Dancers,

For Gala 2025 in order to be considered for a lead or demi lead role, as well as the upper division opening piece, please read the following carefully and discuss with your parents before committing. These types of roles will require consistent weekend rehearsal commitment.

Attendance, Excused Absence & Injury Policy

You are committing to attending all scheduled rehearsals for your role(s) as well as weekly classes at your highest given level. For dancers performing on pointe in the Gala 2025 you must take at least 1 technique and 1 pointe class per week. If you miss your regularly scheduled classes, you must make up the classes before the weekend. Failure to do so will result in the understudy dancing your part in rehearsal with you working on the side full out. Chronic absences and failure to make up your class(es) will result in losing your part in Gala. Please keep this in mind when making additional commitments for spring and summer. Special consideration will be given for an excused absence for important personal, religious, or school events providing notice is given two weeks in advance. You will only be given a total of 3 excused absences (this includes unforeseen illnesses). Death in the family is always considered a permissible absence. If given enough notice (five weeks prior to conflict is preferred of a potential conflict), we may be able to adjust the schedule to avoid the conflict altogether and you will not run the risk of missing a rehearsal or using 1 of your excused absences. To request an excused absence from a rehearsal that has already been scheduled you must complete and Absence Request Form located at the front desk and return it to the front desk. Do not assume that you are excused because you submitted the request. We will confirm whether it was approved or declined. Missing a rehearsal if your request to miss is denied will result in you losing your role(s). If you attend a make-up class, you must complete a Class Make-up Form located at the front desk, and have it signed by the teacher of the make-up class. Return the signed make-up form to the front desk. This form must be submitted by 12:00pm on Saturday to participate in rehearsals for the weekend.

We understand dancers may be involved in other extracurricular activities during this time. However, if you are not willing to prioritize attending your weekly class(es) and weekend rehearsals it is best that you do not participate in Gala.

The following guidelines regarding injury are in effect for your safety and health. If you are currently injured or develop an injury in the process of classes and rehearsals, you will need to be fully recovered by May 5, 2025. Written notice from your doctor and/or physical therapist will be required for you to continue. You must be able to dance full out in your regularly scheduled class(es) and rehearsals. In the event you are unable to dance full out, or get injured after May 5, 2025 and are unable to dance in your class(es) and rehearsals for more than a week, you will not be permitted to perform in Gala.

Consistent class attendance as well as proper rest and nutrition are important contributing factors to being able to dance at the highest caliber. There will be no exceptions to these policies. Thank you for your highest level of commitment, it will help us continue the tradition of producing a preprofessional quality show.