Prosser School of Ballet
Cultivating Confidence
PSB Policies 2009-2010
Monday, August 31, 2009: Fall classes begin School Holidays- No Ballet Classes, unless otherwise stated. Monday, September 7, 2009- Labor Day Wednesday, November 11, 2009- Veteran's Day Wednesday-Friday, November 25-27, 2009- Thanksgiving Holiday December 21, 2009-January 1, 2010- Winter Break Monday, January 18, 2010- MLK Jr. Day Monday, February 15, 2010- President's Day March 29-April 2, 2010- Spring Break Monday, May 31, 2010- Memorial Day Wednesday, June 30, 2010- Last Day of Classes
*We do not alter our schedule for conferences or in-service days.
Tuition Rates and Policies: Creative Movement- $35.00 / month Pre-Ballet- $40.00 / month Elementary- $45.00 / month Intermediate- $65.00 / month Advanced I and II / pointe- $85.00-$110.00 per month Adult Ballet- $45.00 / month 1. Monthly Automatic Payment through Paypal. You are able to set up an auto pay account between the 1st and the 5th of the month and it is taken out automatically each month. Please keep your paypal account current with your debit card information. If you do not have internet access, we can assist you in setting up an account. We do not have access to your personal information. 2. Payment by check, money order, or cash can be made in 3-month installments ONLY. Your payments will be due in September, December, March, and one final month payment in June. 3. I am a Community Based Instructor with Columbia Virtual Academy, and members are able to get reimbursement or payment for their ballet classes from CVA. 4. I currently have two students "on scholarship" that I personally sponsor, and this assignment rotates from time to time. In order to keep a scholarship, a student must attend all classes, and attend make-up classes for those missed. I am also working on a sponsorship program so that people and businesses in the community have the option to sponsor a student each year. I want to make opportunities for children to be able to dance. *If you decide mid year that you do not wish to continue ballet classes, you must personally let us know before the first of the month. We cannot refund tuition for classes dropped in the middle of the month. If you are on automatic payment, your tuition will continue to come out until you tell us you have dropped. If you are paying three months at a time, please let us know if you plan to drop classes before your tuition is due. Again, we cannot give partial refunds. *Tuition Discounts: -Additional students: If there is more than one student from the same family, tuition is discounted $5.00 per additional student. -Apprentice Discount: Advanced students may assist the teacher for a tuition discount. For helping with a Creative Movement class, they receive $15.00 off their monthly tuition. For helping with a pre-ballet, Elementary, or Adult ballet class, they receive $20.00 off their monthly tuition. I may need extra helpers during baby time, and will ask for help with more classes at that time. If, during the year, a class gets too small or otherwise not needing a helper, I may choose not to have apprentices. I appreciate the help, and I know it is good for the girls to learn leadership skills while helping with the classes! *Additional Costs: *Participation fee for The Nutcracker: $40.00 (includes one copy of the dvd) *Costume / Recital Fee- $45-$65- please see section on Recital *Appropriate Attire- slippers, tights, leotards, etc. *Families are also responsible to pay for tickets to the performances.  Appropriate Dress for Ballet Class *Special note to parents: Last year, we had a lot of difficulty with keeping to the dress code. I was very lenient and always tried to find something for a student to wear when they did not bring their dance clothes or shoes. I do not think this helped anyone remember the next time! Proper dress for ballet class is very important- please make sure your student has what they need, as I will not allow a student to participate in ballet class without being ready for class as follows. This applies to Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced I and II Ballet. (With the little ones, please make sure they have ballet slippers or bare feet, as the floor is slippery. With Adult Ballet, I understand if you do not want to wear ballet clothes! Please just try not to wear anything that drapes too much, as it makes it difficult for me to see what your body is doing.) PSB Dress Code: *Leotard of any color or style. *Tights (convertible for those on pointe)- Pink is preferred. *Ballet slippers- split soled; leather or canvas. *Short, sheer skirts are acceptable. Please no solid or long skirts. *Ballet costumes may be worn around the holidays. Please ask permission before wearing one to class! *Ballet shorts are fine- must be tight to the body. *Cover ups may be worn in cold weather, but must be removed shortly after barre begins. *Hair MUST be in a bun, if at all possible. If hair is too short for a bun, please at least have it in a ponytail. I try to keep extra hairpins and rubber bands at the studio, but they are usually gone within a week! Please make sure your student has what she needs for class! *Dangly jewelry must be removed. (Necklaces, bracelets, tiaras, etc….) Small earrings are fine.  For pointe students: -Pointe shoes fitted by your teacher -Ribbons and elastics attached -toe pads of your choice -band-aids, blister covers, and tape as needed. Please do not tape ALL your toes unless instructed to do so. -Cedar sachets are nice and help your pointe shoes keep longer by drawing the moisture out of them between classes. **If your pre-teen / teen child needs more support or additional undergarments, there are many options for dancers- look in Discount Dance Supply for a collection of nude leos, bras, and “stick-ons” that will help them feel more comfortable. If they do not have one, a tight shirt worn over the leo is acceptable as a temporary fix- please purchase the necessary attire! Also, many leos come with a back high enough that a regular bra can be worn underneath. Revolution’s tank, short sleeve and long sleeve are all great options for this. **I am very understanding about “that” time of the month with my older students. Please tell them to feel comfortable letting me know. There are certain moves and stretches I ask them not to do during that time, and also understand if they need to wear shorts or sweatpants on that day. 1. Please do not run in the studio. 2. Snacks are okay before and after class- not on water breaks or in the classroom! 3. Please no beverages besides water in the studio. 4. Please do not sit down during class time or while waiting your turn for floor exercises! 5. Please do not hang on or lean on the barres. 6. Please do not chew gum in class. ***Respect*** Most of our class rules have to do with respect!
1. Respect yourself -Come to class with an attitude ready for dancing. -Eat something healthy before class and bring a water bottle. -Always give your best effort.
2. Respect your teacher -Be dressed properly, with your hair in a bun! -Arrive to class on time and take a few minutes to stretch before beginning. -Do not argue with the teacher or complain about corrections. You are here to learn! -Communicate with your teacher if you do not feel well or need help with something.
3. Respect each other -Your classmates are all your friends! Please treat them that way. -Do not make fun of anyone for making a mistake or for falling down. -Do not correct your classmates…that is the teacher’s job. -Do not leave anyone out of conversation or a circle of friends. Again, we are ALL friends, and friendship and trust is so important within a ballet class. If someone is bothering you, please talk to your teacher for help is resolving the issue.
*If you are having trouble with respect in any way, you will be given a warning. If it continues, you may be asked to sit out or to leave the classroom. If this is a continuing problem, I may not allow you to come to class at all. Ballet class is a place to learn and grow as a dancer and as a person. If you are not willing to do this, it is not fair to the rest of your class. I have never had to ask a dancer not to come to class, and I hope I never do. Events and Special Classes: Spring Recital At the end of the school year, we put on an annual recital in which all classes participate. It is optional- please let me know if you do not wish to be a part of the production. Your student will still learn the choreography for the experience, but it is perfectly fine if you do not wish to participate. This year marks our 10th anniversary recital. We will be bringing back some dances from recitals past, as well as showcasing some brand new dances. We alternate recitals each year between classical ballet and more contemporary recitals. The dances very from class to class, based on the students' abilities. Here is a general idea of what you can expect for your child's class. Creative Movement: Short (1-1.5 minutes) dance incorporating different steps practiced in class, usually assisted by an instructor or apprentice. Pre-Ballet: One dance (2-3 minutes) incorporating different steps practiced in class, usually assisted by an instructor or apprentice. Elementary: One 3-4 minute dance, or two shorter dances. Intermediate: 1-2 longer dances, or 2-3 shorter dances. Advanced / Pointe: Several different dances, depending upon the length and difficulty of each. Adult Ballet: One 3-4 minute dance. Lyrical / Contemporary- One 3-4 minute dance. There are additional costs for the recital- each student has a costume, which they keep. The cost for the Creative Movement and Pre Ballet costumes is $45.00 and cost for all other costumes is $65.00 and is due December 1, 2009. You can pay for your costume with a check, or online through the website. If you are not planning to participate in the recital, please let me know prior to this due date. I must get the orders in as soon as possible, as it takes several weeks / months to fill the orders and we want to allow enough time for exchanges if need be. Costumes are not returnable, but I can exchange them. In years past, I have posted pictures of the costumes for each class prior to ordering. I will not be doing that this year, as there have been times when I have not been able to get the costume I originally wanted, or it arrives and is not as expected and I need to exchange. To avoid any problems with this, the costumes will just be a surprise when they arrive! Regardless, I can guarantee your child will be costumed beautifully and appropriately for their part in this performance. Parents and families are also responsible for buying tickets for the performance. The costs this year are as follows: -General Admission- $10.00 per person. Children 3 and under see the show for free. The Spring Recital will be held Saturday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the Sunnyside High School Auditorium. There will also be two dress rehearsals during the week. Keep watching for more specifics on the performance! Events and Special Classes: The Nutcracker Our Nutcracker tradition began in 2002. This year marks our sixth Nutcracker production, and it has really come a long way since the beginning! It is a fun, exciting holiday tradition that I have always enjoyed. Participation is optional, and students are given roles based on an audition. All who audition are given a part in the production, but the rehearsal schedule requires quite a bit of commitment, so it is important that you know you are available for the rehearsal times before you commit to being a part of the production. This year, our production will be Friday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, November 21 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. All performances will be held at the Sunnyside High School Auditorium. If you would like your student to participate in the production next year, keep watching for the handout announcing auditions and rehearsal times. Thank you! Events and Special Classes: The Corps The Corps is a worship dance performing group held periodically. We will be incorporating The Corps into this year's recital, bringing back the first production we created, "Let There Be Light". Keep watching for a schedule of when the class will be held- I am hoping to start it up in 2010. It is for ages 6 and up, with any amount of experience. Students use drama and dance to tell a story. This short ballet basically tells the story of Creation through the Resurrection of Jesus with exciting scenes and music.
Class Placement and Evaluations In the Spring, the schedule for the following year will be released, and we will hold placement classes. I would like to explain briefly how our classes work. As a growing studio with growing students, the criteria for each class changes from year to year. Sometimes, I have to re-name and redefine the classes completely. Every year, I put groups of students together to learn the same things at the same time. Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet classes are based on age. Creative Movement is for 2-4-year-olds, and Pre-Ballet is for 5-7-year-olds. After these levels, the class placement does NOT have to do with the student’s age or how many years they have been dancing. Students progress at different paces, because each child is different. In one class I may have several different ages with several different amounts of experience, but they are all ready to be learning the same things. I base class placement on strength, technique, and attitude.
This brings me to another point. Problems with attitudes usually happen around the ages of 11-13. This is such a difficult age. So many changes are going on, the child is suddenly very tired and emotional and confused. I am finding that I often lose students around this time, because they lose interest. When I was 12-13 years old, I also quit ballet. I went back later, but I have regretted that decision ever since. Ballet is not something you can drop and pick up again easily, and it took a lot of hard work before I was able to catch up to my classmates, just from that single year of not attending class. Please encourage your children through this time. I do not like to lose any students, but it’s especially saddening when they quit just as they are beginning to really take off in their dancing. As a general rule, I do not move students up during the school year, unless there is an extreme difference between the student and the level of her class. Please do not ask me to move a student during the year. I am always watching them carefully and will let you know if a change needs to be made. Because of the number of levels, you can expect a student to be in the “same” level for 2-3 years or more. I say “same” because being in the same level does not mean they are repeatedly learning to same old steps over and over. I will always change the class structure to fit the abilities of the students. Pointe training is an exciting transition for ballet students. Beginning Pointe dancers must be placed in Advanced Ballet, be at least 11 years old, and demonstrate a readiness in strength, technique, and attitude. Once a student begins pointe training, the level of commitment goes up, as well as the cost of dancing- new pointe shoes are usually needed every few months throughout the year. If you would rather not make this commitment, please let me know. |
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