Ballare Teatro Policies

Learn More About Our School Policies

We are so happy to have you with us this year at Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center and look forward to a great year of dance. The policies explained below are intended to give you a snapshot of what to expect this year in class and let you know what our expectations are as well. If you have any questions, please call us or fill out our online form.

• Covid-19 Protocols
• Communication
• Classroom Expectations
• Attendance
• Tuition Level
• Picture Day
• Summer Dance
• Advancement
• Performances

In any learning situation, communication is the key to a great experience. At Ballare Teatro, we want parents to feel in the loop of the learning that goes on in the studio. We have several ways for you to stay informed:

• Monthly newsletter
• Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/BallareTeatroPAC
• Twitter — @BallareTeatro
• Bulletin boards in the studio
• Class-specific e-mails.
• Windows in each studio space so you can observe the classroom at any time

If you watch through the windows of any of our classes, you will notice that our instructors are professionals who truly love what they do. If there is ever an issue in class, they will make sure you are aware of it and work with you and your dancer to make the learning process positive. We also have two family visitation weeks each year so you can sit in on the fun — and even dance a little yourself! All family members are welcome on these days.

Our expectation is that dancers are on time and committed to their dance education. We expect our dancers to respect themselves, the other dancers, the classroom, and the instructor. What you can expect from us is a nurturing environment where your dancer is given the tools they need to build their technique, confidence, creativity, and ability.

Dancers are expected to set an example for the rest of the studio. Dancers should come dressed appropriately for dance:

• Creative dance — any color leotard and tights, leggings, tutus, skirts, sweat pants or gym shorts, and pink or black leather ballet shoes
• Fundamental-Level IB
• Dancers who identify as female need a plain black tank leotard, tights that match your skin tone, plain black yoga-type dance pants (full length), pink leather ballet shoes, and black strappy tap shoes.
• Dancers who identify as male need black leather ballet shoes, black sweats, and a plain white or black t-shirt.
• Dancers who are gender non-binary should wear black sweats or leggings and a plain white or black t-shirt.
• Level II-V
• Dancers who identify as female need a plain black tank leotard, tights that match your skin tone, plain black yoga-type dance pants (full length), pink leather split-sole ballet shoes, and black tap Oxfords (Level II/III) or Zoot-Rhythm tap Oxfords (Level IV/V).
• Dancers who identify as male need black split-soled ballet shoes, black tap Oxfords (Level II/III) or Zoot-Rhythm tap Oxfords (Level IV/V), black men’s tights, and a plain white or black t-shirt.
• Dancers who are gender non-binary need black split-soled ballet shoes, black tap Oxfords (Level II/III) or Zoot-Rhythm tap shoes (Level IV/V), black tight running tights, and a plain white or black t-shirt.
• All dancers taking jazz need black split-soled jazz Oxfords.
• No skirts or jeans are allowed!
• Hair should be up and out of the dancer's face.
• Small earrings are allowed, but dangling necklaces, bracelets, and earrings should be left at home. These pieces, although beautiful and very fun to wear, can get caught and cause injuries.

As in any learning situation, you get out of it what you put into it. You need to be present to learn.  Absenteeism slows down the learning process for everyone. Please make your dance education a priority. If a dancer has a school/graded event to attend or is feverish or vomiting, please call the studio at (612) 721-8619.

Families pay tuition on a monthly basis, broken into 10 monthly increments which run September-June. September tuition was paid with registration. Tuition is paid with a credit card via automatic payment. Tuition will be charged on the first of the month. If you have an issue with your credit card or your credit card number has expired, it is your responsibility to update your card information. Past-due tuition will incur a $15 late fee.

Picture Day for the upcoming year will be announced early in the year.

We work so hard all year to build our technique, and many dancers take the entire summer off and don’t dance at all. However, when you take 8-12 weeks off, you lose a great deal of what you have worked so hard to achieve during the year.

We will be offering opportunities for you to keep your skills up this summer, either in classes taught by our fabulous faculty or with guest artists so you can enhance your dance education with a new perspective. These offerings will be short and sweet so you can fit something into your busy summer schedule! Dancers in Levels II-V are required to take 5 drop-in classes over the summer at the level in which they are placed during the audition workshop.

It is not unusual for dancers to spend two to three years in a level.

• Fundamental A and B, Level IA and IB, and Level IIA dancers take ballet, tap, and jazz, all one-hour long classes.
• Dancers in Level IIB take all three, but ballet and jazz have increased to 1.25 hours per class. Tap is still one hour.
• Dancers in Level III add modern. Class lengths increase in Level III as well (1.5 hours/ballet; 1.5 hours jazz; 1.5 hours modern; 1 hour tap).
• Once dancers get to Level IV and V, they must take ballet (1.5 hours), tap (1.25 hours), jazz (1.5 hours), modern (1.5 hours), an extra ballet-based technique class (1.5 hours), and pointe prep/conditioning (.75). Dancers will be advanced into pointe (.75) with teacher permission. Dancers may choose to take pointe. If they choose not to take pointe, they will stay in the conditioning class.

All Level II-V dancers must participate in a placement audition. For dancers in Level II/III, this entails one week (M-TH) of technique classes leading up to one day of auditions (F). For dancers in Levels IV/V, this entails two weeks of technique classes (M-TH/M-W) and one day of auditions (Thursday of the second week). The dates for these audition workshops are posted on our Performing Arts page.

Dancers in Level II and up are required to participate in The Excellent Adventure and Isabella Saves the World. Dancers in Fundamental B and IA and IB are also required to participate in Isabella Saves the World. This does come at an extra cost that has been rolled into tuition.

Due to Covid-19, we are postponing extra performances until further notice.

Please refer to our Performances page for more information about each show.

Dancers in the Fundamental level and up perform in our concerts. There are three separate shows, the third being a showcase of our upper-level dancers (Levels II-V). Dancers in Fundamental-Level IB are in one show; dancers in Level II are in two shows; dancers in Levels III-V are in all 3 shows; Adults perform in two shows. There is no extra charge for the teachers' time at the dress rehearsal.

In order for these performances to run smoothly, we need your help! Performance helpers receive a free ticket to a show of their choosing. Parents of dancers in Level II and up are required to help out at Isabella, The Excellent Adventure, and the end-of-year concert.