Attendance
To achieve the maximum results of training and proper progression through the syllabus, students are asked to attend all classes and rehearsals to which they are assigned. To minimize absences, parents are urged to take into consideration classes and rehearsals when scheduling their children for appointments and when planning family vacations. Please be sure to email an excuse to Sarah Barragan whenever your child will miss class.  Your message will be forwarded to your child’s teacher to excuse them from class.” 

Excessive absences will result in a student being asked to leave the program to allow a child on the waiting list to attend. Consistent absences will also be factored into casting decisions for the productions.

Consistent attendance is vital in maintaining a student’s mastery of dance technique. Dance is a physical activity that requires consistent weekly training to establish muscle strength and muscle memory. Classical ballet training is a highly specialized technique that requires excellent instruction by a knowledgeable teacher and committed attendance by the student in order to achieve the desired results. This level of commitment is especially important beginning with the Ballet 1 and 2 levels.

Rehearsals
It is extremely important for students to attend all rehearsals that they are scheduled for. In certain instances, a choreographer may be creating a new work and must have everyone present in order to effectively create their piece. In other instances, students may have been rehearsing together for some time or may be rehearsing a part they have performed in the past. Regardless, it is imperative that all cast members be present at every rehearsal to achieve the level necessary for public performance. It is very difficult for fellow dancers to work on a piece without everyone present. It is not about how well a dancer knows their particular part, but how much it affects the other dancers and choreographer not to be present for a rehearsal.

Participation in any of the Student Ensembles requires consistent attendance to all Saturday rehearsals as scheduled. Two excused absences during the School year are allowed, but a student will revoke their position in the Ensemble for additional absences.

Bulletin Boards
We have bulletin boards at the studio, where we will post pertinent information about the school. Be sure and check these locations frequently for updated information during the year.

Classroom Etiquette
In order to achieve the skill level required of the physical body in dance, students should understand the necessary level of focus and concentration that will be required of them prior to attending class. Students will be encouraged to learn dance technique primarily through observation and execution of steps rather than through discussion. Talking during class and rehearsals is discouraged with the occasional question welcomed and indicated by the students’ raising of their hand. This allows the maximum amount of progress to be made during class time since dance technique is based on continual repetition of movement to train and strengthen the muscles of the body. Students who are disruptive to the class will be asked to observe class so that others may continue their work. Younger students may be escorted from class and brought to their parents.

Conferences & Questions
Parents are welcome to schedule a conference with their child’s teacher or the director of the school at any time. Please call the school at 319-855-3500 to schedule an appointment. We ask that you do not confront the instructors before or after classes with questions, but instead call the School office. Our capable staff may be able to answer your questions or you can schedule an appointment to meet with your child’s instructor. Please understand that prior to teaching class our faculty members are focused on the class ahead and after class they are often on their way to their next class. Thank you for your consideration of their time. 

Costume Requirements and Cost for Performances
The students will wear their classroom attire complimented by matching tutus for the girls provided by the School for their Showcase performance. There is no charge for admission to their performance.

Students performing in the Winter and Spring Performances will be asked to pay a $200 fee to participate in the show. This fee will be collected at the time of registration. Students will be provided with costumes for the show from our School’s wardrobe stock. There is no extra charge to families for the use of these costumes. Students in certain classes may be asked by their teachers to purchase a specific leotard, jazz pant or top to create a uniformed costume for their piece. 

Counseling Services 
CBI provides a counseling service to help young dancers and their families understand what the next step is after their training at the School is complete.

• Should I pursue a professional career in dance?
• How do I go about auditioning for professional companies?
• When should I start to audition?
• Can I still pursue a career in dance and go to College?
• What if I really want to teach or choreograph?
• What are my other options?

There are plenty of options in the dance world today and a way to pursue all of your dreams and incorporate your love of dance into your life…for life! Dancers, nowadays, have the option to attend college and still pursue a professional performing career once they graduate. We would like to have the opportunity to answer all of your questions and give you the information you need to plan for your child’s future.

• Did you know that your child is eligible for dance scholarships to colleges and universities around the country just like athletes are eligible for sports scholarships?

• Did you know that your child qualifies to receive recommendation letters from the School’s faculty for job applications, company auditions and dance scholarships?.

Dress Code Code
Students of any age should always wear street clothing over their ballet attire when coming to and from their classes. Ballet slippers must never be worn outdoors as this tracks dirt into the studio and is detrimental to the marley floors, as well as dangerous for the students. All dress codes are mandatory in every class and level. This includes modern and jazz classes. Proper attire may be purchased at www.capeziodance.com or www.discountdance.com. In the proud tradition of classical ballet and out of respect for the art form, we strive to have a clean, uniformed look for our students in all of our dance classes. Please help us achieve this goal by purchasing leotards, tights and ballet shoes that match our dress code requirements and by fixing your child’s hair for class in the appropriate manner as listed.  

Email Messages
Each month we will be sending you information by email about upcoming events at the school. Be sure to list your email address clearly on your registration form so that we can keep you informed about all that goes on at the School during the year.

Enrollment
The school year consists of 40 weeks of training, culminating in a year-end performance. New students are accepted during the school year on a space available basis. Waiting lists are maintained. A placement class is required for all students age 9 and up.

Evaluations & Examinations
Each student enrolled in the School will receive a written evaluation at the end of the school year. Written and practical examinations will be held in March, April and May for students in the Children’s Division and Intermediate Division. Recommendations for summer study and fall placement will be listed on the evaluation forms.

Level Advancement
It is appropriate for young dance students to remain in the same class level for two to three years before continuing on to the next level. Unlike academic studies where a student progresses a grade level each year, in dance training it is quite normal to spend several years in one level in order to properly assimilate all the necessary material.

The training of a dancer is based on the constant repetition of particular steps and movements until the student has a full comprehension of the dance vocabulary and shows competency of execution. Sometimes, especially in younger children, total comprehension can only be accomplished when the physical body has grown strong enough to handle the more complicated moves required in dance. In these instances, we prefer to wait until a child’s physical development matches the requirements of the next level’s syllabus.

It is important to maintain consistent attendance in dance classes during the school year. This insures the progress of each student in their given class level. Once a student has reached the Children’s Division in the School, twice a week attendance is recommended in order to cover the more advanced syllabus and to prepare them for the levels ahead. Similar to any sport requiring difficult motor skills and dexterity of movement, disciplined and regular practice will lead to quicker advancement.

It is also advisory to be cautious and conservative about the age at which a female student begins training on pointe. Usually, by age 11 or 12 the student is strong enough physically and advanced enough technically to begin pointe work. It can be dangerous to start a student on pointe too early in the process of her training. The student must have a thorough understanding of proper body alignment as well as ankle, foot, leg and abdominal strength to prevent injury or the development of chronic conditions such as tendonitis. A student who begins pointe work too early may also develop bad habits in an effort to stand on pointe when they are not strong enough to do it properly. There is no urgency to starting pointe work at an early age, as the accomplished and well trained dancer easily goes up on pointe with little effort and is able to progress at a rapid pace. Many students who start pointe work too early are then discouraged by the difficulty of proper execution which they did not anticipate. It is much wiser to wait until the appropriate time when the student is physically ready and can achieve the anticipated results.

We hope this information will enable parents and students to better understand the actual “time line” of development in a dancer’s training and that there is nothing unusual about the gradual advancement from level to level.

Make-up Classes
Generally, there are no make-up classes offered in the School. Make-up classes must occur within the quarter classes were missed. No refunds or credits will be given for missed classes. Please email the Director if there are special circumstances to be considered.

Parent Observation
Parents and other individuals interested in viewing students as they train are invited inside the studios to observe classes during Parent Visiting weeks. Please check the School calendar for the scheduled dates. To minimize distraction for our students and to allow our faculty to do the best job possible in the training of your child, please refrain from observing class through doorways or windows during non-observation weeks. Our goal is to keep your child focused so that they can maximize their class experience and continue to progress effectively through the required syllabus.

During Parent Visiting weeks, we would like to present the class for your viewing as it is usually held without interruption. To help us achieve this goal and out of respect for the dance teacher, students and fellow observers, please observe the following regulations:

• Please arrive on time for the start of class and remain seated until the class is over. Please do not enter or exit the studio once class has begun.
• Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the studio.
• Please refrain from talking during class either to the dance students or to fellow observers.
• Please do not bring food or drink into the dance studios.
• Visiting weeks are intended for parents, relatives and older siblings who are able to understand classroom etiquette. If younger siblings attend, please understand that it is often very difficult for them to remain quietly seated for the entire class time. Out of consideration for the teacher, students and other observers please do not bring toys into the classroom and kindly escort the child out into the lobby area if they become unsettled and disruptive to the class.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in your child’s dance classes. We hope to demonstrate to you the progress your child is making with the guidance of his/her instructor. Thank you for helping us to make this an enjoyable and informative experience for all the students, teachers and parents.

School Closings
If classes need to be canceled due to inclement winter weather, a message will be left on the school’s answering machine. Please note that we do not necessarily follow the ICPS system’s closings for inclement weather. We recommend that you call our School office to check on closings. The School is not responsible for classes canceled as a result of extreme weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the control of the School’s officials.

Spring Student Performances
The School’s annual year-end performance is held at a theatre within a 15 mile radius of Iowa City on the first Saturday in June. There is a performance fee of $50/Performance which you will find included on your registration form. For students in the Early Dance Division, a showcase is held in CBI's Studios for families and friends. There is no performance fee charged for the showcase.

Tardiness
Students are expected to arrive at the School on time for the start of their classes and rehearsals. In the interest of injury prevention, students who arrive ten or more minutes late for class will be asked to observe class that day. Please show respect to your teachers and fellow students by arriving on time for your classes.

Tuition Payments
  Tuition payments and registration fees are required before the first day of classes. Students will not be allowed to participate in classes if tuition has not been paid. Our teachers will aid in enforcing this policy. This policy applies to every level in the School. Students will not be allowed to perform in the annual Spring Student Performances if tuition balances are not paid in full by March 24.

Students may choose between annual, semi-annual and monthly payments.

Annual Tuition Payment

• Multiply the Quarterly tuition amount by 4
• Tuition paid in full by September 3, Registration Fee is Waived.

Quarterly Payment

• 4 payments: August 15, October 24, January 9, March 19
• Paid by Post-Dated Check

Payment Policies

• $25 late fee after the due date
• $25 returned check fee
• $25 class schedule or payment plan change fee

Tuition paid to the School is non-refundable. There are no tuition credits.
A written notice must be submitted to the School director 30 days in advance of withdrawal from the program. Tuition fees will be charged on the first of the month prior to the date of withdrawal. 

Families with two or more children enrolled in the School only pay one registration fee. Families with two or more children enrolled receive a 10% discount per additional child. Siblings must be enrolled on the same day to receive this discount.