Frequently Asked Questions

Enrollment & Commitment

There is no wrong age to begin. The Laird Academy accepts students from ages 4 through 11.
TK and Kindergarten students join the Rising Stars group.Classes are 45 minutes once a week. The pace is gentle. Content is built for their age.
First grade through fifth grade join the main Academy group. Classes are 45 minutes twice a week. At that age, students’ development and attention span are ready for twice-a-week classes. An Ensemble student can reach Soloist level within a year.
Dance is a cumulative skill. Consistent attendance is an important factor in a child's progress and enjoyment of the program. We believe there is something important in committing to one thing long enough to become genuinely good at it.
The Laird Academy is an academic year program — September through June.
Rising Stars enrollment students (TK-K) attend once a week for 45 minutes. Academy group students (1st-5th grade) attend twice a week for 45 minutes each session.
TK and Kindergarten students (ages 4–6) attend once a week. The Rising Stars program is built for their age. Joyful, paced, structured, and age-appropriate. It builds the foundation for the Academy years ahead.
Students in 1st through 5th grade attend twice a week. The Academy Enrollment has three levels of difficulty. That frequency is deliberate. Two classes a week build consistency, focus, and discipline. Not just the habit of showing up. The practice of working toward something with intention. It also offers a good balance of technique and physical activity without burnout. Research consistently shows that two practice sessions a week is the sweet spot for real, visible progress in any discipline.
Enrollment is for the full academic year. September through June. The pay-by-semester option is available.
Each academic year builds toward one big goal - the Annual Show. Students who start in September follow the full program. Within six months, they typically advance to Soloist or Principal parts. They learn more steps. Choreography grows more advanced. Technique improves with every class.
Beginning-of-year enrollment is encouraged. It gives students the most time to grow and advance to Soloist or Principal roles.
Mid-year enrollment opens at the specific enrollment windows. Students who join mid-year are not behind. The Academy enrollment has three levels built in — Ensemble, Soloist, and Principal. A new student joining in the middle of the semester can still perform at the Annual Show at their level in the dance company with appropriate choreography complexity.
Students may also appear in school talent shows and assemblies throughout the year.
30-day satisfaction guarantee for NEW families: Not the right fit within 30 days? Email thelairdacademy@gmail.com for a refund of the remaining balance.
New families who enroll receive a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If, within the first 30 days, the program is genuinely not the right fit, we will refund the remaining balance. Email to thelairdacademy@gmail.com
Students aged 6-11 enroll in the Academy enrollment (1st through 5th grade). Students aged 4-6 enroll in the Rising Stars enrollment (TK and Kindergarten).
Yes. The Laird Academy accepts new students at a few enrollment windows throughout the academic year. Between windows, interested families are added to the waitlist and contacted directly when the next window opens. Check our Enrollment Page for all open enrollments.
Beginning of the year enrollment is encouraged to ensure progression to Soloist and Principal parts in the company.
Students who join mid-year are not behind. Academy enrollment is designed with three levels of difficulty (Ensemble, Soloist, and Principal) built in from the start — a child joining in the middle of the semester can learn the steps for their level and perform their part in the dance company at the end of the year Annual Show.
Mid-year enrollment is prorated to the remaining months.

Schedule & Pricing

All Laird Academy classes are held on the school campus. No driving required.
Rising Stars Students (TK and Kindergarten) meet once a week for 45 minutes. Visit your school enrollment page to see view the detailed schedule (days and times)
Academy Students (1st through 5th grade) meet twice a week for 45 minutes each session. Visit your school enrollment page to see view the detailed schedule (days and times)
The per-class rate is $30.
Rising Stars — TK & Kindergarten- One class a week: Fall semester (September–December) · $450; Spring semester (January–June) · $570
Academy — 1st through 5th Grade - Two classes a week: Fall semester (September–December) · $810; Spring semester (January–June) · $1,200
The Dance Book and all in-class materials are included. → See full enrollment packages and payment options.

Class & Attire

Dance shoes are recommended but not required to begin. Your child may attend their first classes in clean, flat shoes.
After the first month of classes, for girls, ballroom dance sandals in nude, white, or black are ideal (like these $20) and white dance socks (like these $7). For boys, leather dress shoes or black leather ballroom dance shoes (like these $73).
Class attire is simple, comfortable, and purposeful. The goal is clothing that allows full movement without distraction.
Girls: For your first classes, a new student can wear any comfortable clothing and flat shoes.
For continuing dancers, a fitted leotard in black or any solid color, with a practice skirt, is recommended. (similar to this $16).
Boys: Long fitted pants — dance pants, dress trousers, or fitted athletic pants in any color. Any clean, fitted top is fine — a t-shirt is perfectly appropriate for class.
We do not prescribe specific brands or require new purchases to begin. What your child already owns is likely sufficient for the first classes. The teacher will advise if anything specific is needed as the year progresses.
The Show costume is elegant, beautiful, and yours to keep.
Girls: A ballroom-style skirted dance dress (similar to this $28).
Boys: Black dress trousers. White button-up shirt. Black bow tie. Black dress shoes.

The Program

In their first class, every student receives The Dance Book — a personal record of their full journey, from the very first step to the Annual Show performance at the end of the year.
Inside: their steps, sticker spots earned each class, space for the teacher's observations, and pages that track your child's progress from their first class through the end of the year.
The Dance Book travels to class every week.
The Laird Academy academic year includes two performance moments and the possibility of additional school community appearances throughout the year.
In December, we hold the Season Preview.
In the end of the year, we hold the Annual Show — the culminating event of the academic year. Every student performs. Every level tier has its moment. Held in the school auditorium.
Throughout the year, Laird Academy students may also perform at school community events — assemblies, talent shows, spring fairs, and other occasions depending on the school's calendar for that year. These appearances arise naturally from the program's presence on campus.
Something special happens when a child walks onto a stage in front of an audience. The music starts, and suddenly everything they learned in class has to mean something — not just to them, but to the people watching. That demand changes a child. It asks them to be present in a way that no class, however excellent, can fully replicate.
This is why every Laird Academy student — from the newest Rising Star member to the most experienced Principal dancer— has a performance schedule. Confidence, stage presence and expression are built by doing. The stage experience is part of the learning.
What we have seen, consistently, is that the child who performs once comes back to the next class changed. They stand differently. They listen differently. They feel differently.

Still have a question? We answer every inquiry personally.

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