Ballet Institute of San Diego (BISD) 2024-2025 Policies
COMMUNICATION
Email is utilized as our main form of communication. Parents must monitor email communications for updates to classes, rehearsals, performances, and information in general.
*Email should be used for ALL non-urgent communication.
*Urgent information will be communicated through text messages and/or chat on the Dance Studio Pro portal.
REGISTRATION FEE
All students must register at the beginning of each academic year before attending classes. The academic year runs from September to June. Disenrollment at any time between September – June will result in a reenrollment fee. Please notify the administrator throughout the year if you have any changes to your name, address, phone number, email, or emergency contacts.
The registration fee for students new to BISD is $100 and includes the administrative fee for all levels as well as the first uniform set (leotard + skirt) for levels 1-5. This fee is due before the first week of taking classes.
Returning student registration of $50 per student is due before the first week of fall classes, which includes those students that disenroll at any time during the regular school year.
Registration fee is waived for students who take classes all year-round, which includes the full summer intensive or summer camp.
TUITION, FEES, AND CANCELLATION POLICIES
Tuition is based on class levels. The monthly tuition is due on the 5th of the month. Private lessons are the day they are booked. Recurring private lesson fees are due the day of the lesson.
All students are encouraged to enroll in autopay with either a credit card or bank account through Dance Studio Pro. All payments will be made through the Dance Studio Pro portal or with cash. For families paying with cash, the payment is due before or on the due date and must be recorded by an administrator prior to depositing it into the dropbox in the studio lobby. To pay with cash, you must use an envelope provided in the lobby and fully label who the payment is for, the amount, and what the payment is for. Do not drop cash in the dropbox without ensuring that it has been recorded.
Late fees of 10% will be posted 5 days after any service is due. If fees are not paid, a 2nd late fee of 10% will post 10 days after any service is due.
Tuition is paid in nine installments that are due by the 5th of the month from September to May. Tuition is prepayment for the month of classes. Tuition is based on 9 four-week blocks that account for holidays, breaks, and studio closures. None of the regularly scheduled breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring) are counted in any four-week charged block. For ease of accounting and payment, these payments are collected monthly, even if the date does not directly align with the 1st of a month. To view the four-week blocks, see a color-coded calendar at the beginning of the school year at the admin desk.
Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferrable. Tuition may not be pro-rated for classes missed due to vacations, absences of any kind, or illnesses. Make-up classes can be taken at one level lower than the student’s current level. Tuition may only be pro-rated for new students joining mid-month.
If you wish to withdraw your student, you must do so in writing (email is fine) at least 1 month in advance. Failure to do so will result in a charge for tuition. Also be aware that a dancer will be reevaluated for their level placement if they decide to return, and that there is no guarantee that they will be placed in the same level as before withdrawal. Registration fee will be due if student re-enrolls.
HOLIDAYS
There will be no classes on days that fall on these holidays: Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, and Memorial Day. A bonus week from will make up for these holidays.
CLASS LEVEL/ADVANCEMENT
A placement class is required for any new student aged 7 and above and must be scheduled with the administrator.
Regular attendance is expected. Students with excessive excused or unexcused absences may jeopardize their placement in the program.
Technical skill development is evaluated according to the student’s class level. Some but not all the aspects evaluated include proper alignment and placement, turn-out, body strength, coordination, flexibility, musicality, movement quality, emotional maturity, comprehension, and performing skills.
Students should come to class with a positive attitude, develop a good working relationship with their instructors and peers, and show a willingness to take corrections and comments from their instructors. Maturity should be displayed at a level appropriate to the student’s level placement.
Students are promoted individually. Placement to a higher level is at the discretion of the Artistic Director and BISD Instructors.
ATTENDANCE
It is expected that students will fully enroll in the entire curriculum for their appropriate class level. Students who wish to take private lessons, compete in competitions, and dance solos at performances are expected to be enrolled in the entire curriculum as well as participate in the full summer intensive.
It is necessary to notify the BISD administrator and your teacher if a class must be missed. Make-up classes cannot be taken without notification and arrangement for the make-up class. Classes may only be made up within 30 calendar days of the missed class.
Illnesses or injuries must be communicated to BISD as soon as possible.
ATTIRE
The dress code for each level is specific and is strictly enforced. Students in a ballet class should look clean and neat. Warm-up clothes are not required but suggested. Students must wear their class uniform which can be purchased at our front desk. Those not in proper attire may be asked to observe the class for that day.
Girls must have clean pale pink tights and pink canvas ballet slippers only. Leather ballet slippers are NOT acceptable.
Hair must be pulled back and tightly secured in a bun covered with a hair net. No bun or hair accessories will be used. Bangs must be clipped back with either clips, bobby pins, and/or hairspray. Students that attend without an appropriate hair style will be asked to return after their hair is ready for class. Teachers will not take class time from other students to do hair.
Boys must have a white shirt with black ballet pants and black ballet slippers.
REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES
Performances are crucial to the overall dance education of each student. They are considered part of the student's training and stage experience; therefore, missed/cancelled classes may not lower tuition during these periods, even if a student decides to not participate in a performance.
BISD normally performs a Winter and a Spring recital. It is assumed that students will participate in all recitals/performances. If you do not want your child to participate you must notify the studio in writing at the beginning of each semester and have a meeting with the Artistic Director.
Students are expected to attend every rehearsal for their role/part. Multiple absences may be grounds for dismissal from the performance. Rehearsals are usually held during regular class time, however there may be announced rehearsals outside of regular class times.
Students selected to be soloists in BISD recitals are expected to take additional private lessons to learn the choreography for their parts.
A performance fee is applied for each performance and is separate from your tuition payment. These fees are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
SUMMER INTENSIVE
BISD holds a comprehensive summer intensive each summer and expects that all students will prioritize this event over other summer intensives. If you wish for your student to attend an outside summer intensive, please schedule a meeting with the Director to discuss prior to auditioning. Priority for private lessons, lead roles in recitals, and competitions will be given to students who attend the full BISD summer intensive.
COMPETITIONS
Students who participate in competitions are ambassadors of BISD and serve as representatives of the school. Participation in competitions is strictly on an invitation-only basis at discretion of the Artistic Director and BISD Instructors. Priority for solo opportunities will be given to students who are enrolled in the full ballet curriculum and have taken the full summer intensive.
Competition-related costs are separate and independent from BISD tuition payments. A teacher fee of $100 per student will be charged if the teacher attends a competition.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons provide stimulation and progress for students and are encouraged at all levels. Private lessons are in addition to their regular schedule and cannot be taken instead of their scheduled classes. Priority for private lessons will be given to students enrolled in the full curriculum of ballet classes and participated in the full summer intensive. Private lessons can be rescheduled/cancelled at least 24 hours in advance, otherwise full payment is due.
COSTUME RENTALS
Group costumes are included in the performance fee for recitals including Nutcracker.
All solo costumes for recitals and competitions will have a fee (please ask for detailed costume rental fee information).
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Parents are responsible for neat appearance and timely arrival of the student to the classroom to provide the student with a comfortable and appropriate environment for learning. No food, gum, or drinks other than water will be permitted in classrooms. No street shoes will be worn in classrooms.
Proper respect of the director, faculty, office staff, curriculum, fellow students, and parents is expected of all students, parents, and siblings. Every student should behave in a disciplined, responsible manner both at the studio and at offsite performances. The studio reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any student or family whose attitude, attendance, or conduct is found to be unsatisfactory.
Parents are not allowed to wait for their students in the lobby.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
We have a ZERO TOLERANCE for cyber bullying or slander against Ballet Institute of San Diego and its associates on public forums. Inappropriate/slanderous remarks towards dancers or faculty can result in dismissal from the studio. Dance should be an uplifting, positive, and fun part of your student’s life. We appreciate your help in maintaining that.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
We expect Parents to behave responsibly and not let their children suffering from a contagious disease (ex. lice) into the classroom until healed and/or non-contagious and immediately communicate such incidents to the BISD faculty. We care for every individual student's wellness. Therefore, when there is good reason to believe that your child has a contagious or infectious disease, the parent or guardian will be contacted by our faculty and will be sent home. The student may return to school when well and/or released by a physician. If there is reason to believe a student is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, the student will be excluded from school until the faculty is satisfied that the student no longer has the contagious or infectious disease.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK
I understand that participation in any instructional and/or recreational activities at BISD is voluntary, and that all Programs and the use of the related facilities and equipment therein carry some physical risk.
I understand that if my minor child or I are injured or our property is damaged while participating in the Programs, that the injury or loss will not be covered or reimbursable by BISD.
I agree to assume the risk of all illness or injury (minor, serious or catastrophic in nature, including claims and suits at law or in equity for any injury, fatal or otherwise) or damage (to person or property) resulting from my/our minor child's participation in all Programs, including the use of the facilities and/or equipment associated with the Program ("Damages").
I hereby waive all claims, on behalf of myself/ourselves and claims by my/our minor child (including claims which may be brought after attaining majority), now or in the future, for any such Damages and do hereby release and discharge BISD and its respective officers, directors, instructors, agents, employees and assigns from all liability for any such Damages.
I assume full responsibility for all liability in connection with such Damages and agree to indemnify Ballet Institute of San Diego against all such claims and related costs, including claims by my/our minor child that may be brought after attaining majority.
I certify that the participant is in good health and that he/she has no physical limitations which would preclude him/her from the safe use of the facilities and equipment related to the Programs offered by BISD and that I/we have sufficient health, accident and liability insurance to cover any damages that may result as a result of my/our child participating in the Programs, and if I/we have no such insurance, I/we certify that I/we am/are capable of personally paying for any and all such Damages.
I fully understand that BISD instructors, agents, and employees (BISD staff) are not physicians or medical practitioners of any kind. With the above in mind, I/we hereby release and grant permission to the BISD Staff to render temporary first aid to my/our child in the event of any injury or illness, and if deemed necessary by the BISD Staff to call a doctor to seek medical help, including transportation by an BISD Staff member, whether paid or volunteer, to any health care facility or hospital, or the calling of an ambulance for said child should the BISD Staff deem this to be necessary.
LEGAL CLAUSE RELEASING LIABILITY
I understand that neither the Ballet Institute of San Diego, the Owner, the Director, the Instructor(s), nor any of their employees or volunteers, will be held responsible or liable for any injury, accident, or damages that may occur on these premises. Approving to this condition includes incidents experienced within the building and, or outside the BISD building, as well as at offsite theaters, schools, or other locations.
MEDIA RELEASE
l understand and agree that during the School Year Program, the Student may be photographed, audio and/or video recorded at the BISD facilities, during classes, program activities or performances, and l/we grant to BISD an unrestricted right to use in any form the image, picture, likeness, voice, and/or name of the Student for all promotional materials including brochures, newspaper articles, books, and/or television and for commercial purposes.
NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES
BISD reserves the right to change the Rules and Policies. The BISD reserves the right to provide substitute instructors and/or makeup classes as needed.
BISD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE POLICIES & LIABILITY RELEASE.
