RSPA Policies
RISING STARS PERFORMING ARTS
2026–2027 Registration Policies & Family Agreement
Effective for the 2026–2027 Academic Season
Welcome to Rising Stars Performing Arts! At RSPA, we are committed to exceptional performing arts education and a community built on creativity, discipline, collaboration, respect, and belonging. Our programs help students grow as performers and as confident, compassionate, responsible individuals. By enrolling, parents/guardians and participating students agree to the following policies.
1. Registration & Enrollment
All registrations must be completed through Sawyer unless otherwise authorized by RSPA administration. Enrollment is confirmed upon completion of registration, acceptance of the policies, and payment of the applicable registration fee or first installment.
Non-refundable registration fees:
• Workshop Classes: $50
• Productions/Shows: $100
• Summer Camps & Intensives: $100
Registration fees are separate from tuition and are non-refundable except where required by law or where RSPA cancels the entire program. Families must review program dates, attendance requirements, age requirements, and financial commitments before registering. Enrollment and placement are subject to availability and appropriate program readiness.
2. Tuition, Payment Options & Financial Responsibility
RSPA offers the option to pay program tuition in full or, when available, to use a payment plan of up to three installments through Sawyer.
• Pay in full: Families who pay the entire tuition at registration will not be charged an additional Sawyer processing surcharge for tuition; RSPA will absorb the 3% fee associated with that tuition payment.
• Payment plans: A 3% surcharge on the total class or production tuition applies when a payment plan is selected, to offset Sawyer processing fees. This surcharge is in addition to published tuition and the applicable registration fee and will be disclosed before the family completes registration.
• Payment plans are a convenience; they do not make tuition a pay-as-you-go arrangement. All scheduled installments must be paid as agreed.
• Once the first scheduled workshop class or production rehearsal has taken place, the full tuition balance and any applicable payment-plan surcharge remain payable, even if a student withdraws or ceases attending.
• Alternative payment arrangements and exceptions require written approval from administration. Financial assistance may be available through the RSPA Financial Aid Intake Packet, subject to review and funding.
3. Withdrawals, Refunds & Cancellations
A. Workshop Classes & Productions
• Before the first scheduled class or rehearsal: Families may withdraw and receive a refund of tuition already paid, excluding the applicable non-refundable registration fee.
• After the first scheduled class or rehearsal: No tuition refunds will be issued. Families remain responsible for all unpaid tuition installments and any applicable payment-plan surcharge according to their agreed schedule.
• Missed classes, rehearsals, and performances do not qualify for refunds, credits, or reductions. Withdrawal from a cast may affect other participants and the overall production.
B. Summer Camps & Intensives
• 30 or more days before start: 100% of tuition is refundable; the $100 registration fee is excluded.
• 15–29 days before start: 50% of tuition is refundable, after excluding the $100 registration fee. Families remain responsible for the nonrefundable half of tuition.
• 14 days or fewer before start: No refund; the full tuition remains payable.
Requests to withdraw must be made in writing. The date received determines the refund tier. If a family has not yet paid the full amount, any balance due under the applicable cancellation terms remains payable.
C. RSPA Cancellations & Exceptions
• If RSPA cancels an entire program, families receive a refund of all payments for that program, including registration fees and any surcharge paid.
• Requests for extraordinary exceptions may be considered individually; approval is not guaranteed. All obligations are subject to applicable law and any legally required cancellation rights.
4. Attendance, Rehearsals & Commitment
Consistency and collaboration are essential to performing arts education. Every student contributes to the success of a class or production.
• Students are expected to attend scheduled classes, rehearsals, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances.
• Production-based programs generally allow no more than one or two absences, depending on the specific program. • All known conflicts must be disclosed before casting decisions are finalized.
• Technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances are mandatory unless an exception is approved in advance.
• Extended or additional rehearsals may be scheduled with advance notice. Excessive absences, lateness, or lack of preparation can affect casting or participation.
• Please notify administration promptly of illness, emergencies, or unexpected conflicts.
5. Respect, Anti-Bullying, Student Conduct & Phones
RSPA is a zero-tolerance bullying environment. All students, staff, faculty, volunteers, parents, and other community members must be treated with respect at all times, in person and online. Bullying, harassment, intimidation, threats, discriminatory remarks, deliberate exclusion, or targeted mistreatment are prohibited during classes, rehearsals, performances, RSPA events, and on social media or in electronic communications connected to the RSPA community.
• Consequences: RSPA reserves the right, based on the seriousness or recurrence of conduct, to remove a student from a role or featured assignment, recast a role, suspend participation, or dismiss the student from a program. Serious incidents may result in immediate action. Removal does not automatically entitle a family to a refund, subject to applicable law.
• Students must arrive prepared, follow reasonable faculty directions, and respect rehearsal spaces, costumes, props, instruments, and equipment.
• Phones: Personal phones may be brought to rehearsal, but excessive or distracting use is not permitted. Phones should be put away except for emergencies or when a faculty member authorizes their use for rehearsal-related purposes such as recording choreography, staging, or other instructional material.
• Students must not use devices or social media to bully, embarrass, secretly record, or post about other students or staff in a harmful manner. Recording and sharing must comply with faculty direction and applicable privacy permissions.
6. Inclusivity & Belonging
RSPA is committed to an inclusive, welcoming community. We respect differences in race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, and artistic experience. Discrimination, harassment, and bullying will not be tolerated.
7. Dance & Movement Attire
Students must follow the relevant dance attire guidelines, including clothing, footwear, and hair requirements. Students without safe, appropriate attire may be asked to observe instead of participate physically. Please consult the RSPA Dance Attire Guidelines.
8. Physical Contact & Consent
Theatre, dance, choreography, and movement instruction may occasionally involve appropriate physical contact for educational purposes, such as posture correction, alignment, partnering, and staging. RSPA seeks a safe and respectful environment.
• Faculty are expected to communicate clearly and respect each student’s personal boundaries. • Students may express discomfort or decline instructional physical contact.
• Faculty will make reasonable efforts to provide alternative instruction when appropriate.
• Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact administration regarding concerns or accommodation needs.
9. Photography, Video & Promotional Media
RSPA may photograph or record classes, rehearsals, performances, and events to celebrate student achievements and promote programming through its website, social media, advertising, and printed materials. Families will choose separately during registration whether to authorize identifiable promotional use of their child’s image or likeness. Declining does not affect enrollment. RSPA will communicate documented opt-outs to relevant staff; however, audience members at public events may independently take photos or recordings outside RSPA’s control.
10. Parent/Guardian Communication, Pickup & Dismissal
Families are responsible for reviewing program communications, reporting conflicts and absences, keeping emergency contacts accurate, ensuring timely arrival and pickup, and sharing relevant accessibility, medical, or safety concerns with administration as appropriate.
Please allow approximately 5–10 minutes after the posted rehearsal end time for student dismissal. Because many groups rehearse only once weekly, instruction may continue until the scheduled end time. Students may then need to change out of dance clothes and shoes, gather belongings, put away rehearsal chairs and materials, and line up for an organized dismissal. We appreciate families allowing this brief buffer while remaining available for prompt pickup.
Families should direct concerns respectfully to administration and avoid interrupting instructional time.
11. Artistic Decisions & Casting
Casting, featured assignments, choreography, staging, and other artistic decisions are made by the creative and educational team with attention to production needs and student development. Enrollment does not guarantee a specific role, solo, featured assignment, or amount of stage time. Students may be assigned ensemble or understudy responsibilities.
12. Health, Safety & Participation
Families should keep students home when they have symptoms of a contagious illness that may put others at risk. Students must follow reasonable safety instructions during movement, rehearsals, backstage work, and performances. Families should communicate relevant restrictions or accommodation requests. RSPA may make reasonable changes to activities or schedules to support safety.
13. Policy Acknowledgment & Agreement
By completing registration, the parent/legal guardian or adult participant acknowledges and agrees that: • I have read and understand the 2026–2027 RSPA Registration Policies & Family Agreement.
• I understand that registration fees are $50 for workshop classes and $100 for productions/shows and summer camps/intensives and are non-refundable except as stated.
• I understand that RSPA absorbs the 3% Sawyer tuition processing fee when tuition is paid in full, while choosing a payment plan adds a 3% surcharge on tuition.
• I understand that after the first workshop class or production rehearsal, full tuition and remaining installments remain payable even if participation stops.
• I understand the separate summer camp and intensive cancellation schedule.
• I agree to the attendance, dismissal, conduct, anti-bullying, phone, safety, and participation expectations.
• I understand that the creative team controls casting and artistic decisions and that promotional media permissions are selected separately.
By submitting registration and accepting these terms, I agree to the above policies, subject to applicable law.
Thank you for being part of the Rising Stars Performing Arts community.
Ignite Your Inner Artist! | www.risingstars-ct.org
SAWYER REGISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I have read and agree to the RSPA 2026–2027 Registration Policies & Family Agreement, including the refund, attendance, dismissal, conduct, anti-bullying, and participation rules.
Payment acknowledgment: I understand that registration fees are non-refundable as described in the policies; tuition paid in full has no added 3% Sawyer surcharge, while choosing a payment plan adds a 3% surcharge on tuition. After the first workshop class or production rehearsal, I remain responsible for the full tuition and all remaining installments even if my child withdraws or stops attending. Summer camps and intensives follow their separate cancellation schedule.
Required checkbox: I have read and agree to the Registration Policies & Family Agreement.
Separate media permission: Please ask each family to select “I authorize promotional photo/video use” or “I do not authorize promotional photo/video use.”
Implementation note: Display the total tuition, registration fee, surcharge (if applicable), installment amounts, and full cancellation policy before payment. Have Connecticut counsel review the final enrollment agreement.