Academy main school division

2008 - 2009 semesters

Fall Semester:
August 25, 2008 - January 17, 2009

Spring Semester:
January 20, 2009 - May 30, 2009

FACULTY

Shelly Power, Academy Associate Director
Claudio Muñoz, Ballet Master, Houston Ballet II
Priscilla Nathan-Murphy, Principal of Lower School
Cheryne Busch, Principal Instructor, Lower School

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. Audition dates for the 2008-2009 year are:

2008-2009 Year-round Program Audition
July 26, 2008
Registration at 10:15 am
Audition begins at 11:00am

August 23, 2008
Registration begins at 10:15 am
Audition begins at 11:00 am

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 2008-2009 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.

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.

Re-Auditioning
Students in levels 3-8 are required to attend Houston Ballet's Summer Intensive Program.  Students in levels 3-8 who do not attend the summer program are required to re-audition for admission to the next Fall Semester.

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 the Academy Office and can schedule appointments by signing the schedule book in the Body Conditioning Studio.

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 2009 Spring Performance is scheduled for Friday, April 24th at 7:00pm and Saturday, April 25th at 2:30pm.  Students are required to participate and will be assessed a performance fee in January 2009.

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:  Danskin - Style 387 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:  Danskin - Style 387 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:  Danskin - Style 387 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:  Danskin - Style 387 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 5
   Women: Leotard:  Montionwear - Princess Cami 2518 shelf lined, Tencel, color- Royal Blue
Pink tights.
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
Pink tights.
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
Pink tights.
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
Pink tights.
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:

Fall Semester 

Spring Semester

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: Claudio Muñoz working with
academy students
Photo by: Jann Whaley