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Attendance
To achieve the maximum results of training and proper progression through the syllabus, students are required to attend all classes and rehearsals to which they are assigned. To minimize absences, parents are urged to take into consideration classes and rehearsals when scheduling their children for appointments and when planning family vacations. Please be sure to call or email an excuse to Sarah Barragan whenever your child will miss class.
Excessive absences will result in a student being asked to leave the program to allow a child on the waiting list to attend. Consistent absences will also be factored into casting decisions for the productions.
Consistent attendance is vital in maintaining a student’s mastery of dance technique. Dance is a physical activity that requires consistent weekly training to establish muscle strength and muscle memory. Classical ballet training is a highly specialized technique that requires excellent instruction by a knowledgeable teacher and committed attendance by the student in order to achieve the desired results. This level of commitment is especially important beginning with the Ballet 1 and 2 levels.
Rehearsals
It is extremely important for students to attend all rehearsals that they are scheduled for. In certain instances, a choreographer may be creating a new work and must have everyone present in order to effectively create their piece. In other instances, students may have been rehearsing together for some time or may be rehearsing a part they have performed in the past. Regardless, it is imperative that all cast members be present at every rehearsal to achieve the level necessary for public performance.
Classroom Etiquette
In order to achieve the skill level required of the physical body in dance, students should understand the necessary level of focus and concentration that will be required of them prior to attending class. Students will be encouraged to learn dance technique primarily through observation and execution of steps rather than through discussion. Talking during class and rehearsals is discouraged with the occasional question welcomed and indicated by the students’ raising of their hand. This allows the maximum amount of progress to be made during class time since dance technique is based on continual repetition of movement to train and strengthen the muscles of the body. Students who are disruptive to the class will be asked to observe class so that others may continue their work. Younger students may be escorted from class and brought to their parents.
Conferences & Questions
Parents are welcome to schedule a conference with Sarah and Eloy at any time. We ask that you do not confront the instructors before or after classes with questions, but instead call or email to schedule an appointment. Please understand that prior to teaching class they are focused on the class ahead and after class they are often on their way to their next class. Thank you for your consideration of their time.
Costume Requirements and Performances
The students will wear their classroom attire provided by the School for their performance. Students will be provided with costumes for the show from our School’s wardrobe stock. There is no extra charge to families for the use of these costumes.
Counseling Services
CBI provides a counseling service to help young dancers and their families understand what the next step is after their training at the School is complete.
- Should I pursue a professional career in dance?
- How do I go about auditioning for professional companies?
- When should I start to audition?
- Can I still pursue a career in dance and go to College?
- What if I really want to teach or choreograph?
- What are my other options?
There are plenty of options in the dance world today and a way to pursue all of your dreams and incorporate your love of dance into your life…for life! Dancers, nowadays, have the option to attend college and still pursue a professional performing career once they graduate. We would like to have the opportunity to answer all of your questions and give you the information you need to plan for your child’s future.
- Did you know that your child is eligible for dance scholarships to colleges and universities around the country just like athletes are eligible for sports scholarships?
- Did you know that your child qualifies to receive recommendation letters from the School’s faculty for job applications, company auditions and dance scholarships?.
Dress Code
Students of any age should always wear street clothing over their ballet attire when coming to and from their classes. Ballet slippers must never be worn outdoors as this tracks dirt into the studio and is detrimental to the marley floors, as well as dangerous for the students. All dress codes are mandatory in every class and level. Proper attire may be purchased at http://www.ids.co.uk/ or www.discountdance.com. In the proud tradition of classical ballet and out of respect for the art form, we strive to have a clean, uniformed look for our students in all of our dance classes. Please help us achieve this goal by purchasing leotards, tights and ballet shoes that match our dress code requirements and by fixing your child’s hair for class.
Enrollment
The school year consists of 37 weeks of training. New students are accepted during the school year on a space available basis. Waiting lists are maintained. A placement class is required for all students age 9 and up.
Level Advancement
It is appropriate for young dance students to remain in the same class level for two to three years before continuing on to the next level. Unlike academic studies where a student progresses a grade level each year, in dance training it is quite normal to spend several years in one level in order to properly assimilate all the necessary material.
The training of a dancer is based on the constant repetition of particular steps and movements until the student has a full comprehension of the dance vocabulary and shows competency of execution. Sometimes, especially in younger children, total comprehension can only be accomplished when the physical body has grown strong enough to handle the more complicated moves required in dance. In these instances, we prefer to wait until a child’s physical development matches the requirements of the next level’s syllabus. Similar to any sport requiring difficult motor skills and dexterity of movement, disciplined and regular practice will lead to quicker advancement.
It is also advisory to be cautious and conservative about the age at which a female student begins training on pointe. Usually, by age 11 or 12 the student is strong enough physically and advanced enough technically to begin pointe work. It can be dangerous to start a student on pointe too early in the process of her training. The student must have a thorough understanding of proper body alignment as well as ankle, foot, leg and abdominal strength to prevent injury or the development of chronic conditions such as tendonitis. A student who begins pointe work too early may also develop bad habits in an effort to stand on pointe when they are not strong enough to do it properly. There is no urgency to starting pointe work at an early age, as the accomplished and well trained dancer easily goes up on pointe with little effort and is able to progress at a rapid pace. Many students who start pointe work too early are then discouraged by the difficulty of proper execution which they did not anticipate. It is much wiser to wait until the appropriate time when the student is physically ready and can achieve the anticipated results.
We hope this information will enable parents and students to better understand the actual “time line” of development in a dancer’s training and that there is nothing unusual about the gradual advancement from level to level.
Make-up Classes
Generally, there are no make-up classes offered in the School. No refunds or credits will be given for missed classes.
Parent Observation
Parents and other individuals interested in viewing students as they train are invited inside the studios to observe classes during Parent Visiting weeks.
School Closings
If classes need to be canceled due to inclement winter weather, a message will be left on the school’s answering machine, a posting will be made on Facebook and Twitter, as well as on the KCRG Closing page. The School is not responsible for classes canceled as a result of extreme weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the control of the School’s officials.
Tardiness
Students are expected to arrive 10-15 minutes early for their lessons. In the interest of injury prevention, students who arrive ten or more minutes late for class will be asked to observe class that day. Please show respect to your teachers and fellow students by arriving on time for your classes.
Tuition Payments
Tuition payments are required before the first day of classes. Upon acceptance into our program, tuition payments are unconditional and no such portion of such fees paid will be refunded or cancelled in the event of absence, injury, relocation, decision to withdraw, or dismissal. There are no tuition credits.Semi-annual payment will be collected in February. Monthly payments are withdrawn on the 1st of each month and will incur a 4% processing fee.
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