VAN DYKE & CO. FAQ

Dedication to the Art of Dance: It takes 8-9 years to nurture dancers who are ready to meet the demands of choreography & performance in the professional dance world. We have had students awarded seats and scholarships to programs such as Central PA Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, St. Louis Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, PA Governors School of the Arts, Point Park University, Interlochen Academy, Jeoffrey Ballet and Alleghany Academy. As well, students have been accepted to IUP, Slippery Rock, Mercyhurst, Towson State and Ohio State. As in all art forms, discipline is key. Discipline and work ethics will serve our students well in any path they choose.

Attendance Guidelines: If a student must miss class, please notify us prior to the absence and it will be excused. Such absences must be made up in 4 weeks. Unexcused absences will be forfeited. Make an effort to arrive at least 15 minutes before class to warm up. Class curriculum is structured progressively. Please remember that attendance is essential to excellence.

Class Sizes: Enrollment is limited to 15 students per class to ensure quality instruction.

Class Placement: Class placement is decided by instructors, not by parents or students, and is made in the best interest of your child. Please do not ask that your child attend a class because of friends who take it. Placement is based on skill and not on age at VDC. A progressive training curriculum with assessment for each level has been developed for our dance classes to ensure the highest level of training available to each student. Each level has a specific number of hours of study to ensure optimum achievement and performance. As the students progress, they are encouraged to fulfill the number of hours recommended for each level in order to maintain and master that level. Once the ballet student has reached the intermediate level, they are encouraged to study for additional hours along with their required hours for that level. The “Invitational Class” is by invitation only and is for the student who is studying the required hours or more and who is working very well in all of their classes. If a student chooses not to take the recommended hours for their level than the process will take longer to achieve and progress through. Additional private lessons in Pilates or choreography are also encouraged. Dance training is a long and rewarding process and there are no short cuts. The physical and psychological demands of the art dictate the process. As in all great things, it takes time, patience, training and hard work to achieve excellence.

Tuition: Please contact us for class pricing and tuition payment schedule.

Dress Code & Hair: You can find dance attire and required footwear information regarding each class on the class descriptions page. Hair must be pulled back away from the face and off the shoulders in a bun with bangs neatly pinned or sprayed back for Ballet/Pointe class. For all other dance genres, hair should be neatly pulled back and secured in place.

Inclement Weather Policy: Typically, if there is a Punxsutawney School District cancellation or early dismissal, VDC will not be holding classes on that day. However, students should please contact our office number and home based number before leaving for classes to be sure the school is open (814-938-8434 & 814-938-8517 ). Safety is of great concern, please use your best judgment when traveling to our studios.

Our Studios: Van Dyke & Company’s Punxsutawney location (101 E. Mahoning St.) is housed on the 2nd and 3rd stories of our building and includes four dance studios with wooden or Marley sprung floors, a dressing room, lobby area, main office, dance apparel boutique “Waltzing Matilda”, costume storage and restrooms. Visit our contact page to view facility photos. All Dubois classes take place at Galaxy Hall (30 E. Long Ave.).