DIVISION RÉCRÉATIVE ENFANT
- Student handbook -
Paths
once a week / twice a week / preparatory
L'École supérieure de ballet du Québec fosters an environment that promotes respect, rigor, creativity, team spirit, commitment, and tolerance, fundamental values that are at the core of its artistic development.
Attendance and punctuality
Arrival: 15 minutes before the beginning of the course.
Attendance and punctuality are required. Students must arrive at the school entrance :
dressed in their dance clothes under their street clothes
with a single dance bag containing their dance shoes, a bottle of water and the accessories for preparatory students.
Supervisors will be present to guide students into the studios.
Departure: A supervisor will bring the children to the Rivard Street exit where they will meet their parents outside the school.
Locker roms
• From age 8 on, students may use the locker rooms to change as needed.
(Remember to bring your lock!)
• Preparatory students will be assigned a locker at the beginning of the year.
Permission to leave alone
If your child is 8 years old or older and you would like permission to leave school alone, you must complete this permission form.
Reporting an absence
All absences must be reported by email to division.recreative@esbq.ca or by phone (ext. 250). There are no make-up classes available. In the event of repeated absences or tardiness, L'École reserves the right to terminate enrolment.
Parents' presence at the school
The reception area on the first floor is not a waiting room, but a reception area for students before they are accompanied to their respective studios by an agent of the school. Parents are asked to bring their children to the school entrance.
Parents may come upstairs for the following reasons:
• parent-child class, only one parent is allowed to accompany their child to class. No other persons.
• visit to the Bibliothèque de la danse Vincent-Warren, depending on hours of operation;
• interview with the teacher or coordinator by appointment only;
• open classes or end-of-year presentations.
Communication with parents
L’École supérieure communicates regularly with parents via email. It is therefore essential that you provide an address where you can be reached at all times, including during vacations.
Any change of address, telephone number or e-mail address during the year must be communicated as soon as possible. Otherwise, l’École supérieure is not responsible for delays in communications or in the delivery of documents. It is the responsibility of the family to keep the contact information on the Amilia/SmartRec platform up to date.
Dress code, hairstyle and accessories
The uniform required by L’École supérieure is mandatory. Please note that the uniform changes depending on the student's path and level. Jewelry is not permitted.
Parent-child / dance-creative / pré-ballet / ballet I et II
Girls
• Light pink leotard, no sleeves, no skirt
• White or light pink socks or light pink tights
• Light pink canvas ballet slippers
Garçons
• White T-shirt
• Black cycling shorts
• White socks
• Black canvas ballet slippers
Ballet III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII / elementary I,II, III, IV / pré-intermediate / intermediate / inter-advanced
Girls
• Black leotard, no sleeves, no skirt
• Light pink tights
• Light pink canvas ballet slippers
Boys
• White T-shirt
• Black cycling short
• White socks
• Black canvas ballet slippers
Preparatory II, III et IV - UNIFORM
Girls
• Leotard Mondor, style 3545, lilas (LP)
• Elastic waist band lilas
• Ankl socks type: Mondor, color ballerina (no tights)
• Clips and net for bun
• Light pink canvas ballet slippers
• Multi-sport shoes
Boys
• T-shirt Body Wrappers, style B400, blanc
• Short Mondor, style 11649 ou 3537, black
• White ankle socks
• Black canvas ballet slippers
• Multi-sport shoes
Preparatory II, III et IV - ACCESSORIES
The dancers' kit
• Water bottle
• Jumping rope
• Yoga bloc
• Yoga mat
Hairstyle required for all
Girls & boys
In order to clear the face and the neck, hair must be in a bun or use of barrettes if hair is too short.
On the TOOLS page, you'll find a step-by-step tutorial for making the bun for the ballet class.
NEW : Ballet Hair Accessories Kit available in our store!
This hair kit is an absolute MUST-HAVE accessory. Easy to use and carry, it includes all your bun-making accessories in a handy little box (3 colors available: vanilla, chocolate or black coffee).
Order online now and pick up your kit at your next class.
Pointes and pointes accessories
Pointe classes
Starting at the pre-intermediate level in the twice a week course, students are invited to take a pointe course (optional).
It's important not to buy the pointe shoes before the result of the classification course. In some cases, the first few months will be devoted to strengthening work without pointe shoes. The teacher will indicate the right time to buy them.
To learn more about the right time to start pointe shoes and how to properly choose them, click here to consult our guide click here to consult our guide.
Classes ouvertes & présentations
Open classes
In December, parents of children in all programs are invited to an open class.
In May, parents of students from levels PE, DC, PB and BI are invited to an open class. (these students do not participate in year-end presentations.)
Year-end presentation
In June, parents of students from BII upwards are invited to the end-of-year presentations.
Pedagogical journey
Evaluations
Children who dance once a week are evaluated by there teacher in December and May. not subject to an assessment.
Children who dance twice a week are evaluated by there teacher in December, May as well as by an evaluator in February.
Children in the preparatory program are evaluated in December by there teachers and in April by an evaluator.
Certificat of participation
Children who complete the year receive a certificate from L’École supérieure de ballet du Québec
Progression and re-enrolment
The passage to the next level is not systematic at the end of the year, it is normal that the student continues in a level for more than one year.
It is always possible to change paths from one year to the next if your child wishes to change their pace. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like the opinion of the pedagogical team.
The Nutcracker auditions
Students in the preparatory program have the privilege of priority auditions for the roles of Mice (Prep. 2-3) or Children of the Party (Prep. 4) for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ production of The Nutcracker (more information here).
Professional division auditions
All students in the recreational division are eligible to audition for the Junior level of the professional division, starting with Primary 5. More details on the admission process here.
Specific medical conditions
If a medical condition (e.g. ADHD) requires the student to take medication on a regular basis or to carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), the parent must notify us in writing at division.recreative@esbq.ca. Students who are required to carry an epinephrine auto-injector must ensure that it is clearly identified and readily available. The same applies to students with asthma; they must have their pump with them at all times.
In the event that a student requiring regular medication comes to l’École supérieure without having taken it, a staff member will contact the parents.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for any other information that requires the teacher's special attention (moving, separation, death, etc.).
Photography et videos
Photography or filming of l’École supérieure’s activities is prohibited unless an agreement has been signed with the Director of Communications and Public Relations.
L’École supérieure is concerned with respecting the right to image of each student. It also wishes to project an image that reflects the high standard of its teaching. The student may be photographed or filmed for the school's archives, website, social networks and other official documentation, as well as for publication in the print, electronic, television, radio or other media.
By registering their child at the École supérieure, parents automatically authorize the use of their child's image and voice. This authorization is valid for the entire duration of the student's training at the École supérieure. Otherwise, the parent must inform the École supérieure in writing of his or her refusal to use the voice or image of his or her child.
General attitude and harassment
L’École supérieure reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of any student who demonstrates behavioral or attitude problems.
L’École supérieure makes every effort to provide a harassment-free environment for its students and staff. Rumors, taunts, mockery and aggression have no place in our school or elsewhere on social networks. A student or parent who is guilty of or complicit in such acts is subject to expulsion after one (1) warning.
