• VYIBA is a positive, and encouraging work environment for dancers, parents, and staff.  Students are expected to behave respectfully toward their parents, teachers, classmates, and their art form.

• Dancers are strongly advised to wait for their rides inside the VYIBA building and should not walk outside alone.

• We recommend that street clothes and shoes be worn over dance clothes before and after class, especially during the colder months.

• Our school objectives are to:

1. Further develop the physical skills that facilitate proper execution of classical ballet in the Vaganova style.

2. Develop quality presentation for stage performance.

3. Improve fluency in dance terminology and the Vaganova Syllabus.

4. Application of the use of music to the repetition of movement.

5. Develop skills at an advanced level during class to produce a professional performance on stage.

• When students register for classes at VYIBA, they promise to:

1. Arrive early for class.

2. Dress appropriately for class, including footwear.

3. Stretch and warm up entire body for class before it begins.

4. Take an active role in learning dance combinations and choreography.

5. Show improvement throughout the year and apply corrections to work in class.

6. Exhibit a good attitude toward others.

7. Ask questions during class to further understand what is being taught.

• VYIBA reserves the right to change or add classes and teachers when necessary. Please see the posted updates on our website or check the studio bulletin board.

• We expect an email to director@vyballet.flywheelsites.comcastbiz.net or a phone call to the studio to explain a student absence.

• Attendance will be taken in each class. Students who wish to participate in performances must have regular attendance. Those who do not attend regularly may risk their degree of participation in performances. This is in fairness to those attending regularly to keep class and rehearsal progressing.

• Except for serious illness, injury, or severe weather, we expect our dancers to meet their obligation to attend all classes for which they are registered. Multiple absences or tardiness to class can severely interfere with a student’s improvement and overall understanding of class material.

• Students may drop or add a class by obtaining permission from the director. If a student misses a class due to illness or emergency cancellation by the studio for any reason, the student may substitute their regular class with any other class of the same level or lower level. The student may substitute the missed class with a class of a higher level with permission of the director. Substituted classes must be made up within a month of the missed class.

• Multiple absences or tardiness in class can severely interfere with a student’s progress and could result in injury as the class progresses. Poor attendance may require a student to switch to a lower level, repeat a level, or be dismissed from the studio.

• Any student who wishes to participate in another extracurricular or personal activity that may regularly interfere with class and/or rehearsal, should notify the director in advance.

• Absences due to vacations, musicals, college visits, auditions or performance opportunities are the student’s choice, but class tuition will not be changed to fit the number of classes attended.

• Any student enrolled at VYIBA or performing with the VYIBA Company who would like to take class or perform with any other dance school during the school year must seek permission from the director. Participation with any other school without permission may result in dismissal from VYIBA.

• NO REFUND IS GIVEN FOR A MISSED CLASS FOR ANY REASON. Please read the schedule and choose classes carefully so that there will be no conflict with your chosen classes.

• Students will be given a maximum of 7 absences per year, per class. If this number is surpassed, it may interfere with performance opportunities.

• All rehearsals during the month of May are considered mandatory for all students participating in the Gala Performance. This is so that all students are prepared and confident for the show.

• Students should arrive to class prepared and should take a few minutes to warm up before class.

• Students who arrive more than 15 minutes late to class may not participate, but may observe the class.

• If a student is late, they must ask their teacher if they may join class.

• Students must wear the correct dance attire.

• The study of dance may require physical contact between teachers and students or between dancers. Teachers will be respectful of the dancers’ personal space and are mindful of physical contact when correcting.

• Please use the bathroom before class. If a student must use the bathroom during class, they must raise their hand and ask permission without interrupting the class.

• If a student has a question, they should raise their hand to ask once the teacher has finished demonstrating or speaking.

• Students should leave their cell phones in their bags in the dressing room. We do not want dancers to be checking their messages during class.

• If a ballet class includes pointe, students should bring their shoes into the classroom rather than having to leave the room during class to retrieve them. 

• Above all, please “leave your attitude at the door”. Our faculty works hard to create an enjoyable and fun environment for all students and hope that any stress or frustration will not interfere with any student’s class experience.

• We encourage all dancers to take corrections and criticism positively and remember that the teachers’ job is to help dancers improve and grow.

• At the end of each school year, the director, with the help of the teachers, will determine each dancer’s placement for the following school year. The director and teachers reserve the right to move students accordingly.

• A student’s level placement is determined based on their maturity, technical strength, class attendance, performance, growth, work ethic, and focus in class and rehearsal.

• Class placement is not up for negotiation once it is determined – please respect the decision of the director and faculty and remember that the decision is with the student’s best interest and advancement in mind.

• Only students who are 14 and older will be considered for the advanced level, at the discretion of the director.

Pointe Shoes:

Teachers will determine when a student is ready to begin pointework on an individual basis. Some factors that play in this decision are the student’s maturity, foot and ankle strength, the ability to maintain turnout, balance on demi pointe, and attendance to class. Not all students will be ready at the same time.

• Students who are not yet on pointe but are enrolled in a class that has pointework are expected to participate to continue strengthening and preparing for pointe shoes.

• When a dancer is ready for pointe, their teacher will notify them.

• A proper fitting with an expert at a store is required, as well as approval from Viktor on the fit of the shoe.

It is very important for dancers to present themselves in a neat and orderly appearance. Students who do not meet the dress code stated may be asked to observe class rather than participate. This dress code is in place so that both teachers and students can focus on the class and dancing without distractions.

The following expectations apply for all classes:

• No jewelry other than small stud earrings

• No gum

• No warm-ups unless otherwise allowed by teacher or if the studio is very cold

• No t-shirts

• No street shoes on the dance floor

Level dress code:

• Creative Movement: light pink leotard and skirt or ballet dress

•Elementary Ballet & Intro to Ballet Beginner Vaganova (level 1-3): light blue leotard and skirt

• Intermediate Vaganova (level 4): royal blue leotard and skirt

• Advanced Vaganova (level 5-8): black leotard and skirt

The following expectations apply for…

Ballet Class:

Women- black or level color leotard with pink tights and pink ballet shoes.

– No underwear is to be worn beneath dance clothes

– Short chiffon skirts and spandex black shorts are allowed for advanced dancers only

– Hair must be pulled back into a slicked, neat bun.

Men- plain black or white shirts with black tights or biker shorts and a dancebelt. Black or white ballet shoes with matching socks are accepted.

Modern & Contemporary Class:

Women- black or level color leotard with pink or black tights, rolled up or footless. Solid color leggings may be worn over their tights and solid color, tight shirts are accepted.

– Depending on the teacher and the repertoire, dancers may be asked to wear ballet shoes or dance barefoot.

– Hair may be pulled back into a slicked, neat bun or in a tight high or low ponytail.

Men- Black tights or shorts with a solid color, tight shirt.

Jazz Class:

Women- black or level color leotard with black tights or leggings. Dancers may wear solid color, tight fitting shirts.

– Hair may be pulled back into a slicked, neat bun or in a tight high or low ponytail.

Men- Black tights or shorts. Dancers may wear solid color, tight fitting shirts.

Jazz shoes are preferred, but it is ultimately up to the teacher’s discretion what students may wear on their feet.

Hip Hop:

Dancers may wear any clothing of their choosing except for garments that reveal the midriff, the rear, or chest.

Dancers must provide their own sneakers that can be laced up – no slip on shoes or moccasins. These shoes must only be worn in Hip Hop class so that dirt and oils from other surfaces do not interfere with the dance floor. It is recommended that dancers purchase dance sneakers from a dance retailer. Insert link here.

Pre-Ballet & Creative Movement:

Girls- assigned leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet shoes. A matching skirt is accepted.

Boys- black tights or stretchy shorts with a fitted shirt and black or white ballet shoes with matching socks.

• It is extremely important to VYIBA that its students be physically and mentally healthy. Our classes are about individual accomplishments, not body types.

• Teachers will not discuss students’ body shape, size, weight, or dieting in class. If a teacher has a concern about a student’s health, they will speak privately with a parent.

• If a student becomes injured or suffers chronic pain, VYIBA advises that parents seek the opinion of a trained medical professional.

• Proper nutrition and adequate rest form the basis for healthy learning in the studio. Recovering or injured students are expected to attend class, unless they have a fever or a communicable illness.

• Please be sure to notify the office if a dancer will be absent from class.

• It is expected that the student will allow adequate warm-up time prior to the start of class in order to avoid injury. If you have an injury, please notify your teacher prior to the beginning of the class or during class, should you need assistance.

• Dancers who are unable to participate physically are expected to observe class in order to take notes on technical corrections or to learn choreography that may be in progress during the scheduled class time.

• Students may not take medication from anyone except a parent or guardian. If your child has medication that they can self-administer, please notify the office in writing with the name, dosage and time that your child will take such medicine. The staff and faculty of VYIBA will not administer medication to your child.

• If a student has missed a week or more of classes, he/she is required to bring a doctor’s note in order to return to classes. We are concerned about the well-being of all of our students and want confirmation that they are no longer injured or ill and can resume dance classes.

• Students who are ill and contagious should stay home until they are no longer contagious for the good of other students and the staff of VYIBA.

• Students who are not contagious, but are recovering are encouraged to watch class for purposes of choreography.

• Please note that your payment selection reflects the year’s tuition divided into payments for your convenience.

• Family or other activities, that take your student out of classes for a period of time, WILL NOT REDUCE your tuition payment obligation.

• VYIBA plans the year based on student enrollment, teachers’ salaries, studio and theater space rentals, as well as anticipated payments.

• There are 3 payment options:

1. Monthly Tuition

Monthly Tuition is non refundable and must be paid completely before the Gala rehearsal. Deposits, Payments and Registrations for all events are non-refundable.

Monthly Payments are due on the 1st of the month, every month from September through May. Payments that arrive at the studio or arrive in the mail after the 7th of the month must include the $15 late fee. Do not put an earlier date on a check that arrives late.

Monthly Payments are non refundable and must be paid completely before the Gala rehearsal.

2. 3 Month Payments

3 Month Payments are due on the 1st of September, December and March. Payments that arrive at the studio or arrive in the mail after the 7th of the month must include the $15 late fee. Do not put an earlier date on a check that arrives late.

3 Month Payments are non refundable and must be paid completely before the Gala rehearsal.

3. Yearly Payments

Yearly Payments are due no later than September 25th .

If payment is not received by September 25, the yearly payment plan will be voided.

Do not put an earlier date on a check that arrives late.

• Boys in the Intermediate & Advanced levels will receive 50% off of their class tuition payments if they are registered at VYIBA. The discount for boys does not apply to any other dance event, such as Camp, Gala or Nutcracker.

• PLEASE NOTE: IF FOR ANY REASON AT ALL, A STUDENT LEAVES VYIBA, AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR, THERE WILL BE NO TUITION REFUND OR FORGIVENESS. THIS APPLIES TO ALL TUITION OPTIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS.

• Payments are made payable to: Viktor Yeliohin IBA. Please mail payments to: Viktor Yeliohin, 139 Springbrook Court, Lancaster, PA 17603

• Each student is given the opportunity to attend 35-37 weeks of classes per year.

• Any class that falls on a holiday can be made up on a different day during the week. This also applies to any classes that are cancelled due to inclement weather.

• The following dates are listed on the VYIBA calendar as Holiday Closings:   

            Memorial Day – May 28, 2018

            4th of July – July 4, 2018

            Labor Day – September 3, 2018

            Thanksgiving/Fall Break – November 22-24, 2018

            Christmas/Winter Break – December 24-January 1, 2019

            Easter Break – April 17-22, 2019

            Memorial Day – May 27, 2019

• Other important dates to remember are:

            Nutcracker Auditions – May 4 & 11, 2019

            Nutcracker Casting – August 17

            VYIBA Summer Program – July 29-August 9, 2019

• Bring a Friend Week:

            October 8-13, 2018

            March 4-9, 2019

• Parent Visitation Week:

            October 15-20, 2018

            March 11-16, 2019

• If the studio closes unexpectedly, the administrator will contact students and parents through e-mail, the school’s website, and social media. If there are any further questions, please call the studio to confirm the school’s status.

• VYIBA will close in severe weather conditions such as tornado or hurricane conditions or heavy snowfall, or on designated citywide closures.

• Sometimes a teacher will unexpectedly fall ill or have an emergency resulting in absence from class. In these cases, the class with be substituted with a different teacher. Occasionally, this will mean that classes that day may be reorganized to accommodate the substitute teachers.

• Students who continually fail to follow the guidelines stated above will be given a verbal warning by their teachers. If failure to comply continues, the student may be asked to observe class that day, and the teacher may speak with the parent. If the student continues to disobey the guidelines, the director will be notified of the situation.

• Any action that is a violation of local, state, or federal laws, including the possession of alcohol, drugs, or weapons will result in immediate dismissal.

• Sexual harassment, physical intimidation, verbal harassment, injury, or bullying, including by cell phone or social media, will result in dismissal of student.

• The director reserves the right to dismiss a student from the school for any abuse of these guidelines.