Policies

Hickory Ballet and Performing Arts (HBPA) provides professional training in the art of Classical Ballet and offers classes in Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Tap, and Musical Theater. All of the performing arts require discipline, practice, and a high level of concentration. Students are divided into appropriate age groups and technique levels. Please take a moment to review our policies and procedures. 

Class Policies for Parents and Guardians 

Communication

In order to facilitate continuity of communication, please contact Artistic and Office staff only by phone (828) 294-8438, or email: info@hickoryballetpa.com with any questions or concerns. We will respond in a timely manner, during office hours. 

Website/Facebook

Please check our website: hickoryballetpa.com for information re: class schedules, faculty, upcoming events, auditions. Etc. Check facebook: Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts for studio closures, show info, fundraisers, etc. We also have a parent facebook page: Hickory Ballet and Performing Arts Parents for anyone needing HBPA parent help i.e: carpools, ticket exchange, volunteer jobs exchange, etc. 

Enrollment and Tuition Policies

A yearly registration fee of $90 is paid in two installments- $45 in August and $45 in January. 

Performance Fees are assessed before each production in which your student participates. Performance Fees are $60 for the Lower School (pre-Level 3) and $75 for Company Level . This allows us to provide quality costumes and dry cleaning, at an affordable price for families. Costumes remain the property of HBPA. 

The classes in our lower school are placed by age.  The established cutoff for age requirement is August 29th.

Dancers are required to have a clean, rip-free pair of performance tights for shows in our specified brand and color. Levels Pre-Ballet through Level 3 tights are included in performance fees, and Level 4 through Level 6 tights are $25. 

Female company performers will be required to wear a pair of performance earrings. The first pair will be provided free of charge. Any replacement pairs will cost $10. 

Tuition is billed on the 1st of each month and is due no later than the 5th of that same month. You may pay by cash, check or credit card before the 5th. On the 5th of each month, the monthly installment will be automatically drafted from your bank account or credit card on file. 

There is a 10% sibling discount for tuition. Discounts and scholarships do not apply to registration or costume fees. 

All tuition, registration fees, costume fees, etc. will be billed and paid through JackRabbit, a secure, online service. If you need assistance setting up your account, please contact the office. If your student’s tuition is 2 months overdue, their lessons will be interrupted and they will not be able to attend classes until the bill is paid in full. 

Ages 10+ Enrollment is a commitment for the entire duration of the school year, August – May. The full year’s tuition will appear on your Jackrabbit account. Annual tuition may be paid as a one-time fee in August or will be automatically withdrawn as a monthly installment. Should your student choose to discontinue classes before the completion of the academic year, all remaining fees are due. 

Ages 9 and under/Freshman level classes– If your student needs to drop early for any reason, there is a $60 drop fee. Registration and costume fees are non-refundable. 

Students are allowed to attend one trial class, free of cost, in any new discipline to see if there is interest. 

Rehearsal and Performance Guidelines

Currently, we offer four productions per year. A fall musical, our annual Nutcracker in December, our spring Ballet in May and a spring musical. 

We currently perform at The Old Post Office Playhouse and The Hickory Community Theater. This is a wonderful opportunity to work in beautiful facilities, for which you pay nothing but the price of tickets for admission. 

The Nutcracker and Seussical usually include school performances, from which dancers are excused from regular school classes in order to participate. 

To ensure that our productions run smoothly, we must call on all of our families to help; aka the Support Squad!  A link to a sign-up sheet with details on all of the many roles that we need help with before, during and after each production will be emailed in the weeks before the show. Some roles require some muscle or a truck, some roles involve supervising dressing rooms, but all are crucial to the success of our productions.  

The Support Squad requirement for each level is Pre-ballet, Freshmen, Sophomore, Ballet 1 and Ballet 2: 1 Squad Role and Ballet 3 through Ballet 6: 2 Squad Roles

If you are unable to fulfill your Support Squad commitment, we require a $40 payment per Role to cover the expense of finding and paying someone to fill the position. 

Level 4-6 dancers must audition to be considered for productions. Students are only allowed to miss 2 rehearsals before their casting will be reconsidered. Students cannot have any conflicts during tech week or performances without prior approval. If a dancer misses a tech week rehearsal without prior approval, they will not be allowed to perform. 

In order to perform in a Ballet production, the minimum class requirements are:

  • Ballet 2 – 1 ballet class per week
  • Ballet 3 – 2 ballet classes per week
  • Ballet 4 – 3 classes per week
  • Ballet 5 and 6- 4 ballet technique classes a week and one pointe class
    • PLUS one hour of training in PBT 

This ensures the student’s strength, stamina and technical ability matches the demands of the performance material. 

We encourage our students to take advantage of the opportunity to perform in our community, but as conflicts with scheduling affect HBPA productions, we respectfully request notification of other production commitments outside of the studio. 

It is not mandatory to perform in the ballets or musicals, and the student’s decision to perform or not will be respected. 

Attendance

In order to obtain the most effective training, it is important for students to attend all classes in a semester. Multiple absences make it difficult for your student to keep up with the syllabus and performance demands. If your child will be absent from class, please email info@hickoryballetpa.com or call HBPA at (828) 294-8438. 

Missed classes, for any reason, including but not limited to: illness, vacation, studio closures for weather or holidays, are not refunded or pro-rated. Make up classes may be attended in one level higher or lower than the student’s current level. Please email or call in advance to notify staff of the make up class your student will be attending. Make up classes are strongly encouraged, but not mandatory. 

Parent Observation

We have a parent observation week at the end of the year in May. This is the only time parents may sit in on class. This is your opportunity to watch your child’s progress and skill, and we encourage you to do so. The exception to this policy is for our youngest dancers, ages 3-5. If your child is shy, unsure, or has strong attachments, we will work together to build a bridge for a secure and tear-free transition. 

Parent / Instructor Meetings

At the end of each year, your child will receive an annual evaluation form from his/her teachers. We want you to be aware of your child’s progress, attendance, strengths, etc. If you would like to meet with Artistic Staff during other times of the year to discuss any questions or concerns, please schedule an appointment through the office. 

Drop Off / Pick Up 

Students in levels pre-2 must be escorted to and picked up from the lobby. Pre-ballet and pre-musical theatre parents will stay in the lobby while their student dances.  For these levels, parents please park in our parking lots and escort your student to the building.  The front three diagonal spaces and the alley will be reserved for parents picking up students ages 9+. 

In Studio Procedures

Students in the lower school will prepare for class in our lobby.  Instructors will come to get them from the lobby to take them to their studio.  Only students and staff will be able to enter the door to the studios. Classes are closed to observation, but parents will have access to watch their student using Spot TV.  

Prepare young children for class by stopping at the restroom first. Children that need to use the bathroom will always be allowed to leave class, but we strive to keep class disruptions to a minimum. 

Medical

Please let us know if your child is taking any medication that could affect his/her performance in class or in productions. 

If your child has had a fever, or vomited 24 hours prior to class, please keep them home for their best possible recovery and out of consideration for others. 

We strive to enforce safety, but occasionally accidents happen. If your child becomes ill, or is injured during class, a parent/guardian will be called. Please return to the studio as soon as possible to pick up your child and seek any medical follow up you deem necessary. HBPA requests that you have proper health insurance for your child in case of an emergency or injury. 

In the event of injury, dancers are to continue to attend class, take notes and will be given appropriate exercises to maintain strength and flexibility. 

Class Policies For Students 

Classroom Etiquette

Classical Ballet and all components of the performing arts, is a discipline. It requires concentration and respect for yourself and others. HBPA expects the following from students: 

  • Students are to be on time and in uniform.
  • NO cell phone use is allowed during class at any time.
  • NO filming or photography is to be taken during class or rehearsal without permission.
  • NO talking, chewing gum or disrupting class at any time.
  • Please use the restroom before class.
  • Students are to be mindful, respectful, and supportive of other student’s creative process, talent, ability and drive. Each student has unique gifts and an individual path that he/she is following.
  • We ask that students not linger and socialize in the parking lot, without a parent present.
  • Students are to wear cover ups (i.e. sweatshirts, tee shirt, shorts, etc.) over dance attire when entering and exiting the building. Street shoes should be worn until arrival at the building to prevent soiling the dance floor. 

Tardiness

Students who are more than 15 minutes late to class will not be allowed to participate for that class. They are expected to watch and take notes. Physical warm ups take place in the first 15 minutes of class, and if a student misses this time, he/she could get injured, as muscles are not properly prepared for the demands of dance. Tardiness is also disruptive to the flow of class, and disturbs the focus and attention of the other students. 

Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students and parents will receive a verbal warning. If the behavior continues, a written warning will be given to the parent and placed in students’ file. If the behavior still continues, the student will be dismissed from class and not allowed back to class for 2 weeks. During that time, the student (and parents) can consider if HBPA is the right fit for his/her maturity level, interest level and creative interests. 

Student Dress Code

It is important that students follow the dress code for class. It is part of the discipline and structure of classical training. Following the dress code gives the student a sense of responsibility, and helps to shift gears mentally, to the task at hand. Students not in dress code will not be allowed to participate in class. 

Girls:

Pre-Ballet: Pink leotard, pink tights and pink leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. Pink leotards with attached skirts are acceptable, but not preferred. We provide tutus in class. Hair must be pulled back, off of the face in a ponytail or bun. No jewelry, and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Ballet 1: Turquoise leotard, pink tights and pink leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. Hair must be off the face in a ponytail or bun. No jewelry and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Ballet 2-3: Turquoise leotard, pink tights and pink leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. Hair must be in a secure bun with hairpins and hairnet. No jewelry and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Freshmen Ballet: Turquoise leotard, pink tights and pink leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. Hair must be in a secure bun with hairpins and hairnet. No jewelry and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Sophomore Ballet: Black leotard, pink tights and pink leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. Hair must be in a secure bun with hairpins and hairnet. No jewelry and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Ballet 4-6: Black leotard, pink tights and pink leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. Hair must be in a secure bun with hairpins and hairnet. No jewelry and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Pre-Pointe and Pointe: Black leotard, pink tights and teacher approved pointe shoes. Black wrap skirt, optional. Hair must be in a secure bun with hairpins and hairnet. No jewelry and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Friday Company Class and Rehearsal: Any solid color leotard, pink tights and any skirt. 

Jazz: Turquoise or black leotard (depending on level), tan (or pink) tights, bike shorts or jazz pants, optional. No large or bulky tops. Tan jazz shoes. Hair must be off the face in a ponytail or bun. 

Tap : Turquoise or black leotard (depending on level), tan (or pink) tights, bike shorts or jazz pants, optional. No large or bulky tops. Black tap shoes. 

Pre-Musical Theatre: Pink leotard, black bike shorts or leggings and tan jazz shoes.  Hair must be pulled back, off of the face in a ponytail or bun. No jewelry, and only small hair accessories are allowed. 

Musical Theatre: Turquoise or black leotard (depending on level), tan (or pink) tights, bike shorts or leggings,optional. No large or bulky tops. Tan jazz shoes. Hair must be off the face in a ponytail or bun. 

 

Men:

All Ballet classes: White fitted tee shirt tucked in, black long tights or long black bike shorts, dance belt, black or white leather or canvas ballet flat shoes. White or black socks, suspenders, optional. 

Jazz/Musical Theatre: Any color fitted tee shirt, tucked in, long black bike shorts or black jazz pants, black socks, black jazz shoes. 

Tap: Any color fitted tee shirt, long black bike shorts or black jazz pants,black socks, black tap shoes. 

 

 

Please note: Shoes must be sewn completely. Tights should be in good repair and free of excessive runs or holes. Tight fitting sweaters and leg warmers are permitted during barre work and warm up. No large jewelry Hair accessories are fine, as long as they do not interfere with turning or jumping. 

Adult students: Any comfortable exercise clothing that will allow for movement. Ballet, tap or jazz shoes, as appropriate for class. Hair pulled off of the face.