ADMISSIONS

The School offers Pre-Ballet, Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced classes to boys and girls, ages 4 to 19. Contact the School Office, 503.227.6890, during school hours (2pm-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-12pm Sat), for registration details or to schedule a placement class.

PRE-BALLET

Classes for students ages 4-6 are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. New Pre-Ballet students do not need to take a placement class. Call the School for information on registration.

PLACEMENT CLASS

Prospective students age 7 and up are required to take a placement class to determine the student’s level. Level placement is based on the student’s skill and strength, relative to other students in the School, and should not be compared to levels at a previous dance studio. There is no placement class fee. Admission into the program is based on age-appropriate placement and available space in a student’s level. Please call the School to schedule a placement class.

AUDITION INFORMATION

View 2009/2010 Season Audition Tour Schedule

Please note: All students age 7-18 must audition in order to be considered for enrollment. Please review our audition schedule to find details and an audition location near you. A live audition is preferable to a video audition for admittance into the program. At the time of the audition, dancers must provide a resume and photo. No audition fee is required.

Auditions
Videos will only be accepted from students living more than 150 miles outside the Portland Metro area.

Video Auditions
Submissions should be no longer than 10 minutes and must include barre and center. Intermediate students: Show pointe work at the end of center with relevés in first position and échappés in second position, en facé. Advanced students: Show entire video en pointe

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The School of OBT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or sexual orientation.

CURRICULUM

PRE-BALLET: Ages 4-6
Offers an introduction to music and dance. Children are taught to connect imagery with movement, and begin to develop coordination, listening skills and musicality. Pre-ballet classes introduce basic ballet vocabulary, class etiquette and nurture a love for dance.

Starting at First Steps, new students must take a placement class prior to registration. Placement and admission are at the Director’s discretion based on the student’s skill, strength, age appropriateness and class size.

FIRST STEPS
A bridge between Pre-Ballet and Level I. Students are introduced to the fundamental elements of ballet.

LEVEL I
Provides the basis and foundation upon which all future classes are built. The curriculum taught at this level is extremely important and cannot be overemphasized. Children learn correct placement of the body and positions of the arms, head, and legs. In addition, students are encouraged to develop their musicality and artistry. New students must not be over the age of 12.

Beginning in Level IIB, students are encouraged to take lower division classes, tuition free, to help speed Their development.

LEVEL IIB
Repeats and develops the material taught in Level I. Tempos and numbers of steps increase. Students add strength and speed to their basic technique. This class begins to concentrate on coordination between the upper and lower body.

LEVEL IIA
Adds more complex exercises at the barre and introduces more adagio and allegro in the center, while continuing to develop the material learned in Level IIB. Students begin pointe work.

LEVEL IIIB
Focuses on the coordination of the whole body to include the head, legs, arms and torso. More difficult steps are taught at the barre and center, including pirouettes and allegro as well as beats and pointe work.

LEVEL IIIA
Focuses on developing strength, stability, balance, aplomb and elevation, and introduces more complicated adagio and allegro combinations.

LEVEL IV / PRE-PROFESSIONAL DIVISION / APPRENTICES
All aspects of the student’s training are refined, strengthened and reinforced. Pointe work is emphasized and the ability to learn and perform repertoire is stressed.

2008/2009 ANNUAL TUITION

TUITION PAYMENT

Due dates and payment options are listed in detail on the students’ registration sheets, which they will receive after they have been accepted and placed into the program. In registering for classes, the student and parents/guardians are making a commitment to fulfill the entirety of the session. No refunds will be granted for early withdrawal. The School reserves the right to terminate a student’s enrollment if the student or parent is unable to participate in accord with the expressed expectations for attendance, conduct and timely payment of tuition.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Merit scholarships are offered to students who have demonstrated exemplary talent, work ethic and commitment to their training. For this reason the School provides scholarships primarily to students who have been enrolled for a year or more. Scholarships are granted at the discretion of the School Director as a reward for excellence and as an encouragement of potential. All parents of Scholarship recipients are required to assist school staff on events and projects, as needed throughout the year. A scholarship grant for tuition is a privilege and as such may be revoked at any time due to poor behavior, lack of parental support of the school and student, or unwillingness to participate in the volunteer requirement of the scholarship program. Students on Scholarship who do not complete the session for which they were granted the scholarship will owe the school the balance of tuition for the remainder of the session. The School of OBT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or sexual orientation.

ATTENDANCE

Exemplary attendance is expected of all students. If a student anticipates an absence, they must notify the School at least ONE WEEK before the absence for it to be excused. If an illness or injury impedes the student from full participation, the student is expected to observe class and take notes. If the illness or injury necessitates bed rest, the student MUST NOTIFY THE SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE MISSED CLASSES.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

School closures are listed on the School calendar, which can be found on the last page of this handbook. In the event of unexpected closures due to BAD WEATHER, SOBT follows Portland Public Schools. If driving conditions are poor due to weather, please check your local news stations for school closures before calling OBT. If Portland Public Schools are closed for the day, so is SOBT. Please check the SOBT blog for updates on school closures. www.schoolofobt.blogspot.com

INJURY

Students who are unable to fully participate in class due to an injury, be it major, minor, chronic or acute, MUST OBSERVE CLASS until they are recovered. It is expected that the student will seek guidance from the School in obtaining medical attention and treatment and keep the School apprised of their progress.

GRADUATION

Students progress in their training by developing strength and technique. Not all students do this at an equal pace. Progression to the next level is by recommendation of the faculty only. IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE for parents, students, or anyone except the student’s teacher to recommend the student graduate to the next level.

DRESS CODE

CALENDAR