Class Registration Information

Contact the Registration Office

COCA
ATTN: Registration Office
6880 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63130

314.561.4898
registration@cocastl.org

Registration Office Hours

Fall & Winter/Spring Semester
MON–FRI | 9:00AM–6:00PM
SAT & SUN | Closed

Summer Semester
MON | 7:30AM–6:00PM
TUE–FRI | 8:00AM–6:00PM
SAT | Select dates & times
SUN | Closed

Registration Fee

COCA charges a non-refundable annual registration fee of $30 per person. The registration fee will be automatically added, annually, to your online order, when it applies. Students can be waitlisted online without being charged the registration fee.

Registration Confirmation

COCA will email confirmation of your registration. If you do not receive it, please contact the Registration Office.

Full-Year Discount

Students registering for full-year classes (Fall and Winter/Spring Semesters) are eligible for a discount. Contact the Registration Office to register with the full-year discount.

Multi-Class Discounts

Students registering for three or more full-semester classes are eligible for a discount applied per person, per semester. Multi-class discounts apply to full-semester classes only.

Fall & Winter/Spring Semesters
1–2 Classes | Full price
3–4 Classes | $60 off each additional class
5+ Classes | $100 off each additional class

Summer Semester
1–2 Classes | Full price
3–4 Classes | $45 off each additional class
5+ Classes | $75 off each additional class

Credit Card Surcharge 

A surcharge of up to 3.25% of the total transaction amount is applied to all credit card payments. 

Payment Plans

COCA offers convenient payment plans. A 25% down payment, $15 payment plan set-up fee, and the annual registration fee (if applicable) are required upon registration. Your credit card or checking account will be automatically billed in equal payments on the dates listed below. Payment plans may be used for summer camps or full-semester classes only.

Dates of Automatic Withdrawal for Payment Plans

• Fall Semester | SEP 15, OCT 15, NOV 15
• Winter/Spring Semester | FEB 15, MAR 15, APR 15
• Summer Arts Camps | MAR 1, APR 1, MAY 1, JUN 1
• Summer Semester | JUN 15, JUL 15, AUG 15

It is COCA’s policy to charge a $25 processing fee for any returned payments (checks or credit cards). Those whose payments are returned may lose the privilege to pay via check, credit card, and payment plans. 

Financial Obligation

COCA reserves the right to suspend or terminate instruction and performance participation for students who do not meet their financial obligations. Students are liable for the full cost of tuition. Households with outstanding balances will not be allowed to re-register until the balance is paid in full.

Waitlists

For classes that have reached their maximum capacity, students may choose to be placed on a waitlist. To be added to a waitlist for a class, contact the Registration Office at registration@cocastl.org. Students will be contacted if a vacancy in the program arises.    

Transfers

COCA offers students the opportunity to transfer to another class if space is available. A Transfer Form must be submitted by the transfer deadline. Transfers are not permitted after the deadline and cannot be processed without the Transfer Form submitted. Transfer Forms are available in the Registration Office and online. 

Withdrawals/Refunds

Tuition fees will be refunded, less a $25 processing fee per class, if you submit a Withdrawal Form by the withdrawal deadline. Registration fees and payment plan set-up fees are non-refundable. COCA offers no refund or credit for missed class days due to illness, schedule conflicts, or for any other reasons. 

COCA offers no refund or credit after the withdrawal deadline except for documented medical conditions. You must submit a Withdrawal Form and documentation on physician’s letterhead. Medical withdrawals must be submitted before the last day of your or your student’s class. Prorated tuition will be refunded less the $25 processing fee per class.

Withdrawal Deadlines

7-week Classes:

• Monetary refund: Saturday before the first class of the period

• Transfer/account credit: Before the second meeting date for the class

One-day Activities:

• Monetary refund: One week prior to the meeting date

• Transfer/account credit: The business day before the meeting date

Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer Semester Classes:

• Monetary refund: Saturday prior to the first day of class

• Transfer/account credit (Fall and Winter/Spring): Third Saturday of the semester

• Transfer/account credit (Summer): Second Saturday of the semester

Cancellations

In the event that enrollment does not reach the required minimum students or circumstances arise beyond COCA’s control, COCA reserves the right to cancel a class. Students will be notified, and the registrars will recommend a suitable replacement class. If no replacement can be settled upon, COCA will refund your tuition fees in full, less any non-refundable fees.

Missed/Cancelled Classes

Students who miss class due to injury, illness, or personal absences may make up classes if another section of their class meets on a different day. Students may not make up missed classes in another discipline or level. Absences caused by inclement weather or other building closures are not required to be made up. Absences caused by individual class cancellations will be scheduled by COCA for make-up sessions. COCA Make-Up Class Policy

In the Event of Closure

If inclement weather, a power outage, or unforeseen circumstances necessitate the closing of any COCA program, COCA is not responsible for providing a make-up session, credit, or refund. COCA provides information about closings via text messages, local media outlets, cocastl.org, and phone at 314.725.6555.

In the event of closures to protect public health, COCA has pre-recorded classes and created an online curriculum and infrastructure that will be available to protect the continuity of your instruction. In the event that COCA experiences a closure, students will receive access to a link to content for their classes within 24 hours. Classes will continue in a virtual format as long as necessary to ensure that all students have a full semester. Pointe students will receive instruction in ballet technique only, as they are not able to safely work on pointe from home.

Make-up Policy

Students who miss class due to injury, illness, or personal absences may make up classes if another section of their class meets on a different day. Students may not make up missed classes in another discipline or level. Absences caused by inclement weather or other building closures are not required to be made up. Absences caused by individual class cancellations will be scheduled by COCA for make-up sessions. Missed classes must be made up by the end of the semester. Students are limited to 3 make-up classes per semester. 

To schedule a make-up class in an alternate section of their class, students should complete the make-up class form and submit it for approval to the discipline’s Artistic Director by email at least 24 hours prior to the make-up class.

Placement

In an effort to streamline registration and maintain the highest quality of instruction in the classroom, COCA hosts in-person Placement Classes for Dance, Theatre, and Voice. Current students receive end of semester Placement Letters for Intermediate through Advanced levels. Any classes requiring a prerequisite should be discussed with the Registration Office. This process ensures that both returning and new students are placed in the appropriate levels prior to the start of the semester. 

Beginner level students do not need to attend a placement class, but instead may register for the age-appropriate beginner course.

All students in Intermediate- through Advanced-level classes must attend a Placement Class as a prerequisite to enrolling in the class. Placement classes will happen in existing semester classes. Students must contact the Registration Office prior to taking a placement class. All students who participate in a Placement Class will receive an electronic Placement Letter for class registration.

Students should contact the Registration Office to pre-register for a placement class.

For placement questions, contact:

• ART & DESIGN | Shawna Flanigan, sflanigan@cocastl.org
• THEATRE | Shawna Flanigan, sflanigan@cocastl.org
• VOICE | Dr. Phil Woodmore, pwoodmore@cocastl.org
• BALLET, DANCE ENRICHMENT | Antonio Douthit-Boyd, adouthit-boyd@cocastl.org
• EARLY CHILDHOOD, FITNESS, JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE, SOCIAL & CULTURAL, TAP | Antonio Douthit-Boyd, adouthit-boyd@cocastl.org

Advancement

All students are placed with care and consideration at all levels of training. The changing of levels is always decided with the student’s best interest and advancement in mind; promotion may not occur every year. It is not uncommon for a student to stay at the same level for two or more years. (Each “year” consists of both Fall and Winter/Spring Semesters.) Students should remain in the previous year’s level for Summer classes. If a student is promoted too soon, they will miss valuable training, may struggle in subsequent levels, or become injured. 

Any level changes will be communicated per instructor with Artistic Director and/or Dance Manager approval, or via the results of a placement class. 

Early Childhood Classes (Ages 5 and under)

Students must reach the minimum age for enrollment by the first day of class. Registration for parent-and-child classes is required for the child only. Parents don’t need to register, but must attend.

Classes for students ages three and up are independent classes and do not require parent participation. Children must be fully potty-trained to attend independent classes.

Special Accommodations

If the student has food allergies, medical concerns, or physical accommodations, please list them on the Registration Form or contact the Registration Office. 

Important Dates & Deadlines

AUG 31 | Deadline to request a monetary refund for Fall Semester classes

SEP 2 | COCA closed

SEP 3 | First day of 2024 Fall Semester classes

SEP 21 | Deadline to register, request a transfer, or request a withdrawal from Fall Semester classes

NOV 26–30 | Fall Break (no classes)

NOV 28–29 | COCA closed

DEC 8–14 | Class observations

DEC 14 | Last day of 2024 Fall Semester classes

DEC 24–25 | COCA closed

DEC 31–JAN 1 | COCA closed

JAN 20 | COCA closed

JAN 21 | First day of 2025 Winter/Spring Semester classes

MAR 17–21 | Spring break (no classes)

APR 20 | COCA closed

APR 24–26 | No classes

APR 29–MAY 5 | Class observations

MAY 5 | Last day of 2025 Winter/Spring Semester classes

MAY 26 | COCA closed

JUN 2 | First day of 2025 Summer Semester classes

JUN 19 | COCA closed

JUL 4 | COCA closed

AUG 4–15 | Class observations

AUG 4 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Monday classes

AUG 5 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Tuesday classes

AUG 6 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Wednesday classes

AUG 9 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Saturday classes

AUG 10 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Sunday classes

AUG 14 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Thursday classes

AUG 15 | Last day of 2025 Summer Semester classes – Friday classes

Dates above apply to full-semester classes. Deadlines may vary for 7-week classes, workshops, and Winter and Spring Break Arts Camps.