FAQs
Do you have questions about QDC? Are you looking for a quick answer? Check out our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), we may have the answer for you!
See our QDC Safety Policy
see our QDC constitution
What is Queen’s Dance Club (QDC)? How does it operate?
Queen’s Dance Club (QDC) is the largest student-run recreational club in Canada open to dancers of all backgrounds and abilities. We offer 28 different classes in a variety of styles and levels, so there is a class for everyone!
QDC operates on a term-based system, meaning that there are two registration periods, one in the Fall and one in the Winter, that apply for classes for one term only. Classes are not “drop-in” style; they are weekly, and each class is used to prepare dancers for an end-of-term recital in which they will perform a routine.
Please Note: All classes will be performing a routine in the recital except for Stretch, Strength and Sculpt, Jazz Technique, and Ballet Technique.
We are a recreational club, so we do not compete and there is no audition process to get into the club!
Where do the classes take place?
All QDC classes are held in dance studios 1, 3, and 4 of the Queen's Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC). These studios are located on the second floor surrounding the weights' section. Please refer to our Class Schedule to see which studio your class will be held in, and check out our Instagram Reels section on our Instagram for a video tutorial on how to navigate the ARC!
How much do classes cost?
During registration, dancers will pay a one-time non-refundable fee of $50, per class they wish to register for, that covers each of the weekly sessions of the class leading up to the recital. For example, if a student would like to take Beginner Contemporary they would pay $50 for a semester of Beginner Contemporary classes, but if they are wanting to take Beginner Lyrical as well that class would be an additional $50 for the semester.
In the Winter, this fee also covers costumes for the End-of-Year Showcase.
What does the time commitment look like?
Every QDC class has one weekly session, lasting 1h 15 mins.
(Commitment: 1h 15 mins/week/class)
What is the attendance policy?
QDC operates on a 3-strike policy, where 3 unexcused absences will result in the dancer being removed from the class. To avoid this from happening, we encourage all dancers to contact their instructors 24 hours prior to the class if they will be absent to ensure that an accurate tracking of attendance can be maintained.
I haven’t danced in a few years, how do I know what level class I should take?
QDC offers classes at a range of difficulties, meaning we HAVE A CLASS FOR YOU! Please refer to our difficulty Level Descriptions on our website to better understand which level suits you, or read our class descriptions on Queen’s GetActive to get a better feel for our class offerings. QDC also offers ‘Trial Week’ at the start of each semester for students to give classes a try, so feel free to sign-up for these classes to get a better idea of how a specific class will be instructed!
I’ve never danced before, are QDC classes beginner friendly?
QDC offers many classes for students that are new to dance! We have beginner classes in almost every discipline, which are intended for first-time dancers, including: Beginner/Inter Jazz, Beginner/Inter Ballet, Beginner/Inter Tap, Beginner HipHop, Beginner/Int Diva Bootcamp, Beginner Lyrical, and Beginner Contemporary. Check out our Class Descriptions on our website or on the Queens GetActive portal to learn more details about each class to see if it's suited for you for this semester, or feel free to try a class out at ‘Trial Week’ next semester before Winter Registration!
We also offer many open-level classes which are open to dancers of all skill levels where there will be modifications to sequences and choreography to suit dancers of all abilities. These classes include: Cardio Funk, Stretch, Strength & Sculpt, Musical Theatre, Jazz Technique, and Ballet Technique!
What should I wear to classes? What do I do if I don’t have dance shoes?
Dancers are free to wear whatever they feel comfortable dancing in to classes! Shoes are not required for Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Advanced Specialty classes. We encourage dancers to wear Running Shoes to Cardio Funk, Stretch, Strength & Sculpt, Diva Bootcamp, and HipHop classes, ballet slippers to Ballet classes, and tap shoes for Tap classes. Pre-Advanced/Advanced Diva Bootcamp dancers are encouraged to also bring high heels along with them to class, but it is NOT a requirement.
QDC also has a “Tap Shoe Drive” that was started by our Beg/Int Tap teacher, Claire Lamothe, last year. From this, we have accumulated used tap shoes that students can borrow for a semester to take tap classes! For more information regarding this initiative please reach out to the presidents (presidents@queensdanceclub.com) to be put in contact with our tap instructors.
What does the Recital look like? What can I anticipate?
Recital will take place in mid-November at the Kingston Grand Theatre! This show will be open for the general public to purchase tickets for both the in-person show and the online livestream. You will perform the routine that you have been learning in your weekly QDC classes. For those who are new to the stage, don’t worry! We will be having a ‘dress rehearsal’, where your class will have an assigned time on the stage to practice. QDC’s recital is a perfect opportunity for everyone to feel confident in their dancing abilities and share their love for dance with fellow students and audience members! More information about recital specific details will be shared with you by our Co-Presidents once classes begin!
Will there still be dance classes after Recital?
Yes! QDC will offer classes post-recital in the Fall term. This term’s recital is fairly early, so following its completion, QDC will offer drop-in classes for students at a set rate per-class on a week-by-week basis. This will be open to ALL students, and will continue until the end of the Fall term.
Class offerings post-recital are still to be determined for the Winter term.
Who teaches the classes?
The QDC staff is comprised of Queen's University students that have a strong dance background and a passion for teaching. Check out the teacher bios under Staff to get to know our teachers better!
When do QDC classes officially start?
QDC classes will officially start on September 22nd 2023.
How do I sign up for QDC classes?
To register for QDC classes, dancers must first be registered for QRec! (Deadline for Fall term is September 17th 2023). This is a simple and easy process that takes less than 2 minutes!
(See our Announcements page for more information on how to register for QRec)
This semester, there will be FOUR different registration periods held over TWO days. Registration for QDC classes is done on the Queen’s GetActive portal, where you will need a credit card to register. Respective classes will open for registration at different times as stated below:
September 19th 2023
9am - Contemporary & Lyrical classes
(Note: Advanced Modern/Contemporary Movement is considered a ‘Specialty’ class)
1pm - HipHop & Ballet classes
September 20th 2023
9am - Jazz & Tap classes
1pm - All Open and Advanced Specialty classes
Please see our Instagram (@queensdanceclub) for more detailed information regarding registration for the 2023/24 year, and use the links provided in our LinkTree (in our bio) to register in both Qrec and Classes.
I’m interested in teaching, when does hiring take place?
Our staff hiring process for instructors occurs at the end of the Winter semester, with hired staff teaching the following year. Executive team hiring will happen before this, typically in March. Keep an eye out for more details on both hiring processes on our Instagram, we will be releasing more detailed information closer to the hiring period. Stay tuned!
If you are interested in volunteering with QDC, our Gotta Dance! program applications are open now! Please find the link in our Instagram bio for more information.
