school policies

Download The Georgia Ballet Parent/Student Handbook for 2010-2011:
Part I    Part II    Part III

CLASS MAKE-UP POLICY

If a student misses a class for any reason, his/her parent or guardian must call The Georgia Ballet office at (770) 528-0881 to report the absence. Lower School students are encouraged to make up any missed classes but not required to. All Upper School students are permitted up to 3 absences per trimester. Any classes missed in one trimester must be made within that same trimester.

There are no excused absences for missed rehearsals. Once a student has been cast in a ballet and has accepted the role, attendance is mandatory. If the dancer misses a rehearsal for any reason, it will be at the discretion of the artistic staff to determine whether the student is ready for the upcoming performance. All dress rehearsals are mandatory. Any student who misses dress rehearsal may not be permitted to perform. Please check our school bulletin boards and website for important updates, rehearsal schedules, and other important information.

DRESS CODE

The world of classical dance expects its participants to dress modestly and neatly. No jewelry is permitted in class; only small post earrings may be worn. For the safety of our students, no eye glasses are permitted in the Upper School levels. Students may wear warm up clothing prior to, and between, classes; however, all warm ups must be removed before class starts (and for Lower School students, before going back to the classroom.) Students must remove all street clothing prior to entering the dance studio. If a studio is particularly chilly, very close fitting leg warmers and sweaters MAY be allowed at the teacher's discretion. Skirts should be worn in pas de deux class. Skirts may also be worn at the discretion of the teacher during pointe and variations class.

Long and medium hair must be neatly styled into a secure bun using hairpins. The staff discourages hairstyles that are simply "pulled through" a pony tail holder or secured only with a doubled-over "scrunchee" to achieve the appearance of a proper bun. Hair should be ready when student arrives.

All students must provide their own dance attire and shoes for class and their own tights and shoes for performance. At the end of the first two weeks of class, students should be dressed in the following uniform. Any student whose hair is not properly done or is out of uniform may not be allowed to dance in class. The Artistic Staff reserves the right to decide whether the style of a leotard is appropriate.

LOWER SCHOOL UNIFORM

GIRLS

The Lower School uniform for girls is as follows:

• Conservative, traditional styled leotard of the appropriate grade color; solid colored, with no attached skirts
• Pink tights with feet worn in the shoes. Tights serve as underwear; please do not wear underwear under tights.
• Pink ballet shoes with elastic strap
• Hair in a bun or similar style; short hair should be pulled away from the face.

Uniform Colors:

(Movement for Mommy and Me dancers may dress in a PreBallet uniform; however, it is not required.)

BOYS

• White T-shirt tucked into tights
• Black tights
• Black ballet shoes with elastic strap
• Hair neatly combed back out of face and secured if necessary

JAZZ/TAP

• Any solid leotard and tights or unitard, black jazz shoes, black tap shoes

UPPER SCHOOL UNIFORM

GIRLS

The Upper School uniform for girls is as follows:

• Conservative, traditional styled leotard of the appropriate grade color; solid colored, with no attached skirts
• Pink tights with feet worn in the shoes
• Pink ballet shoes with elastic strap
• Pink pointe shoes, where appropriate
• Hair in a bun or similar style; short hair should be pulled away from the face.
• For the safety of the dancers, eye glasses are not permitted.

Uniform Colors:

Student Ensemble, Apprentices and Prep IV may wear any solid colored leotard on Saturday.

MALE STUDENTS

• Plain white T-Shirt tucked into tights
•  Black tights
•  Black ballet shoes with elastic strap
•  Dance belt
•  Hair neatly combed back out of face and secured if necessary
•  For the safety of the dancers, eye glasses are not permitted

MODERN/JAZZ/TAP

• Any solid leotard and tights or unitard, black jazz shoes, black tap shoes and bare feet for modern

DRESS CODE FOR OUTSIDE CLASS All students should dress appropriately when arriving at, and departing from, class and rehearsals. Dance wear is not appropriate for the street. We ask all students to wear a cover up and street shoes as they arrive at, and depart from, The Georgia Ballet Studios

DANCE WEAR AND DANCE SUPPLIES

Dance wear and supplies can be purchased at any at dancing supply retailer. The following stores stock The Georgia Ballet uniform:

Center Stage Dance Wear
70 S. Park Square
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 425-9055

Margot's Closet
8926 Main Street
Woodstock, GA 30188
(770) 517-7917

The Georgia Ballet Boutique

• Located at the Georgia Ballet Studios
• All boutique sales benefit The Georgia Ballet.

SCHOOL RULES

1. The Georgia Ballet reserves the right to suspend a student from class or dismiss a student from school for violation of the code of conduct or policy matters. This includes disruptive behavior of the student and/or family members while at The Georgia Ballet studios.
2. The studio staff reserves the right to remove any student from class for failure to observe the policies and procedures outlined in The Georgia Ballet School Handbook. Please review these policies with your student.
3. Dancers who are late will not be permitted to participate in class.
4. RUNNING/PLAYING in the hallways is not permitted. Students are encouraged to stretch in the lobby prior to class. The teachers of the Lower Division Levels will meet their classes in the lobby and escort them to their assigned classroom. Upper School Division students may warm up in a studio if it is available.
5. In general, we ask there be no eating or drinking (except water) in The Georgia Ballet building. However, dancers who are taking more than one class may eat a light snack. Dancers should clean up after themselves.
6. No one may smoke, chew gum, use bad language, alcohol, or drugs in or near the dance studios.
7. Students must show respect for the facility and the property of others. Students are asked to put waste paper and drink containers in the appropriate waste cans. The Georgia Ballet recycles plastic drink bottles and paper.
8. Students must take all their belongings into class with them or place them neatly in the dressing room. The Georgia Ballet is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
9. The Georgia Ballet will not be held liable for injuries sustained during attendance at the ballet school or any of its related functions.
10. Parents are strongly encouraged to discuss students' progress and classroom issues with their children's teachers. We ask you to call the ballet office to schedule an appointment. Teachers are expected to begin classes on time, and are often on their way to, or coming from another class. This makes it difficult to talk to parents before or after class.

11. Dancers must be respectful of each other and employ the golden rule: treat everyone as you would want to be treated.

ARRIVING & DEPARTING FROM THE STUDIOS

1. CHECK-IN TIME IS 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS TIME. LATE STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASS. Late students aged 8 and older are strongly encouraged to observe class and take notes.
2. All students should check in with the receptionist, use the restroom and return to the lobby to wait for their teacher. Parents and students of the Lower School should not wait in the halls outside the classroom. (Upper school students may use the hallways to stretch and warm up. This is a privilege that, if abused, will be suspended.)
3. It is imperative that all young students are reminded to use the bathroom BEFORE going into class. All PreBallet students must be chaperoned to the bathroom, which can often pose a challenge during class.
4. A parent or guardian must accompany all students under the age of 10 into The Georgia Ballet lobby. Students 10 and older may be dropped off no more than 30 minutes prior to the start of class.
5. Students should not wait for rides outside of the building. The Georgia Ballet is not staffed to monitor the coming and going of its students.
6. Parents must be on time to pick up their children, as there will be no supervision available after class.

7. The Georgia Ballet implements a stringent late pick-up policy, as we are not staffed to care for students past the end of class. Parents should be ready to pick their child up at the end of class.  If a student’s class is the last one of the day, and staff must remain with your child beyond closing time, we will begin to charge your account with the following fees:  $10 for the first 10 minutes plus $1/minute for each additional minute that you are late. Students whose parents are habitually late, may be dismissed from the school.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

If the Cobb County School System closes due to a weather emergency, The Georgia Ballet will close. No refunds are made for classes not held due to weather conditions; however, we will arrange make-up classes for the students impacted whenever possible.