The Ballet West Academy’s faculty is dedicated to giving our students excellent ballet training. The Academy supports the traditions of classical ballet, explores new and modern forms of dance, and recognizes the need to communicate to students in a positive and caring manner.
Admission to the Ballet West Academy is determined by audition. Acceptance is based on the dancer’s physical capability, openness to instruction, and available space in class level.
All students must register through the Ballet West Academy office. All fees are to be paid by the deadline given on the tuition page in order to reserve the dancer’s place in class for each session. Payment may be made by cash, check (made out to Ballet West Academy) or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are accepted). Credit Card Payments may be made online. There will be a $25 fee for returned checks. If a payment is over five days late, a $20 late fee will be charged, and participation of the student will be discontinued until the payment is received. There will be no prorating or refunds due to absences. If you have questions regarding billing, please contact the Academy office at 869-6912. Unless notified by February 1, 2012, all students except Dance Discovery, Pre-ballet, Ballet Basics, Preparatory 1 are expected to participate in the Spring Performance in May 31, June 1 & 2, 2012.
If a payment plan is necessary, please make an appointment with the office administrator to sign a contract agreement. Payment plans are per session; therefore, a new contract must be signed each session.
The Ballet West Academy offers no refunds for students who are unable to attend class. Make up classes may be arranged in the level below the students current level and should be arranged with the offices of Ballet West Academy.
A limited number of scholarships and Financial Aid opportunities are available and are awarded on the basis of attendance, class performance, talent and potential for a professional career. Scholarships or financial aid opportunities are distributed at the discretion of the Academy Director, in consultation with the faculty. These are granted by session; therefore, students must apply each session. Applications can be obtained through the Academy Administrator. Recipients are expected to help with service towards Ballet West and the Academy as part of their contract agreement, and as needed. All recipients are still required to submit a completed registration form. All recipients will be asked to review and sign a Scholarship/Financial Aid Contract stating that they understand and that they will comply with the criteria required of the student.
$20 Late Payment Fee
$25 Returned Check Fee
Families with two or more dancers enrolled in Ballet West Academy are charged full tuition for the highest level student and each lower level student will receive a 5% discount. Family discount does not apply to families with scholarship students.
Dancers should be picked up within 15 minutes of the end of class. Overtime pay for teachers requires the Academy to charge $20 for excessive lateness.
If a payment plan is necessary, please make an appointment with the office administrator to sign a contract agreement. Payment plans are per session; therefore, a new contract must be signed each session.
The Academy’s training program is intensive, and students are expected to attend all scheduled classes except in the case of a major illness or emergency. Class attendance is monitored on a daily basis. Students who arrive after pliés may be asked to observe class and take notes. Students who need to leave early must receive permission from their instructor prior to the beginning of class.
All students who have any health problems or injuries are asked to notify the office and their instructors. All health problems will be kept confidential. The Ballet West Academy promotes good nutrition for all our students. Students who need help in this area may consult with their instructors and the Academy Director. Following acceptance, students who experience difficulty in meeting the physical conditioning standards necessary for ballet, or who manifest signs of eating disorders, may be provided with referrals to health care specialists where counseling may help the student to reach his or her goals in achieving and maintaining optimum physical conditioning. If a student is injured (i.e., sprained ankle, broken arm, leg, etc. in a cast or wrap), he or she may not be able to participate in class, rehearsals and/or performances. However, students will be required to observe class and also write a report on their observations. The Academy must receive written notification of the student’s medical diagnosis, and a medical release must be obtained from the attending physician in order for the student to resume class. Students who are very ill are asked to call the Academy so teachers may be informed of the reason for their absence.
Casting for all Academy productions is at the discretion of the Academy Director, and the faculty. Dancers are expected to be in the final spring performance and attend rehearsals. Unless notified by February 1, 2012, all students except Dance Discovery, Pre-ballet, Ballet Basics, Preparatory 1 & 2 are expected to participate in the Spring Performance in May 31, June 1 & 2, 2012.
Advancement criteria for the Academy is based on the following:
If a student has been retained in the same level for two years without sufficient progress for promotion, the Academy Director and faculty may make the decision to counsel the student out of the program. For consistency and clarity of ballet training, it is best to remain with one school, therefore, the Academy does not allow for students to train at other schools or with other teachers, except for students that are enrolled in concurrent classes at the University of Utah Ballet Department. The Academy faculty can provide recommendations of schools for training in dance forms not offered by the Academy.
Faculty will notify parents of any major progress issues throughout the year. A student/parent/instructor conference may take place at any time through the year in order to update parents on their son’s or daughter’s progress. All faculty members involved with teaching the student will have input into each student’s evaluations and conference. During the conference, teachers will discuss the student’s progress within his or her individual curriculum.
To facilitate any parental concerns we have established the following procedure: Call the Administrator and set up a meeting with the instructor and the Academy Director.
We encourage attendance during Parent Watch Week. This is a unique opportunity to view your students in their learning environment. Please plan to stay for the entire class. Leaving during class is a distraction for the students. If you must leave during the class, please wait for an appropriate moment to leave and return. No cell phones, cameras, or video recorders are allowed. No food or drink in the studios. Please remember; no talking during class.
Parents or guardians ONLY are invited to view one lesson during each of the following weeks:
Please do not bring other family members or friends.
To request permission to observe class at any other time, please contact the school office.
PLEASE NOTE: Other than parent watch week, parents are not permitted to wait in the third-floor lounge area of Capitol Theatre, theatre lobby or any areas of Utah Symphony and Opera Production Studios.
Ballet West Academy does not permit the taking of any photographs or videos during class or rehearsal without express permission of Academy Director Peter Christie.
The Ballet West Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the Academy. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarships, loan programs, and other Academy programs.
A five-minute pickup and drop-off zone is located in front of the Capitol Theatre. For student’s safety, parents are asked to advise their students to stay inside the glass lobby of the Capitol Theatre while waiting to be picked up by parents and to watch carefully for cars during drop-off and pickup times.
Here are some options that can assist you in parking your car:
These guidelines have been developed to assist our school in functioning efficiently. The Academy Director and our faculty ask for your consideration with regard to the following issues. Students are asked to read the Student Guidelines as posted in the studios.