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All Programs
Children's Program
Intermediate/ Advanced Flex Level

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Question: How do I switch classes?
Answer: Your child may switch from one class section to another (i.e. from a Monday to a Thursday class) only if there is space still available in the new class. Please call the Registrar at 617.456.6267 to request a switch. A $20.00 Switch Fee will be charged to your account.

Question: How do I report an absence and why is it important to notify you if my child will not be in class?
Answer: To report an absence, please leave a message on the Absence Hotline at 617.695.6950, ext: 440 (Boston); ext 441 (MetroWest); and ext. 442 (South Shore). In order for you child's absence to be considered excused, we must be notified in advance of the absence. Only excused absences can be made-up. If your child is injured and will miss a prolonged series of classes, we ask that you provide us with an applicable doctor's note.

Question: How many classes can my child make-up?
Answer: Only “excused” absences are eligible to be made up. Students in the Children’s Program can make up one class during the course of the year. Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced and Trainee level students may make up a maximum of 8 classes per year. To schedule a make-up, please call your Studio Administrator in advance of your chosen make-up day.

Question: How do we know if the school is closed due to inclement weather?
Answer: When the weather turns bad, we assess canceling classes three times during the day: 7am, 12pm and 3pm. Subsequently, we update our Class Cancellation Line. Please call this hotline at 617.695.6950, ext. 567 to learn which classes are being held and which classes are not.

Question: What is an elective class?
Answer: Electives are considered to be any class that falls outside of a student’s required core curriculum - students “elect” to take additional classes. Elective classes at Boston Ballet School are designed to enrich ballet training and help create a well-rounded and versatile student. Electives for the 08-09 school year include jazz, character, modern, Pilates and professional development lectures and offerings vary for each level and studio. Electives are additional classroom hours and therefore carry an additional cost. Read elective descriptions>>

Question: How do I withdraw from Boston Ballet School?
Answer: Withdrawals are handled by the administrative staff – notifying your child's teacher or principal is not considered a formal withdrawal. Should you decide to leave the school, please call the Office of Administration at 617.456.6267 as soon as possible. Until the administrative staff hears from a parent or guardian notifying us of the departure, your child is considered enrolled and your account will be charged for the weeks your child was enrolled even if he or she is not attending. When we hear from you, we will send you a Formal Withdrawal Request Form, which must be completed and signed in order to process an account adjustment. A $100.00 early withdrawal fee is assessed for students who withdraw from the Classical Ballet and Intensive Programs unless the withdrawal is due to medical concerns, in which case a doctor's note should be submitted.

Question: Can my child participate in the Boston Ballet's Nutcracker?
Answer: Only students enrolled in the classical ballet and intensive programs are eligible to audition for the company's Nutcracker.

Students in our Classical Ballet and Intensive programs are eligible to audition for the company’s Nutcracker if they meet the following requirements: Students in the Elementary levels must have been enrolled in the school since January 15, 2008. Students in the Intermediate/Advanced Flex Level must be enrolled in all three technique classes in order to audition. Advanced 1i men as well as ALL Advanced 2i and Trainee students MUST participate in Nutcracker as part of their core curriculum and do not need to audition. Advanced 1i women MUST AUDITION if they wish to be considered for Sugar Plum attendants. Informational materials related to Nutcracker will be mailed to eligible students in late August.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM:

Question: My child is registered, what do we do on the first day of class?
Answer: We recommend that you arrive about 15 minutes prior to the start of class to give you and your child ample time to get ready for class. All childrens are encouraged to use the bathroom and wash their hands. In Boston and Norwell, parents should drop-off and pick-up their children directly at the studio. In Newton, children should remain in the lobby and the instructor will collect them when class begins and drop them off when class ends. All three facilities have waiting areas. All students should be picked up immediately following the end of class.

Question: Is there a formal recital? May I stay and observe my child's class?
Answer: In place of a formal performance for our youngest students, we offer several Open House weeks where family and friends are invited into the classroom to observe our students' progress. Outside of these special weeks, we feel the presence of multiple adults creates a distraction by taking attention away from their teacher's instruction.

Question: Can my child be enrolled in one class and be on the wait list for another class?
Answer: No. Since both our enrollment and our waiting lists are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, we cannot accommodate a child taking up two spots in this system. When space opens up in a closed class, we will immediately call the first child on the waiting list to offer them the class. If that student can not enroll, we will move down the list until we have an acceptance. We ask parents to make the choice so that we can offer as many students as possible the chance to attend ballet class.

INTERMEDIATE/ ADVANCED FLEX:

Question: Three technique classes are offered each week and my child is going to commit to two. Does it need to be the same two each week (i.e every Tuesday and Thursday)?
Answer: Yes, students need to commit to specific days.

Question: Are there any requirements for the pointe class?
Answer: Yes, there are two. First, all students in the flex level must be enrolled in all three technique classes. In addition, students must be approved by BBS faculty to ensure that each student can participate safely. Returning students have been pre-approved for the pointe class. New students need to be evaluated by BBS faculty.