Ballet Arts

Thank you for choosing Ballet Arts of Bucks County (BABC) for your dance education and training! Dancers carry a tradition of discipline, respect, manners, and grace at ALL ages. Please thoroughly read the studio policies and expectations of Ballet Arts students and parents below. Thank you for your attention to these policies. Sincerely, Kathleen Dwyer, Artistic Director and the staff at Ballet Arts of Bucks County

 

STUDIO RULES for the Students: (also check new COVID Policies)

• Gum, food and drink (other than water) are not permitted in class.

• Talking in class is not allowed. Hands should be raised when there is a question for the teacher. Wait quietly for instruction from the teacher and while others are dancing.

• Hanging on barres and touching the mirrors is not permitted.

• Please allow for time before class to use the restroom. Requests during class are a distraction to both the student and other classmates.

• Show respect for fellow dancers. Keep your hands to yourself.

• Be respectful if you are a little late for class. Wait for the end of an exercise, quietly enter, and apologize to the instructor.  If you know ahead of time that you will need to leave a little early, please notify the instructor prior to class starting.  Before leaving, politely let the instructor know before dismissing yourself quietly.

• Corrections from teachers are important for development and proper training.  Getting corrections from our dance instructors is how we grow. It is not a criticism but a desire for improvement and growth from teacher to student. Quietly observing other students in class is another great way to learn. The study of dance necessitates physical contact between the instructor and student and sometimes between students.  “Hands on” adjustment of a student’s body to correct alignment and technique is standard in dance instruction. (due to COVID protocols, hands on corrections will be extremely limited, if given at all)

• Bullying will not be tolerated.

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STUDIO RULES for the Parents:(also check new COVID Policies)

• Parents and guardians are responsible for students’ and siblings’ behavior and safety before and after class. Young children may not be left in the waiting room unattended. Hallways are shared by other businesses, therefore, please keep quiet and no running in hallways.

• Students should attend class on time, arriving a few minutes early to prepare- warm up, use restroom, change shoes and clothes.  Arriving after class begins is a distraction to students.  It is not physically safe to attend class mid- way through and not properly warmed up.   Participation after arriving late to class is to the discretion of the individual instructor. If the student is more than 15 minutes late and not permitted to take the class, it will be considered an absence and will need to take a makeup class.

•  Please notify the studio prior to any absence.

• Please walk your child up to the studio, and meet them upstairs at the studio promptly after class. If you are running late or in an emergency situation, please call the office (215) 896 3138.  Sometimes running late picking up your child is unavoidable, however, please do not let this become frequent.  If you drop off your child outside the studio or arrange for your child to wait for you outside the studio, you assume full responsibility for their safety.  BABC is not responsible for the well-being of any student who leaves the studio.

• Parents waiting in lobby/hallway during class should avoid distractions to the teacher and students. (see below for new COVID policies)

• Since young children often need to use the bathroom or need a parent at a moment’s notice, parents or guardians of children 5 and under should remain in the hallway/lobby for classes 40 minutes or shorter in length.

• Please keep parent teacher conversations and greetings in the lobby between classes short. Longer questions should be addressed in email or by phone.

• If your child feels ill, please do not bring her/him to class. Keep everyone healthy!

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STUDIO GENERAL GUIDELINES

• No food is allowed in the studios at any time. Please dispose of any food containers in the waiting room trash bins.

• Keep the dressing room and lobby clean!

• No outside shoes on the dance studio floor. 

• Please label your belongings. Ballet Arts of Bucks County is not responsible for any lost or stolen articles. Lost and found items left unclaimed will be donated at the end of the year (notification one week prior).

• No cell phones in the studio.

• School closing announcements due to weather will be posted on our website home page www.balletarts.com (if time permits) and the Ballet Arts Facebook page or by calling the office for information.  We will also email you to alert you of any other unforeseen emergency closings. Please be sure to supply an accurate email address (add our email to your contact list please) and emergency contact phone number on your registration form. Most communication will be through the internet or handouts.   Snow days can be made up at your convenience. No additional days will be added to the calendar.  In an emergency cancellation, for example faculty sickness, you will be notified and the class will either be substituted or rescheduled. We will make every effort to notify of cancellations- email, phone, social media, and website (when possible).

• Any student with a prolonged injury or illness will require a doctor’s note to return to class. If a dancer has a minor injury, it is a requirement to attend class and observe while taking notes.

• Please refer to the website for details on class placement/requirements, class descriptions, tuition policies, and dance attire requirements.

 

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY NOTES

Due to COVID performance opportunities will depend on state regulations on large groups.

• Performance is part of the reward for all of a dance student’s hard work and devotion. We consider the experience of performing before a live audience, as well as the process of working on a performance, a valuable part of our training program.  

• All students who are taking appropriate amount of weekly classes for a given level are invited to participate in an annual Spring and/or Holiday performance during year round session.  Dance classes that students take at other schools will not be considered in the requirements for BABC advance level or Pointe technique requirements OR for BABC performances for any level.

• Performance fees cover rehearsal time, costume rental, scenery, props, and dress rehearsal rental fee.  

• All audience members, including all parents and family members, must purchase tickets.

• Students must attend all classes, rehearsals and performances in order to participate. (Rehearsal schedule will be included with performance sign up form, and posted at the studio.) Attendance at Dress Rehearsal is MANDATORY.

• Rehearsals for Holiday Showcase begin in late September to early October, and for the Spring Dance Concert in late February to early March. 

• We greatly appreciate all parent volunteers! Volunteer sign-up sheets go up in the studio, are emailed, and indicated on student’s performance sign up form. If any parent has special skills involved in a theatrical production, such as with scenery, set, arts, sewing, etc., and are interested in helping out with any performance, please let us know!

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CLASS PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES

• Class Frequency Recommendations/ Performance Requirements (Weekly):  Ballet I- one class; Ballet I/II- III- one to two classes (Ideally 2 classes per week); Ballet IV- two or more classes; BAllet V+- 3 or more classes weekly; Pointe and pre-pointe: Students must demonstrate necessary strength and technical skill for pointe and  are by staff invitation ONLY.  For the safety of the student and the difficulty and strength required dancing on pointe,  Pointe and prepointe students are required to consistently attend a minimum of TWO  technique classes a week (MUST be ballet technique class and NOT a supplemental dance class like character or contemporary. In the summer session, Pointe students must take a minimum of four weeks (2 or more technique classes per week). 

• Dance classes that students take at other schools will not be considered in the requirements for BABC advance level or Pointe technique requirements or for BABC performances for any level.

• All students will be carefully placed in the class that fits their technique.  BABC reserves the right to professionally determine the class level of the student, regardless of age.  Class level will not be a subject for parent or student decision or negotiation.

• All students are required to attend all assigned classes according to level and placement.

• Any level changes will be made at the sole recommendation of the BABC staff. 

• New student assessments for level and placement will be determined before registering. Please contact the office prior to attending to determine the best class to attend for this assessment.

• Ages may differ in classes beginning Ballet I and up.  Our emphasis is on the student’s technical achievement and the level that encourages the most progress.

 

TUITION POLICIES

• Registration is $25 per student and $35 per family and non-refundable. All payments must be made prior to first class. First month’s tuition is due at time of registration, unless otherwise noted.

• Tuition is non-refundable, non-transferable, and not subject to pro-rated partial attendance.  Students are encouraged to make-up any missed classes in student’s level or lower level. Make-up classes should be made up within the session missed. If a student only makes one class within the month, full monthly tuition payment will still be due.  NOTE: changes have been made to makeup class availability due to COVID.  Class size limits and no drop-ins creates a limitation on offering makeup classes.  We will do our best to schedule a makeup with you.  Please contact the studio.  Thank you for understanding.

• Tuition is due on the 1st of the month even when the studio is closed. Cash and Check payments can be handed in at the studio, dropped in the tuition box, or mailed to the studio. Credit/Debit card or ACH can paid online at www.balletarts.com thru our new Parent/Dancer Portal (cc and ACH fees apply ) Auto pay is a new option in the Parent Portal.  Check on your portal for this feature.

• A Late fee of $10 will be applied after the 10th of the month. Returned check fee is $25.

• ​Family discount- 10 % off applied to lesser value of additional sibling(s) tuition (registration for family $35)

• Family discount only applicable to ballet/dance program.  Discount does not apply to any Adult ballet classes.  

• Fall 2021- Spring 2022 tuition is based on a monthly rate, calculated by an average of 4 classes a month for classes that meet 36 times between September - June .

• Withdrawals: Any schedule changes must be submitted in writing and approved by BABC. Please give ten days-notice written notice or by email of withdrawing from a class. If we are not properly notified we will assume the student is still registered in class(es).

• Classes are subject to change or cancellation.

• Drop-in classes must be scheduled and can not be guaranteed due to class size limits. Please contact the studio if you are interested in a class. If there is availability we can reserve a spot for you. (Single class drop-in rate: $20;  Professional dancer rate: $15/class)

• Class cards are only available for Adult ballet- 5 class card- $80, 10 class card $150- please purchase through the online portal for credit/ACH or in person by cash or check.  Please see new COVID protocols- dropins may not be available. Please contact the studio

• Male students 7 yrs+ - please ask for scholarship opportunities

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NEW COVID- 19 Safety Protocols

    MOST IMPORTANT...  

• If you DO NOT FEEL WELL and/or HAVE A FEVER, dry cough or any flu like symptoms DO NOT ATTEND IN-STUDIO CLASSES

• If your student or someone who lives in your household has been exposed to COVID, DO NOT ATTEND IN-STUDIO CLASSES. Please keep our studio as safe as possible, so we can continue to dance!

• Please follow PA state mandates for quarantine after travel, including the list of states, and mask/face coverings. Need more info on PA? Visit https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/

• Students should arrive 10 minutes before class.  Please do not arrive late.

• Students should wait in the hallway for instructions from the staff to enter the studio lobby.  Staff will dismiss dancers in small groups. 

• Students must arrive already dressed in their clean ballet clothes.  Hair MUST be already put up in a bun at home.  Please use a small compact  ballet bag, carrying only necessities, and ballet shoes.

• Limit your drop off to as few people as possible (one parent and limited siblings).  Since young children often need to use the bathroom or need a parent at a moment’s notice, parents or guardians of children 5 and under should remain in the hallway/lobby for classes 45 minutes or shorter in length. If your child is old enough and you feel comfortable, you can send your student upstairs alone.  If requested a student can provide the teacher with a phone number, and staff will text you that your child has made it up to the studio safely.  

• NO ONE except for staff and dancers will be allowed into the Ballet Arts Lobby and Dressing Room. We ask that you limit your waiting in our halls.  We will have only a few benches and stools set out in hallways. Please be respectful and social distance when picking up and dropping off. 

• Cell phones must be left in the dance bags.  No cell phones allowed for use in the studio at all. 

• We will follow any changes in the Pennsylvania State Mandates for mask wearing, but mask wearing will be at the discretion of the studio.   **Currently Masks/Face covering is optional.** Check with the studio on status changes.

• Dancers are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer in their dance bag.  We will do our best to provide hand sanitizer as well. We encourage everyone to wash their hands before and after  each class.

• We will be asking everyone to leave the bathroom doors open after use, so that they don't lock  behind you, and to facilitate easier handwashing.  

• The staff will make every attempt to plan their classes with social distancing and masks/water breaks in mind.

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