Have questions? You've come to the right place. 

My child has to miss a class. Is it okay for them to make it up in another class or another day of the week?

Conflicts like this one are not uncommon. For this reason, we allow make-up classes up to two times per child per semester (once during the shorter summer session) for each weekly class. Advance approval from the UIYB office is required.

Reach out to DNC-CommunityDance@uiowa.edu so a staff member can offer options or approve a make-up class. This step is important so our office can inform the instructors to expect an additional student. 

I'm an adult and I have to miss a class. Is it okay for me to do a make-up?

For adults looking for a make-up class, open-level classes (see our schedule PDF) are great options. Ballet students have the additional option of taking a ballet class at the same or a lower level when space permits and when requested in advance. Make-ups are allowed two times per person per semester (once during the shorter summer session) for each weekly class. Advance approval from the UIYB office is required.

Reach out to DNC-CommunityDance@uiowa.edu so a staff member can offer options or approve a make-up class. This step is important so our office can inform the instructors to expect an additional student. 

Class was canceled due to inclement weather. Will there be a make-up class scheduled in the future?

Our staff will endeavor to offer a make-up class for any class canceled due to inclement weather. Enrolled students/primary contacts will receive an email about make-up options following class cancellation. 

How do we know if the school is closed due to inclement weather?

Generally, when Iowa City School District cancels for extreme cold or dangerous road conditions, so does our school. The official determination will be listed in the banner across the top of our website. On days when it's unclear (such as Saturdays), the website is the best way to verify if there are dance classes that day. 

How do I report an absence and why is it important to notify you if my child will not be in class?

To report an absence, please email the office. For an absence to be considered excused, we must be notified in advance of the absence. Only excused absences can be made up. If your child is injured and will miss a prolonged series of classes, please contact the school by email (DNC-CommunityDance@uiowa.edu) so we can let the appropriate staff know.

Our weekly schedule has changed. Can I switch classes?

Students may switch from one class section to another (i.e. from a Monday to a Thursday class) during the first two weeks of a semester (or during the first week of a shorter summer term) only if space is still available in the new class.  Please email to request a switch.

What is the refund policy?

Students may request a refund for any remaining classes until the second Saturday of the semester (or the first Saturday of the shorter summer term).

May I stay and observe my child's classes?

We offer two annual family observation weeks when family and friends are invited into the classroom to observe our students' progress. Outside of these special weeks, parents and siblings should remain outside of the classroom. The presence of adults other than the teacher(s) takes attention away from their teacher's instruction.

The only exception to this rule is for Wee Dance, where 2- and 3-year-old students are accompanied by one parent or guardian during class time.

I'm a student at the UI and I would like to join a beginning ballet course. What differentiates classes in the Community Dance School from classes through the university?

The University of Iowa Department of Dance offers classes for non-majors such as Beginning Ballet and Continuing Ballet. As university courses, they are for-credit and graded. They typically meet twice per week and typically have some requirements for participation such as papers, concert attendance, or examinations.

Classes in the UIYB and Community Dance School are housed in the department of dance but administered separately by the department. Community classes are not for credit and don't count toward a university degree. They meet once a week and welcome students to take class on an ongoing basis. 

For example, we typically encourage students to take Adult Absolute Beginner Ballet for three semesters before moving to Adult Continuing Beginner Ballet. In Adult Continuing Beginner Ballet, some students have been in consistent attendance for a decade, enjoying making dance class a regular practice in their life. Students wishing to dance multiple times per week are welcome and encouraged to enroll in multiple classes in the UIYB and Community Dance School.

To register for classes with the UI Youth Ballet and Community Dance School, use our Enroll page to submit a form during our open enrollment period. 

What's your question?

Reach out to DNC-CommunityDance@uiowa.edu and help us build this page.