INNA BALLET POLICY AND PROCEDURES
September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025
INTRODUCTION
At the core of Inna Ballet is Vaganova-style instruction which is known throughout the world for developing dancers with exceptional musicality, strength, pureness of classical technique and personal artistic expression.
The Director, Inna Esipova, graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in 1984, and danced professionally in Russia and on tour throughout the U.S., Japan, China, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway and England. There are over 60 parts in her performance repertoire. Her teaching and choreography experience are likewise extensive and include positions at studios in Maryland and Pennsylvania. She recently completed an advanced study in pedagogy at the prestigious Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Students at Inna Ballet have an opportunity unique in the Rochester area to learn Vaganova-style ballet in its traditional form, whether it be for their own personal growth and enjoyment or for laying the foundation for a career in dance or one of the related performing arts.
GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS
Success in learning Vaganova-style ballet is based upon students progressing through various skill levels. For instance, at the earliest level, students learn large motor skills, musical and spatial awareness, as well as listening skills. At the higher levels, students learn barre and center technique, muscle control, balance and expressiveness, leading to the mastery of more complex movements and combinations and the development of performance skills. A complete description of the levels is at innaballet.com under “Classes”.
Improvement requires repetition of movement which results in “muscle memory”. Students need to acquire strength and flexibility. They are also encouraged to develop their own artistry. Parents can help their children succeed by having them attend all their classes, and by making time for them to do their stretches at home. It is also recommended that parents foster an appreciation of ballet by watching performances together, providing books about the history of ballet and the lives of famous dancers, and encouraging an interest in related arts such as music and theater.
Placement of students in the classes is determined by the Director based upon the student’s age, skill and other factors. If you as a parent have questions or concerns about the placement of your child, please discuss them with the Director.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Students are expected to demonstrate respect for teachers, assistants, parents and fellow students at all times.
When the teacher speaks, students are to listen and promptly follow instructions.
Students are expected to be friendly, warm, and welcoming to other dancers at the studio. They are encouraged to establish new friendships and to work together as a team.
Students understand when a teacher corrects one of them, it is intended that all of them check their own work.
Disruptive behavior may result in a student being asked to sit out a class or being sent home, and if the disruptive behavior continues, possible suspension or dismissal from Inna Ballet, with no refund.
Students will use care when posting on social media and will not post anything that could compromise the self-esteem of other students. Bullying of any kind, in any forum or venue, will not be tolerated.
Students are representatives of Inna Ballet and should always conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the studio.
ATTENDANCE
Continued progress depends upon regular attendance. A student who misses a class may make the class up on a different day so long as it is during the same month. Teacher cancellations occur only rarely, but when they do, every reasonable effort will be made to provide a makeup class.
Students who accept a role in a performance sponsored by Esipova Youth Ballet Theater (EyBT) will be required to attend a specific number of Inna Ballet lessons and EyBT rehearsals held at Inna Ballet. These requirements will be set by EyBT and provided to the student at casting time.
Classes begin promptly at the time scheduled.
Students arriving late to class must wait at the door until permitted to enter the classroom. A student arriving more than 15 minutes late may be admitted but required to sit and observe the class if the teacher determines the student is not properly warmed up.
Studio doors will open 10 minutes before the first class of the day to permit students to enter and be ready on time.
There will be a 5-minute transition time between back-to-back classes. During this transition time, the studio door will be opened to admit new students and allow access to the restrooms. Teachers are generally unavailable to return telephone calls during instruction time and instead will use this transition time to respond to urgent messages.
CLASSROOM RULES
Street shoes are not allowed on the dance floor.
Students must be dressed in the appropriate attire for the class. For a complete description, go to innaballet.com, select any month under “Schedule”, and scroll down.
Student’s hair must be pulled away from the face, and if long enough, must be secured in a bun. No jewelry is permitted in the studio.
No gum, food or drink, except water, is permitted in the studio.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Inna Ballet is the Official Training School for Esipova Youth Ballet Theater, Inc. (EyBT). Students are encouraged to take full advantage of performance opportunities provided by both Inna Ballet and EyBT because they reinforce classroom instruction and provide authentic performance experiences.
Inna Ballet maintains a strict policy of signing students up for competition only when, in the discretion of the Director, the student is ready to have a positive experience. When the Director, parent and student all agree a student is ready, Inna Ballet will prepare a contract covering all aspects of the competition, including but not limited to number of Inna Ballet classroom and rehearsal hours required, responsibility for performance, costume and where applicable choreography fees, and payment of the Director’s travel, accommodation and incidental expenses. A student registered at Inna Ballet may not participate in any competition unless entered into under the name of Inna Ballet or otherwise expressly authorized by Inna Ballet.
Once a student begins study with Inna Ballet to learn a particular variation with selected music, the student shall not perform that variation and music in whole or in part for any entity other than Inna Ballet in any public or private performance venue or studio for a period of two years following the last lesson or coaching session. This includes the dance routine and/or choreography taught or created in whole or in part by Inna herself or Inna Ballet teachers and any music used in class or provided to the student by Inna Ballet for home practice.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Inna Ballet takes the well-being of its students and staff very seriously and strives to keep a healthy and safe environment for all.
Only healthy students may come to class, which means being free of any communicable disease. This includes not having symptoms which could indicate cold or flu, such as fever, runny nose, sneezing or coughing. A student showing signs of illness will be asked to sit separately and his or her parent will be notified to bring the child home. Upon a negative covid-19 test and assurances satisfactory to the Director that the symptoms are not indicative of a communicable disease, a student may return to class if properly masked until the symptoms subside.
All students must wash and sanitize their hands before entering and after exiting the classroom. If metal barres are used, students must wipe them down with antibacterial wipes before and after use.
Special covid-19 considerations. It is recommended that all students regardless of age be fully vaccinated and updated with boosters appropriate for their age and health status. If a student shows proof satisfactory to the Director that he or she is fully vaccinated and updated, masks are optional for that student. Without such proof, masks are required for that student. Such mask shall be N-95, KN-95 or other currently approved by the Center for Disease Control. It must cover the nose and mouth. Cloth masks are not acceptable.
A student becoming infected with covid-19 or coming into close contact with someone infected with covid-19 is required to notify Inna Ballet immediately and follow all Monroe County Health Department guidelines, including being properly masked upon returning to class following isolation or quarantine.
Inna Ballet reserves the right to implement different or stricter covid-19 guidelines and/or masking requirements during the year should circumstances warrant.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
Inna Ballet admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic original to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in administration of its education policies, admissions policies, scholarship or other programs.
We understand and agree to follow the above Inna Ballet Policies and Procedures. Failure to abide by them may result in suspension or dismissal from Inna Ballet without refund.
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