A Printable version of the Policies and Procedures
can be found
here.
Mission of LaBelle Performing
Arts
LaBelle Performing Arts (LPA) is
dedicated to inspiring the love of the arts in students of varying
abilities and ages, from preschool to pre-professional. LPA supports
the growth of the arts by maintaining the highest standards and by
nurturing the talent of every student. LPA’s staff has been trained in
their particular discipline (dance, music, visual art or voice) as well as the
school syllabus so that students benefit from cohesive and consistent
training.
Expectations
for Students
It is the goal of LPA to instill in all
students a love for the arts and a full understanding of the different
disciplines as well as the appropriate tools needed to pursue a
professional career if he or she chooses.
Students entering a specialized program
of any kind will face an intensive course of study. It is necessary to
have a student's full concentration and dedication to study to help
successfully reach his or her goals. A course of study for LPA has been
developed to provide students with the necessary elements for a
professional career. Consistency in technique and approach to daily
work is vital to their development as artists. A serious student
recognizes his or her own strengths and weaknesses and through
perseverance minimizes the effect of those weaknesses. A teacher's high
standards and expectations serve to continuously motivate a student.
Ultimately, a student needs to have a positive attitude and strong
self-discipline in order to achieve his or her full potential. Although
a student's goal may not be that of becoming a professional, good
training will never be wasted. If a student persists in his or her
training, he or she will be rewarded with a heightened understanding of the
arts and what it takes to achieve excellence. Students will develop
strength, discipline, grace, and other qualities that will last a
lifetime, often applying these attributes to other parts of their lives.
Tuition and
Fees
Tuition
Tuition for the year may be
paid in full or in monthly installments. All monthly payments are to be
paid in equal installments regardless of the number of lessons in a
month or the number of lessons a student attends. Tuition is due the 1st
of every month. Payments will be considered late if received after the
7th of the month and a $15 late fee will apply. At
registration, all families will be required to present a security deposit
equal to one month’s tuition plus late fee for group classes, cost of
one lesson plus late fee for private lessons or a credit card number. If
an account has not been made up-to-date by the last day of the month,
the credit card will be charged or the deposit applied to the
outstanding balance. Once the deposit has been used, a student will not
be allowed to return to class until another security deposit has been
made.
All accounts must be up-to-date to
participate in the end-of-the year performances.
Payments may be made by cash, credit or
debit card, PayPal online payment, and by check/money order. Please
make all payments out to LaBelle Performing Arts (LPA), and write the
student's name in the note section. There will be a $35 fee for all
returned checks. If more than two checks are returned, payments will
only be accepted in cash or money order form.
If a student chooses to drop a class or
a medical emergency arises, he or she must submit a drop form to cancel
a class. These forms are available
online
or at the studio office. A drop form must be submitted,
otherwise your credit card will be charged or the security deposit
applied to that month’s tuition. If a student has paid for the year in
full, LPA will not refund the tuition. Exceptions will only be granted for medical reasons. A written doctor's excuse and Drop Form will be
required before the student will be refunded the remaining full months’
tuition.
Registration Fee
A $35 non-refundable yearly registration fee applies to all families at LPA.
The fee will be waived for those families paying for the year in full.
Costumes
LPA offers all
students the opportunity to participate in an end-of-the-year
performance.
Costumes are selected by the instructor and approved by the director.
Costume cost is $65
per costume for Pre-Ballet/Tap, Creative Movement, Little Dudes, and Hippity
Hop, and $85 for all other classes if paid by December 7, 2019.
Late costume orders will be accepted until January 31, 2020 with a late
charge of $15 per costume to cover shipping and handling. Costume payments are non-refundable.
All accounts must be up to date in order for a student to receive their
costumes. Recital costumes must be purchased through the studio.
Showcase/Production Fee
A $35
showcase/production fee applies to all dance students (fee is only $15 for each
additional family member) to help cover the rental of the theatre, sound and
lighting technicians, and props and sets. There is a $15 recital fee
for music and theatre students to cover costs associated with these
performances.
Classes
Class Placement
LaBelle Performing Arts follows
a stair step method of teaching and, therefore, each level is attained
by a student’s ability to comprehend and perform the previous year’s
work. Basic placement in dance classes is determined primarily by age; however,
your
child's final placement is based on skill level. The instructor will
assess each student during the first month of class and adjustments will
be made if necessary. The instructor has the final decision on the
placement of the dance student. Please note that it is common for
students to repeat a level.
Pointe Classes
Pointe classes are demanding and
require a high level of technical ability and physical aptitude.
Students who wish to take Pointe classes must have completed the first,
second, and third year of the school syllabus, and be evaluated by the
Ballet Director. Students who are invited to attend Pointe classes must
have and maintain the proper Pointe shoes and be enrolled in all classes
directed by the Ballet Director. Due to the high risk of injury, these
classes will not be made available to students who do not qualify.
Class Cancellation
Classes without sufficient
enrollment by November 1st, will be cancelled. We will make every
effort to move students to a comparable class.
Private Dance Lessons
Private lessons are available
as supplemental classes to the student's normal schedule. Private
lesson rates are
$60 an
hour, $45 for
45 minutes, and $30 for a half hour. Each teacher has
his or her own requirements, so please consult your teacher for more
information. All private dance lesson fees are to be made out to the
instructor not LPA. A student must be registered at LPA in order
to take private dance lessons.
Private Music Lessons
Private voice and
musical instrument lessons are available to LPA students. The rate is
$22 per half-hour, $33 for 45 minutes and $44 for an hour. A student must
be registered at LPA in order to take private music lessons.
Syllabus
The LPA syllabus is both
progressive and graded by level to ensure the best possible training for
each student. With the implementation of a syllabus, LPA teachers are
able to consider each individual student’s needs, strengths and
weaknesses, and better prepare them for the next level of training. The
syllabus was developed with observation of some of the world’s most well-respected arts institutions and strengthened with time proven methods of
teaching.
The Use of Touch in Dance Classes
It is extremely important in
all aspects of dance training to incorporate the use of touch in order
to facilitate kinesthetic awareness. Students will be made aware from
the beginning of their training that, if they feel uncomfortable with
any aspect of physical contact or touch, they will be supported if they
tell the staff member involved, "I'm not comfortable with that." If
they feel their needs or concerns have not been met though this
exchange, they are encouraged to speak with the Artistic Director.
Attendance
Attendance
Students are strongly
encouraged to attend class every week in order to develop their skills
through practice and repetition, as well as build the necessary
conditioning for their bodies. A student in group classes
planning to participate in the end-of-the year performance will not be allowed more
than 4 absences after February 1st. Excessive absences
make it difficult for a class to learn the necessary choreography (Dance), blocking and lines (Theatre) or music (Voice) for the end-of-the-year
performance. A student may choose to make-up absences by taking private
lessons with their instructor in order to review material covered in
class.
Canceling Private
Lessons
Music lessons must be
cancelled at least 24 hours in advance in order to receive a credit for
the lesson. In the case of illness, the instructor must be contacted
directly no later than noon on the day of the lesson (earlier if
possible). If an instructor is contacted less than three hours before a
scheduled lesson, it will be up to the instructor's whether
to apply a credit. It is the responsibility of the student to have the
instructor’s contact information.
Private Dance lessons must be canceled at
least 3 hours before the scheduled time to receive a credit. Private
dance lesson fees are non-refundable for students who cancel lessons
less than 3 hours prior or who arrive more than 5 minutes late.
Tardiness
Students should arrive at
least five minutes prior to their scheduled class time. Students who
are five minutes late to class will have two options: quietly enter the
classroom, sit and take notes, or attend a lower level class within the
same discipline.
Rehearsals
Students involved in performances must be present for all scheduled
rehearsals; excessive absences will result in a dancer being
removed from the performance piece.
In-studio
rehearsals for the end-of-the-year Showcase and Production will be held
during the final week of May and the first week of June. Tech Week will
be at the Saenger Theatre. Rehearsals during tech week will begin in
the late morning or early afternoon and run through to the evening. A
detailed in-studio rehearsal and tech week schedule will be given to all
families by May to allow parents time to make the necessary
arrangements.
Voice
and Theatre will schedule rehearsals as needed for their end-of-the-year
performances.
An in
Dress Code
Teachers will be strictly enforcing the
dress code in all classes. Please be sure you have reviewed the dress
code for each class. Students who do not have the appropriate attire
will be given a warning for the first violation and will not be allowed
to participate in the class for the second violation.
Click
here for a
comprehensive dress code.
Etiquette
Studio Etiquette
The atmosphere inside an arts
school is absorbed and enthusiastic. Students must keep their goals in
mind and maintain a respect for their art form. They must always attend
classes properly dressed (dance) or with the proper materials (script, musical
instrument, books). Promptness to class is a must. Students who are
late must follow the rules outlined in the attendance policy. Students
are not allowed to hang on the barres, talk to other students while
class is being conducted, chew gum, drink, or eat in class. They should
attend to their personal needs prior to class or during breaks.
Students are expected to behave with respect and courtesy towards
faculty, staff, and peers. Students are expected to clean up after
themselves and not leave food, water bottles, wrappers, bandages, etc.
in the dressing room, bathrooms, studios, or lobby.
Safety at the
Studio
Arrival and Departure
Parents must
accompany minor students into the lobby and wait with them until class
begins. This will ensure they are safe and supervised at all times.
Teachers and staff will not be held responsible for students until class
begins. In addition, please arrive a few minutes before classes are
dismissed to pick up students. Under no circumstances are students to
wait outside the facility to be picked up.
Students must be picked up
no later than 15 minutes after the last class of the day. Families will
incur a fee of $1 per minute after the 15-minute grace period. Students
will not be allowed to return to class until this fee is paid.
Severe Weather Conditions
If
a storm is approaching, please call the studio, check your email, or
check our website for details on closings and/or rescheduling. There
will be no refunds or credits due to a storm closing. If LPA is closed
for more than two weeks due to severe weather conditions or storm
damage, students will be notified regarding make-up classes.
Drugs and Alcohol
Absolutely no drugs or alcohol
are permitted on the school property at any time. Those in possession
or under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be asked to leave the
premises. Students who are caught with drugs or alcohol will be
expelled--no exceptions.
Awards
LaBelle
Performing Arts awards and recognizes all the hard work, dedication, and
determination that go into multiple years of dance training. Dancers
for consideration must be in the following categories: fifteen (15)
years or be a graduating senior, ten (10) years, and five (5) years.
Those who qualify may perform in the opening production at the
end-of-year Showcase. Fifteen-year or graduating senior dancers may
also perform a solo. All dancers will receive an award that will be
presented following the Showcase performance. It is an opportunity and
an honor for LPA to congratulate and reward all of these accomplished
students for their achievements.
Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are
available for qualifying dancers. Scholarships are based on talent,
potential and financial need. Scholarships may be partial or a full
year’s tuition. If a student leaves before the end of the school year,
they will be required to pay full tuition up to the time of leaving.
Scholarship students must respect and adhere to the policies of LPA and
be exemplary students, strictly following the studio’s dress code,
avoiding tardiness and unexcused absences. Two unexcused absences will
be cause for teacher inquiries and may result in a re-evaluation of the
student's scholarship status.
Parent Involvement
Parents are as central to the life of
LaBelle Performing Arts as they are to the lives of their children. A
special effort has been made to structure operations to maximize the
opportunity for parent involvement. Since a parent's main priority is
to support his or her child's development, LPA encourages staying in
touch with your child's progress and learning as much as possible about
how our arts education program works.
Open House/Class Observation
Parents and friends are
welcome to attend the annual LPA Open House in August. Dates are
published in the local papers and advance notice will be made available
to all previously enrolled students. Upon request and with teacher approval,
parents can occasionally sit in and observe their child's class for
those rooms that do not have observation windows.
Volunteers
Parents who are interested in volunteering for LPA
will find no shortage of opportunities. Volunteers are needed for a
number of special fundraising events held each year to provide
scholarships and other enrichment opportunities for students.
Volunteers are also needed to help build sets, props and for help at
different performance events. Anyone interested in volunteering should
contact the office.
Communication