2026/27 ABA Code of Conduct- A Commitment to Excellence
Academy of Ballet Arts is dedicated to providing exceptional training in classical ballet and contemporary dance, nurturing the artistic abilities of our students. Whether you are a beginner who dreams of dancing on stage or an experienced dancer looking to further refine your technique, we have a program tailored just for you. Our highly qualified instructors, with their extensive professional backgrounds, are committed to guiding and inspiring each student to reach their fullest potential.
New Season Expectations and Parent Support
A very important reminder and message to our dancers as we embark on each new season:
Whether you are entering the new season at your same level or not, it is imperative to remind yourself: Growth in dance is a marathon, not a sprint.
If you didn't level-up as you were hoping for this time it doesn't mean that your teachers don't see your growth.
Come to class consistently, work hard, and trust that your instructors care about you and want what is best for you and your dance training.
We want to help you become the best dancer you can be and sometimes that means continuing to master your foundational steps.
If you consistently give 100% when you come to class, you will keep getting stronger and will move closer to your goals.
A deeper dive into consistently giving 100% when you come to class:
You can't outdance poor awareness - no matter how long you stay in the studio!
There's a lie dancers love to believe…… that time equals progress!
That if you're sweating……. you must be improving!
But motion isn't mastery — it's just movement. Read that again …..
Motion isn't mastery — it's just movement!
At ABA, you don't earn skill by logging hours, you earn it by paying attention.
Anyone can repeat a combination. Very few can refine it. Reason being, is because that requires more than discipline - it takes precision. It takes thinking while moving. Catching the subtle shift in your turnout, your weight, your focus - and adjusting in real time. Receiving and executing all corrections given to you in each class is key.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Support from our Parents:
Parents, we ask for your support in that you help remind your dancers to trust their instructors. Our instructors want each and every dancer to succeed and thrive in their classes. Moving ahead before a dancer has mastered their current level, can set a dancer back long-term and cause injuries. Encourage your dancers to work on mastery and perfecting the details they are being taught. They can't pick their level, but they can control their effort. Any dancer can learn at any level. Most every principal and accomplished professional dancer, including myself and our instructors, we all took lower level classes, in order to help refocus on perfecting the basics. Our instructors are always happy to provide feedback on what areas of their technique they can focus on and we want every dancer to reach their goals.
Thank you for your incredible support. We want nothing more than to help your dancer(s) reach their goals and dreams!
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Reminder: This is a place of business; students/families must conduct themselves in a quiet, controlled, appropriate manner in all areas of the building. Young children should never be left unattended. No running. No playing with studio equipment (balls, Therabands, rollers, etc.). Quiet voices near dance room doors or windows at all times.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Dress Code
Dress appropriately and come prepared. Please mend ripped tights and wear leotards your level color.
Look Good! Groom yourself to feel better in class. Take pride in the way you appear.
No jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, long earrings and/or wristwatches during class.
Please wear deodorant to class. And many people are sensitive to scents, so please avoid perfume.
Never wear dance shoes outside the studio or wear street shoes in the studio.
Your hair must be neatly pulled back and adequately secured. Your hair also impacts your technique and can be a health and safety issue. Dancers who do not have their hair pulled back appropriately run the risk of creating bad habits, like unknowingly flicking their head to get their bangs out of their eyes, or not spotting because their hair hits them in the face when turning. If your hair is not secure, you may have to stop dancing and leave your dancing space, which causes any dancers who are dancing with you to lose their focus when you leave your spot. If they are behind you on a traveling step, it may actually cause a collision. Also, if your hairpins fall out, another student may slip on it.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Restroom
For our littlest dancers, please ensure your dancer uses the restroom before class to avoid disruptions. Our older dancers, please be sure to use the restroom before your classes as well.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Arriving on Time
Arrive 30 min before class start is recommended, to have enough time to properly warm up in order to avoid potential injury. Late arrival is disruptive to the other students, the teacher, and can set up the potential for injury if you do not have enough time to properly warm up.
If you are late and the teacher lets you take class, or if you need to leave the room for some reason, please wait until the end of an exercise before you rejoin the class. You can stand quietly at the edge of the room until everyone finishes dancing and then you can join in on the next combination once the instructor has invited you.
Arriving late
Dancers arriving up to 10 minutes late will be allowed into class, anything beyond 10 minutes the dancer will not be allowed to take class and can observe class only.
If your dancer is within the 10 minute grace period and upon entering the studio, the dancer is to wait at the door until the instructor invites them to barre (curtsy and quietly find a place at the barre).
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Barre AND Class Etiquette
A good Ballet class has a quiet, courteous, but focused and energetic atmosphere. We’re here to work, make use of our time in class, and have fun!
Leave personal/emotional problems outside of the studio. Do your best and have a positive attitude.
Dancers will be expected to listen in class and remain focused and do their best to follow each combination. If a dancer needs clarification, they are encouraged to raise their hands (not speak out). Once class has ended, dancers are encouraged to clap as a sign of appreciation and should individually curtsy or bow to their teacher before leaving class.
Don’t “hang” or slouch on the barre or anywhere else, for that matter. Be attentive at all times, especially when waiting for your turn. And never sit down unless you are asked to.
Let advanced students stand in front. Even if you arrived first, avoid the front of the room unless the teacher invites you to stand up front. This applies when going across the floor. Advanced dancers should go first unless directed by the teacher. Male dancers always go last, regardless of level.
Advanced dancers have the first choice of barre “spots”. Even if you arrived early, make sure you allow more advanced dancers to take their desired spot at the barre.
Change groups quickly, energetically ballet steps in the center.
Body language is extremely important in ballet class. Ballet teachers are constantly ‘reading’ students’ bodies in order to give them specific instruction. If you are standing there with your arms crossed and/or slumping, the teacher will think you are bored or surly or uninterested. Please keep in mind that we are looking at you for the whole class, and how you stand, your facial expression and what you do with your arms tells us how well you are listening and whether or not you are interested in improving.
Dancers should practice having a pleasant “lifted” face in classes and rehearsals. This is essential for performances, auditions, and master classes, etc.
Do not let your teacher see you yawn in class! Cover your mouth always.
Do not watch the clock for your teachers or tell them that class is over.
If you have a question, please raise your hand and wait for the teacher – do not interrupt your teacher when they are in the middle of giving a combination or correction–unless it is an absolute emergency.
Do not correct other students. That is the teacher’s responsibility.
Do not correct the teacher. If the teacher has made a mistake (which is bound to happen) and it is causing confusion in the class, it is fine to politely ask for clarification. If you have a difference of opinion or philosophical perspective, it is best to save it for after class.
Demonstrate good spatial awareness. This includes giving the instructor space, but don’t crowd those in the back of the room to do so.
Do not ask to go to the bathroom in the middle of barre. You should go before class and if you need to go after barre, you can ask your teacher. Of course if you have an emergency – we want you to take care of it.
Don’t leave early. If it is a must, talk to the teacher before class.
Be respectful to your fellow dancers, never ever laugh, snicker or poke fun at them when they do something wrong, or haven’t mastered a step or combination. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Class is the place to make mistakes and be SUPPORTIVE of your fellow classmates. We learn best from our mistakes. This is an essential part of classwork.
All dancers are expected to treat their instructors and peers with courtesy and the utmost respect. ABA dancers are expected to listen closely while in class, there is to be no talking, and all attention is to be directed to the instructor.
Take corrections well: If a teacher corrects you, congratulations!
Take corrections with a positive mindset.
All teachers want to see their students thrive and improve. It can be confusing for young dancers to understand that the only way to improve in ballet is to be corrected.
If you hear a correction being given to another student, pay attention!
There is a good chance it applies to you as well!
A teacher will not ask a student to do something that they cannot achieve.
Have FUN!
Ultimately, this is YOUR class too, and you should be having a good time working hard and learning. Every teacher feels good when their students leave the room happy, so enjoy the process. Dance is an enriching experience, so be proud of your hard work, celebrate your accomplishments, and keep your eye on the continuing journey ahead.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Disruptive Behavior
If a student is not listening, being disruptive or is disrespectful to any instructor or peers, the following plan of actions will take place:
Dancer will be talked to by the instructor. An email may/or may not be sent depending on behavior.
Dancer and parent will be talked to by the Director. An email will be sent to parent(s).
Dancer will be asked to sit out of class and there will be no refund or make-ups for missed class(es).
Dancer will be placed on suspension. Length of time will be determined by Director/Owner based on the associated situation(s). Suspended dancers will not be allowed on ABA premises.
Dancer/Family will be asked to part ways and the ABA relationship will be terminated immediately. Dancer may apply to return after one year, at the discretion of the Director.
Please note, at any time, based on the director/owners decision, any of these steps can be forfeited and a family can be asked to leave at any time, terminating the relationship for any reason if the director/owner has decided to do so. As a business we are within our rights and will exercise our rights to do so, as needed, for the health and well-being of our students and staff.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
No Gum in the building!
Food & Drinks
Only water is allowed in a water bottle or closed container with a lid.
Food, snacks are ok, as long as your dancer is cleaning up after themselves (crumbs/wrappers). If there is an ongoing issue, we will have to ask that there be no snacks. We’ve had many spills that go left unattended leaving stains and damaged carpet areas. Please note, our entire studio had a professional carpet cleaning over the break so please respect the studio by cleaning up after yourself and doing your part to help us keep things nice for all to enjoy.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Clean-Up
Dancers are expected to clean up after themselves at all times and dispose of trash properly. Dancers on pointe are expected to ensure their area is cleaned up and all toe tape, bandaids, second skin, thread, and/or sewing needles are disposed of and not left on the carpet.
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Borrowed Items
Our director is very generous and if you have borrowed anything such as scissors, darning thread, needles, ballet flats, leotards, tights, we ask that you please return anything you borrow..
_____ Parent Initials / _____ Dancer’s Initials
Academy of Ballet Arts