Getting to the Studio
Arriving
We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of class to give you ample time to prepare. All students are strongly encouraged to use the bathroom and wash their hands prior to class. Parents should drop off and pick up their child directly outside the classroom. All studio locations have waiting areas. We kindly ask that all students be picked up immediately following the end of class.
Checking In
Students are required to check in upon arrival before every class. By checking in, students and guardians are attesting that their children have no symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been exposed to anyone who has had COVID-19 in the past fourteen days.
Parking/Carpooling
While the Newton studio has an adjacent parking lot, parking in Boston’s South End can be quite challenging. There is no parking lot at Boston Ballet School on Clarendon Street, and there are no reserved parking spots on the street for pick-ups and drop-offs. As a courtesy to our neighbors, it is asked that families do not double park on Clarendon Street in front of the Boston Studio.
To help assist you, here are some suggestions for parking in the area:
- Visitor Parking on local streets – please check the signs carefully.
- ATELIER 505 PARKING GARAGE: Located under the Calderwood Pavilion. Entrance on Warren Avenue, at the rear of the facility.
Carpool directories will be located at the front desk in each studio. Please ask an Administrator if you are interested in utilizing it.
Public Transportation Options
The Boston studio is MBTA accessible from the Back Bay station on the Orange Line (about a 5 minute walk), the Copley station on the Green Line (about a 10 minute walk), and the 43, 10, and 9 bus lines.
The Newton Studio is MBTA accessible from either the Newton Highlands or Eliot stations on the D branch of the Green Line. It is about a 17 minute walk to the Newton studio from Newton Highlands via Centre and Needham Streets, or about a 14 minute walk from Eliot via Margaret Road and Eliot Street.
Enrollment
Switching Classes
Please email SCHOOL@BOSTONBALLET.ORG to request any class switch. BBS will be facilitating switches on a monthly basis.
In Studio Classes
For the 2022-2023 school year all classes for the Children’s Program and Classical Ballet Program will be in person as this is the best experience for both the student and faculty member.
Dress Code
Each level from Creative Dance 1 up will have a specific dress code for the class that will be communicated. Families will be expected to purchase the dress code themselves. Dress code items cannot be purchased at Boston Ballet School but can be ordered at one of our recommended retail stores. All information regarding dress code can be found on THIS PAGE.
Providing Your Child’s Medical Information
All registered students will be required to provide vital medical information including any medical conditions or allergies. This information is for the safety of the student and the awareness of the staff and is protected under HIPAA.
Waitlist
If a section you’re interested in is full, you may request to be placed on the waitlist for that class. If a spot becomes available, you will be contacted. If you enroll in another section, the waitlist option will not be available to you. Students are not permitted to be on the waitlist for a class while actively enrolled in another section.
Withdrawals
Should you decide to leave the school, please contact the Office of Administration at 617.456.6333 or email us at WITHDRAWALS@BOSTONBALLET.ORG as soon as possible. Notifying your child’s instructor is not considered a formal notification of withdrawal. Once we hear from you and are able to notify your child’s teacher of their interest in withdrawing, we will send you an email with a link to our Formal Withdrawal Survey, which must be completed in order to process an account adjustment and complete the withdrawal process. There is a $100.00 early withdrawal fee applied to any student withdrawing for a non-medical reason from the Classical Ballet Program after August 15, 2022.
Daily Programming
Student Expectations
With the goal of creating a safe, welcoming, and positive experience for all students, Boston Ballet School holds students, families, faculty, and staff to a high standard of personal decorum and expects individuals, at all times, to demonstrate respect for others, the facilities, and to promote an environment which is safe, positive, and welcoming of diversity. We welcome students of all ethnicities, gender expressions, and identities!
Get To Know Your Studio
We communicate important school information and updates to our parents primarily via email – so please make sure we have your email address. This will enable you to receive communications such as BBS Connections, the school’s newsletter, as well as weekly bulletins every Sunday with important updates about each BBS program. Our website is updated frequently and is a great resource for parents.
Studio Administrators are at the front desk of each location when classes are running. Should you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to a Studio Administrator and they will be happy to assist. You may also feel free to contact us at 617.456.6333 or SCHOOL@BOSTONBALLET.ORG.
Reporting Absences and Making up a Class
We understand that circumstances may arise that prevent students from attending class. In these instances, we kindly ask that the student’s absence be reported so that the faculty and administration may accurately track attendance. To report an absence, please email SCHOOL@BOSTONBALLET.ORG with the student’s name, class level, studio they attend, and the date of and reason for the absence.
In order for your child’s absence to be eligible for a make-up class, it must be reported to BBS via email or to an Administrator in person. BBS strongly believes in make up classes so students can continue their progress safely and effectively as curriculum becomes more demanding and technically challenging. 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. Please note that tuition will not be adjusted for those weeks missed unless the student withdraws. We also offer makeups if a student is performing in a company production, such as The Nutcracker.
Observing Your Child’s Progress
Weekly classes are not able to be observed. Instead, a series of Observation Weeks are scheduled throughout the year where family and friends are invited into the classroom to observe our students’ progress. We believe the presence of “an audience” or multiple adults creates a distraction and takes attention away from the teacher’s instruction. Please reference your School Year Calendar for dates.
Locker Rooms
In order to prevent lingering and overcrowding at the studios, we ask that all students come in their dress code, with their hair done and ready for class, upon arrival. Locker rooms are available for use when needed. Students are asked to remain socially distanced and masked while using locker rooms. Female, male, and gender neutral restrooms are available at both the Boston and Newton studios.
School Closing Hotline
Closings due to inclement weather or other emergencies are listed both on our Class Cancellation Hotline as well as our website. To access the Hotline, please call 617.456.6311 for the most up-to-date information.
COVID-19 Health & Safety
In-Studio Safety
Boston Ballet School has developed an expansive Risk Reduction Strategy in accordance with CDC and Massachusetts guidelines and requirements. Some of our current COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols include, COVID-19 vaccination, daily health screenings for staff and students, social distancing and masking wearing, and reduced class sizes. Students and staff over the age of eight are also required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a religious or medical exemption.
Finalized COVID-19 mitigation protocols for the 22/23 school year will be released prior to the program beginning in September.
Boston Ballet School’s protocols are all created and approved by Boston Ballet’s COVID-19 Taskforce. This Taskforce consults with numerous doctors, infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, and legal experts in the development and approval of all plans. These experts come from a variety of departments from institutions such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and others. The team is specifically designed to address safe dance training during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taskforce also complies with local and federal safety guidelines as well as CDC recommendations.
Special Benefits of Being Part of BBS
Attending Boston Ballet Performances
As a member of Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, students receive discounts to select company performances. Please contact the Box Office at 617.695.6955 for the most up-to-date student subscriptions and other special offers.
Participating in Company Productions
When Boston Ballet productions have roles for children, such as The Nutcracker, only students of Boston Ballet School are given the opportunity to audition. This is an exclusive benefit of studying at Boston Ballet School within the Classical Ballet Program and Professional Division (ages 8 and up).
Should you have any questions regarding the information, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at 617.456.6333 or EMAIL.
