BALLET ONE - FIVE PROGRAM

CMRC takes the our advance programs very seriously for all students. Even if a dancer is taking ballet, pointe, tap, or jazz for a fun hobby, it is a challenging technique that must be done correctly to ensure students do not suffer serious or long term injuries to their growing bodies. All dancers in our advance levels are NOT placed according to age or grade at school. They are instead placed in the level where the staff feels they will best excel without risking physical injuries. We take many factors into consideration including attendance, classroom behavior/ focus, commitment to learning (by accepting feedback) and technical progress throughout each school year. Students should not assume they will always move up to the next level, regardless of whether or not they moved up the year before or where their friends were placed. No two dancers progress at the same pace and it is extremely common and almost expected that students may stay in a level for two years to build the strong foundation needed to successfully advance and accomplish their goals.

Please read below for some specific information about our Ballet One- Five program-

ATTIRE- All students in Ballet I- V must be in the proper attire each week, a solid black leotard, light pink footed or convertible dance tights, pink leather ballet slippers (and pink pointe shoes for students en pointe) with hair in a tight, neat bun with bobbi pins, hair ties AND a hair net/ bun cover. Students who feel they need additional support under their leotard may wear a black or nude colored bra (however most leotards have supportive lining). No skirts, shirts, tank tops, pants or other warm ups may be worn unless at the discretion of the teacher during winter months. This uniform helps teach the student disipline and responsiblity to prepare themselves for class each week and helps the teacher to see if the student is using correct musculature and technique without their bodies being hidden by an array of colors or extra clothing. Students with incorrect attire or hair will be given one warning, if they continue to arrive without the proper uniform they will be asked to observe class while stretching and taking notes.ors.

STRETCHING- It is strongly suggested that students arrive 10- 15 minutes early to class to being stretching and warming up in the lobby. We have given our students many different stretches to try, should you have specific questions, please ask your teacher. When students begin class warmed up, they can maximize the use of their class time to improve their technique instead of 15 minutes being spent warming up during valuable class time. This will allow more time to focus on new terminology or improving the basics. Warming up before class also decreases a student's likelihood of being injured during class

ATTENDANCE- In ballet class attendance is very important! Each class a student misses puts her one more class behind her peers. A dancer cannot improve if they are not in class to practice and receive feedback. This can affect a dancer staying in their assigned level as well as moving up to the next level at the end of the year. Excessive absences may also affect stage time in the final class piece for the show. show.

POINTE - Students in Ballet 3 and 4 are required to have their pointe shoes beginning the first day of class. Shoes that are old or "dead" (as the dancers call it) need to be replaced. The importance of new pointe shoes cannot be stressed enough! Shoes that are too worn in cause a dancer to begin training incorrectly therefore weakening her feet, knees and ankles and making her more prone to injury. They make doing pointe work correctly almost impossible. Should I feel that a dancer is wearing shoes that are too worn, We will not allow her to continue with pointe work in the classroom until they have new shoes. This is in the best interest of the dancer!dancer!

SHOES - Students in Ballet 2 should begin to prepare to purchase their first pair of pointe shoes sometime during this coming year. We will let a student know when we feel they are ready for pointe work and will give them more information on getting the shoes. Once a student has been placed en pointe, it is important for them to have pointe shoes. Students will not be able to progress to the next level until they have had time working in the shoes. Students who do not get the shoes when recommended, will need to move back to Ballet 1 so that the rest of the class isn't held behind.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our pointe program please contact Melissa Heick at carrollmanordance@gmail.com .