We believe that ballet is for everyone. In order to create an environment where all of our students feel welcome, as well as maintain a professional level of ballet training, we have set policies on attendance, dress code and student conduct. By registering, you confirm that you have read and agree to our policy book and dress code.
Attendance
-Please inform us if your student will be absent from class as early as possible, except in the case of illness, emergency, etc.
-Aside from illness and emergency situations, up to 3 absences per season will be tolerated. If a student has incurred 3 unexcused absences, it may be grounds for dismissal from the school. A meeting will be scheduled with the parents to determine the best course of action and will be dealt with on an individual basis.
-Absences can be made up (within the same season of the absence date) by contacting us to schedule a make up time. Make-up classes must be in the same level as the missed class or lower. Absences that are made up will not count toward the 3 absence policy.
-No tuition credits or refunds will be given for absences or missed classes.
-Unexpected closures, due to inclement weather or other unforeseen events, will require students to schedule make-up classes.
-Due to risk of injury, students may be asked to observe if they arrive more than 10 minutes late to class. This is for the student's safety. Please make an effort to arrive at least 10 minutes before class starts, in full uniform.
Tuition
-Tuition is due on the 1st of each month and can be paid by cash, check or with our autopay system. Late or returned payments will incur a $20 late fee.
-Students will be unable to participate in class if their tuition has not yet been paid. The exception to this rule is in the case of a trial class, which can be set up with Ballet Etude staff.
-Refunds will not be given for tuition payments. Tuition will not be reduced in anticipation of future absences. It is the responsibility of the parent/student to make up any missed classes.
-Partial and full tuition scholarships are available based on financial need and/or merit. There is an application process. Please visit balletetude.com/academy to apply.
Class Observation
-Minimal distractions are essential for an optimal classroom experience. Therefore, the doors to our classroom are kept closed during all classes, with the exception of observation weeks. We have a video camera set up in the classroom that parents will have access to through a phone application. The login information will be shared at the parent meeting prior to the start of each season.
-Observation weeks will be held during the last full week of classes each month. Parents are welcome to quietly observe inside the classroom, where we will have chairs set up. If this becomes a distraction for your student, we ask that you step out of the classroom and utilize the video application.
Use of Facility
-Only use the Main Street entrance to get into the building. Do not use the back entrance that goes through the ballroom. This is not part of our leased space and is often being used by other renters for events.
-Please make every effort to arrive at the studio in full dress code (cover up while out in the parking lot and walking to the studio.) Please have long hair secured into a bun upon arrival. We do have a small girls dressing room in the event that dancers need to change at the studio.
-Girls/women are asked not to use the restroom to style hair or change, as we only have one available.
-Boys/men are welcome to use the restroom to change but are encouraged to arrive at the studio in dresscode.
-If your teacher is not in the studio, wait quietly in the lobby until they arrive.
Parking
-If you will be parked at the studio for less than 2 hours between the hours of 8am and 6pm, you can park on Main Street. Otherwise, you will need to park in the lot behind the building.
-Ballet Etude will not be held responsible for any parking tickets incurred while students/parents are at the studio.
Food & Drink
-Please be sure to hydrate and eat healthy meals and/or snacks prior to arriving for class.
-You may bring food and drinks into the lobby and dressing room as long as you clean up all crumbs, papers, and spills and throw away any trash.
-No gum, candy, or food inside the studio.
-No drinks except for water bottles inside the studio.
-Water bottles are available in case your student forgets to bring one. We do not currently have a drinking fountain. Please have your student ask the instructor if they need a water bottle during class.
Personal Belongings
-Keep all personal belongings in tidy order and keep the lobby and dressing room neat.
-Mark all belongings (including shoes and dance bags) with your full name.
-Do not use, take, or touch others belongings without permission.
-Leave all valuable items and large amounts of money at home to avoid any risk of loss or theft.
-Ballet Etude is not liable for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property.
Class Size
We are committed to ensuring that every student receives quality and individualized instruction. To ensure that we provide the highest quality dance instruction, we limit our class sizes. Classes with fewer than 6 students may be canceled.
Children's Division (Creative Ballet, Pre-Ballet) -10 students
Primary Division (Level 1 through 4) - 15 students
Pre-Professional Division (Level 5-8) - 20 students
Adult Division - 20 students
Student Expectations
-Conduct yourself at all times in a positive way and follow the rules of the academy.
-Give your full attention to the teacher in class without talking. Raise your hand to ask a question or make an observation.
-Stand tall and proud. Hanging or leaning on the barre and touching the mirrors and stereo equipment are not allowed.
-Keep your hands to yourself. Be aware of your body language and what it is communicating to your instructor and fellow students. Do not cross your arms or openly yawn, as these things come across as disrespectful.
-Ask your instructor for permission if you need to sit down or leave the room.
-Please use the restroom before class to avoid leaving class for bathroom breaks (In case of emergency, please raise your hand and ask to go to the restroom. We understand that sometimes students will need to go during class.)
-Always enter the classroom quietly and respectfully. Do not yell or run around. Parents of very young students in our Children's Division are asked to encourage their children to follow this rule as soon as they enter our building.
-Show respect and encouragement for all fellow dancers in the school. We work to cultivate an environment that is welcoming to everyone. Discrimination of any kind, rudeness and bullying will not be tolerated.
-Do not run on the stairs or through the hallways. This is a courtesy issue as much as a safety issue, as we share our building with residential tenants.
-Do not use, touch, or play with others belongings without permission.
-Always come to class in full dress code. Students who show up to class unprepared will be asked to call a parent to bring the proper attire. If the parent is unable to do so, the student will be asked to sit out and observe class that day.
Lost and Found
-Unclaimed items that are left in the studio are collected and added to the lost and found bucket, located in the dressing room.
-Unclaimed items will be donated at the end of each month.
Warm-Ups & Jewelry
Warm-ups and other clothes cover up students bodies and make it hard for teachers to see their technique and alignment. Warm-ups, shorts, shirts or street clothes are only permitted in ballet class until the end of the second exercise at the barre. During the Winter months, we are more lenient with this issue as we experience extremely low temperatures. Please ensure that your student has warm-up options that are form-fitting, so as to make correction easier for our instructors. There are many lovely options available through the retailers that we have listed below.
We understand that our female students may feel more comfortable wearing fitted shorts or a skirt over their uniform during their monthly cycle. This will be permitted. Have your student speak to the instructor privately before class and they will allow this exception, no questions asked. If your student feels uncomfortable speaking with the instructor, parents can call or text 208-346-1185 or email info@balletetude.com to let us know. Period supplies for the students will be kept in the restroom, in case of emergencies.
-Loose bracelets, necklaces, and large earrings are a safety hazard and are not permitted in class. Small, secure stud earrings are okay. Students who wear necklaces, bracelets, or other jewelry to class will be asked to remove them. Ballet Etude is not responsible for jewelry removed during class, so it is best to leave it at home. Religious accessories are permitted.
Dress Code
DRESS CODE FOR OUTSIDE THE STUDIO: Dancers must cover up at all times when walking through the parking lot, being dropped off or being picked up. Parking lots are high traffic areas, and we are located on Main Street, which is typically very busy with drivers and pedestrians.
CHILDREN'S DIVISION
Creative Movement:
Girls: Any color leotard, tights or comfortable movement attire, pink ballet slippers
Boys: Any comfortable movement attire, white ballet slippers
Pre-Ballet:
Girls: Light Blue leotard and tights, pink ballet slippers, hair pulled back in a bun or ponytail
Boys: White T-Shirt, black shorts, leggings or tights, white socks, white ballet slippers
PRIMARY DIVISION
LEOTARD & BALLET SLIPPER COLOR REQUIREMENT
Ballet 1: Color: BLACK LEOTARD, BLACK BALLET SLIPPERS
Ballet 2: Color: BLACK LEOTARD, BLACK BALLET SLIPPERS
Ballet 3: Color: BLACK LEOTARD, PINK BALLET SLIPPERS
Ballet 4: Color: TEAL LEOTARD, PINK BALLET SLIPPERS
Females in ALL BALLET CLASSES and rehearsals
Hair neatly secured and pulled up in bun, bangs clipped back
Very short hair should be pulled back securely off the face
Pink tights, pink ballet slippers; pink pointe shoes (if applicable) with ribbons and elastics *Students in Ballet level 1+ are encouraged not to wear underwear under leotards
All tights must be worn UNDER leotards
Males in ALL BALLET CLASSES and rehearsals
Black tights, white socks, white fitted Tee; black or white ballet shoes
ADULT DIVISION
We do not enforce a dress code for our adult ballet students. The main reason for this is to ensure that our adults are comfortable in class. The only time specific attire will be required is for showcases held at the end of the Winter and Spring seasons. This attire requirement will be communicated well in advance.
BALLET ATTIRE RETAILERS
The Dance Shop-1550 W Broadway St, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, 208-523-3731 *We suggest calling to check on business hours as the owner works around pointe shoe fitting appointments.
Discount Dance-discountdance.com
Target
Walmart
Dancewear Solutions-dancewearsolutions.com
Amazon-amazon.com
Our Curriculum
Ballet Etude Academy has proudly implemented the renowned curriculum from the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). Created by Founder Marcia Dale Weary, the curriculum progresses in an incremental and logical way that prepares students for a successful career in the dance world and beyond. Our instructors are trained in the CPYB curriculum, which emphasizes correct alignment, ballet technique, strength, and artistry.
At Ballet Etude Academy, we understand that the benefits of ballet training go deeper than just creating successful dancers. The discipline, commitment, and hard work required for ballet develops character and an ability to function at a high level in society, regardless of chosen career path. We hold our students to a high standard, and in doing so, we believe they will develop invaluable life skills that will help them to succeed!
We want to ensure that every student is progressing at a steady rate. Progression in ballet is not fast-it has been said that it takes 10,000 repetitions of one ballet step in order to master it! It takes roughly 10 years to build a dancer who is ready for pre-professional to professional level work. Therefore, it is crucial that every student has a strong foundation to build upon. We have observed time and time again what happens when a student is progressed too quickly; it almost always leads to the student having to go back and fix bad habits, which hinders their progress in the long term.
With that said, each level will be led through basic ballet technique at a detail-oriented and methodical pace. Progression through our curriculum is not based upon age, but instead will be determined based on the dancer's current level according to our syllabus. We need each of them to achieve the strong technical foundation that our curriculum offers. Each student will progress through the syllabus at a different rate. We ask that parents trust the process and encourage their students to do so as well. With regular class attendance and a strong work ethic, we know that students will enjoy the progress that they make throughout each season.
Parent Meetings
A meeting for all parents will be held at the beginning of each academic year before classes begin. In this meeting we will discuss our policy book and answer any questions that parents may have. The meeting time will be communicated well in advance of the beginning of each season.
In addition, we believe it is important to hold regular individual parent/teacher meetings to go over your/your student's progress as well as any other important matters regarding your student. We do not anticipate these meetings will take longer than 10 minutes, however, if you feel that a lengthier discussion is in order we can certainly schedule a longer meeting time. An email will be sent out a month prior to the scheduled meeting week and parents can schedule a time to meet.
We eagerly anticipate working with you and look forward to another fantastic year at Ballet Etude Academy!
