Frequently Asked Questions

Enrollment & Commitment

  • There is no wrong age to begin. The Laird Academy accepts students from ages 5 through 11.

    5-8 y.o. students join the Rising Stars group.Classes are 45 minutes once a week.

    For more extensive learning, students 8-11* years old 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 with a progression from Ensemble to Principal. An Ensemble student can reach Soloist level within a year.

    *Students who are younger than 8 years old can join the twice-a-week Academy program at parents’ discretion or teacher recommendation.

  • 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 — August through June, split into two semesters.

    Rising Stars enrollment students attend once a week for 45 minutes. Academy group students attend twice a week for 45 minutes each session.

  • Students aged 5-8 can attend once a week. The Rising Stars program is built for their age. *Students under the age of 8 who show particular interest and aptitude for dance can join a more advanced Academy program (twice a week classes) at parents’ discretion or teacher’s recommendation.

    Students aged 8-11 attend twice a week. The Academy Enrollment has three levels of difficulty. Two classes a week build consistency, focus, and discipline necessesary for advanced learning.

  • Enrollment is for the full academic year—August through June with two semesters: August- December & January-June. The pay-by-semester or pay-monthly options are available.

    Each academic year builds toward one big goal - the Annual Show. Students who start in September follow the full program. 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 built-in levels. 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 5-8 enroll in the Rising Stars enrollment (once-a-week classes) with an option to enroll in a more advanced Academy group (twice a week) at parents’ discretion or the teacher’s recommendation.

    Students aged 8-11 enroll in the Academy enrollment.

  • 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

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 the Annual Show performance and the possibility of additional school community appearances throughout the year.

    At 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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