Toledo Ballet

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Welcome to Toledo Ballet!

We are pleased to have this opportunity to explore the world of dance with you and your family. Toledo Ballet offers age-appropriate instruction for each stage of the developing dancer. The curriculum serves the growth of students from their first encounters with music and movement to becoming accomplished dancers. This process of nurturing a child from creative movement to the highly structured ballet class happens over a period of several years. Finely tuned class levels stimulate confidence, discipline, and the love of dance. The student’s optimal progress is at the heart of every decision made regarding class placement, the structure of classes, and faculty assignments. In order to make your time with the Toledo Ballet as rewarding as possible, please take the time to review the information below. We look forward to welcoming you to Toledo Ballet!

Eric Otto as stepsister talking to Cinderella

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm new to Toledo Ballet. Where do I start?

Welcome! We're so glad you've chosen Toledo Ballet to continue or begin your dance education! If you are a new student or parent of a new student, please review our class offerings. If you are continuing your dance education from another studio, please request a placement evaluation.

What do I wear?

A uniform dress code is important because it allows faculty to quickly assess body position and technique and apply corrections if necessary.

All dancers must have their hair secured off their face and neck. For most dancers, this will be in a bun. We understand that dancers have different textures and length of hair. Those that cannot wear a bun need to ensure that stray pieces, braids, and bangs are neatly pinned back with hair pins and a hair net. No dangling earrings or other large jewelry pieces are permitted in the studios. Body arts must be covered.

For complete dress code information, click here.

When can I go on pointe?

It is the dream of every ballerina is to go on pointe and it is a very methodical process! Care must be given to developing muscles to prevent injury. Students will gain an awareness of these muscles and proper alignment in Pre-Pointe class, which is done without pointe shoes. After one to two years, the students will progress to Beginning Pointe. Every body develops at different times and Toledo Ballet is proud to offer individualized attention to ensure the safety of all dancers.

Pre-Pointe is for ballet students who are not yet on pointe to further develop and strengthen the muscles necessary to go "en pointe". Pre-pointe classes offer an atmosphere for proper assessment of readiness skills and structural alignment necessary before pointe class be taken safely. Please note: 2 ballet technique classes per week are required to take Pre-Pointe.

Beginning Pointe is designed to build and strengthen the overall pointe work of a student. Focus will be placed on proper alignment, conditioning, and technique. Students will utilize previously learned ballet technique while working in pointe shoes.

Please note: 3 ballet technique classes per week are required to take Beginner Pointe.

In order to enroll in any pointe class, students must enroll in the appropriate technique class immediately preceding the pointe class. This ensures that the student is properly warmed up for pointe work.

Pointe work continues in levels 4 and above with the proper foundation.

How many classes should I take?

Toledo Ballet dancers are allowed to take less than the recommended number of classes per week.  Following our developmental curriculum, faculty recommends the below training per week guidelines.  The recommended classes per week allow the student to develop the skills needed to successfully master each level and provide for promotion to the next level.  Students who wish to pursue a career in dance or continue dancing in college are required to enroll in certain classes. Please review the enrollment requirements for each level here. Class Descriptions

Pre-Primary Ballet	Recommended 1 class per week
Primary Ballet	Recommended 1 class per week
Level 1 Ballet	Recommended 1 class per week
Level 2 Ballet	Recommended 2 classes per week
Level 2.5 Ballet	Recommended 2 classes per week
Level 3 Ballet	Recommended 3 classes per week
Level 4 Ballet	Recommended 4 classes per week
Level 5 Ballet	Recommended 5 technique classes per week + 1 pointe class (additional enrollment in a contemporary class is recommended)
Level 6-7 Ballet	Recommended 5 technique classes per week + 2 pointe classes (additional enrollment in a contemporary class is recommended)

Can my parent/guardian come watch?

Parents and Guardians are not allowed in the studios during classes, auditions, or rehearsals. A Family Observation Week will be scheduled once per session where you will be invited to watch your student in our studios! There are vending machines and coffee available while you wait. Parents/Guardians of students Level 1 and above may leave while their student is in class. Please be sure to return in time for pick-up at the class end time.

How do assessments work?

Students new to Toledo Ballet who are 7 years old or younger will be placed in ballet classes based on their age. Students new to Toledo Ballet who are 8 years old or older interested in enrolling in a ballet class must request an assessment form from the front desk in order to be placed into an appropriate level. This should be done before the student enrolls in classes. New families are encouraged to call the front desk in order to schedule the assessment. Assessments are free of cost.

What performance opportunities will I have?

The Toledo Ballet produces three major productions each year including The Nutcracker, a Spring Production and Spring Showcase. In addition, Toledo Ballet students may perform alongside the Toledo Symphony on other performances such as the annual Halloween Spooktacular. Students are selected to participate in the productions through an audition process. Please note that attendance at Toledo Ballet does not guarantee participation and all students will be required to audition. Rehearsal and casting information will be provided at the earliest possible date. There are minimal costume cleaning fees and make-up fees associated with participation in productions. Students participating in productions must continue to attend classes regularly to maintain technique.

All Toledo Ballet students are invited to participate in an end-of-year Spring Showcase. Rehearsal information will be made available at the earliest possible date during the Spring Session.

Students and parents must be fully committed to attending all rehearsals and performances as scheduled. It is understood that the student is prepared and willing to accept any role assigned. Refusal to accept an assigned role will be taken into consideration when casting roles for future productions.

What is JackRabbit?

JackRabbit is a cloud-based software service used by all education programs at TAPA for registration and tuition processing. When enrolling for a class, lesson, or program, you will log in through the JackRabbit Parent Portal to complete your registration. It is important to use a valid email address when creating your account as important announcements are sent through JackRabbit.

Can I just try out a class one time?

The Toledo Ballet offers drop-ins, private lessons, and 6-class punch cards which are purchased at the front desk or over the phone. The drop-in rate for a “short class” which is 1 hour or less, is $30.00. The drop-in rate for a “long class” which is greater than 1 hour, is $35.00. The Toledo Ballet also offers Punch cards, which cost $200 for 6 classes.

Are private lessons available?

Private lesson rates vary by instructor. To purchase a private lesson please contact the front desk or contact your instructor via email. Email the Front Desk

Toledo Ballet Policies

Attendance Policy

Students are required to attend all classes and rehearsals. If for any reason a student is unable to attend a class or rehearsal, the student or parent should call Toledo Ballet prior to the scheduled time of the class or rehearsal to report the absence. Absences due to illness, school activities, severe weather events, and family vacations are eligible for make-ups so long as the absences are reported to the front desk in advance. It will be up to the discretion of the Toledo Ballet faculty to allow a make-up for any other reason not previously listed. All make-up classes must be made up by the end of the session. Make-ups may not be carried over from one session to another. Toledo Ballet will not reimburse students for missed classes. A credit toward the next semester will only be issued in the case of extreme illness or injury which prevents the student from returning to class during the same semester.

Students are encouraged to observe class if they are unable to dance due to injury. When utilizing a make-up, students must present a make-up form filled out in its entirety to the front desk before class. Alternatively, parents my schedule absences and makeups in the Parent Portal. Students who arrive at Toledo Ballet for a make-up class that was scheduled in the Parent Portal must check in at the front desk prior to the make-up class.

Code of Conduct

The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (“TAPA”) is committed to maintaining a positive learning environment in which all parents, students, staff, and dancers are treated with respect and dignity. As part of their training, Toledo Ballet students and their parents are expected to behave in a responsible and disciplined manner and to adhere to the school’s rules and regulations, both inside Toledo Ballet facilities and outside in the greater community as representatives of Toledo Ballet. Misconduct that occurs using electronic equipment and media, such as through email, text, or social media is prohibited. Students are expected to treat Toledo Ballet faculty and staff with respect and maintain a positive attitude. Toledo Ballet strives to ensure that all rules are clear and reasonable. Toledo Ballet reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any parent or student whose conduct or attitude is found to be unsatisfactory. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to: 

• Physical violence, damage to an individual’s property, threats, or injury

• Theft

• Sexual assault, harassment, or unwelcome touching 

• Unwanted or unwelcome flirtations or sexual advances or propositions, or comments about an individual’s body, sexual prowess, or sexual deficiencies

• Verbal abuse, slurs, taunts, name-calling, or other attempts to ridicule, insult, humiliate, or intimidate

• Repeated jokes that include offensive references, particularly those that reference race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, or that are lewd or obscene

• Public exclusion from the peer group

• Spreading gossip or rumors about others

• Taking and/or disseminating unwanted or embarrassing photographs

• Possession of drugs or alcohol: Any student found using drugs, or consuming or under the influence of alcohol (including providing drugs or alcohol to another student) will face expulsion.

• Smoking: Toledo Ballet is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is prohibited for all Toledo Ballet students on the Toledo Ballet grounds. State law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from smoking. Students disregarding this policy will face suspension and/or expulsion from the school

• Possession of Firearms or weapons of any kind

• Self-destructive behavior

• Willful destruction or misuse of Toledo Ballet or another person’s property

All Toledo Ballet staff and students are required to report misconduct under this policy to a faculty member with whom the student studies, or any other member of Toledo Ballet or TAPA staff. Anonymous complaints can be sent to the Director of Education. Retaliation against any victim or person who makes a good faith report of harassment or bullying will not be tolerated and will, also be considered misconduct under this policy. Deliberate or knowingly false reports, however, will not be tolerated and are considered misconduct under this policy.  Toledo Ballet will respond promptly and investigate all good faith complaints of misconduct. If Toledo Ballet determines that misconduct has occurred, the parent or guardian for the student(s) involved in the misconduct shall be notified. Toledo Ballet reserves the right to take appropriate corrective action based on the severity of the misconduct, up to and including removal from the Program. 

Studio Etiquette

All families and dancers must enter and exit through the front entrance facing Cass Road.

Parents/guardians are not allowed in the studios during classes, auditions, or rehearsals. Parent observation week will be scheduled once each session.

Parents/guardians of students Level 1 and above may leave while their dancers are in class. Please be sure to return in time for pick-up by class end time.

Please be respectful of classes taking place! Running and horseplay is prohibited.

All students should use the restroom before class!

Students must adhere to Toledo Ballet Dress Code at all times. Tutus are for performances only. Please review the Dress Code HERE.

Promptness to class is a must. Students who are late should ask for permission to enter class. Students will not be allowed to take class if they are more than 15 minutes late. This is because ballet exercise is progressive, and a student can get injured if starting in the middle of the exercises.

Students are not allowed to hang on the barres, talk to other students while class is being conducted, sit unless instructed by the teacher, chew gum or eat in class. Only water is allowed in class at the instructors’ discretion.

Students should attend to their personal needs prior to class.

Students are expected to behave with politeness, respect, and courtesy towards faculty, staff, and peers.

Students must leave cell phones and their electronic devices in the dressing rooms. Locking them in a locker is recommended.

Students are expected to clean up after themselves and not leave food, water bottles, wrappers, bandages, etc. in the dressing room bathrooms, or studios.

Food is not allowed in the dressing rooms or studios. Food may be eaten in the lobby areas only, and all students are expected to clean up after themselves. Capped water bottles are allowed in the studio at instructors' discretion.

Street shoes are not allowed in the studios to protect the marley flooring.

At the end of class, the students perform a reverence- a bow or curtsey- to their teacher. This is a mark of gratitude and a symbol of the student’s desire to learn. Even after working themselves to exhaustion and undergoing the critical examination of a teacher, students should always say “thank you.”

For the safety of all students and our studio equipment, no students are permitted in empty studios without the instruction and supervision of Toledo Ballet faculty or staff. Studios are designated for classes and rehearsal use only.

Holidays and Cancellations

Please check our calendar and the important dates section of our website regarding holiday observances. All holidays or dates of planned studio closure are listed on the yearly calendar. Students are invited to take make-up classes to cover any class cancellations.

Communication

Parents and Guardians will be notified of any changes through Jackrabbit email notifications. Please make sure that your contact information is up-to-date in Jackrabbit. Push notifications will also be sent via the TAPA Education mobile app.

Refund Policy

For Toledo Ballet students, tuition is nonrefundable after the second general class session except if the student should permanently leave the geographical area, or if there is a permanent medical reason with a signed physician's note. Should the student have a temporary medical excuse, a credit will be applied to their account upon request.