POLICIES

(All policies effective starting Fall Session 2025)

As many of you know, Dance with Emilie is primarily a one-woman show. While I truly love every part of what I do, my administrative capacity is limited. To help things run smoothly and reduce time spent managing cancellations, missed classes, and last-minute scheduling requests from dancers, I’m introducing a few new policies. These updates reflect common practices at other dance studios in Ottawa and are designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency for everyone. Most importantly, they’ll allow me to focus more of my energy on creating the best possible dance experience for you all. Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

-Emilie

Refunds

As a small independent business with limited space in our classes and workshops, we’re unable to offer refunds or credits to carry over to future sessions, including in cases of illness or injury.

Your support helps me continue bringing these programs to our community—thank you for being a part of it.

Missed classes and workshops

I get it—schedules can be busy (or you have exciting travel plans!) and sometimes you can’t make it. While we don’t offer refunds, we have a few options to provide some flexibility when unexpected situations arise. If you have an exceptional circumstance and have further questions, please reach out and I’ll do my very best to find a solution.

For classes

As a little bonus for signing up for a full 13-week session of a class, you’re welcome to make up two missed classes during the same session. Make-up classes are redeemable for drop-in–friendly classes only, space permitting.

If you’re joining as a drop-in participant and can’t make it, you can either transfer your spot to a friend or reschedule your spot once for another drop-in during the same session. Just a heads-up: drop-ins booked less than 24 hours before class aren’t eligible for transfers or rescheduling.

Once I have confirmed your make-up class or rescheduled your drop-in, I’m not able to make further changes.

Email me (dancewithemilie@gmail.com) at least 24 hours in advance of your class for any changes. (Messages sent through Instagram or Facebook might get missed, so email is the way to go!)

For Workshops

If you’re unable to attend a workshop you’ve registered for, I kindly request at least 7 days’ notice to reschedule your spot for another workshop within the same session. Why so much notice? In my experience, it’s much harder to fill workshop spots at the last minute, especially as they’re on weekends.

At any point, you're welcome to transfer your spot to a friend, as long as you let me know by email (not Instagram or Facebook) at least 24 hours before the workshop.

If you can’t attend and don’t wish to postpone or transfer your spot, I still appreciate you letting me know. This way, I can open a spot to an eager dancer on the waitlist!

Photos and videos

I take photos and videos during our programs for promotional purposes on dancewithemilie.com, in my newsletter, and on my social media pages (Instagram and Facebook). I love showing off how much fun we have!

If you do not wish to be featured in any photos or videos, let me know before your class or workshop. It is your responsibility to remove yourself when I am taking photos and videos. Please also be aware that other dancers sometimes take photos or videos of themselves and their friends (having a blast!), which is beyond my capacity to monitor.

Injuries

While Dance with Emilie strives to create a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for dancers, participants are responsible for their own wellbeing and are expected to move at their own pace and within their own limitations. Dance with Emilie is not liable for any injuries that may occur during our programs.

Lost items

In case you’ve misplaced an item while attending a class or workshop, contact the staff of the relevant studio location to inquire about their lost and found. Dance with Emilie is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Other

If you are running late to a class or workshop, no problem! To minimize distractions, please wait outside the doors until the current warm up song has finished before entering.

If you are not feeling well, help keep our community healthy by staying home.

Bring sneakers with clean soles to change in to when you arrive (no outdoor shoes on the dance floor). This helps to keep the floors clean and free from water, dirt, and debris from outside.

Note that our dance venues are scent-free environments for everyone’s health and comfort. Thank you for not wearing perfumes/colognes and other strongly scented products.

Questions?

If you have any questions, reach out: dancewithemilie@gmail.com