INTRODUCTION & AGREEMENT

Welcome to Gem Dance — we’re so glad you’re here!

By booking a class, course, or private lesson with us, or enrolling in a membership or program, you are agreeing to these Terms & Conditions. This forms a contract between you (the dancer) and us (Gem Dance, located at 8671 – 91 Street, Edmonton, Alberta).

We encourage you to read everything carefully before signing up. If you have any questions or something’s unclear, just reach out — we’re happy to help.

Please note:

• We reserve the right to accept or decline any booking or registration at our discretion.

• If any information you were told in person or by phone differs from what’s stated here, these written Terms will apply unless we’ve provided written confirmation stating otherwise.

• Once your registration or booking is confirmed, your enrollment is considered active as of your selected Start Date.

1. DEFINITIONS & INTERPRETATION

Unless stated otherwise, the following terms apply throughout these Terms & Conditions:

• “Benefits” refer to all classes, private lessons, programs, workshops, and other services or experiences offered by Gem Dance or our approved third-party partners that you’re entitled to access through your registration, package, or membership.

• “Contract” means the agreement between you (the participant) and us (Gem Dance), which includes your registration details, booking or enrolment, and these Terms & Conditions.

• “Enrolment” refers to the completed form, online booking, or confirmation submitted by you to register for a Gem Dance class, course, membership, or private lesson.

• “Gem Dance” / “We” / “Us” / “Our” refers to the business operating under Gem Dance at 8671 – 91 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, and any associated instructors, administrators, or authorized representatives.

• “You” / “Your” / “Participant” refers to the person registering for or attending a class, event, or program with Gem Dance.

• “Start Date” means the date your registration or membership begins, as confirmed in your booking or welcome email.

• “Membership” refers to any ongoing program or pass that grants you recurring access to classes or services at Gem Dance.

• “Paid in Full” means that your class, course, or membership has been paid for upfront rather than through a recurring payment or instalment plan.

• “Private Lesson” refers to any one-on-one dance session booked directly with Gem Dance, either as a single session or package.

• “Rules” are the conduct guidelines that all students, visitors, and instructors are expected to follow. These may be posted in the studio or online and are part of our shared commitment to a safe and welcoming dance space.

• “Website” means www.gemdance.ca or any official digital platform used by Gem Dance for booking and communication.

2. STUDIO RULES

When you attend Gem Dance or participate in any of our offerings (classes, private lessons, events, or workshops), you agree to follow our community guidelines and studio rules.

These rules are in place to keep everyone safe, respected, and supported — whether you’re dancing solo or with others.

If you break the rules:

• We’ll respond based on the nature and severity of the situation. This could mean a friendly reminder, a written warning, or in serious cases, suspension or cancellation of your registration or membership.

• If your actions cause harm, loss, or damage to Gem Dance, its staff, or another participant, you may be held financially responsible.

We’re all here to learn, grow, and celebrate movement — so let’s keep it kind, inclusive, and respectful at all times.

3. MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Your Gem Dance membership or multi-class pass gives you access to a range of benefits — from group classes to special discounts, early registration for events, and more — depending on the option you choose during registration. The classes and services you have access to will depend on the membership or pass type you select when enrolling.

MEMBERSHIPS TYPES & TERMS

We may update, add, or remove membership options from time to time, and will always give you at least 15 days’ notice if any changes affect your current plan.

Membership types currently include:

• 4 Months Membership: Enrolment requires one full payment.

• 2 Months Membership: Enrolment requires one full payment.

• Monthly Membership: Flexible, pay-as-you-go option with no minimum term. Cancel anytime with proper notice.

• Student Monthly Membership: Requires a monthly payment and valid proof of student status.

If you’re using a Student Membership, we may ask you to confirm your current enrolment status. If your student status changes, we may:

• Adjust your rate to our standard pricing.

• Reclaim any discounts or benefits applied while you were ineligible.

Membership & Billing Updates

• Any changes to your membership or billing details must be submitted using the official form provided — either online or in person.

• Changes will not be processed via casual email, DMs, or phone unless the proper form is completed and signed by both parties.

4. HEALTH & INJURIES

At Gem Dance, your wellbeing comes first — and we want every dancer to feel safe and supported. By participating in any of our classes, private lessons, or events, you acknowledge the following:

Your Health is Your Responsibility You Confirm That;

• You’ve informed us of any current or past medical conditions that may affect your ability to participate safely in physical activity.

• If anything changes, you’ll update us and may be asked to provide a medical clearance from a licensed healthcare provider.

• You understand that dancing and movement carry inherent risks, including the possibility of physical strain or injury, and you choose to participate at your own discretion.

Safety First — For You & Others By Joining Gem Dance:

• You agree not to attend class or enter the studio if you are ill, injured, or have a condition that may put yourself or others at risk.

• You understand that our team members are not medical professionals and cannot provide health or injury advice — any guidance is general and not a substitute for medical consultation.

• You must immediately let us know if you sustain an injury during class or if your health status changes in a way that could impact your participation.

• If an emergency occurs, you consent to receiving necessary medical treatment, and release Gem Dance and its instructors from liability related to that care.

5. STUDIO RIGHTS

Your safety, confidence, and long-term growth are our priority — we’re here to support you every step (and shimmy) of the way. We reserve the right to;

• Request medical clearance before allowing you to participate in certain activities, especially if there's concern about your safety.

• Deny access to classes or terminate your participation if we reasonably believe it's unsafe for you to continue.

6. AGE & GUARDIANSHIP

At Gem Dance, we love welcoming dancers of all ages! But for everyone’s safety, we have a few important guidelines if you're under 18:

• Participants under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian complete and sign all required registration forms or waivers before joining any class or program.

• For certain adult or open-level classes, anyone under 18 may be required to attend with a guardian unless otherwise approved by Gem Dance staff.

• Minors are only allowed in the studio during staffed hours and approved class times.

• Your parent or guardian agrees to take full responsibility for any injuries, damages, or incidents caused by or involving you while at the studio or during a Gem Dance activity.

• In some cases, we may suggest a private lesson or supervised session before you join a regular class, especially for younger students participating in adult-level instruction.

• We may also request a doctor’s clearance or dance-specific training plan before approving participation for dancers with specific health or developmental needs.

By signing your enrolment, your parent or guardian agrees to:

• Be a party to this agreement and support your journey at Gem Dance.

• Make sure fees are paid on time and all studio policies are followed.

We’re all about helping dancers of every age feel seen, safe, and celebrated — from our tiniest Little Gems to our confident teen movers and beyond.

7. PAYMENTS

We’re committed to keeping things smooth and stress-free — including how we handle payments.

Your Responsibility

• When you register for classes, programs, or memberships with Gem Dance, you’re responsible for making payments on time according to the plan or pass you choose at sign-up.

• Payments are typically due in advance.

How Payments Are Made

• We may use third-party payment processors (like Square or other billing services) to help manage secure and efficient payments.

• If you choose automatic payments (via credit card or bank account), you’re giving us permission to debit your account for any applicable charges related to your membership or services.

Keep Your Info Updated

• It’s your job to make sure your payment method stays current and that there are sufficient funds in your account.

• If your card expires or your bank info changes, please let us know at least 7 days in advance of your next payment.

Missed Payments

• If a payment fails (due to insufficient funds, closed account, etc.), you may be charged a late or admin fee, and your access to classes may be temporarily suspended until the balance is cleared.

• If your account falls behind, we may:

  • Pause or cancel your membership.

  • Forward the outstanding balance to a collections service.

  • Charge you for any administrative or recovery costs associated with missed payments.

Fee Changes

• We review pricing occasionally to ensure we continue offering high-quality, accessible programming. If we need to adjust your membership fees:

  • You’ll receive 15 days’ notice before any changes take effect.

  • All pricing excludes applicable taxes, and we reserve the right to update fees in response to government tax changes.

Cancelling or Changing Payments

• You can cancel your membership in line with our cancellation policy — but please don’t stop payments through your bank without contacting us. Doing so may result in additional fees or breach of contract.

By signing up, you agree to these terms and allow us (or our billing provider) to continue collecting payments from your nominated account — including any updates to fees with proper notice.

8. CANCELLATION

We understand that sometimes life changes, and you may need to cancel your membership with us. Here's what you need to know:

How to Cancel

• Cancellation will depend on the membership category and minimum term you selected.

• All cancellation requests must be submitted via our online Cancellation Form — no phone calls, emails, or social media messages, please.

• Final notice payment: Once we receive your cancellation request, we’ll require one final payment (as outlined in your contract) before the cancellation can be processed.

When Can You Cancel Without a Penalty?

You can cancel without penalties under the following conditions:

1. Medical Reasons: If your doctor confirms you can’t use our services for 4 months or longer, we’ll waive cancellation fees.

2. Relocation: If you move more than 20km from our Edmonton location, we’ll cancel without penalty, as long as you provide supporting documentation (e.g., utility bill, updated driver’s license, or flight details).

3. Fair Play Option: If you’ve been committed to your fitness routine and attended at least 2 times a week for the last 6 weeks, you can cancel with one month’s notice after meeting this requirement. We track your attendance via our system, so make sure to register for classes online.

If You're Within Your Minimum Term

• If you're still in the minimum term of your membership and wish to cancel for reasons other than the ones mentioned above, you’ll need to pay out the remainder of your contract.

9. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP BY GEM DANCE

While we aim to maintain a positive and supportive environment for everyone, there are certain situations where we may need to terminate your membership immediately. We’ll reach out via email or written notice to the contact details we have on file if any of the following occur:

Reasons We May Terminate Your Membership:

1. Serious Breach: If you commit a serious breach of our terms that can't be fixed.

2. Repeated Breaches: If you repeatedly break the rules, whether or not they can be fixed.

3. Failure to Remedy: If you breach the contract, and don’t fix it within 7 days after we notify you, your membership may be terminated.

4. Non-Payment: If you don’t pay any part of your membership fees within 14 days of the due date.

5. False Information: If you provide false details on your membership form that could affect our decision to grant your membership.

6. Unsuitable for Continued Membership: If, in the reasonable opinion of our team, we feel you're no longer a good fit for our community.

7. Health, Safety, or Well-being Risks: If you put the health, safety, or well-being of our staff or other members at risk.

8. Illegal or Performance-Enhancing Drugs: If you use illegal substances or performance-enhancing drugs on our premises.

What Happens if We Terminate Your Membership:

If your membership is terminated due to any of the above reasons, we may:

• Recover Costs: Recover any reasonable costs we incur due to the breach.

• Collect Remaining Fees: Collect the full amount of your membership fees for the current billing period and any outstanding arrears.

• Use Third-Party Collections: We may use third-party agencies to help recover outstanding fees, and you will be responsible for any costs associated with this.

10. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP

If for any reason you are unable to continue participating in our classes for the remainder of your membership term, you may request to transfer your membership to another individual (referred to as the “Transferee”).

Key Points to Remember for a Transfer:

1. Finding a Transferee: You are responsible for finding someone to take over your membership. However, the Transferee cannot have been a member within the past 2 months.

2. Required Forms: You must sign all necessary forms related to the transfer. The Transferee will also need to complete an Enrolment for Membership to finalize the transfer.

3. Outstanding Fees: A transfer will not be allowed unless all fees and amounts owed to Gem Dance are fully paid at the time of the transfer request.

11. PRIVATE LESSONS

You may engage Gem Dance or other independent contractors on our premises to provide services by entering into an agreement with an authorized representative of Gem Dance or the independent contractor.

Key Points for Private Lessons:

1. Payment in Advance: All private sessions must be paid for in advance.

2. Cancellation Policy: Any cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to the scheduled private session. Cancellation notice must be directly communicated to your instructor via SMS or phone call. You are responsible for ensuring the trainer receives adequate notice. Failure to provide proper notice will result in the session being forfeited.

3. Make-Up Sessions: If you provide adequate notice, a make-up session can be arranged within the same fortnightly cycle. If you do not complete the session within this time frame, the session will be forfeited unless otherwise agreed in writing from instructor

4. No Refund for Missed Sessions: If you fail to complete the private sessions within the fortnightly cycle, Gem Dance is not obligated to refund or credit missed sessions.

5. Non-Refundable Payments:

   • If you have paid for private sessions in advance, these payments are non-refundable.

   • If the required notice is not provided in writing to the appropriate Gem Dance Gym, the fortnightly charge will continue, and Gem Dance is under no obligation to refund or perform the personal training sessions.

12. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

You are responsible for informing Gem Dance of any updates to your personal information, including changes to your name, address, phone number, email, emergency contact, or payment details. Keeping this information current ensures we can reach you for important updates, billing, and communications.

All written notices or notifications from Gem Dance will be sent to the most recent email or mailing address provided by you. Any notices issued by us will be deemed received by you three (3) business days after they have been sent.

Unless otherwise specified in these Terms, any formal notice or completed form that you need to provide to Gem Dance must be submitted via email or delivered in person to our studio.

We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Our Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, store, use, and share your personal data. A copy of the policy is also available at our studio.

We collect personal information to:

• Deliver the services and benefits associated with your membership;

• Process payments and manage your account;

• Communicate with you about your membership, classes, and other studio offerings;

• Ensure your health and safety during classes and activities.

This information is typically collected directly from you through:

• Class registration forms and membership enrolment;

• Studio communications and digital interactions (e.g., email, website, booking systems).

With your explicit consent, we may collect limited health-related information—such as injuries or medical conditions—to help ensure your safety and readiness to participate in physical activity. If you do not provide this information, or if concerns arise from your responses, we may require a medical clearance before you can attend classes or sessions.

In order to deliver our services, we may share your information with trusted service providers or third parties who assist us in operating our studio (e.g., scheduling software, payment processors). If you default on payments, we may also share your information with a collections agency to recover overdue amounts. We will never sell your data or share it without your consent, unless required by law.

Our Privacy Policy also explains how you can access and update your personal data, or lodge a complaint regarding a potential breach of the Privacy Act. If you have any concerns or questions about how we handle your personal information, please reach out to us directly or refer to our full privacy policy online.

13. INTERNET ACCESS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

If you are using the internet or accessing social media while at Gem Dance, you agree to do so in a respectful and responsible manner. This includes use of Wi-Fi, studio devices (if provided), and any online services associated with the studio (e.g., app, booking system, livestreams, etc.).

You are solely responsible for the content you post or share online — whether through social media, blogs, video platforms, or any other digital medium. Keep in mind that anything shared publicly can remain online indefinitely, and you are expected to be mindful of your own privacy and the privacy of others.

You also agree to:

• Refrain from posting any content that could be considered inappropriate, offensive, or harmful to the reputation of Gem Dance, its staff, or other members.

• Avoid tagging or sharing images of other members without their permission.

• Be cautious about location sharing and protecting your personal safety and security.

Gem Dance is not responsible for any issues or incidents you may encounter while using public internet connections, shared digital networks, or personal devices at the studio, including any breaches of privacy, harassment, or misuse by others.

14. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Gem Dance complies with applicable provincial consumer protection laws in Canada. This means the services we provide come with basic guarantees, including that:

• Services are delivered with due care and skill;

• They are reasonably fit for the purposes for which they are advertised or discussed;

• They will be provided within a reasonable timeframe.

By participating in any Gem Dance activity or using our services, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, you acknowledge and accept that our liability for any injury, loss, or damage is limited, except in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct as defined by applicable law.

Unless otherwise required by law, Gem Dance, its directors, instructors, staff, and representatives are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage you may suffer in connection with your participation in:

• Dance classes (group or private),

• Use of studio facilities,

• Events, programs, or workshops,

• Interactions with members, guests, or contractors.

You understand that all physical activity carries some level of risk, and you agree to participate voluntarily and at your own risk. We encourage all participants to consult a medical professional before starting any new physical activity.

Personal Belongings
You are responsible for your belongings while on Gem Dance premises. We do not accept responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items unless the loss is a direct result of proven negligence by Gem Dance staff.

Property Damage
You agree to be responsible for any damage caused to studio property by you or your guest(s) due to negligence, recklessness, or intentional misuse.

15. EMERGENCIES

Gem Dance has a safety and emergency response plan in place, which is posted within the studio and must be followed at all times in case of an emergency or crisis.

Please note:

• If an emergency arises, follow all staff instructions and the posted emergency procedures.

• First aid kits are available on-site, but access may be limited outside of staffed hours.

• For all serious incidents, call 911 immediately and notify a staff member as soon as it is safe to do so.

By attending Gem Dance, you agree to prioritise the safety of yourself and others, and to act responsibly in any emergency situation.

16. CHANGES TO TERMS & CONDITIONS

Gem Dance reserves the right to make changes to these Terms and Conditions at any time, including adjustments to:

• Membership pricing,

• Studio hours,

• Class schedules,

• Services and benefits,

• Policies and procedures.

Any updates will be:

• Posted on our website at www.gemdance.ca,

Changes will take effect immediately once posted, and continued use of your membership will be considered acceptance of the updated terms.

18. COMPLAINTS AND FEEDBACK

At Gem Dance, we value open communication and take your feedback seriously.

If you have any concerns about:

• Our classes,

• Studio facilities,

• Staff or instructors,

• Or anything else related to your experience at Gem Dance,

please speak directly with a team member first. If your concern isn’t resolved or you’d like to escalate it, you can request to speak with or contact the Studio Manager. Their contact details are available at the front desk during staffed hours.

If you ever feel that you’ve been harassed or mistreated by a staff member, instructor, private contractor, or another member or guest, please notify us immediately. We also encourage you to report serious incidents to the appropriate authorities.

We’re committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and safe space for all dancers.

19. OTHER TERMS

• Gem Dance is not liable if you’re unable to attend classes due to events beyond our control, including but not limited to natural disasters (e.g. fire, flood), public emergencies, or road or building closures.

• If any such disruption continues for more than thirty (30) days, we will offer the option to transfer your enrolment to another nearby dance location within 20 km of our studio at 8671 - 91 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, where possible.

• Our decision not to enforce any part of this agreement immediately does not mean we waive our rights permanently.

• If we do not act on a breach of these Terms, it should not be interpreted as us accepting the behaviour.

• If any part of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court, that part will be removed, and the rest will continue in full effect.

• These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada.