School rules

Students must come to every class in the official Ananyan Ballet uniform for their group and level. The uniform may evolve with the level and the academic year; the school gives families the precise references as well as the ordering details. Hair must be carefully and securely fastened, in keeping with the requirements of classical ballet. Jewellery, watches and unnecessary accessories are not allowed during class. Students must arrive on time, properly prepared and ready to begin work.

Mobile phones and other personal electronic devices are not allowed during classes, rehearsals and coaching sessions. They must remain switched off and put away for the whole duration of the work.

The studio is a shared working space. Students leave their belongings in the place provided and leave the room clean and tidy after every class. Ballet shoes are not worn outside. Food stays out of the room; water is welcome in it.

Attendance and punctuality are an integral part of the training. Each student is expected to follow the weekly programme for their group. Repeated absences or frequent lateness can compromise the student's progress as well as their participation in rehearsals, performances, competitions and other school projects.

An absence you know about in advance is reported to the school beforehand. A long absence, through illness or for any other reason, is discussed with the teaching direction, so that the student's return can be arranged in good conditions.

A class cancelled by the school is rescheduled. Were the school to close for a reason beyond its control, families would be told and the school would offer, depending on the case, to reschedule the classes concerned. The terms that apply to a student's absences are settled with the family at enrolment.

Classical ballet is a demanding physical practice. At enrolment the family declares that the student is fit to practise it, reports any allergy, any treatment and any medical condition relevant to their safety, and tells the school without delay of any change during the year. A student who is injured or unwell tells the teacher before the class. They can then follow the class by watching, which is part of the work.

A student who arrives after the warm up may be asked to watch the class rather than join it. This is not a punishment, it is a precaution: the body is not ready.

Pointe work begins only when the teaching direction decides, according to the physical maturity, the strength and the technique of the student. It is decided neither by age nor at the family's request. Few things damage a young dancer as surely as pointe work begun too early.

Every family must hold third party liability insurance covering activities outside school, and declares it at enrolment.

The school is responsible for the student from the moment they enter the studio until the end of the class. Before and after, the student is in the care of their family.

Students who are minors are handed only to their legal guardians or to the people named by the family in the enrolment dossier. Anyone else requires written agreement. A student leaves alone only where the family has expressly said so.

Families are asked to let students work without being watched. An audience during class changes the work for everyone, and first of all for the youngest. Classes open to families may be arranged during the year.

Taking part in a performance is not automatic. It depends in particular on attendance, punctuality, participation in rehearsals, technical preparation, the student's commitment and the artistic needs of the production. In the event of significant absences, missed rehearsals or insufficient preparation, the Artistic and Pedagogical Direction may decide that a student will not take part in a performance or in a given role.

Payment of tuition, performance fees, costumes or any other production-related expense does not, by itself, guarantee participation in a performance or the allocation of a particular role. Casting and final participation are artistic and pedagogical decisions of the school.

Families do not photograph or film during classes and rehearsals. The reason is not secrecy: in a studio an image always catches other people's children, and every family has the right to decide what is done with the image of their own child.

The permission you give the school is collected in the enrolment dossier. It is part of enrolling: a class and a performance are photographed as a group, and a student cannot be taken out of the picture without being taken off the stage. No name appears beside a published photograph, neither first name nor surname, images are never passed to a third party for their own communication, and you may at any time ask us to take one particular photograph down by writing to us.

At performances, the conditions for taking pictures are given to families for each production.

The best results come from a relationship of trust between students, families and the teaching team, with a clear respect for each person's role. Parents are always welcome to communicate with the school and to ask their questions; however, decisions concerning group placement, moving up a level, the intensity of the training, pointe work, repertoire, casting, competitions, additional coaching and pre-professional or professional paths rest with the Artistic and Pedagogical Direction.

The same standards and the same quality of teaching do not mean identical paths, castings or opportunities. Every pedagogical decision is taken in the interest of the student's development and of the work of the group as a whole.

The annual tuition fees cover the school's teaching programme. Performances, competitions, intensive courses, costumes, travel and other complementary activities or projects are invoiced separately, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Taking part in performances involves specific production-related fees. Ananyan Ballet wishes to offer its students the experience of a true theatrical production, carried out with the same standard of artistic quality, detail and professionalism that guides their training. These fees may concern, among other things, costumes, sets, the technical needs of the theatre, lighting, professional production teams, photography and video. Families are informed in advance of the applicable fees.

Competitions, international projects, tours and travel are not included in the annual tuition fees. Depending on the project, entry fees, preparation or additional coaching, costumes, transport, accommodation and other associated expenses are borne by the participating families.

Enrolment covers one school year and is renewed each year, the rules and the image permission included. The dossier is signed by a legal guardian of the student.

The terms for leaving during the year are settled with the family at enrolment.

The school may end a student's place in the event of a serious or repeated breach of these rules, after telling the family and looking with them for another solution.