FAQ's, Policies & Procedures
Updated 08/22/2025
Registration
Families who have never enrolled in classes with us before need to fill out a registration form on our online portal. Follow the "New Family Registration" link to the online registration form. On the registration form, you will enter an email address and create a password. This is the log-in information you will use to access the online portal for enrollment purposes in the future. You can enroll your student(s) in classes directly on the registration form. During enrollment, please be sure to observe teacher recommendations and age guidelines for all classes and programming. With more questions, please Contact Us.
Enrollment
Families who have registered a student with us in the past can log-in to the online portal to enroll in classes. If your student is continuing with a style they took last year, they will be recommended for a specific level of that style by the instructor. Class placement recommendations are emailed to families in the Spring. Please be sure to observe teacher recommendations and age guidelines for all classes and programming.
To enroll a new student within your family (ie, younger sibling) sign-in to the online portal and go to Account > Students and use the green " + " to add a student to your account.
It is not possible for families to transfer classes, drop a class, or change Aftercare or Bus Service days through the online portal. With any of these or other enrollment needs, please Contact Us.
To enroll a new student within your family (ie, younger sibling) sign-in to the online portal and go to Account > Students and use the green " + " to add a student to your account.
It is not possible for families to transfer classes, drop a class, or change Aftercare or Bus Service days through the online portal. With any of these or other enrollment needs, please Contact Us.
Monthly Updates
GMPA will send out monthly emails along with any other necessary updates to families registered through the online portal. Please look for and read these carefully, as they will contain important information about your students' programming!
Studio Closures & Cancellations
Please check email, Facebook or Instagram for snow day cancellations. We may not follow the Harwood school district’s weather closures, especially if conditions are expected to be clear by the afternoon. No refunds are given for classes cancelled due to weather. Make-up classes may be offered, but are not guaranteed.
Dance Classes
Dance class enrollment is limited to 12-18 students and 20 students in Aftercare. Class placement recommendations provided by instructors are based on dancer experience, level, age, skill and maturity. Some classes require pre-requisites or permission from the instructor. The artistic staff reserves the right to place dancers in classes that are best suited for them and their growth as dancers.
Attendance
If your student will be absent, late, or picked up early, please let us know in advance. If we are expecting your child to get off the bus and they do not, we will contact parent(s)/guardians.
Dress Code
Coming to class prepared means having a water bottle, long hair tied back, and the right clothes and shoes for class. If your student is coming to us off of the bus, please make sure their dance gear is packed with their school backpack.
Ballet:
Ballet:
- Hair in Ballet Bun or similar
- Pink Ballet Shoes (Ballet 4 & 5 Split Sole Ballet Shoes are required) strings should be tied to fit and cut OR tucked in
- Ballet Pink tights
- Any color leotard (Ballet 4 & 5, a specific color will be discussed in the first class)
- Optional ballet skirts or shorts: any color
- Highland Ghillies or Irish Soft Shoes
- White socks
- Fitted t-shirt or tank top
- Athletic shorts or skort
- Highland Ghillies
- White knee high socks
- Fitted t-shirt or tank top
- Athletic shorts or skort
- Dance sneakers or clean indoor sneakers
- Comfortable clothes to move freely (t-shirt, sweatshirt, leggings, sweatpants, shorts)
- Irish Soft Shoe 1: black ballet shoes. All other Irish classes: Soft or Hard Shoes (Soft Shoe 4 & 5 should have split sole soft shoes)
- White socks
- T-shirt or tank top
- Athletic shorts, skort, or leggings
- Jazz shoes
- Comfortable clothes to move freely (t-shirt, sweatshirt, leggings, sweatpants, shorts)
- Barefoot or Toe Undies
- Comfortable clothes to move freely (t-shirt, sweatshirt, leggings, sweatpants, shorts)
- Black Tap Shoes
- Comfortable clothes to move in (t-shirt, sweatshirt, leggings, sweatpants, shorts)
Shoes
The dance flooring in our studios is designed with dance footwear in mind. Ensuring your dancer has the correct footwear will give them the best ability to move safely on the floor AND protects our floors. Any dirt or small rocks that come in on footwear (especially sneakers) will damage the floor and increase the risk of injury to dancers who are in the correct footwear and step/slide on a rock or dirt. PLEASE send your dancers with the correct shoes for dance class. If dancers come in off the street in shoes they intend to dance in, they will be asked to thoroughly clean them or take them off and dance in socks. Socks are slippery and hard to dance in for many styles, therefore limiting a dancers' ability to get the most out of class.
Acquiring Dance Gear
- NEW! GMPA is partnering with Revolution Dancewear, Weissman’s Dancewear, and Rutherford Shoes to bring Ballet, Irish, Jazz, and Tap shoes directly to dancers in the studio! We will assess dancers’ need for shoes during the first class and reach out to you with options.
- Once Upon a Child in Williston often has used dancewear and shoes.
- Lines Vermont in South Burlington carries a comprehensive selection of dancewear, shoes, and accessories for all ages, including Celtic options
- Our borrow-bin is ever growing. Reach out to the studio to find the best time to come try on pre-loved shoes.
Performances
All dance classes will participate in the GMPA Spring Recital every year in late May / early June!
Respecting Space
We work hard to have a clean, welcoming space at GMPA! With so many people in and out of the space, we can use everyone’s help!
Studio Spaces
Food and non-water drinks are not allowed in the dance studios. Ballet barres are for ballet classes, age 8+. Hanging on them is not a safe use. Personal dancing space applies to dancers, and their instructors. The teacher’s space and storage area is where the magic is created. It's most magical when left alone. Look all you want but please don’t touch- the mirrors, that is! Cell phones should remain on silent and put away during all of class. (with the exception of those needed for medical necessity)
Lobby
All students in the lobby need to either be registered in a class or in Aftercare. Students under 10 years of age getting dropped off for class in the lobby should be accompanied by a parent/caregiver. All students and caregivers entering the lobby past the front desk should remove their shoes in the entryway. Students are asked to use the hooks and benches for storing their personal belongings. Please do not leave bags, shoes or other personal items on the floor blocking doorways or preventing others from using the entryway benches. Students snacking in the lobby should be mindful of crumbs and clean up after themselves. Storage closets are for staff only. Please use walking feet only in the lobby!
Bus Service
Students at Brookside, Moretown, Crossett Brook, and Harwood can take the school bus to GMPA. All students taking the bus to GMPA should be enrolled in Bus Service through JackRabbit. Please refer to the school district website for information regarding bus routes. Elementary school students are provided snack and story time before transitioning to dance class or Aftercare at 3:15. Middle school students can have a snack before joining Aftercare, or before dance class if time allows.
Aftercare Program
All students in the lobby with extra time (over 10 minutes) before dance class should be enrolled in Aftercare. Aftercare is GMPA’s structured experience for students waiting in the lobby before or after dance class. All Aftercare activities are seated, and students are expected to be engaged in an activity at a volume respectful to dance classes taking place in the studios. Weather permitting and at staff's discretion, Aftercare may be moved outside to play on the grass. More information about Aftercare activities is available on our website.
Pick-Up
Pick-up after each class and Aftercare block is outside in the parking lot. A staff member at the door will help see the students out. In the first few weeks of the year, please come introduce yourself! We appreciate when caregivers greet us throughout the year. We want to be familiar with our community to keep everyone safe and supported. Please note: the parking spots on either side of the main door are reserved for unicorns.
Health Guidelines
All persons entering the building need to be healthy and have no symptoms of sickness. Please inform instructors of any medical needs or injuries that may restrict dancers’ participation in dance-related activities.
