Dance Lab OC (DLOC) is a boutique training studio that strives to develop confident and expressive dancers. We seek to meet each student wherever they are in their dance journey, within a safe, supportive, and caring environment.
We offer “Lab Classes,” which are open to dancers of varying ages and levels, and a competition training program for dancers who want high-level competition dance training, are committed to dance, and want to be part of a team.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Why choose our program?
Our students grow individually but also as a team, learning to support one another and grow together. All dancers are expected to treat one another with courtesy and respect.
Teachers /Choreographers dance with the students and actively participate in every class…very “hands on” approach to teaching and correcting students.
A multitude of styles of dance are offered with a dozen unique teachers. Our Creative Director, Laura Russom, oversees all classes and instruction to ensure proper technique is being taught. Our instructors encourage and help enrich the students' love and passion for dance. Self-confidence and a sense of pride are communicated to every student regardless of level/age of dancer.
Proper technique is taught, emphasized & and corrected in every class, regardless of level or style.
We have smaller class sizes which allows for:
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more personal attention between teacher and student
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less standing around time and more dancing
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corrections for students are made one on one
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teacher develops a relationship with each student
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faster progression/improvement in skills and technique
LAB CLASSES
Dance Lab OC’s “Lab Classes” are open to dancers ages 4-18. “Open” Lab classes are open to dancers of all ages. Lab classes offer dancers an opportunity to explore different genres, experiment and develop their dance skills while having fun. Lab Dancers may register for any class that does not show a designation of “closed,” as long as they are age and level-appropriate.
Lab Class Registration and Fees
Using the parent portal, please choose and register for your desired class and time. Once your class is registered for your tuition will be auto-charged as a monthly recurring payment on the 1st of the month. All students must have a valid credit card on file at all times. If you prefer to pay by check, you must submit your check before the 1st of the month.
If payment is not received by the end of the business day on the 3rd of the month, your credit card is declined or check is returned, a $30 fee will be added to the account.
There is an annual $25 registration fee per family per Season (each Season is typically end of August through the end of June). This will be automatically charged to your account when you first register for classes each Season. For example, if you register in November 2023 during the 2023-2024 Season, you will be charged the $25 registration fee in November. In 2024, if you register in September, which would be the start of the new 2024-2025 Season, you will be charged the $25 Annual Family Registration Fee again at that time.
If a dancer drops all of their classes mid-season then later wants to re-enroll, they must re-register and pay the $25 registration fee for each dancer.
Free Trials and Drop-in Classes
One free trial class (not 1 per genre) for all dancers brand new to Dance Lab OC. Single Class drop-ins are $26/class and this fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. You must call the studio or email info@dancelaboc.com to schedule your free trial or arrange for drop-in classes.
Enrollment will be charged by auto-renewal payments on the 1st of each month
1 class per week - $85/month per student
2 classes per week - $150/month per student
3 classes per week - $210/month per student
4 classes per week - $255/month per student
5 classes per week -$290/month per student
6 classes per week - $325/month per student
7 classes per week - $350/month per student
8 classes per week - $375/month per student
9 classes per week- $400/month per student
10 classes per week - $425/month per student
To register for a class and view the current schedule, please use our parent portal on our website dancelaboc.com or contact the studio directly by emailing info@dancelaboc.com.
***Dancers may only enroll in classes age and level appropriate- class enrollments must be approved by the creative director, instructor or owner. Dancers may be asked to move levels at any time.
All class will be 55 minutes long to allow for a 5-minute passing period between classes.
Dance Lab OC reserves the right to remove classes from the schedule and the schedule is subject to change at any time. You will be notified, by email or on the website, if a class you are enrolled in will be removed from the schedule.
Missed Classes/Make-Up Policy
Please cancel classes due to illness, vacation, etc. online using your parent portal to submit your absence or email info@dancelaboc.com. Cancellations must be made 24-hours in advance to receive a make up class. There will be no refunds or make ups for missed classes that were not canceled 24 hours in advance. If you cancel 24 hours in advance, a class credit will remain in your account to take a make-up class of your choice (age and level appropriate) within 30 days. There will be no refunds for missed classes. The student must continue to be enrolled in the class to use make up credit. All make-up classes must be used by the end of the Season (June 30, 2024) or else they will be forfeited.
NOTE: Lab Class make up credits may not be applied to Master Classes or Lab Classes designated as excluded.
Dropping/Withdrawing from Classes
Continued absences do not constitute a withdrawal from a class. If you want to withdraw from a class you must email info@dancelaboc.com 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. If you do not give written notice in advance, your monthly tuition fees will auto-renew for another month and continue to auto-renew until we receive the proper notification. The student is not considered withdrawn until they receive a confirmation email from the studio.
Substitute Teachers
At times, instructors will call out and are unable to teach a class. In this situation, a substitute teacher will be assigned and attendance is expected per usual. No refunds or class makeups will be provided when a substitute is assigned. If a substitute is unavailable, similar genre classes may be combined or the class is subject to be canceled and you will be notified as soon as possible (makeups will be offered for Lab Class students).
Planned Studio Closures
September 4, 2023
October 31, 2023
November 22 - 26, 2023
December 22, 2023 - January 7, 2024
February 19, 2024
May 27, 2024
Makeups are not provided during planned studio closures. Tuition is based on four weeks per month. Months with five weeks are used to offset holidays and studio closures. Monthly fees are calculated by taking into account the total number of weeks in the season.
Dance Lab OC does not necessarily close when local area schools are closed. Please email the studio or check the website. If classes are canceled last minute you will be notified by email or information will be posted on the website.
Attendance/Tardiness
Attendance will be taken at each class as consistent attendance is important for a dancer’s growth, work ethic and to provide consistency for the entire class. Late arrivals to class can be disruptive to the instructors and other dancers. Dancers arriving 10 minutes late to any class, without prior notice to the studio, will not be permitted to attend that particular class. If you know your dancer will be running late, please call the studio and let them know or provide advance notice when possible.
Proper Attire
Please be prepared by wearing the proper attire and appropriate shoes for each dance class. Please refer to the Dance Lab OC website for a list of required attire and shoes for each genre of dance. Recommended shoes:
Student Drop-Off and Pick Up
The studio does not open until 15 minutes before the first class of the day. Please do not drop off your dancers before this time as we are not responsible for children waiting in front of the studio. Please plan to drop dancers off 10 minutes before class to properly warm up. They should be dressed in proper dance attire and have the correct dance shoes for their classes. Drop offs are only allowed 10-15 minutes before your class start time. You must pick your dancer up within 10 minutes of your class end time to avoid late pick up penalty fees.
Please note, we are not responsible for your children while they are waiting in the waiting room. Siblings may not be left unsupervised.
To avoid overcrowding and to give dancers space to use the waiting room, we kindly ask that parents drop off and return to pick up their dancers 5 minutes before the end of class.
Student Etiquette
Dance Lab OC dancers and families are expected to be kind, courteous, respectful and polite while attending our studio. Dancers and families are also expected to treat the studio with respect, care and consideration. Please pick up your belongings and clean all food items and trash before leaving. Dance Lab OC has the right to excuse any dancer or family from the program for inappropriate, disrespectful behavior towards instructors, other dancers, and employees of Dance Lab OC.
OUR STUDIO
Three dance studios with handmade custom spring dance floors, constructed from Russian Birch. All floors have new marley on top of the spring dance floors, helping to prevent injury to bones, joints and muscles and provide a slip-resistance dance surface
Ballet barres
High quality stereo and speaker systems
Clean waiting room and restrooms
Passionate, experienced and motivated teachers who truly care about each and every student
Easy online registration for parents with automatic recurring monthly payments
Lobby has Wi-Fi for dancers to wait and do homework between classes
Surveillance cameras in all 3 studios. Parents are able to view the live camera footage of the 3 dance rooms from the waiting room for Lab Classes.
DANCE LAB OC’S COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Dance Lab OC competition teams cultivate excellence, commitment, and passion. Each dancer’s individual talents form the foundation for a well-rounded team. We develop perseverance to reach one’s goals and foster camaraderie in a competitive setting.
We offer 5 different competing teams based on age, level, and skill. Petite, Junior Prep, Junior, Junior Elite and Elite. Placement of competing team members in groups is done with tremendous thought by our creative director based on what would be best for both the individual dancer and the group.
Modern and fresh choreography, ideas, music and costumes for each group each year. No reproduction or re-use of previous dances and/or music.
Dancers are well prepared for the first competition of the season in March and for every subsequent competition.
Every company group member is held to the same standard of technique, etiquette, dedication and participation.
Well-known and highly attended competitions are selected so dancers can experience challenges and personal satisfaction when achieving recognition at competitions.
How to Join DanceLab OC’s Competition Teams
Auditions are held in the Summer
Intensive Weeks are offered in July and August. Intensives are highly recommended for dancers wanting to compete but are not mandatory.
Dates of Intensive Weeks to be announced in Spring 2024.
PROPER ATTIRE
Half-soles -
Turning Pointe 55 Half Sole by Sophia Lucia (NUDE color)
Ballet -
Tiny Tot Ballet Shoes (PINK, no drawstrings)
Mariia MX Child True Bare Multi-Stretch Canvas Ballet Slipper (MX25C)
Ballet
Ballet Shoes (PINK, no drawstrings)
JAZZ -
Bloch “Super Jazz” (TAN)
Tap -
Girls Tap Shoe (BLACK)
Theatricals Child Easy Strap Tap Shoes (T9050C