Welcome Letter
2026-2027
Dear Dancers and Families,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 Dance Year! We are very excited to get back into the groove of things and meet new dancers. Summer is coming to an end, and school and activities are starting back up. We are looking forward to an amazing upcoming dance year!
Please review the important information and guidelines below as we prepare for our first week of classes.
Class Schedule & Arrival
- Start Date: Dance starts the week of September 14th.
- Arrival: Doors will open 15 minutes before the first class. Please be respectful to staff opening the studio as they are getting it ready for the day. Please ensure dancers arrive on time or 5 minutes before class starts so classes can begin as scheduled.
Studio & Waiting Room Rules
- Ages 2-4: We ask that adults stay during the dance class. Any dancer 4 and under who needs to use the bathroom during class will be brought out to you in the waiting room.
- Ages 5 and up: Drop-off is highly encouraged. Older dancers are able to use the bathroom on their own with permission.
- Waiting Room Etiquette: We have a large waiting room with a small observation window for parents, siblings, and friends. Please do not place chairs against the waiting room window, climb on the desk or the gate by the garage door, or use the backroom for observation.
- Environment: Please be kind and respectful in the waiting room. Keep noise to a minimum to help prevent distractions, and please pick up after yourselves. Running, screaming, throwing toys or balls, flips, and crashing into the mirrors are not permitted in the classes or waiting room.
- Bullying: Pizazz has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. We welcome everyone and want everyone to feel safe and comfortable.
Preparation & Transition Time
- Bathroom: Please ask dancers to try to use the bathroom before their dance class.
- Dance Bags: All dancers should have a labeled dance bag with everything they need, including labeled shoes. Toys and stuffed animals should stay at home (though younger, shy dancers may bring a stuffed animal if needed).
- Combo Classes: Dancers in combo classes should put their tap shoes on first and bring their dance bag into the classroom. Teachers will help them change their shoes during class. Parents are asked to stay in the waiting room during this transition time. After class, dancers will receive a special treat from the teachers and walk out to the waiting room.
Adjusting to Dance Class
The first couple of classes will focus on getting to know the teachers and classmates, exploring the dance space, and reviewing the studio rules.
It can be hard for dancers to try something new, and that is completely okay! If your dancer is shy or refuses to dance, we encourage them to stay in the class or watch from the waiting room. We are here to help each dancer with their individual needs, and we are happy to use the "bandaid trick" if you let us know it works best for your child. Please don't feel discouraged—it often takes about 6 weeks for dancers to adjust and get into a routine.
Dress Code
Please review these dress code rules with your dancer before classes start. Hair must be pulled back and out of the face at all times for safety, and no jeans or jean shorts are allowed.
- Non-Company Classes: Dancers need clothes they can move in.
- Tap: Any black tap shoe.
- Lyrical, Acro, Musical Theatre, and Jazz: Bare feet. If you wish to wear tights, they must be stirrup tights.
- Acro and Cheerdance: Must wear a leotard with bike shorts, or a biketard.
- Cheerdance and Hip Hop: Clean sneakers that have not been worn outside.
- Ballet: Pink ballet slippers/shoes (please verify sizing when ordering).
- Company Dancers: Dancers must wear a leotard, shorts, and non-footed tights. No sweatshirts, sweatpants, leggings, or t-shirts (unless you are only taking hip hop, in which case a Pizazz t-shirt and leggings are permitted).
- Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, and Acro: Hair must be in a slicked-back dancer bun or French braid (no messy buns).
- Tap and Hip Hop: If you do not have jazz, ballet, or contemporary on the same day, hair may be worn in a slicked-back ponytail.
We will go over the dress code in detail during the first week of classes.
Food & Drinks
Food and drinks must stay off the dance floor. Water bottles may be brought into the dance room if they have a lid, and they should only be filled with water.
Registration, Waivers, & Tuition
- Waivers: Please sign a waiver and bring it with you on the first day of dance.
- Registration Fee: If you have not paid your registration fee, please do so now to guarantee your spot, as classes are filling up. There are still spots available if you would like to add or change classes.
- Tuition: Tuition is broken down into 10 payments due the first week of each month (September through June). Pizazz does not accept personal checks; payments must be made via Cash or Venmo.
Parking at the studio
When arriving, you can park on the side street or use the church parking lot. Please do not pull into the driveway next to the studio or use the apartment parking spots next door.
Additionally, please be kind and respectful when pulling up front to drop off your dancers, as dancers are frequently coming in and out of the door.
Important Dates (Studio Closures & Events)
Important dates and studio closures are posted on our website. Please follow us on Facebook and check our website for quick updates.
- Studio Closed:
- October 10, October 12
- November 11, November 25–28
- December 20–January 3
- January 18
- February 14–20
- April 2–4, April 18–24
- May 31
- June 9–11
- Bring a Friend to Dance: November 17, November 19, and November 21
- Dress Rehearsal: June 8
- Recital: June 12 & June 13
We will have special events throughout the year like a Halloween party, Christmas party with a suprise visit from Santa, monthly dance parties with lights and much more!
Note: Snow days will be posted on Facebook, our website, and via email. Snow days are not made up unless there are many in a row, in which case vacation weeks will be used for makeup classes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly. Text or email is perfect!
Best regards,
Caitlin Vautour
pizazzdancestudio6@gmail.com
413-230-0567 Text Friendly
Attached File:
Posted: to Pizazz Dance News on Wed, Aug 26, 2026
Updated: Wed, Aug 26, 2026