FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dear Canyon Concert Ballet Families,

On behalf of the Canyon Concert Ballet Board of Directors, we welcome you to CCB and are excited and happy to have you as a participant in what we believe is a top-notch dance training program.

We are very excited about the upcoming performance opportunities for our students in the year ahead. This year we also introduce our “Season of Live Music,” which focuses on our dancers performing accompanied by live music.

We warmly welcome you to the Canyon Concert Ballet family and hope you enjoy a positive, enriching experience with our organization.

Sincerely,

Canyon Concert Ballet Board of Directors

 

FROM THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR

 Canyon Concert Ballet Families,

 On behalf of the Canyon Concert Ballet Faculty, I would like to welcome you to another great year of dance education and performances! We are off to a great start!

This Student Handbook has been updated with a lot of important information, and includes all of our new and existing policies. We encourage all of our dancers and their families to look through and familiarize yourself with this document. We hope that it will help you to know what to expect from Canyon Concert Ballet, and what we expect from you as well. Your enrollment at Canyon Concert Ballet is your agreement that you accept the policies and procedures in this handbook

We value each and every one of our students, and we are honored that you have chosen to be a part of the Canyon Concert Ballet family. This year promises to be fun and exciting. It is sure to offer many incredible experiences to all dancers.

Best Regards,

Abby Behm

School Director

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1. About CCB
2. Key Team Members of CCB
3. Program Descriptions
4. Enrollment/Placement
5. Evaluation/Promotion
6. Studio Etiquette and Rules
7. Class Attendance
8. Payment Procedures/Scholarships
9. Disciplinary Procedures
10. Communication
11. Performance Opportunities
12. CCB is a Non-Profit
13. Community Outreach/Fundraising Activities
14. Concern Procedure
15. Contact Information and Hours

 

1. ABOUT CCB

• Mission – Our mission is to expand, nourish and enrich the artistic opportunities in classical dance through training, performance, and community outreach in service to the Northern Colorado region. It is the belief of Canyon Concert Ballet that classical dance should be taught with a great deal of commitment to and respect for the art form while always maintaining the joy inherent in dance. Class work and performance opportunities should heighten the dancer’s capacity for cooperation, responsibility, and pride. Training and performances should be presented with accessibility for our audiences, volunteers, and artists.
• Vision – Our vision is to provide a sustainable community forum for dance performance and education.
• Goals – Our goals are to provide the highest quality training to a diverse group of dancers, to provide a broad range of performance opportunities for dancers and audiences, to enrich our community’s cultural climate with a diverse repertoire of artistry, and to serve as leaders in our growing arts community.

Founded in 1979 as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, Canyon Concert Ballet (CCB) has been a part of the northern Colorado community for over 35 years. CCB is comprised of the Concert Ballet Company, the Youth Ensemble and the Canyon Concert Ballet School

The CCB Company offers a full season of classical and contemporary productions. CCB Youth Ensemble offers younger dancers the opportunity to perform and participate in various competitions throughout Colorado. CCB dancers are proud to participate in community events, school presentations and service projects throughout the area to share classical, contemporary, and modern dance repertoire.

Canyon Concert Ballet School is well-known for developing dancers of all ages and abilities in a nurturing and progressive way. We provide professional instruction in age and developmentally appropriate ballet technique classes based on the Vaganova ballet syllabus, and offer a planned curriculum for other dance genres including pre-ballet, lyrical, modern, and modern dance.  As a result, all of our students develop character, self-esteem, and a level of self-discipline that will provide a powerful edge in any future endeavor. Canyon Concert Ballet has six studios in two locations in Fort Collins, allowing us to easily serve dancers throughout northern Colorado and southern Wyoming.  Live piano and percussion music accompanies several of our dance classes.

2. KEY TEAM MEMBERS AT CCB

• Board of Directors- As a non-profit organization, CCB is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. As CCB’s governing body, the Board of Directors oversees both the artistic and administrative arms of the organization. The CCB Board is comprised of local community volunteers who generously give their time to ensure CCB continues to meet its mission while sustaining as a non-profit business.
• Artistic Director- The Artistic Director oversees and facilitates CCB Company performances. The Artistic Director leads our team of dancers through the performing season, choreographing and maintaining high artistic standards for all dancers at CCB.
• Executive Director- The Executive Director manages the administrative functions of the organization, including but not limited to fundraising and development, marketing and community outreach, and managing CCB staff. The Executive Director works with the Artistic Director and Board of Directors to facilitate success at CCB. 
• Artistic Advisory Council-The AAC is a group of highly experienced individuals who collectively advise the Artistic Director when asked to do so and assist in maintaining the highest standards of dance training at CCB by assisting the School Director with syllabi.
• Production Directors – Each CCB production has a designated artistic staff member who manages the artistic aspects and quality of the performance. The Production Director is supported by rehearsal assistants, technical and design staff, and the Executive Director.
• Key Staff – CCB is supported by highly qualified energetic staff including our Office Manager, Office Assistants, Bookkeeper and Receptionist. We also rely heavily on our School Director, Ballet Mistress, and Ensemble Director. CCB is also grateful to have a large group of dedicated volunteers, without whom our success would not be possible.

3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

 Young Dancer’s Program

• Move With Me! (ages 18 months – 3 years) – For students who are not yet ready to be on their own in one of our pre-school programs. Designed to introduce students (along with their parent or caregiver) to movement, which is key to healthy neurological development.
•  Creative Movement (ages 3-4) – This class introduces rhythms, basic steps and dance terminology, with the experience enhanced by familiar classical music to accompany the young dancer. The high-energy class environment focuses on creativity and self-expression with structured progression in movement and group interaction
• Pre-Ballet with Tap Levels 1, 2, & 3 (ages 4-7) – Pre-Ballet classes offer young dancers a variety of creative movement experiences and introduce students to the art of ballet at an age-appropriate pace.  Children learn basic ballet positions, vocabulary, and studio etiquette while focusing on improving coordination and musicality.  Note: Dancers aged 6+ and enrolled in Pre-Ballet 3 are eligible to audition for our Youth Ensemble each May.
• Dance Explorer (Ages 5-7) – This one-hour class is perfect for the young dancer looking for variety in their dance experiences.  Students will explore a wide variety of genres, including tap rhythms, jazz, modern, ballet and hip hop elements over the course of each semester.

Children’s Ballet Program

• Ballet 1, 2, & 3 (ages 7-12) – New students are generally placed into an age-appropriate level (ages 7-8 in Ballet 1, ages 8-9 in Ballet 2, and ages 9-10 in Ballet 3). All other classes (or if an experienced dancer wishes to challenge an age-level placement) require an evaluation by one of our Instructors.

Pre-Professional Ballet Program

• Ballet 4, 5, 6 &7 (ages 11 and up) – Those in Level 4 may be invited to add a pre-pointe class, and those in Levels 5 and up will advance to pointe, variations and partnering classes. Traditional ballet pedagogy is the foundation of our curriculum, but students are encouraged to include other dance forms such as Modern, Jazz, and Lyrical in their education.

Other Dance Genres

• Lyrical – Dancers learn how to express themselves through music and movement, using a combination of Ballet and Jazz techniques. Emphasis is placed on interpreting music lyrics into movement. They will also gain experience in improvisation and choreographing.
• Modern – Dancers learn how to channel their emotions into their movements. Modern foregoes the traditional technique of Ballet and uses grounding to the floor.
• Jazz – Dancers use their Ballet technique to showcase a more upbeat and energetic form of dance. Dancers will learn leaps, turns, and unique steps.
• Tap – Dancers will learn to use the metal pieces on their shoes to make percussive beats along with music.
• Hip Hop – Dancers will learn a variety of styles in the Hip Hop tradition- popping, locking, break dancing.
• Musical Theatre – Dancers will explore a variety of styles that are utilized in Broadway productions, such as Jazz, Hip Hop, and others.

4. ENROLLMENT/PLACEMENT

• Placement into classes is done based on the dancer’s ability rather than solely based on age. Age is used as a guideline to make an initial judgement regarding where the dancer should begin, and then ability is assessed throughout the year to ensure correct placement.
• Assessments are performed at the end of each semester and feedback is given to all students. It is common and expected that dancers will spend multiple years in each level in order to gain necessary strength, mastery, and experience before moving to the next level.
• Parents should expect students to spend more than one year in any given level. Again, this is common and not an indication of failure. Dancers’ success and mastery of skills usually requires students to spend more than one year working on a syllabus.
• Placement in levels is up to the complete discretion of CCB teaching staff. We work hard to place students in the most appropriate level to challenge them but also to maintain healthy progress and accomplishment. There will be circumstances when students advance more quickly due to physical growth and other factors that are sometimes beyond a student’s control.

5. EVALUATION/PROMOTION

• Assessments are completed for each student in each class at the end of every semester. Instructors will evaluate dancer’s behavior, effort, and ability in order to provide constructive feedback to help our dancers grow and to measure their accomplishments.
• A syllabus will be used to clearly outline the expectations of the dancers at each level. Evaluations will be written and delivered to each dancer along with their placement for the next semester.
• Assessments will either be performed by each instructor individually, or as a structured class with a variety of teachers viewing and providing feedback on the student’s performance in that class.
• All decisions regarding the advancement of students to another level remain in the sole and complete discretion of CCB staff. If you have questions about your student’s placement, please request a meeting or discussion with your student’s teacher.

6. STUDIO ETIQUETTE/RULES

Dancers are expected to display a positive attitude and to foster a sense of community at CCB. This means being kind to other dancers, refraining from talking negatively about fellow dancers, acting as role models and leaders in dance classes, and projecting a positive image of CCB’s students in the outside community and on social media. Please be kind to each other, dancers and parents alike, to allow all members of the CCB family to have a positive experience.

A key part of studying dance technique is learning discipline and mastering etiquette. Please observe the following:

• Students must be ready to dance at the start of class.  Please plan for a few extra minutes for changing and other preparations so the student is ready to enter the classroom on time.
• Students must wear appropriate clothing for the dance style in which they participate. Ballet 1-7 students are required to wear black leotards. CCB offers Clara’s Closet as a way to help parents exchange clothing and shoes at a reduced rate.
• Students’ hair must be pulled back and off their face at all times unless instructed otherwise by the student’s dance teacher.
• Students may not talk with or disrupt other students or the accompanist during class. Unacceptable behavior may result in dismissal from class and a phone call to parents. Continued misbehavior could result in student suspension or dismissal. See Disciplinary Procedure section.
• Students may not enter class late or leave class early without permission from the instructor. Injuries are caused by insufficient warm-up, and interruptions are distracting to the other students in class. If a student is more than ten minutes late, the student must receive permission from the instructor in order to participate in class.
• Students must wear street clothes over dance clothes when outside the building. Ballet shoes are not to be worn outside. The only exception is moving between studios and the main lobby.
• Students should remain inside the building while waiting to be picked up.
• Pianos are for accompanist use only.
• Food, drink or chewing gum is not allowed in the dance spaces. Students may bring a water bottle into class. Any spills must be wiped up immediately for the safety of the dancers.
• All students, parents, siblings and other guests must conduct themselves in a quiet, safe and courteous manner at all times, refraining from loud and boisterous behavior in the lounges or running around in empty studios. Young children must not be left unattended, run in the halls or play in the studios.
• Family and friends are able to view classes in the studio by invitation only during Parent Observation week.
• Parents are not allowed in the studios for any reason without the permission from the instructor.

***Note that while each dance program and performance opportunity will have its own handbook delineating additional rules and attendance procedures, the rules and policies listed herein remain in effect.**

7.  CLASS ATTENDANCE

Dancers are encouraged to maintain consistent dance class attendance. It is critical that dancers train their bodies if they have performance goals. Dancers must practice consistent attendance to dance classes to prepare their bodies for the rigorous demands of rehearsal and performance.

• Absence Notification – If you or your student plans to miss a class, please contact the CCB office by phone to notify the staff that you will be absent.
• Make-Up Classes – Missed classes may be made within the semester in which they were missed. Make-up class options are listed on the class schedule and should be in a similar level and dance style as the missed class.
• Note that attendance is critical to any student’s progress and growth. Missing classes on a regular basis will slow a student’s progress and may jeopardize advancement.

8. PAYMENT POLICIES/SCHOLARSHIPS

• Tuition Payment is due the 1^st of each month enrolled and pays for classes for the following month.
• Need-based scholarships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants must fill out an application and be available for an interview. If you are interested in scholarship applications, please inquire in the front office of Canyon Concert Ballet.
• Delinquent accounts will be given notice once an account is 30-days late. If the account is not brought current through a payment plan or other arrangements, CCB may terminate a student’s enrollment and/or participation in any CCB activities including dance classes, performances, and/or the Spring recital.

9. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

We hope that dancing at CCB can be a positive experience for all dancers and parents. However, if a dancer or parent fails to meet expectations as outlined herein, CCB may employ the following disciplinary procedures. Please note that these disciplinary procedures are offered for general guidance, but may be accelerated if, in the sole discretion of the Board or CCB staff, circumstances warrant such acceleration.

• First the student or parent will receive a verbal warning regarding the negative behavior. This could be from any teacher, staff member, volunteer, or board member at CCB.
• If a verbal warning is not effective and negative behavior continues, a second warning will be issued in writing. Such warning may be via email and could come from any teacher, staff member, volunteer, or board member at CCB.
• If verbal and written warnings have been issued and negative behavior continues, an in person meeting with students and/or parent(s) and any teacher, staff member, volunteer, or board member at CCB may be required.
• If negative behavior continues after the foregoing disciplinary procedures have been followed, CCB reserves the right to dismiss the student from dance classes or performance participation in its sole discretion.

10. COMMUNICATION

We invite you to visit the CCB website at ccballet.org. The website offers a wide variety of information including class information, audition dates and performance information. In addition, updates and information are sent through periodic (often weekly) e-mails. Key CCB staff have e-mails that are listed at the end of this document.   You are also welcome to call or visit CCB offices

If you would like to reach out to a specific instructor, please email schooldirector@ccballet.org, or contact them at the studio. In emails to the school director, please include the instructor you would like to speak with and the specific subject you would like to discuss. The school director will then reach out to the instructor and connect you.

Please refrain from attempting to contact any instructor via their cell phone unless you have specifically been given permission to do so by that instructor.

11. PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

As part of our mission, CCB provides our dancers with many performance opportunities throughout the season. Audition information is communicated through the CCB website, posted at the studio, and through e-mail. It is an honor to participate in production opportunities, as well as a commitment. Accordingly, if you or your student audition for any performance opportunity, you will be expected to be available for all rehearsals and the full week prior to the performance. If you or your student choose to audition for any performance opportunity, you do so with the understanding that casting is at the sole discretion of CCB artistic staff.

• Company Productions – CCB offers a pre-professional company level that allows dancers of all ages to explore and continue to develop their love for dance. The CCB Company is composed of advanced level dancers committed to rigorous ballet training. Company members and class attendance are by audition only. Company members sign a contract and are expected to meet all behavioral and class expectations outlined therein.
• Chamber Company – This is a group of individuals who have been a part of the Company or have demonstrated Company-level ballet technique, but who cannot make a full time commitment to be able to participate in Company membership. Chamber Company members sign a contract and are expected to meet all behavioral and class expectations outlined therein.
• Canyon Concert Ballet’s Youth Ensemble – is a performance program that allows students to learn and perform techniques and choreography in all styles of dance including jazz, lyrical, ballet, musical theatre, and modern. Students have the opportunity to be a part of a team and family of dancers that have a passion for dance and performing and are able to spread that passion through the community. There are many performing and choreography opportunities offered to anyone who commits to being in Ensemble, and it is a chance to represent CCB in a variety of ways and at a variety of events throughout the year, including New West Fest. Students in the Ensemble Program also participate in competition opportunities throughout the year.
• School Performances – CCB students have the opportunity to participate in the Student Showcase at the end of the school year. The Student Showcase gives our students the opportunity to perform on the Lincoln Center Mainstage.

12. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU THAT CCB IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

• CCB is a 501(c) (3) non-profit entity, meaning that the organization is not profit driven but is instead mission focused.
• The work our dancers do in the studio contributes to the enrichment of the community by providing high quality performances for both dancers and audiences.
• Because our mission involves community involvement, dancers have many opportunities to collaborate with other local arts organizations.
• We have scholarship programs available to qualified candidates.
• Our history in the Northern Colorado area provides a tradition of excellent dance education and production experience to all involved.
• We depend on volunteers and value the opportunity for many to participate and contribute to the arts in the Northern Colorado area.
• We rely heavily on grant funding and local fundraising to fund and better Northern Colorado’s access and exposure to dance.

13.  COMMUNITY OUTREACH/FUNDRAISING

• Tuition is not tax Deductible: Although CCB is a non-profit entity, your tuition is not tax deductible. However, any gifts (cash or in-kind) are tax deductible! If you are interested in more information about donating to CCB or have a business that would be interested in supporting CCB, please email executivedirector@ccballet.org.
• Fundraising: Because your tuition does not cover the full cost of our operations, CCB will periodically hold fundraising events to underwrite scholarships, help cover faculty compensation, and finance studio improvements. Please consider how you can participate in keeping CCB the highest quality studio in Northern Colorado.

14. CONCERN PROCEDURE

Staff members strive to be as easily as accessible and responsive as possible. However, as most CCB staff has additional outside employment, please remain patient as we thoughtfully return your e-mail questions and concerns.

• Class – If you or your student have concerns about dance classes, student progress, student placement, dance instruction or showcase:
• Teachers: speak directly with your student’s teacher. Teachers are encouraged to and are always willing to schedule a time to talk with you about your student’s progress.
• Other: If you are not comfortable talking with the dance teacher about your concerns or feel you are not receiving responses to your questions, please schedule time with the School Director to ask your questions or express your concerns.
• Production – CCB productions are managed by the Artistic Director or individual guest directors of those productions.
• Artistic Director or Production Manager: If you have concerns about company productions, please contact the production manager for that show.
• Ensemble Director: If you have concerns about the Youth Ensemble, please contact the Ensemble Director.
• Other: If you continue to have unresolved concerns, please contact the Executive Director, who will assist in setting a meeting with appropriate staff.
• Board of Directors: If all of the foregoing channels have been exhausted and you truly feel that your concerns have not been addressed, you may contact the President of the Board of Directors directly to discuss your concerns.

15. CONTACT INFORMATION AND HOURS

General Office	(970) 472-4156
Executive Director	executivedirector@ccballet.org	TBA
Artistic Director	artisticdirector@ccballet.org	Alicia Laumann
School Director	schooldirector@ccballet.org	Abby Behm
Ensemble Director	ensemble@ccballet.org	Tessa Vandeventer
Office Manager	info@ccballet.org	Sue Northburg

Please note: DO NOT text our staff members. Please do not call or contact our staff members via their cell phone numbers unless they have explicitly given you permission to do so

Office Hours –

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
3:30p-7:30p	9a-12p 3:30p-7p	3:30p-7:30p	9a-12p 3:30p-7:30p	9a-12p 3:30p-7p	9a-12p	Closed

 

*Note that office hours may change throughout the session. Please inquire in the front office if you have questions about office hours.