Joseph Chavez Dance & Wellness Center 
Policies and Student Agreement

Education at Joseph Chavez Dance

 

Private Lessons

Private lessons are scheduled in advance and by appointment. Each lesson occupies a 45-minute time slot, consisting of 40 minutes of instruction and a five-minute transition period.

 

If an instructor is late, the missed teaching time will be provided either by extending the lesson when possible or by adding the time to a future appointment at no additional charge. If a student arrives late, the lesson will still end at its originally scheduled time. The missed time cannot be made up, and the student will be charged for the full lesson.

 

Joseph Chavez Dance has multiple instructors, and several group classes or private lessons may take place simultaneously. Therefore, we cannot guarantee exclusive use of a private room or the dance floor during a private lesson. Social dancing naturally takes place around other people, and learning to remain focused and navigate a shared floor is an important part of a dancer’s training.

 

Lessons canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice may be charged in full. To ensure that an available lesson remains on the student’s account, students must purchase their next lesson package no later than the final lesson of their current package. A private lesson cannot be scheduled unless the student has an active lesson or package on their account.

 

To provide consistency and make scheduling easier, Joseph Chavez Dance offers weekly standing appointments whenever availability permits. A standing appointment reserves the same lesson time each week. Students who repeatedly cancel a standing appointment—particularly one during a high-demand time—may lose that reserved time slot.

Group Classes

Our current group class schedule is available at josephchavezdance.com, and printed copies may also be obtained at the studio.

Class content is determined by the instructor based on the stated dance, the overall level of the participants, and the needs of the class. When necessary, the instructor reserves the right to adjust the dance, material, or level being taught.

 

We strive to begin every class on time. Students who arrive late should enter with as little disruption as possible. The instructor is not required to pause the class or repeat material missed because of a late arrival. Please arrive early enough to be ready when class begins.

Outings and Parties

Joseph Chavez Dance regularly accompanies students to social dance events throughout the community and hosts in-house dance parties.

Dance is a physical activity that carries an inherent risk of injury. Students are responsible for participating within their abilities, remaining aware of their surroundings, and treating their partners with appropriate care. Students must follow all safety instructions provided by Joseph Chavez Dance instructors and inform an instructor of any injury, physical limitation, or medical concern that may affect their ability to participate safely.

Participation in classes, parties, outings, and other Joseph Chavez Dance activities is voluntary and at the participant’s own risk.

 

Teacher Training and Practice Sessions

Joseph Chavez Dance offers a teacher-training program through which developing instructors gain experience under the studio’s direction and supervision.

 

Teacher trainees may practice with or provide instruction to current students only when the session has been assigned or approved in advance by Joseph Chavez. Students and trainees may not independently arrange complimentary lessons, practice sessions, or instruction outside the studio’s established programs.

 

Any student interested in serving as a practice partner for a teacher trainee must receive prior approval from Joseph Chavez. Approved sessions will be scheduled and supervised at the studio’s discretion.

 

Payments

 

The total amount due includes the advertised price of the lesson, package, membership, or punch card; any applicable taxes; and any applicable credit card processing fee.

 

Joseph Chavez Dance accepts cash, checks, debit cards, credit cards, Cash App, and Venmo. Checks must be made payable to Joseph Chavez. Credit card payments are subject to a 3.5% processing fee where permitted.

 

To allow our instructors to focus fully on teaching and serving our students, all payments for Joseph Chavez Dance services must be made directly to Joseph Chavez. Instructors should not be asked to collect or process payments, and payments should never be made payable directly to an instructor.

 

Students may not attempt to pay an instructor privately for Joseph Chavez Dance services or solicit an instructor to provide lessons independently outside the studio. Anyone who violates this policy may be asked to leave and may permanently lose the privilege of studying at Joseph Chavez Dance. Any remaining account balance will be handled in accordance with the studio’s Refunds and Lesson Transfers policy and applicable law.

 

Promotional and Discounted Rates

Students who join Joseph Chavez Dance through a promotion or receive a discounted rate may retain that rate for as long as they continue studying consistently. Promotional and discounted rates remain subject to reasonable annual increases resulting from inflation, operating expenses, and other rising business costs.

 

A student who takes a break from lessons or classes for four consecutive weeks or longer will forfeit the promotional or discounted rate. Upon returning, the student will be charged the current standard rate for the applicable lesson, package, or membership.

Exceptions may be granted when an extended absence is discussed with and approved by Joseph Chavez in advance.

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Payment Schedules

 

Private Lessons

A new private-lesson package must be purchased no later than the final lesson of the student’s current package. Failure to purchase the next package at that time may result in the loss of a standing appointment.

 

As stated in the Private Lessons policy, students must have an active lesson or package on their account before scheduling an appointment.

Students must have an active lesson package or pay for an individual lesson before the appointment begins. If a student takes a private lesson without purchasing a package in advance, that lesson will be charged at the current individual lesson rate of $110, plus any applicable taxes and processing fees. Package pricing cannot be applied retroactively to a lesson that has already been taken.

 

Monthly Group-Class Memberships

Membership payments are due monthly. Each student’s recurring payment date will correspond with the date on which the student’s membership began.

 

Membership rates are listed in the current fee schedule. Joseph Chavez Dance reserves the right to amend its rates. Changes will be announced during classes or published on the Joseph Chavez Dance website.

 

We respect our students’ privacy and will not discuss outstanding payments during class or in front of other students. If a membership payment becomes past due and the student continues attending classes, each class attended after the payment due date will be charged at the current drop-in rate until the membership is renewed.

 

Students with an outstanding balance may not attend additional classes or purchase another membership until the balance has been paid or payment arrangements have been made directly with Joseph Chavez.

Class Punch Cards

Students must sign in before participating in each group class. Attendance records will be maintained so that the remaining classes on each punch card can be accurately tracked.

 

Students who intend to continue attending classes must purchase a new punch card when using the final class on their current card, unless prior arrangements have been made with Joseph Chavez.

Refunds and Lesson Transfers

All lesson purchases are final and nonrefundable except where a monetary refund is required by law.

 

Unused lessons will remain available to the original purchaser and may be transferred as a gift to another person designated by the purchaser. Transfer requests must be made directly to Joseph Chavez. Once transferred, the lessons remain subject to all policies contained in this agreement.

 

In the unlikely event that Joseph Chavez Dance permanently closes or relocates outside New Mexico, students will receive advance notice and a reasonable opportunity to use all remaining private lessons before the closure or relocation. If Joseph Chavez Dance is unable to provide the purchased lessons within that period, the unused balance will be refunded as required by law.

 

Non-Solicitation and Community Conduct

Joseph Chavez Dance believes in supporting Albuquerque’s dance community. We are happy to promote local dance events and encourage our students to learn from the many talented dance professionals in our area.

 

At the same time, Joseph Chavez Dance is a working business. Students, instructors, guests, and visitors may not use our classes, parties, outings, facilities, communication channels, or student relationships to actively solicit students on behalf of a competing business or to intentionally interfere with the studio’s business relationships.

 

This policy does not prohibit students from attending other studios or discussing dance events and opportunities. It applies specifically to targeted solicitation or promotional activity conducted through Joseph Chavez Dance without prior permission.

 

Anyone who violates this policy may be asked to leave and may lose the privilege of participating in future Joseph Chavez Dance classes, lessons, events, or activities. Any remaining account balance will be handled in accordance with the studio’s refund policy and applicable law.

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Media Release and Choreography Rights

Photographs and Recordings

By signing this agreement, the student grants Joseph Chavez Dance permission to photograph, film, and record the student during classes, lessons, rehearsals, performances, parties, outings, and other studio-related activities. Joseph Chavez Dance may use this material for advertising, promotional materials, social media, its website, and other business-related purposes without additional approval or compensation.

 

This permission applies only to photographs and recordings taken or commissioned by Joseph Chavez Dance. For students under eighteen years of age, permission must be granted by a parent or legal guardian.

Choreography

All original choreography created by Joseph Chavez, created by Joseph Chavez Dance instructors within the scope of their work for the studio, or specifically commissioned by Joseph Chavez Dance is the property of Joseph Chavez Dance.

 

 

Students may learn, rehearse, perform, and share personal recordings of choreography taught to them. However, students may not teach, sell, reproduce, distribute, or use that choreography for another business or commercial purpose without prior written permission from Joseph Chavez Dance.

 

Any exceptions or alternative ownership arrangements must be agreed upon in writing.