Academy Main School Division
2011- 2012 semesters
Fall Semester:
August 22, 2011- January 16, 2012
Spring Semester:
January 16, 2012- May 26, 2012
2011-2012 Year-round Program Audition
July 30, 2011
Registration: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Auditions: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
August 20, 2011
Registration: 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Auditions: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Spring Auditions
December 10, 2011
Registration: 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Auditions: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Audition Frequently Asked Questions
Faculty
Shelly Power, Academy Associate Director
Claudio Muñoz, Ballet Master, Houston Ballet II
Priscilla Nathan-Murphy, Principal of Lower School
Cheryne Busch, Principal Instructor
Sabrina Lenzi, Principal Instructor
Admissions
Students are required to audition for admission into the main school (levels 1-8). Auditions for Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy Summer Intensive Program for levels 2-8 and Houston Ballet II (HB II) are posted on the summer audition tour schedule.
Following the audition:
Audition results will be emailed to each student. To secure a class place after a student has been accepted into the school, it is important to complete all registration forms and return them to the academy office as soon as possible. Classes will be closed when they reach their maximum capacity.
Re-Auditioning
All current students in levels 3-7 are encouraged to attend Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy Summer Intensive Program. Students who do not attend the summer program are required to re-audition for admission to the fall semester at one of the auditions listed above.
Class Registration
After acceptance into the program registration is accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Classes are closed once capacity is reached. A minimum of one-quarter of the school year’s tuition must be paid upon registration.
Tuition For The 2011-2012 Year
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Full Payment Option: New students will submit full payment and registration materials immediately after acceptance into the school.
Payment Plan Option: First payment and registration materials are due by the registration deadline.
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First payment
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At registration
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Second payment
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October 1, 2011
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Third payment
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December 1, 2011
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Fourth payment
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February 1, 2012
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Family Rates are available to families with more than one child attending classes. The highest level student pays full tuition; each additional child enrolled receives a 10% discount.
*Please note that students with delinquent accounts will not be admitted to class or be eligible to register for the next semester until their account is current.
Withdrawal Policy
Parents or guardians wishing to withdraw their student from the Academy must submit their request, in writing, to the Academy Office. Parents/guardians will be responsible for all tuition payments due up to the point the Academy Office has written confirmation that the student has withdrawn from the school.
Refund Policy
Tuition is non-refundable except in the case of serious illness or injury as verified by a doctor’s certificate.
Attendance
Unexcused absences may hinder the promotion of a student and/or result in dismissal from the Academy. Students who are injured are required to watch class, although students who are ill and contagious should stay home. The attendance policy is included in the Student Handbook which is distributed to students at the beginning of the Fall Semester.
Make-up Classes
Students may make up an absence by either attending another section of their level or one level below. Prior to making up a class, the student must pick up a make-up form in the Academy Office. An absence is considered "excused" only when the academy office is provided a note from a physician.
Academy Calendar
| August 22 |
Fall Semester begins for all Main School, Pre-School, and Open classes |
| September 2 |
Teacher In-Service – No classes |
| September 3-5 |
Labor Day Holiday Weekend – No classes |
| September 10 |
Nutcracker audition for Levels 2-5 |
| October 1 |
Second tuition payment due |
| November 21-26 |
Thanksgiving Holiday – No classes |
| December 1 |
Third tuition payment due |
| December 6 |
Spring registration opens for new Pre-school and Open Class students |
| December 5-10 |
Parent Observation for Levels CD1- Level 3, & Children’s Open Classes |
| December 12-17 |
Parent Observation week for levels 4-HBII |
| Dec 19-Jan 2 |
Winter Holiday – No classes (May not apply for HBIIs or levels 7 and higher) |
| January 3 |
Classes resume after Winter Holiday |
| January 14 |
Fall Semester ends |
| January 16 |
MLK Day/Teacher in Service – No classes |
| January 17 |
Spring Semester begins |
| February 1 |
Fourth tuition payment due |
| March 5-10 |
Parent Observation for Open Class Program |
| March 12-16 |
Spring break – No classes (May not apply for HBIIs) |
| April 6-7 |
Spring Holiday – No classes |
| April 20 & 21 |
Academy Spring Performances |
| May 7-12 |
Parent Observation for Pre-School Division and Levels 1-3 |
| May 14-19 |
Parent Observation for Level 4-HBII |
| May 19 |
Open Class Performance |
| May 26 |
Last day of classes |
| June 18 |
Summer Intensive Program begins |
| July 27 |
Summer Intensive Program ends |
Evaluations
Students in levels 5-8 will have feedback from their self-evaluations in the Fall Semester and a syllabus assessment and panel evaluation in the Spring Semester. Students in levels 1-4 will receive written evaluations during the Fall and Spring Semesters.
Body conditioning
Students in levels 5-8 are required to attend coaching sessions with a pilates instructor over the course of the year. Students in level 4 are encouraged to attend pilates sessions. Students may pay for classes in advance and can schedule appointments by signing the schedule book in the Academy Office.
Performance opportunities
Students in levels 1-8 will have the opportunity to perform at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston Ballet Academy's Spring Performance. The 2012 Spring Performance dates will be announced later. Students are required to participate and will be assessed a performance fee in January 2012.
To see an example of the 2009-2010 Level 7 & 8 performance calendar click here. Next season's calendar will be posted in July 2011.
Please visit the Ticketing & Schedule section of this website for directions to the Wortham Theater and information on how to purchase tickets.
Class Attire
Level 1
Girls: Leotard: Montionwear - Tank 2200
Sweetheart fully lined, Silkskin, color- Cirrus Blue
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style C80 footed, pink.
Pink ballet shoes.
Boys: Bike shorts: Motionwear - Style 7105, color - 210 Black
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T. General white form fitting crew neck T-shirt.
White socks and black ballet shoes.
Level 2
Girls: Leotard: Montionwear - Tank 2200
Sweetheart fully lined, Silkskin, color- Iris
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style C80 footed, pink.
Pink ballet shoes.
Boys: Bike shorts: Motionwear - Style 7105, color - 210 Black
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T. General white form fitting crew neck T-shirt.
White socks and black ballet shoes.
Level 3
Girls: Leotard: Montionwear - Tank 2200
Sweetheart fully lined, Silkskin, color- Cobalt
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style C80 footed, pink.
Pink ballet shoes.
Boys: Bike shorts: Motionwear - Style 7105, color - 210 Black
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T. General white form fitting crew neck T-shirt.
White socks and black ballet shoes.
Level 4
Girls: Leotard: Montionwear - Tank 2200
Sweetheart fully lined, Silkskin, color- Hunter
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style A46, convertible for pointe dancers, fully-footed for non-pointe dancers; pink.
Pink ballet shoes.
Boys: Bike shorts: Motionwear - Style 7105, color - 210 Black
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T. General white form fitting crew neck T-shirt.
White socks and black ballet shoes.
Level 5
Women: Leotard: Montionwear - Princess Cami 2518 shelf lined, Tencel, color- Royal Blue
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style A46, pink.
Pink ballet and pointe shoes.
Men: Shirt: Montionwear - Style 7207 white.
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T white.
Black footed tights and black ballet shoes.
Level 6
Women: Leotard: Montionwear - Princess Cami 2518 shelf lined, Tencel, color- Purple
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style A46, pink.
Pink ballet and pointe shoes.
Men: Shirt: Montionwear - Style 7207 white.
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T white.
Black footed tights and black ballet shoes.
Level 7
Women: Leotard: Montionwear - Princess Cami 2518 shelf lined, Tencel, color- Cranberry
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style A46, pink.
Pink ballet and pointe shoes.
Men: Shirt: Montionwear - Style 7207 white.
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T white.
Black footed tights and black ballet shoes.
Level 8
Women: Leotard: Montionwear - Princess Cami 2518 shelf lined, Tencel, color- Sapphire Blue
Tights: Body Wrappers - Style A46, pink.
Pink ballet and pointe shoes.
Men: Shirt: Montionwear - Style 7207 white.
Leotard: Baltogs - Style 380T white.
Black footed tights and black ballet shoes.
Additional Class Attire
Modern: Black or pink footless tights
Jazz: Jazz shoes
Character: Girls – Character shoes and character skirt Boys – Jazz shoes
Contact The Academy
The phone number for Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy is: 713.523.6300.
Parent Observation Dates
Parents are invited to observe their child's classes during the following
weeks (technique and pointe only):
Fall Semester
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Levels 1-3
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December 5-9, 2011
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Levels 4-8
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December 12-17, 2011
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Spring Semester
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Levels 1-3
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May 7-12, 2012
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Levels 4-8
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May 14-19, 2012
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Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy maintains a policy of non-discrimination with regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, national origin, sexual preference, and non-job related disability.
Image: Former HBII students, current Company members,
Natalie Varnum and William Newton.
Photo by: Amitava Sarkar
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