Our Fall & Spring session runs 2 full semesters, September through May:

FREE TRIAL & PLACEMENT CLASSES
August 24th, 26th & 27th, 2024
These FREE classes are available to students wanting to check out GCPA, try a new skill, and / or have their skill level assessed by a teaching artist for class recommendations. This is a great way to get to know everyone at GCPA and find the right fit for you before the semester begins! More information will be available soon.

FALL 2024 SEMESTER
September 9th, 2024 - December 14th 2024
*No classes November 25th - 30th

SPRING 2025 SEMESTER
January 13th - May 10th 2025

FALL CLASS OBSERVATIONS
December 9th-14th, 2024
All classes in the Fall semester conclude with in-class observations on the last day of class. It’s a great way to see what the classes have been learning and working on!

SPRING OPT-OUT:
December 1st - December 31st, 2024
Students only wishing to complete the Fall semester may opt out of the Spring Semester with no withdrawal fee by completing a withdrawal form December 1st - 31st. Anyone withdrawing from the Spring Semester after December 31st, 2024 is subject to the $25 withdrawal fee. This opt-out applies in December only. Please see below regarding additional withdrawal policies for the entire session and specific to the Spring semester.

SPRING FINALES
May 5th - 10th and May 17th - 18th, 2025
Classes culminate in either a Class Observation, an Informal In-Studio Finale, or a Formal On-Stage Finale. Observations and Informal Finales take place May 5th - 10th as part of the last class of the semester. Formal Finales take place May 17th - 18th at on off-site theatre location TBD with a set performance schedule. See more details below.

REGISTRATION FEE 

GCPA charges a nonrefundable registration fee of $30 for the first student and $15 per additional student per year, not to exceed $45 annually, due upon first registration. Registration fees are charged on a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle and renew upon registration for the Fall semester. Students only participating in Summer programming in 12 months will have a registration fee renewal upon registration for the Summer. Accounts are automatically charged the fee the first session enrolled during that cycle.

CLASSES

Registration is for the entire Fall / Spring session, broken up into monthly payments. Classes are billed per month on a sliding scale based on total class hours per week, per family. The more classes you and your entire family take, the lower the cost per hour and the better the value! Class registration takes place for the entire Fall / Spring Session. The first month’s payment is due upon registration, and remaining monthly payments are due on the 1st of each month. After the first month’s payment upon registration, the monthly payments run, October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May.

Enrollment for the Spring semester will open to new students in November - January. For students enrolling in the Spring semester only, the registration fee and first month’s payment are due upon registration, and remaining monthly payments are due on the 1st of each month. After the first month’s payment upon registration, the monthly payments run February, March, April and May.

Students who complete the Fall semester may opt out of the Spring semester without incurring a withdrawal fee by completing the withdrawal process in the month of December.

For example, a student enrolled in a 1 hour Ballet class pays $64 per month. A student enrolled in a 1 hour Tap class and a 1.5 hour Musical Theatre class (for a total of 2.5 class hours per week) pays $150 per month. A family with two children, each enrolled in a one hour class (for a total of 2 class hours) pays $123.

Enrollment exceeding 10 hours per week caps at $375 per month.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private Lessons are available for Dance, Voice, and Acting and are charged separately. Email Lori at lpagano@gcpastl.org for interest in private lessons. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Need-based financial assistance is available for classes and private lessons. Please email Christy Timberlake, Education Manager at ctimberlake@gcpastl.org for a Financial Assistance Request Form.

TRANSFERS

All transfers must be approved by class instructors and GCPA administration. Please email Christy Timberlake, Education Manager, at ctimberlake@gcpastl.org to discuss a class transfer.

Students may transfer during the first 3 weeks of the current session. Transfer after the the 3rd week of the semester are only accepted for certain classes.

WITHDRAWALS

All withdrawal requests require completion of the WITHDRAWAL FORM. CLICK HERE to complete the form.

Withdrawals 2 weeks or more prior to the current session are permitted for a full refund (less the registration fee).

Withdrawals less than two weeks prior to the current session are permitted with a $25 withdrawal fee and less the registration fee. 

Withdrawals after the start of class are non-refundable through the current month of payment. Students making monthly payments must submit the WITHDRAWAL FORM 10 days prior to next payment due date or be charged for the following month.

All withdrawals after March 31st will be charged for the month of April (per the 10 day policy above), the month of May, and the $25 withdrawal fee. These fees will all be charged together to the account upon withdrawal. Withdrawal at this point in the spring semester bears heavy impact on class quality and experience as students prepare for Final Demonstrations and is strongly discouraged.

CANCELLATIONS

GCPA may cancel a class due to low enrollment. Classes will be cancelled up to 7 days prior to the first class. Enrolled students will be offered the opportunity to transfer to an appropriate class or receive a full refund for the class tuition. The registration fee is only refundable if the cancelled class is the only program the student is registered for within the previous 12 months.

ATTENDANCE

Students are encouraged to prioritize attendance to class. Class work is comprehensive, and teaching time is dedicated both to individualized instruction and to company/ensemble work. We always want students to prioritize their health and do our best to accommodate excused absences due to illness. Students with more than 3 absences not related to illness may be subject to their features being reassigned in songs, scenes, formations, etc. at the discretion of the teacher. Additional absences may result in the student’s participation being limited in Final Demonstrations and not progressing to the next class level as quickly.

GCPA will work hard to communicate early and openly about attendance concerns, and we ask parents to do the same.

MAKE UP CLASSES

Please make sure to email your instructor as soon as possible so they can prepare for your absence. Instructor email addresses have been provided in your class welcome email and can be requested any time by emailing info@gcpastl.org. GCPA offers the opportunity to make up missed classes in another class at the appropriate age and level for the student.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

GCPA follows the Webster School District for delays and cancellations of daytime programming due to inclement weather. Cancellations of evening programming will be announced no later than one hour prior to the start of class. Cancellations will be announced first via social media and then via email, then posted on KMOV, KSDK and KTVI.

GCPA will not schedule additional make up for cancellations due to inclement weather. Students may choose to make up a class missed due to inclement weather via the make up class policy above.

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

Industry classes are part of regular registration for Intermediate+ high school students & are open to registration or walk-ins from college students & industry professionals. The industry walk-in rate is $20 per class. $10 discount with Equity card or current College ID. Walk-in access is subject to available space.

GCPA classes are leveled in order to provide quality programming appropriate to age and ability. Most classes above entry or open level have specific pre-requisites and require instructor approval. The progression from level to level varies based on the discipline and specific student growth.

CLICK HERE for a Leveling Guide for the 2024-2025 Year.

If you have questions about leveling or would like a recommendation for a student, contact Christy Timberlake at ctimberlake@gcpastl.org.

GCPA's education program is focused on the process of learning and growing into a well-rounded artist. While this is performing arts training and on-stage performance before a live audience is an important part of the experience, classes are not working towards a final, polished and produced performance as you would see in a typical recital. All Class Finales are meant to be a demonstration of best work, presented in a low-pressure setting and to limit the amount of additional commitment outside of the classroom. Finale types have been assigned in a way to best highlight the work and development of that class, based on age, level, discipline and individual class objectives.

Details about all Finales will be communicated via email throughout the year and kept updated on our website.

FALL SEMESTER

All classes will hold Class Observations at the end of the Fall semester on the last day of class. There are no additional commitment or requirements in the Fall.

SPRING SEMESTER

Students enrolled in the Spring Semester will be asked to sign an agreement of intent to participate in the Spring Final Class Finales. GCPA expects students and families to prioritize Finales as an important part of the learning process. Students are not required to participate, but are expected to communicate intent and prioritize class attendance regardless. Since most classes involve partner and/or group work, teachers need an accurate count of participants to adequately prepare for the performance. Those who choose not to perform will still be involved in all class work through the entire semester. Groups will be assigned to accommodate everyone's choice of participation.

See above for Withdrawal protocols.

Class Finale information is detailed on each class page, and you can CLICK HERE for a full list of finales by class and type.

Each class differs in its dress code requirements, but all are designed to give performers ease of movement and physical expression. Please let us know if you have questions, needs, or concerns regarding these requirements. 

ACTING & VOICE

- Comfortable clothes which allow for movement
- Closed-toe shoes

MUSICAL THEATRE

- Comfortable clothes which allow for movement
- Closed-toe shoes, preferably a jazz or dance shoe
- Hair pulled away from face

MUSICAL THEATRE Dance, jazz

- Jazz or Athletic pants reaching past the knee (no shorts unless dance tights are worn underneath)
- Fitted top or leotard
- Split sole jazz shoes
- Hair pulled away from face
- Proper undergarments as individually needed, such as supportive bras and dance belts.

precision, character heels

- Jazz or Athletic pants reaching past the knee (no shorts unless dance tights are worn underneath)
- Fitted top or leotard
- Character shoes. Height recommendation varies, email Stephanie at sfox@gcpastl.org for more information
- Hair pulled away from face
- Proper undergarments as individually needed, such as supportive bras and dance belts.

ballet, modern, LEAPS & TURNS

- Leotard of any color or fitted top
- Tights or stretch pants/male dance tights fitted around the knee and ankle
- Skirt optional
- Ballet shoes
- Hair pulled away from face
- Proper undergarments as individually needed, such as supportive bras and dance belts.

TAP

- Activewear that allows for movement
- Lace-up tap shoes
- Hair pulled away from face
- Proper undergarments as individually needed, such as supportive bras and dance belts.

Hip hop

- Activewear that allows for movement
- Lace-up tennis shoes
- Hair pulled away from face
- Proper undergarments as individually needed, such as supportive bras and dance belts.

CLICK HERE to return to the Main Classes page.