No complaints with the quality of the instruction,...

No complaints with the quality of the instruction, but what management did to me was one of the worst things a business can do.

This was supposed to have been my child's third year attending summer camps at this studio. Their policy, as stated on the confirmation email I received on March 4, stated "Please note that no refunds are offered once the class has begun."

Then COVID-19 hit. While other theatres and dance studios around the city moved their camps and classes online, or cancelled the altogether after consulting with the parents of the children enrolled, Joy of Dance chose to move forward with in-studio summer camps.

I was notified of this 2 days before my child's camp was scheduled to start, in an email that also stated that no refunds would be issued after July 1, despite the email itself only being sent on July 9. The configuration of the class had also been changed from an aged 8-12 group to a 6-8 group.

I was not comfortable sending my child to an indoor camp, with a younger cohort who was unlikely to be capable of physically distancing properly, while the city is still in a stage 2 pandemic lockdown.

I communicated that I was not comfortable sending my child. While I was within my rights to ask for a refund according to their policy (the first policy, not the second one they made up after I had already enrolled and paid), in the spirit of supporting a small business through a difficult time I asked if they could consider a partial credit towards a future class instead.

The manager, Jennifer, replied stating that she would not issue a refund. When I responded reminding her of her studio's refund policy, and that I was not actually asking for a refund but rather a partial credit, she ignored me.

Joy of Dance sprung a modified camp on us that I did not feel comfortable with or agree to, with no alternatives. EVERY other summer camp my children have been involved with offered either a refund or credit. Not this one. They pulled a bait and switch, took my $400, and flat-out ignored my request for even a partial credit. Well, enjoy it Joy of Dance because it's the last money you will ever see from my family.

Even though we live virtually across the street from your studio, I will now be taking my theatre and dance-loving child farther afield. I hope my $400 was worth it to you.