CASTRO VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS

Student/Parent Handbook

Updated 1/3/19

Welcome to CVPA! We are so happy that you have decided to dance with us! To ensure that your child has a wonderful experience at CVPA, we want to give you as much information about our program as possible. Below you will find all of the information that a CVPA dancer needs to know, including our Code of Conduct, Studio Rules, Tuition Policies, Dress Code, and numerous other details that will help you navigate our school more successfully. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

I. Our Mission

Castro Valley Performing Arts is a family-oriented school that provides quality dance training in a positive, nurturing, and enthusiastic environment. Through classes, performances, and unique educational experiences, our dancers learn essential life skills such as teamwork, responsibility, leadership, and time management. Whether dancing for recreation or seeking a professional career in the arts, CVPA strives to create a rewarding experience for every student. We are passionate about dance and about sharing our love for this art form with the next generation.

II. Liability Waiver & Photo/Video Release

All students must be registered through our JackRabbit Account Portal on our website (www.castrovalleyperformingarts.com) AND a Liability Waiver & Photo/Video Release must be signed BEFORE taking class at CVPA.

1. LIABILITY WAIVER (included with registration):

"I understand that there are risks of physical injury associated with, arising out of, and inherent to the activity of dance and tumbling. In recognition of this, I agree to release Nordgren Performing Arts, Inc. DBA Castro Valley Performing Arts and hold them harmless of all liability and hereby acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily assume full responsibility of all risks of physical injury arising out of active participation in dance or tumbling class or any dance or tumbling related activities with regard to the above named student."

2. LEAVING STUDIO PREMISES:

Students are expected to be in class or in the waiting area until they are picked up. Dancers who go off premises do so at their own risk. Castro Valley Performing Arts is not responsible for students who leave our premises.

3. PHOTO/VIDEO RELEASE:

Castro Valley Performing Arts has permission to use all photos/videos of current and past registered students for marketing purposes. These photos/videos may be published on the studio website, promotional ads, promotional videos, and/or social media sites.

III. Studio Communication & Online Portals

IV. Studio Rules

Food & Drink

1. FOOD & DRINK: Food or drink (other than water) is not allowed in the dance studios. All food and drink must be kept in the break area or outside at both Blvd. Studios and the Center Street studios and on the back patio at the Somerset studio.

2. REFRIGERATORS: Students may use the "Student" refrigerator at the Somerset studio to keep their food/drink - but do so at their own risk! CVPA is not responsible for missing food or drink. Refrigerators will be cleaned out at the end of the week.

3. NO NUTS: CVPA is a "NO NUT" zone. Please refrain from bringing food containing nuts of any kind to the dance studio.

4. NO GUM: No chewing gum in class. Gum or chewing food of any kind while dancing is a choking hazard and is forbidden.

Cell Phones, Photo, & Video

1. ELECTRONICS: CVPA is not responsible for the loss or damage of cellphones, smart watches, laptops, iPads, or any other electronic device brought onto the premises. Bring these items at your own risk.

2. NO CELL PHONES IN CLASS: Students may not bring their cell phones into the dance studios, except at the end of class to film choreography. Cell phones must remain in the break area, or concealed in their dance bags for the duration of class. This rule will be strictly enforced.

3. NO SMART WATCHES IN CLASS: Students may not wear smart watches in class. If worn to the studio, students must remove them before class starts, along with other jewelry and/or accessories. We highly recommend leaving smart watches at home so that they are not lost.

4. FILMING: Students must have permission from the teacher/choreographer before filming any portion of the class or the choreography.

5. VIDEOS: In order to protect the intellectual property of our curriculum and our choreography, we ask that all videos posted on social media platforms are limited to 20-seconds of any single dance or class.

6. PHOTOS: Parents may take photos from the waiting area during Watch Week (please see our Watch Week Policy) as long as it does not become a distraction to the class.

7. ONLINE POSTING: Please be courteous when posting photos or video that include other students. When possible, ask for permission.

Our Facilities

1. DO NOT touch the mirrors.

2. DO NOT hang on the barres.

3. There is to be NO RUNNING in the dance studio.

4. BATHROOMS: Do not put anything but toilet paper in the toilets. If the toilet looks clogged, please tell your instructor. Do not wait until it overflows.

5. STROLLERS: Due to space limitations, we can not allow strollers inside the studios. Please leave strollers outside the front doors of the studios.

6. LOST & FOUND: There is a Lost & Found located at each studio. We empty the Lost & Found every 2-3 months, so make sure to check it regularly. CVPA is not responsible for missing or stolen property left at the studio.

7. COVER-UPS: When leaving studio property, dancers must be wearing cover-ups and proper footwear. Al's Market has specifically requested that all dancers who enter their store be wearing modest clothing and proper footwear.

8. CLEAN UP: Students must clean up after themselves. Do not leave a mess for someone else to clean up.

9. BE RESPECTFUL: A student demonstrating reckless or careless behavior may be held responsible for any damage they cause to CVPA property.

V. Code of Conduct

We ask that all students treat their instructor, fellow students, staff and studio surroundings with respect and common courtesy.

1. BE ON TIME: The first 15-mins. of every class will be used to warm-up the body. A student who misses the warm-up portion of class due to tardiness may be asked to sit and watch the class, rather than participate. This policy is for the safety of our students and will be enforced at the discretion of the teacher.

2. COME PREPARED: Come into class quietly, focused, and ready to listen. Please finish all conversations before class begins so that all 55 minutes of class time can be spent learning.

3. FOLLOW THE DRESS CODE: Students are expected to have proper attire, footwear, and props (when applicable) for their weekly classes. Failure to comply with our dress code could result in the student sitting out for the day.

4. PAY ATTENTION: Follow directions. Don't talk during class time. Give the teacher your undivided attention. Raise your hand if you have a question or wish to say something to the class or to the teacher.

5. PRACTICE AT HOME: Students should be working on material in between weekly classes.

6. BE THE BEST YOU: There is to be no inappropriate language or put-downs, even against one's self. Be respectful and kind at all times.

7. BE COURTEOUS OF OTHERS: While waiting for you classes to start, please be courteous of the classes in session. Keep your voices down and do not be distracting to those who are trying to pay attention. Additionally, please keep all cell phone conversations outside of the studio so they do not become a distraction to the students who are in class.

8. TRY YOUR HARDEST: Our faculty is there to teach, train, support and push students to grow as dancers, performers, and artists. Students are there to learn and be pushed passed what they may already know or have the ability to do. Progression only comes from what the student puts into the class.

9. BE FORGIVING & ENCOURAGING: Dance takes practice. You won't get every step the first time you try and neither will the person next to you. We have to forgive ourselves and others for not being perfect and try it again.

10. ENJOY YOURSELF! Recognize when you succeed and give yourself a pat on the back.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Castro Valley Performing Arts believes that all students, parents, and staff members have a right to a safe and healthy studio environment. It is our obligation as teaching artists to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance. CVPA will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of any student, parent, or staff member. A student or parent shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes: direct physical contact, verbal assaults, cyber bullying and social isolation or manipulation. Any student or parent who engages in bullying may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the studio.

If a student feels they are being bullied, the student should inform their teacher immediately.

VI. Class Attendance Policy

All students are expected to attend class each week. If a student misses a class, they are responsible for acquiring material they missed while they were away. If a student's poor attendance begins to hinder their ability in class, CVPA reserves the right to adjust their class placement and/or withhold performance opportunities until the student's attendance has improved and the student has caught up with the class. Likewise, if a student misses four or more consecutive weeks of classes at any point during the dance season, they will not be allowed to participate in the fall recital. If a student loses performance privileges due to poor attendance, no refund will be given for costumes, recital tickets, tuition, or any other performance related expense.

1. MAKE-UP CLASSES: It is the student’s responsibility to inform the studio if they will be missing a class and to schedule a make-up class within four weeks of the class missed. Please have your teacher recommend a make-up class for you to take before attending the class. Please note, we do not prorate tuition for missed classes. Please see our tuition policies for more details.

2. TARDINESS: The first 15-minutes of every class will be used to warm-up the body. A proper warm-up is essential for maintaining healthy muscles. Students who miss the warm-up portion of class due to tardiness may be asked to sit and watch the class, but not be allowed to physically participate. This is at the teacher's discretion.

3. PRIVATE LESSONS: Students taking solo, duet, or trio classes must give a 24-hour notice if her/she will be missing the lesson otherwise the lesson will be charged full price and there will be no make-up.

4. IF STUDENT IS INJURED: If a student is injured and can not participate in class, CVPA encourages that the student still attend class as an observer so that they don't miss any of the material presented by the teacher. If it is a serious injury and the student must miss more than two weeks of dance class, he/she must provide a doctor's note before returning to dance full-time. This is regardless of whether the injury occurred at CVPA or elsewhere.

5. IF STUDENT IS ILL: If a student contracts an illness, he/she must be non-contagious for at least 24-hours before returning to the studio. When applicable, please contact the studio and let the teacher know the student will be absent from class.

VII. Injury & Illness Prevention

1. EAT WELL: Make sure your body is receiving the nutrients it needs to stay healthy, strong, and active.

2. STAY HYDRATED: Drink plenty of water.

3. GET PLENTY OF REST: Exhaustion can increase the risk of injury and/or illness.

4. ALWAYS WARM UP: This includes when practicing at home and before every performance.

5. DRESS APPROPRIATELY: Wear appropriate attire and proper footwear. Remove any jewelry before class begins. (See CVPA Dress.Code.)

6. USE PROPER TECHNIQUE: Poor technique could result in an injury.

7. BE KIND TO YOUR BODY: Lead a healthy lifestyle and get to know your body.

8. IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED: If a student has suffered an injury, apply R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and see a doctor as soon as possible. If the injury happens during dance class, please inform your instructor right away.

For more information on dance injury prevention, check out Common Dance Injuries and Prevention Tips by Raj Deu M.D.

VIII. CVPA Dress Code

1. Ballet:

Female:

• CVPA eggplant leotard

• Pink tights

• Pink ballet slippers

• A ballet sweater can be worn at the beginning of class during the winter months at the teacher's discretion.

• Hair must be pulled back into a bun using a CVPA bun kit (available at the CVPA Boutique).

Male:

• White T-Shirt

• Black men's ballet tights

• Black ballet slippers

2. Jazz/Contemporary/Lyrical:

Female:

• CVPA tank shirt with black shorts, black leggings or black jazz pants
  OR

• Black leotard and tights (CVPA eggplant leotard also okay)

• Black leotard with black shorts, black leggings or black jazz pants

• A cover up can be worn at the beginning of class during the winter months at the teacher's discretion.

• Black split sole jazz shoes or Pirouettes

• Hair must be pulled back in a bun or ponytail.

Male:

• CVPA tank or t-shirt or a black t-shirt

• Black shorts or black jazz pants

• Black split sole jazz shoes or Pirouettes

3. Tap:

Female:

• CVPA tank shirt with black shorts, black leggings or black jazz pants
  OR

• Black leotard and tights (CVPA eggplant leotard also okay)

• Black leotard with black shorts, black leggings or black jazz pants

• A cover up can be worn at the beginning of class during the winter months at the teacher's discretion.

• Hair must be pulled back in a bun or ponytail.

• Please see teacher for shoe preference.

Male:

• CVPA tank or t-shirt or black t-shirt

• Black shorts or black jazz pants

• Please see teacher for shoe preference.

4. Tumbling:

Female:

• CVPA tank shirt with black shorts, black leggings or black jazz pants
  OR

• Black leotard with black shorts or black leggings (CVPA eggplant leotard also okay)

• A cover up can be worn at the beginning of class during the winter months at the teacher's discretion.

• Bare feet (no socks)

• Hair must be pulled back in a bun or ponytail.

Male:

• CVPA tank or t-shirt or black t-shirt

• Black shorts or black jazz pants

• Bare feet (no socks)

5. Intro. to Dance:

Female:

• CVPA tank and dance shorts/leggings
  OR

• Leotards and tights with dance shorts or a skirt (black & pink are preferred) **

• Black tap shoes and pink ballet slippers

• Hair must be pulled back in a bun or ponytail.

• A sweater or cover up can be worn at the beginning of class during the winter months at the teacher's discretion.
  **Please note that clothing should not be a distraction to the dancer.

Male:

• CVPA tank or t-shirt

• Black shorts or black jazz pants

• Black tap shoes and black ballet slippers

6. Hip-Hop:

Male & Female:

• CVPA tank shirt or t-shirt

• Non-restrictive exercise pants or shorts

• Black Hip-Hop sneakers that are not to be warn outside (available in the CVPA Boutique). Any sneakers that are warn outside are not allowed.

• Hair must be pulled away from the face.

IX. Parking, Pick-Up, and "Watch Week"

During the 1st thru 7th day of each calendar month, parents* are invited to observe students in their dance class. We call this "Watch Week." For the remainder of the month, students attend their lessons independently, allowing them to take ownership over their activity and the material presented in class. This balance allows our students to share their progress with parents without compromising our classroom setting. We call this “Watch Week.” (Of course, for our 3-4 year old students, every week is “Watch Week”!)

Parking & Drop-Off

The white arrows in the photos below show the flow of traffic during our drop-off/pick-up weeks.The instructions to the right of each photo describe the unique parking dynamics of each location. Please pay special attention to the CVPA locations with limited parking spots, in which one spot must always remain open for teachers traveling between studios. This will prevent classes from starting late.

Please Note: Due to Covid-19, our parking policies are in flux.

(Click on the image to enlarge.)

X. Tuition Policies and Studio Calender

Tuition is based on a four-week tuition period and must be paid before the 10th day of the calendar month. Payment is considered late after the 10th day of the calendar month. Please visit our Tuition Calendar page to view our current rates and tuition periods for this year.

Methods of Payment

1. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS: CVPA accepts credit or debit cards through our JackRabbit Account Portal. Parents must enter their card information when registering for CVPA. If you wish to add or update your credit/debit card information, you can do so by logging into your JackRabbit Account and clicking the “Billing and Payments” tab. Under Quicklinks, chose the “Saved Payment Methods” option to view or change your debit/credit card information. This will allow you to manually charge your CVPA balance to your debit/credit card.

   If you wish to set up a monthly automatic tuition payment, please click on the “E-Payment Schedule” option (under Quicklinks on the Billing & Payments tab). We process credit cards on the 1st or on the 8th of the month. You need to select which payment day works best for you and click “save.” We send an e-mail statement of your charges prior to the 1st of each month so that you have a chance to review the charges in advance. You will receive a receipt each month after your charges have been processed. If there are charges other than tuition, you must go into the portal and pay them separately. If you have any questions or difficulty with your card payment, please contact Charlene at cvpa_acctg@yahoo.com.

2. CHECK PAYMENTS: Please write your student’s first and last name in the memo of the check and place the check in the black tuition box. We have tuition boxes located inside each studio location. A $25 service fee is charged on all returned checks.

3. CASH PAYMENTS: Cash payments can be made in the CVPA Boutique ONLY. (Click here for Boutique hours.) Please DO NOT put cash in the tuition box. Please always get a CVPA receipt for a cash payment. CVPA teachers can not accept cash payments under any circumstances.

Tuition Policies

1. REGISTRATION: All students must be registered through our JackRabbit Account Portal on our website (www.castrovalleyperformingarts.com) AND a Liability Waiver & Release must be signed BEFORE taking class at CVPA. This applies to both drop-in and regular students. Payment is processed through our JackRabbit Account Portal.

2. LATE FEES: A 10-percent late charge is automatically charged on any tuition not received by the 10th day of the calendar month.

3. DELINQUENT PAYMENTS: No student will be allowed to continue dancing if any part of the tuition is delinquent beyond the 20th of each calendar month unless otherwise mutually agreed upon prior to the class time.

4. OUTSTANDING BALANCES: Students who have accounts with outstanding balances will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular dance activities, including competitions, special performances, master classes, and the recital. This includes balances for tuition, costumes, competition fees, and/or any other incurred dance expense. Exceptions to this policy are at the discretion of the director.

5. TUITION IS NON-REFUNDABLE: All tuition, late fees, competition fees, and choreography fees are non-refundable. No adjustments will be made for days missed due to illness, personal inconvenience, vacations, school activities, or any other reason. Costume fees are only refundable if the costume has not yet been paid for by CVPA at the time the refund is requested.

6. CLASS CHANGES OR WITHDRAWALS: The parent is responsible for notifying accounting of any changes to the student’s class schedule. The parent is responsible for payment until such time as this notification is received. Once tuition is drafted, it is non-refundable. Additionally, if you withdraw after your recital costumes has been ordered, you will not receive a refund for your costume.

7. FIRST-TIME STUDENTS: First-time students must be registered in JackRabbit before attending their first class. You may do so at www.castrovalleyperformingarts.com. CVPA offers the first week of classes free as a trial period for first-time students. This allows the student and teachers to find the class(es) best suited for the student. After the one-week trial period has concluded, the student can enroll in the class(es) which the teacher and the student have determined to be the best fit. Class enrollment is done through the JackRabbit Account Portal by the parent. If the student is registering mid-month, the first month will be prorated based on the registration date at a rate of $15 per class. This will only be allowed for students registering for their first month of classes and will not be allowed in any month after that. Students must be enrolled in a class to received prorated tuition. A student who is not enrolled in a class will be charged $22 per class for every class taken after the one week trial period.

8. DROP-IN RATE: The drop-in class rate is $22.00 per single class. Students who wish to take a drop-in class must register as a student on our website (www.castrovalleyperformingarts.com) before taking the class. To pay by check, please hand a check payment to the instructor at the beginning of the class time. If no check is received at the time of the class, CVPA will invoice you for your class through your registration on our JackRabbit Account Portal. We discourage students from taking classes on a drop-in or “by the class” basis as it is disruptive to the progress of the student and the entire class. Cash payments will not be accepted for drop-in classes.

9. ATTENDANCE: All students are expected to attend class each week. CVPA does not prorate tuition for missed classes. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the studio if they will be missing a class and to schedule a make-up class. This can be done through Jackrabbit (see instructions below). Students taking solo, duet, or trio classes must give a 24-hour notice if her/she will be missing the lesson otherwise the lesson will be charged full price and there will be no make-up lesson. (For our full attendance policy, please click here.)

10. MAKE-UP CLASSES: A student can attend one make-up for every class he/she has missed. Make-up classes must be taken within four weeks of the classes missed and can not be carried over from one month to the next. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule and attend these make-ups. Please have your teacher recommend a make-up class for you to take before attending the class.

11. TARDINESS: The first 15-minutes of every class will be used to warm-up the body. If any student misses the warm-up portion of class due to tardiness, the teacher may ask them to sit out from the class. This policy is for the safety of our students and will be enforced at the discretion of the teacher. No make-ups will be allowed and no refund will be issued for students who arrive late to class.

12. FAMILY MEMBER DISCOUNT: The first student in each family will be charged full tuition and tuition for each additional sibling in the immediate family will receive 10% off. Applicable as long as tuition is current. Past due accounts will not be given this discount.

13. CVPA BOUTIQUE: Credits from the CVPA Boutique are not transferable and can not be used toward tuition, competition fees, or other fees charged to your main CVPA account. They can, however, be used towards items in the CVPA Boutique such as CVPA apparel, dancewear, dance shoes, and recital tickets. (www.cvpaboutique.com)

14. STUDIO BREAKS: The studio will be closed for 4 one-week breaks periods during the year. These break periods (listed on our Tuition Calendar) happen during the months of January, April, July, and December. The remaining 48 weeks of the year are divided into 12 four-week tuition periods. You will not be charged or pro-rated for these break periods when the studio will be closed, as they are built into our 12-month tuition schedule.

15. HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: CVPA will remain open on MLK Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Veteran’s Day. Additionally, CVPA will be open the day before and after Thanksgiving. Please check the Parent Portal or the CVPA Facebook page for any adjustments to the CVPA Boutique schedule.

16. STUDENT VACATION POLICY: Tuition must remain consistent throughout the year in order to participate in the October recital. We do not prorate for classes missed. If a student misses four or more consecutive weeks of classes at any point during the dance season, they will not be allowed to participate in the fall recital. If a student loses performance privileges due to poor attendance, no refund will be given for costumes, recital tickets, tuition, or any other performance related expense. Make-ups for missed classes due to vacation are to be scheduled through the studio upon return and made-up in a class other than the class that the student is already registered in. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule make-up classes and to acquire the information they missed while they were away.

17. QUESTIONS? Please contact our accountant, Charlene, by clicking HERE.

     

Reporting an Absence:

Please submit your absences through the Jackrabbit Account Portal:

1. Go to the menu in the top right corner and choose Absences and Makeups.  

2. Enter the first and last day your dancer will miss class. 

3. Be sure to give the reason for the absence so the teacher will know.  

4. Click on the NEXT STEP button and click all the classes she will miss. This will allow you to enter a single absence or a range of dates, such as a vacation or illness/injury. 

XI. Annual Recital

The culmination of our year is our annual recital! This is the highlight of our year for our students and every student in the entire studio is invited to participate!

Throughout the year, students and their teachers will be working on a dance to perform in the recital. As part of the recital experience, every student will purchase a costume, attend an onstage dress rehearsal, and participate in the performance. We do not charge a recital fee per student, however there will be extra fees for your student's costume, show tickets, and any additional "recital extras," such as pictures, videos, roses, marquee wishes, and more, should you wish to purchase them.

For more details about our recital, please check out the Recital Handbook.

XII. Costumes

Costume Ready/ Student Appraisal Week

In September of the dance year, all students performing in the recital will participate in Costume Ready/Student Appraisal Week. During Costume Ready/Student Appraisal Week, students will bring their costume and a parent/guardian to their regularly scheduled dance class. This is an opportunity for all of the dancers in each class to put on their costumes at the same time so that the teacher can determine if there needs to be any adjustments made prior to dress rehearsal. Students will need to bring all costume pieces to class including earrings, hats, tights and shoes. All sequins/rhinestones should already be applied by that time. At the beginning of class, students will try on their costumes and accessories for the teacher to evaluate and discuss with the parents. Every student should have a parent in attendance in order to alleviate miscommunication.

During Costume Ready/Student Appraisal Week, every student will receive one Student Appraisal that includes their class placement for the upcoming season. Following the costume evaluation, CVPA teachers will be giving each parent a one-on-one verbal assessment of their child’s progress over the year.

XIII. Competition Team Requirements

CVPA is home to an Award-Winning Competition Team. Competition Teams are “by invitation only." In order to be considered for one of our competition teams, dancers must meet the following requirements:

1. Take ONE OF EACH of the following classes a week: Tap, Jazz, Choreography Class.

2. Take AT LEAST TWO Ballet classes a week.

3. Take ONE Stretch/Conditioning class each week.

4. Take AT LEAST ONE Contemporary Technique, Leaps & Turns, or Jazz Technique Class a week.

5. Show a true dedication and desire to dance.

6. Have good class attendance.

7. Attend all master classes.

8. Follow all studio rules.

9. Be a responsible and reliable student.

10. Demonstrate respect towards teachers and fellow students.

Expectations for Competition Team Members:

1. All team members are expected to be at all competitions.

2. All team members are expected to have good class and rehearsal attendance.

3. All competition fees are expected to be paid on time.

4. All team members are expected to be ON TIME to rehearsals and to competitions.

5. All team members are expected to bring all required costumes and props to rehearsals and competitions as requested by the teacher or rehearsal director.

6. All team members are expected to act professionally and have good sportsmanship when representing CVPA at competitive events. This includes posts on social media.

7. All team members are to behave as role models for those around them, ESPECIALLY younger dancers.

8. All team members shall treat fellow students, teachers, staff, and fellow competitors with respect at all times.

9. All team members are to be supportive of each other. We are one team with the same goals.

10. All team members are expected to come to classes and rehearsals with a positive attitude. 
     

    Members of our competition teams are a representation of our studio, staff, their fellow teammates, and themselves. They are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional manner at all times.

XIV. Teacher Assistants

The Teacher Assistant role at CVPA is integral to the success of our classroom community. Students are identified and selected by CVPA faculty to both assist and demonstrate at various levels. These individuals must participate in training sessions as well as complete the Teacher Assistant Code of Conduct (available below), both of which serve to establish roles, responsibilities, and expectations. In some cases, Teacher Assistants will be asked to substitute classes in place of the regular teacher. Teacher Assistants are also involved in special events, including working backstage at our annual recital. This valuable leadership program has a strong history at CVPA and can lead to faculty positions at the studio.

XV. Advancing to Pointe

Advancing to pointe work is a serious step and should be treated as such by students, teachers, and parents. Pointe work builds upon ballet technique, and every struggle, problem, weakness, and deficiency is amplified with this new layer of difficulty. With this in mind, you must remember the following:

• Pointe work is an evolution and extension of dedicated and effective ballet training. It is not the culmination of a particular number of years in ballet class, seniority among peers, or even of intense desire.

• Progression to pointe work is not a right.

• Pointe is not for everyone.

• Pointe work is often a positive experience for those ready to devote themselves to ballet.

General Requirements:

• At least 11 years of age.

• At least 3 years of ballet training.

• Taking at least 4 full hours of ballet per week.

• Responsible enough to bring all ballet equipment needed.

• Dresses appropriately for class.

• Attentive in class and applies corrections well.

Physical Criteria: A general (not necessarily complete) list of what you need to be able to do.

• Maintains turnout while dancing

• Demonstrates correct posture and alignment in positions and while moving

• Shows awareness of proper ankle and foot alignment, avoiding supination (sickling) or pronation (rolling-in)

• Effectively uses plié while dancing

• Stretches or points the foot while dancing

• Can piqué passé with a straight leg

• Can perform repeated relevé in the center without tiring & while maintaining alignment

• Can balance on one foot with the body correctly positioned over the supporting leg

• Coordinates movement well, particularly in regard to varying approach to relevé (from plié, from straight leg, stepping or springing into, etc.)

• Attitude and work ethic play a large role in dancing at an advanced level. Students must display dedication during class and a strong commitment to the art form at all times.

• Has proper ankle ROM (range of motion)

Whether a student advances to pointe work will be at the discretion of the teacher.