Wilmington Dance Academy Policies

Class Placement
The director determines individual class placement according to dance ability and age.  If at any time a student appears to be incorrectly placed, the student will be moved to an appropriate class.

  • Level 1: Beginner (Ages 7-10)

  • Level 2: Beginner 2 (Ages 9-11) Students enrolling in jazz, lyrical, or contemporary classes are recommended to take at least one ballet class.

  • Level 3: Beginner/Intermediate (Ages 11-14) Students enrolling in jazz, lyrical, or contemporary classes are recommended to take at least one ballet class.

  • Level 4: Intermediate (Ages 12+) Students enrolling in jazz, lyrical, or contemporary classes are required to take at least one ballet class.

  • Level 5: Intermediate/Advanced (Ages 13+) Students enrolling in jazz, lyrical, or contemporary classes are required to take at least two ballet classes.

  • Level 6: Advanced (Ages 13+) Students enrolling in jazz, lyrical, or contemporary classes are required to take at least two ballet classes. Students enrolling in ballet are required to take at least 3 ballet classes.

  • Teen Level: For dancers ages 11+. Does not require a ballet prerequisite. The teacher will adjust instruction to best meet the needs of the students in attendance.

    • Dancers enrolling in pre-pointe classes are recommended to enroll in two weekly ballet classes.

    • Dancers enrolling in pointe classes are required to take at least two weekly ballet classes along with their pointe class.

Missed Classes
Please use the Parent Portal to report if your child will be missing class. We encourage your child to make up the missed class with a class that is equal or one level lower within one month. There are NO CREDITS FOR MISSED CLASSES. Remember to keep your child home if they are feeling sick, with or without a fever.

Submitting Absences via the Parent Portal
Log into your portal → Click the hamburger menu (three lines, top right) → Absences & Makeups →
Green Submit Absence button → Choose dates and classes being missed.

Notices & Updates
Our staff makes every effort to keep students and parents informed of all studio information promptly. Most communication to our families is in the form of email. Newsletters are sent quarterly via email and as well as posted at the studio. We recommend adding noreply@jackrabbittech.com and info@wilmingtondanceacademy.com to your safe senders list.  Doing so will prevent your email provider from sending our emails to your junk/spam folder.

Recital
Our annual recital is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of June 7-8, 2025. We will confirm the date in September and notify you once it's finalized. A $50 recital fee per family is due by April 14th, which includes a downloadable video and a souvenir recital t-shirt. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning May 10th. Recital updates will be sent via email to the billing contact on file. While participation in the annual recital is optional, we highly encourage students to join this wonderful event.  If your child will not participate, please inform the office by email no later than December 1st. We strive to schedule siblings in the same show, but it may not always be possible. Therefore, please expect that if you have multiple children or if your children are in multiple classes they may be in different or multiple shows.

Recital Costumes
Costumes are ordered in mid-December and are paid in two installments: an initial payment of $50 per costume due by October 15th, and a final payment of $35 per costume due by February 14th. Please note that performance team costumes may have a higher balance, and those teams will be notified individually. Costume exchanges may incur an administrative fee, and the studio is not responsible for any alterations that may be needed.

School Closings
We follow the Wilmington Public School snow cancellation policy ONLY.  If snow begins after the school day is in progress, please watch email and Wilmington Dance Academy social media accounts for closure announcements.  We DO NOT follow the public school calendar. A vacation and holiday schedule will be announced in the 1st newsletter and can be found under the “company” page on the main navigation banner.

 

Wilmington Dance Academy Dress Code

Adherence to the dress code is mandatory to promote uniformity and to enable instructors to determine proper body placement.  Footwear listed with each class will be required for recital. All hair must be tightly pulled back.  We do not permit baggy clothes, T-shirts or sweatshirts in any class.  During the winter months, students may wear a ballet wrap or tight fitting sweater or top to warm-up.

  • For the Boys
    Black athletic pant of choice, black t-shirt and black ballet shoes (So Danca SD-70), black jazz (Bloch S0495), black tie tap shoes of choice, or clean sneakers for Hip Hop. (Please no street shoes; sneakers should be put on inside the studio. Recital shoe will be determined at a later date.)

  • Tiny Dancer and Storytime Dance
    Pink or purple leotard, white tights and white ballet slippers (So Danca SD-69 - formerly known as SD-70)

  • Tumble & Twirl
    Dance/Gymnastics leotard, shorts unitard/biketard, or shorts set, bare legs and feet

  • Pre-Dance, Kinderdance
    Pink leotard, white tights, white ballet slippers (So Danca SD-69 - formerly known as SD-70) and black tap shoes (TA37 So Danca Velcro). Dancers may wear a separate pull on ballet skirt; please nothing that requires tying.

  • Introductory Dance
    Pink leotard, white tights, white ballet slippers (So Danca SD-69 - formerly known as SD-70) and black tap shoes (TA37 So Danca Velcro) Jazz shoes are not needed at this level. Dancers may wear a separate pull on ballet skirt; please nothing that requires tying.

  • Jazz/Tap Combo
    Solid color leotard, light suntan tights, either black jazz shoes (Bloch Neoflex slip on #S0495) or ballet slippers (Either white So Danca SD-70 or pink So Danca SD16) for jazz AND tap black tap shoes (Capezio Mary Jane 3800). Dancers coming from Ballet Basics do not need to purchase jazz shoes.

  • Ballet (Basics through Level 6)
    Black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet slippers (So Danca SD16 or Capezio Hanami), hair must be in a bun. Fitted warm ups may be worn for beginning of barre but must be removed when asked. Trash bag shorts and pants will not be allowed.

  • Jazz (Level 1 through Level 6)
    Solid color leotard, light suntan tights, and black fitted short dance may be worn. Black jazz shoes (Bloch Neoflex slip on S0495)

  • Tap
    Fitted, solid color shirt/tank with black legging or shorts. Or solid color leotard with light suntan tights (black fitted shorts may be worn.) Black tap shoes:

    —Level 1 Tap - Capezio Mary Jane 3800 Tap
    —Level 2 through Level 4 Tap - Bloch Sync (S0321L) Tap
    —Level 5 through Level 6 Tap - Bloch Jason Samuels Tap

  • Lyrical/Contemporary
    Solid color leotard, light suntan stirrup tights, bare feet or turning shoes for more advanced dancers. Contemporary socks may be required at advanced levels.


  • Hip Hop
    Comfortable, loose fitting clothes, clean sneakers. (Please no street shoes; sneakers should be put on inside the studio. Recital shoe will be determined at a later date.) Performance team sneakers may be different.

  • Musical Theater Jazz
    Comfortable, loose fitting clothes

  • Acro/Tumbling
    Dance/Gymnastics leotard, shorts unitard/biketard, or tight-fitting dance shorts, bare legs and feet. No bra tops. Cropped style fitted tops may be permitted if worn with high-waisted leggings that are well fitted to your dancer.