Code of Conduct

Discipline in ballet is a way of life. The discipline and etiquette learned in ballet will not only help you in class but will follow you in your everyday life. It is important to maintain a certain level of respect for the teachers, students, the classroom and for yourself. This attitude of respect involves a set of rules that each dancer should apply and keep tucked in their heart along with their love of dance. All of this is necessary in order to progress in your dance training.

Classroom and Dressing Room Rules of Etiquette:

*Please arrive to class in proper dance attire. *See dress code policy

*Arrive to class at least 10 minutes early to prepare yourself appropriately for class. If you are late, please wait until the song/combination is complete and the teacher is not speaking before you enter class. You need to approach the teacher, apologize for being late and then ask to join class. Class time is limited and being late reduces the amount of time you have to properly warm up.***

***See below

*Do not talk during class. It is disruptive to the teacher and to the rest of the dancers in class. Eyes and attention must always be given to the teacher.

*Do not openly yawn in class. If you need to yawn, please cover your mouth, and/or turn your head away from the teacher.

*Do not talk back or correct the teacher. This is an especially important one. If the teacher has made a mistake (which does happen) and it is causing confusion, it is fine to politely ask for clarification. If you have a difference of opinion, wait until class has concluded and approach the teacher one on one.

*Do not correct other students. That is the responsibility of the teacher and ONLY the teacher.

*Do not ask the teacher to work on specific steps during class. I realize this may sound counterintuitive. “Doesn’t asking to work on specific steps show I am eager to learn and improve?” Possibly, but the teacher has spent hours preparing a class that will have a particular flow and made to address certain steps. It may come across that you don’t trust their teaching or their method. If there is something you would like to work on, approach the teacher after class and possibly that step can be fit into the next class.

*Be appreciative of corrections in class and during rehearsals. Apply them to the best of your ability. Remember, you will progress and grow as a dancer only as well as you can take corrections and apply them.

*NO CELL PHONES IN THE STUDIO. PERIOD. The teachers use their cell phones in the studio because they need them to play their music. There is no need to have a cell phone in the studio.

*Please be respectful of the shared space in the dressing rooms. Please keep those areas clean.

*Do not lean against the wall and/or the barre or sit during class. Stretching and/or being injured is the only acceptable time to sit. Dancers need to always be ready to dance.

*Do not lay down in the studio or open areas of the lobby or hallways. Remember we are here to learn and to dance. The studio is not a place to sleep.

*No food in the studios

*Do not bring your water bottle to the barre. Too many times, bottles get knocked over or are in the way. If you need to bring water to class, please place it on the outer rim of the studio floor or in the carpeted area of the studios.

Lobby/Shared spaces Rules of Etiquette:

*Please keep all electronic devices on mute or at a reasonable volume. Remember this is a shared space.

*Please supervise your children while you are waiting for your dancer to start or finish class. Disruptive children will be asked to leave.

*Parents may enter the studio by invitation only. We have cameras in each studio so that parents can watch class from the t.v. in the lobby.

*Please keep the lobby and hallways clean. In other words, pick up after yourself.

***Being late to class is a sign of disrespect. It shows that you do not have respect for the teacher’s or other students’ time. We know that sometimes there are extenuating circumstances or emergencies and being late is unavoidable. We are speaking to being chronically late. If we feel this becomes an issue, you may be asked to sit down for class and not participate. Please understand, we are not trying to make it difficult for you, but we want to establish the importance of being on time and ready to work. This is not only true in the ballet world, but in your everyday life as well. One rule of thumb to try to follow and one my director enforced with me was this:

“If you arrive 10 minutes early you are on time. If you arrive right on time, you are late.”