as “character shoes” that have composite or smooth leather soles.  These are too slippery.

• Stay on foot (tie, strap, etc.)

• Due to the exercise-oriented nature of line dance classes and due to the fact that line dance classes are often conducted on

special flooring fitted with a “performance surface” which may be damaged by heels, dancers enrolled in

line dance classes are asked to wear flat shoes.  Heels are permitted in partner dance classes because

partner dance classes are not exercise-oriented and are not conducted on a “performance surface”.

• Not permitted in class:  sandals, mules/slides/clogs, platforms, slingbacks.

 

• Students in partner dance classes, if purchasing professionally fitted dance shoes should choose a suede sole.  Keep the sole in safe condition by regular brushing, and replace the sole when it can no longer be restored to safe condition by brushing.

 

• Shoes designed for partner dancing can be smooth-style, Latin-style, or all-purpose “practice shoes” .  All-purpose shoes are recommended for beginners.  The use of Latin style (open toe, open instep) shoes for smooth/standard-style dancing is prohibited for safety reasons.

 

 

GROUP CLASS CANCELLATIONS

 

Weather Related Cancellations:   Cancellations will follow the local school district decision.   Policies may vary slightly according to the location of classes, so please see additional details on each "classes page".  If the building hosting a Cape Sands Ballroom course is closed for weather related reasons, the Cape Sands Ballroom class is automatically canceled.  Cancellations will be posted on the Cape Sands Ballroom website calendar and Facebook page.
 

 

PRIVATE LESSON CANCELLATIONS

 

Cape Sands Ballroom requires 24 hours notice to cancel private lessons. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are billable at regular rates. The ballroom reserves the right to terminate and refund a private lesson package due to excessive absences, including those with notice.

 

Private lesson packages have an expiration date calculated as follows: Multiply the number of lessons purchased by 3 weeks.

Example, a 5-lesson package expires 15 weeks from date of purchase. Expired lesson packages are forfeited with no refund or reschedule offered.

 

 

GROUP CLASSES

 

Please plan to arrive on time for all classes. Students who join a class that has been in progress for more than 15 minutes disrupt the learning environment, negatively affecting the other students.

 

Group class students are asked to direct their attention to Karen at all times when she is talking. This helps minimize interruptions

in the flow of the class.

 

Any student who may already know material at a higher level than what is being taught is asked to omit material of the higher level

because it can be confusing to other students when they see material being danced that they are unfamiliar with.

 

Students are asked to refrain from “teaching” other students during class, and instead refer any questions to Karen.

 

If any student struggles to learn in the group class environment, either because of the structure of the class or the nature of the material

being taught, private lessons are an option to replace or supplement group classes. Please see the Private Lesson Page for more information

on cost and policies.

 

 

CLASS PLACEMENT

 

Students with previous dance experience based on a syllabus other than the one in use by Karen and those who need help understanding elements and how they relate to material previously studied should contact Karen prior to attending group classes. Karen will recommend appropriate classes based on the student’s previous experience.

 

 

GROUP CLASS PAYMENTS

​

Depending on class location, payment is made directly to the town or to Cape Sands Ballroom.  Some locations are drop-in only, some are semester-only, and some allow both options.  Cost per class varies by location.  For specifics please see the website page for the location you are interested in.  Location buttons can be found here:  https://www.capesandsballroom.com/group-classes.

​

For most locations, paying by the semester is the best option because it entitles the student to a per-class discount.  This discount, though, is only available when enrolling for the full semester.  If you are planning to attend for less than a full semester please calculate the drop-in rate for the number of classes you will attend, compare it to the full semester fee, and pay the lesser of the two.  

​

No refunds, credits, or make-up classes are offered for missed classes so please consider your schedule carefully when determining whether to enroll for a semester or pay by the drop-in option.  The only exception to this policy is for serious medical conditions that prevent the student from continuing to dance during a semester that was prepaid.  

​

New students who join classes on week 2 of a semester or later may be entitled to prorated fees when combining payment for the remainder of the current semester with a pre-payment for the following semester.  See Karen for details.

​

 

INTERACTIONS WITH STAFF AND STUDENTS

 

All students are expected to treat each other with respect, and are assured of being treated respectfully by Karen. Cape Sands Ballroom

reserves the right to terminate attendance privileges in the event of improper behavior. Improper behavior includes but is not limited to chronic tardiness, disrespectful words or actions, and any behavior that interrupts the flow of class or enjoyment of class by other students.

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY

 

From time to time, photos are taken during class to be used in Cape Sands Ballroom advertising.  Students who prefer not to have

their photo used for Cape Sands Ballroom advertising purposes are asked to step out of the field of view of the camera during photographs.

 

Videotaping of classes by students is not allowed, but students may hand their recording device to another person at the end of class

and may ask that person to record them as they briefly dance through the material learned in that class.  

 

 

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

 

All food and beverage other than plain water must be kept off the dance floors. Students are asked to pick up and dispose

of their used paper cups and other trash before leaving the building.

 

 

LOST AND FOUND

 

Cape Sands Ballroom cannot be responsible for loss or damage to any personal items. If an item is lost, please check with Karen first,

and then with the facility where the class was held.

 

 

STUDIO COMMUNICATION

 

Cape Sands Ballroom communicates via email. Please make sure you have an updated email address on file.

 

 

GENERAL LIABILITY AND SAFETY

 

All students are required to read and sign a copy of the Cape Sands Ballroom Registration Form before participating in classes.

This form outlines policies and liability.

 

Dancing, like any other physical activity, may involve a risk of injury. Cape Sands Ballroom makes every effort to offer

its programs in the safest manner possible. Students are asked to participate only in programs that are suitable for their ability, skill level,

and personal safety. Students are responsible for warming up and cooling down as needed for their personal safety.Cape Sands Ballroom

does not directly control and, therefore, cannot guarantee the safety of any floor surface where classes are held. Students are responsible

for evaluating floor conditions for safety before proceeding with participation in class. Students must wear safe footwear, appropriate

to the floor surface being danced on.

 

Students must inquire about parking policies for each of the various spaces used by Cape Sands Ballroom. Parking in a restricted area

which results in a ticket or towing will not be reimbursed by Cape Sands Ballroom.

 

 

Questions? Learn more: Contact Karen.