Frequently asked questions and answers about our classes.
Class Policies, Conduct and Tips
- Please review our Covid-19 Policies. To summarize, do not come to class if you have symptoms or are a close contact of a confirmed case, sanitize your hands when you come in, and although masks are not required, we encourage your to wear your mask if you prefer to do so.
- Please arrive 5-15 minutes before your class begins. If you are late for your class, please warm up first before joining in.
- Please remove your outdoor shoes at the studio door.
- Bring your own water bottle and don't forget to take it home with you! ;) We highly recommend labeling them with your name.
- We ask that you do not invite spectators watch the class as this can make other students feel uncomfortable.
- Please turn off or silence your cell phones during class.
- If something hurts, stop! Let us know and we can help you figure out what's wrong. Often making the movement smaller or checking your alignment can solve the issue.
- Please avoid chatting when the teacher is talking. We want you to get the full benefit of our instruction so please do not disrupt the class for yourself or others.
- Please be sure to double check that you have everything before you leave and take all your belongings with you. Water bottles and items of clothing are the most frequently forgotten.
- Come with a positive attitude, patience and kindness to yourself and others. Saying "can't" is forbidden... unless you add a "yet!" on the end of it! : )
What happens if a class is cancelled?
- In the case of a class cancellation, we will make all efforts to contact you. It is important that we have your updated phone number and email address for this reason.
- A class will either be added to the end of your session, or you will receive a virtual make-up class. If a student is unable to attend a scheduled make-up class, no further make-up class will be offered.
- Cancellations due to inclement weather:
If we feel it is unsafe for travel, we will let you know no later than 5pm. If the weather looks bad, please check your email before travelling to class. You will receive an email notification of the closure. You may also check our Facebook/Instagram page for confirmation. We will do our best to reschedule the class, however no refunds will be given in this circumstance. - Session Cancellation:
We reserve the right to cancel a class session due to low enrolment. In this case, you will be given the opportunity to save a credit for a future class, or receive a full refund of any remaining classes.
What do I wear to class?
- Wear something you can comfortably move in. Stretchy pants/leggings/shorts and a t-shirt or tank top is fine. We often need to look at our legs to correct movements so slim pants are great, or if you wear a skirt, leggings or shorts underneath are a good idea. Feel free to wear whatever makes you feel good!
- For footwear, you'll want to be able to twist, turn, point, and use the full range of motion of your foot. We often wear half-sole "footies" which are available for purchase. However socks or bare feet, or a soft-sole dance shoe is fine. If your feet need extra support, clean indoor sneakers are acceptable too! Any thing that provides too much grip or stickiness to the floor can cause injury, however.
- You may bring a scarf to wear around your hips if you like, or peruse our selection of hip scarves. Aside from being fun and pretty, coin scarves provide visual and acoustic feedback from your hip movements, helping you learn! If you have any further questions, please ask your instructor on the first class.
What if I miss a class?
- It is your responsibility to make the most of your purchase of the class session. We cannot provide refunds or credits for missed classes. If appropriate, students may attend the other class (Beginner or Intermediate) as a make-up class.
- When possible, online class videos are provided for in-studio students as a bonus practice tool, and to use as a make-up when needed. It is your responsibility to take advantage of this opportunity.
- Please don't be discouraged if you miss a few classes. We will do a thorough review in each class, and then learn something that is new to the whole group. Even if you have missed many classes we encourage you to come back as soon as you are able and not consider the session a write-off! If you are uncomfortable in class or have any other issues, please contact your instructor with your feedback so we can try to troubleshoot with you.
What are your Payment and Refund Policies?
Fees:- Drop-in Fee: $20 + tax ($23)
- 4-Week Session: $75 + tax ($86.25)
- Payment is due before the start of your first class.
- Please pay by Etransfer (to serpentinestudios@gmail.com), cash (please bring exact change), or credit card.
- If you are not able to pay for the full session up front, you may pay the drop-in rate as you go, and we can pro-rate the full cost for you.
- If space allows, a student may enrol after the start of the first class of a session and payment will be pro-rated accordingly.
- There are no refunds on classes & workshops.
- You cannot transfer payment to a future session, except in the case of an emergency medical situation. If there is a medical reason why you cannot continue, please let us know ASAP as we provide credits from the time of notification.
- We will do everything we reasonably can to make sure you are happy with your purchase; please talk to your instructor if you have an issue.
I’m a total beginner, what classes can I take?
- Any class marked as Beginner, " 1+ " , or no number at all beside the class title, are open for total newbies! We pride ourselves on being a welcoming space where anyone can learn beautiful movement. We start from the ground up and do not assume students have a movement background.
- However if you DO have a relevant dance or movement background, we still recommend starting with beginner as the isolations and nuance of bellydance movement can be very different from other dance forms, especially Western/European dance forms. If you find that beginner is too slow moving for you, a private lesson to get you up to speed may be the best option before moving up in the levels. Chat with your instructor if you'd like to discuss this!
What happens if we go into another shutdown due to the pandemic?
In the case of another shutdown, we will reach out to you to discuss options. We may move to Zoom, or put the class on pause until we are able to resume. Refunds will not be possible in this case, so please keep this in mind.What protocols are in place to ensure a safe environment during the pandemic?
We will be following the Nova Scotia Health mandates for fitness facilities and/or dance classes and keeping an eye on them as things evolve. Please visit our Covid-19 Protocols Page for our most up-to-date information.