Academy of Ballet - Rules & Regulations
Dress Code
The Academy of Ballet maintains a dress code to encourage unity, discipline, and improved concentration.
The following reminders apply to all Academy of Ballet students:
Dancewear should be kept clean and in good repair. Holes and frayed edges must be mended.
Warm-up attire may not be worn during class, including shirts, legwarmers, etc.
Jewelry should not be worn; only small earrings are allowed. No smart watches or bracelets.
Shoes should be neatly sewn with like color thread. No safety pins.
Long hair should be pulled up securely in a bun or ballet hair style. Short hair should be kept neat and out of eyes.
Please mark clothing, shoes, and dance bags with the student’s name.
Dance shoes should never be worn outside the building.
Dancers should wear street clothes over dancewear when exiting the building.
Female Dancer Dress Code
Beginning Ballet — Ages 6-7
Pink leotard with no/minimal embellishment, pink tights, pink canvas or leather ballet shoes
Optional - short pink chiffon skirt, no tutus
Beginning Ballet — Ages 8-12
Pink or black leotard with no/minimal embellishment, pink tights, pink canvas or leather ballet shoes
Optional - short chiffon skirt to match leotard color
Intermediate, Advanced, Company
Plain black leotard (avoid cutouts, illusion prints, patterns, lace, mesh, asymmetrical design, fully bare back), pink convertible tights, pink canvas or leather ballet shoes
Optional - short black skirt
Rehearsals & Summer Classes
Plain solid colored leotard, pink convertible tights, pink shoes
Optional - short solid colored skirt; dance shorts are allowed (streetwear shorts, drawstring shorts are not allowed)
Male Dancer Dress Code
All Level Classes
White t-shirt, black tights or leggings, black or white ballet shoes
Rehearsals
White or black t-shirt, black tights or form-fitting athletic pants, black or white ballet shoes
Adult Dancer Dress Code
All Level Classes
Solid colored leotard with pink or black tights OR form-fitting athletic wear (avoid baggy clothes to allow visible lines), pink or black canvas or leather ballet shoes
Studio Policies
Communication
Email is the primary form of communication for the Academy of Ballet. Emails are sent to the email address listed when dancers register for classes. If you need to update/change your email address on file, please contact info@balletdubuque.com
Inclement Weather
Dancers should check their email for class cancellations related to weather. Classes are usually held in mild to moderate weather conditions. In severe weather, dancers are advised to attend if they are confident traveling to the studio or make-up the class if preferred. All inclement weather closings will be reported on our Facebook page. The Academy will also make every effort to send a courtesy email to affected students.
Preparing for Class
Students are expected to be in proper attire for every class. Dressing rooms and restrooms are located on the 3rd floor for dancer use.
Student Drop-off/Pick-up Policy
The studio opens 15 minutes prior to the first class of the day. Parents of beginning ballet students may accompany their students to the 3rd floor waiting area. Parents are able to wait in the 3rd floor area after they have dropped off their student.
Parents of older students may drop students off in front of the Grand Opera House. Dancers should not arrive earlier than 30 minutes before the start of their class. The 3rd floor waiting area is not consistently supervised before or after class time.
The studio closes 15 minutes after the last class ends. All dancers must be picked up within 15 minutes following the end of class/rehearsal. We will attempt to contact the parent/guardian of the student if the dancer has not been picked up on time. For safety reasons, dancers should wait in the Grand lobby area until they see their ride after class.
Attendance and Punctuality
Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are enrolled. Students who have more than 5 outstanding absences may not be allowed to participate in performances or the All Class Presentation in May.
Students who arrive late to class miss the necessary preparations to ensure they are sufficiently warm, which can lead to injuries. If a student enters the studio more than 10 minutes late, they may be asked to sit and observe.
Students are not permitted to leave class early. In extenuating circumstances, parents should contact the Academy to receive permission for a student to be excused early. Any student who must leave class early due to illness should notify their instructor before departing.
Absences
All absences should be reported by emailing info@balletdubuque.com with the student’s name, the class the student attends, date, and reason of absence.
The Academy of Ballet asks that students stay home if they have a contagious illness or fever. A dancer who is injured or experiencing a mild, non-contagious illness may observe class instead of being absent. Please provide a note from a doctor or parent. When observing, intermediate and advanced dancers are asked to sit and write out the class steps, and this observation does not count as an absence.
Students with injuries that may affect their dancing should notify the Academy of Ballet instructors. It is important for the instructors to be aware of such instances so that any further injury can be prevented. In the case of severe injury, students may be granted a leave of absence. The details of this leave of absence must be discussed directly with the instructors.
Make Up Classes
We recognize there are valid reasons for absence from class including: illness, family vacation, participation in required school activities, inclement weather, and family emergencies. A dancer who is absent for one of these reasons is encouraged to make up the class. As a general rule, dancers are asked to make up in the class level immediately below their current level (e.g., Year 3 dancers make up in the Year 2 class). First year dancers may choose to observe in another class as a make up.
Dancers are asked to make up a missed class within 1 month or in advance of a planned conflict. Students should notify Marina or Megan in advance (in person) or by email info@balletdubuque.com if they plan to make up a class at a given day and time.
Eligibility to Perform
For the safety of our dancers and the success of our DCYB and Heartland Ballet productions, we expect all dancers to be in active training. This includes dancing on pointe if a dancer will perform on pointe.
A dancer with 5 or more missed classes is considered chronically absent and may not advance to the next level. Dancers with 5 or more outstanding absences are NOT eligible to perform in the DCYB production, the Heartland Ballet production, or the All Class Presentation in May. A missed class that is made up is NOT considered an outstanding absence. All dancers are responsible for monitoring their own attendance to ensure eligibility.
Facilities
Keeping the building and studio in good condition is of the utmost importance. There will be no tolerance for abuse or disrespect of Academy of Ballet or Grand Opera House property. Students should remain only in the designated student areas when not in class. No student should be in any other part of the building unless instructed or accompanied by a staff member.
Tuition Policy
When registering for Academy of Ballet programs, students/parents/guardians should understand that it is a commitment for the entire length of the program, and they are liable for the full tuition amount indicated at registration.
Students must be in good standing with a zero balance on their account before registration into the next year is allowed. All students must have at least 50% tuition paid to take class on the first day of the program.
Refund Policy
The Academy of ballet does not offer any refunds or credits for missed classes, withdrawal, or dismissal from the program after November 1. By registering for classes, students/parents/guardians agree to pay the full amount indicated on Academy of Ballet registration materials.
Parking - Grand Opera House
The area in front of the Grand Opera House has limited parking. Most parents use this area as a drop-off/pick-up spot for their dancers. Metered street parking is available on Iowa Street.
Lost and Found
The Academy of Ballet is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Any item found in the studio or dressing room at the end of the day will be placed in the Lost & Found bin located in the 3rd floor waiting area. We strongly encourage our families to write the students’ first initial and last name in their belongings.
Cell Phones
Students should leave cell phones on silent or off during class. Students may not check cell phones during class but are permitted to use cell phones between classes or rehearsals. Cell phones are not allowed in the studio space.
Food
No food, snacks, or drinks are allowed in the studio or dressing rooms. Chewing gum is not permitted during class. Students may only bring bottled water and keep it in/near their dance bags. Students are allowed to have non-messy snacks in the 3rd floor waiting area. Students are expected to clean up and remove any food trash.
Visitors
Visitors are not permitted in the studio without prior permission. Visitors are specifically during Observation Week and the All Class Presentation in May. Rehearsals are closed to visitors. Dancers, however, are allowed to observe any rehearsal.
Student Etiquette
The Academy of Ballet is committed to maintaining a positive and healthy environment. As an integral part of the Academy of Ballet, students are expected to behave in a disciplined manner. Students are expected to be prepared for class, focused, and dedicated in the studio. The hallways and stairs should remain quiet. Students should be dressed and ready when class begins.
The Academy of Ballet expects students to be supportive of each other and work as a team to create a positive atmosphere. Students are expected to demonstrate respect and maintain a positive attitude. Gossip, bullying, or any other degrading behavior will not be tolerated. Students of the Academy of Ballet are expected to treat their classmates, faculty, and staff with courtesy and respect.