Announcements:

Update June 15th, 2022

Hello Intensive Summer Program Dancers,

We hope you are as excited as we are to start ISP 2022! We look forward to welcoming you to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for a packed five weeks of learning and growing.

Please read this email carefully to prepare for the start of the program and be sure to have the Intensive Summer Program Google Site bookmarked for quick access to program details.

Program Overview:

On Monday, June 27th, dancers will meet the Artistic and Administrative team that will work with them over the next five weeks during orientation. Orientations at Chatham and PBT studios will be followed by class. On Day 2, dancers will have a full day of classes including a placement class for the Artistic Faculty to appropriately place all dancers in a level for the remainder of the program.

• Day 1 and 2 Groupings/Schedule:

Please view your groupings for Day 1 and Day 2 here. These groups will determine your class schedule and arrival times for the first two days of the program.

• Program Level Placement:

After Day 2, dancers will be placed in levels for the remainder of the program. These levels will be communicated via email and the ISP Google Site. Dancers should then follow the class schedule and arrival times based on their level for the entirety of the program.

Dancers will spend the next five weeks working closely with PBT School faculty and guest artists to gain experience in both classroom and rehearsal settings while also taking part in seminars and excursions around Pittsburgh*. Lunch will be served daily at PBT for resident students and commuter students who opted into the lunch program*.

An audition will be held on Saturday, July 9th for students interested in attending PBT School’s year-round Pre-professional program. Details on how to sign-up for the audition will be communicated by the school office closer to the date.

The final week of the program will include virtual class observations for families to attend. The final day, Friday, July 29th will include in-person class observations. More details are below and will be communicated throughout the program.

*All commuter and residential students are invited to attend excursions. Please sign-up for the excursion in your family portal by the deadline. If you are a commuter student interested in enrolling in the PBT lunch program, please sign-up through your portal by Friday, June 17th.

Important Dates:

• June 26th: Move-in for resident students at Chatham (details below)

• June 26th: Hartwood Performance at 8:00 p.m.

• June 27th: Day 1 (Orientation and Placement Class)

• July 1st: UPMC Injury Prevention Seminars

• July 4th: Kennywood Amusement Park Excursion (Order deadline: June 27th)

• July 9th: Pre-professional Year-Round Program Audition for Interested Students

• July 10th: “Kinky Boots” Excursion (Order deadline: June 23rd)

• July 16th: Ross Park Mall Excursion (Order deadline: July 8th)

• July 17th: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Excursion (Order deadline: June 29th)

• July 23rd: Pittsburgh Pirates Game Excursion (Order deadline: July 15th)

• July 24th: Riverboat Dinner Party (Order deadline: July 18th)

• July 26th-28th: Virtual Class Observation

• July 29th: In-person Class Observation

• July 29/30th: Move-out for resident students at Chatham (details below)

Dress Code:

• Identifying Females: may wear any solid-color leotard and pink or flesh-colored tights for technique and pointe classes. Black tights may be worn for jazz and Pilates. Short dance skirts may be worn for variations and rep classes. Pointe shoes and jazz shoes of any color/style are required.

• Identifying Males: may wear any solid-color tights and solid-color T-shirt (no design or writing), white socks and white or black shoes. All tights must be full length. Jazz shoes of any color/style are required.

Commuter Students:

• When arriving for class in the morning, please do not arrive any earlier than 8:00 a.m.

Resident Student Move-In:

Move-in for Intensive Summer Program students is Sunday, June 26th from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Chatham University by last name:

• Last Names beginning with A-D —arrive at 10 a.m.

• Last Names beginning with E-K —arrive at 11 a.m.

• Last Names beginning with L-R —arrive at 12 p.m.

• Last Names beginning with S-Z —arrive at 1 p.m.

If you will be arriving after this time frame, please contact Residential Housing Manager Sarah Bender, sbender@pittsburghballet.org. Early move-in is not permitted. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.

Residential students will attend a dorm orientation meeting on the morning of June 27th.

Residents should report directly to the front of Fickes Hall or Woodland Halls upon arrival for check-in with staff and to receive room assignments. Please see the attached document for your hall assignment. Please be sure to bring the following:

• A photo of your negative Covid-19 test (instructions below)

• Any medical forms that were not turned into the school office prior to arrival

• Any medications students will need during the program for check-in. Medications are not permitted in resident rooms.

All students residing at Chatham University will be required to attend the performance. PBT will provide bus transportation to and from the performance venue for resident students. The bus will leave at 6:00 p.m. If a student is attending with a family member, they may travel to the venue with their family, but must take the bus back to Chatham after the performance. If students have not left with their family prior to 5:30 p.m. students will need to take the bus. Students will need to bring spending money to purchase dinner from the food trucks at the event.

Note: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only ONE family member is permitted to accompany each resident into the residence halls. Masks must be worn by everyone on Chatham property. Staff will be unable to assist with moving items into the residence halls. Therefore we suggest bringing only necessary items that can be carried by the student.

Please also note that there is no elevator in Fickes Hall.

Directions to Chatham University – Fickes & Woodland Halls:

• Upon entrance to Chatham University campus, look for signs directing you to Fickes and Woodland Halls. Students will receive room assignments upon arrival.

• The Chatham University Campus Map is at the bottom of the page.

Spending Money:

• Students will need spending money while in Pittsburgh for excursions, extracurricular activities, and dinner on Sundays. Please do not send personal checks with your child; PBT cannot cash checks. We recommend travelers’ checks, gift cards, or ATM cards. An ATM is available on the Chatham University Campus. Students should not carry large amounts of cash with them or keep large amounts of cash in their residence hall room.

Costume Ball:

• Dancers are invited to an on-campus Costume Ball on Sunday July 3rd. There will be music and dancing, snacks, a photo booth, and a little friendly competition. Awards for most creative costume, best group costume, funniest costume, and most unexpected costume will be awarded at the end of the night. Bring your best look or coordinate with your new friends!

Company Experience Hartwood Acres Performance:

PBT’s Company Experience program occurs the two weeks prior to ISP. Students in this program work closely with PBT Artistic Faculty, company members and special guests for an exclusive preview of the life of a professional dancer.

The program culminates with a free, outdoor performance* at the Hartwood Acres Middle Road Concert Area on Sunday, June 26th, at 8:00 p.m. Family activities, food trucks and a VIP tent will begin at 5:30 p.m. The performance is free, but to purchase VIP tickets and view more information on the event, please visit our website here.

All students residing at Chatham University will be required to attend the performance. PBT will provide bus transportation to and from the performance venue for resident students. The bus will leave at 6:00 p.m. If a student is attending with a family member, they may travel to the venue with their family, but must take the bus back to Chatham after the performance. If students have not left with their family prior to 5:30 p.m. students will need to take the bus. Students will need to bring spending money to purchase dinner from the food trucks at the event.

If you are a resident student arriving outside of the resident move-in window and will not be able to make the performance, please contact Sarah Bender, sbender@pittsburghballet.org.

Families and commuter students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the performance.

*In the event of inclement weather, the Hartwood performance will take place at PBT Studios. Families of dancers performing will be invited to view the performance in-person. A Zoom link will be made available for ISP students and families. These details will be communicated if needed.

Covid-19 Testing and Masking:

PBT School will implement a Covid-19 testing and masking protocol to ensure students’ safety during the program. Please see the table below for a summary of requirements related to this protocol.

Students will be required to show proof of a negative at-home Covid-19 test (taken within the prior 24 hours) upon arrival on their first day. All students will mask for the first five days of the program. On Day 5, PBT School will provide testing kits for students to test again. After proof of a negative test is submitted, masking will be optional for students. Masks will be available at the PBT front desk, but all students are encouraged to bring their own supply for the program.

Directions for submitting test results:

• Please clearly print in permanent marker the Test Date and Student’s Last Name on the test.

• Take a clear picture of the test.

• Residential students will show their test photo upon move-in at Chatham University. (Test must include date, time, name.)

• Commuter students will show their test photo upon check-in at PBT. (Test must include date, time, name.)

• If you receive a positive result, email pbtschool@pittsburghballet.org or call 412-281-6727 immediately.

• PBT will provide testing kits for students on Day 4. All students will tests again on Day 5. Commuter students should send their test photo to front.desk@pittsburghballet.org prior to their first class on Day 5.

*This plan is subject to change at any time before or during summer programming. Any changes will be communicated to students and families as soon as possible.

ISP Excursions Dates and Deadlines:

PBT School offers a variety of services and activities during the Intensive Summer Program including several excursions into Pittsburgh for both resident and commuter students. Please find the list of excursion and deadline dates below. Students will not be allowed to sign up for the excursion after the deadline.

• July 4th: Kennywood Amusement Park (Order deadline: June 27th)

  • Residential students must either attend or make alternative arrangements for the day, as all residential staff will be chaperoning.

• July 10th: “Kinky Boots” Performance (Order deadline: June 23rd)

• July 16th: Ross Park Mall (Order deadline: July 8th)

• July 17th: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (Order deadline: June 29th)

• July 23rd: Pittsburgh Pirates Game (Order deadline: July 15th)

• July 24th: Riverboat Dinner Party on the Gateway Clipper (Order deadline: July 18th)

To sign up for Excursions in your Family Portal, click on "My Students", then "Available Add-Ons/Housing." Payment will be required at the time of sign-up.

Commuter students are welcome to arrive at the destination of the excursion or take the bus from Chatham University. The school office will be in touch with commuter students attending excursions to determine how they are arriving.

Virtual Class Observations:

During July 26th-July 28th, Zoom links will be available for families to observe classes throughout the week. These details will be further communicated during the program.

In-Studio Class Observations:

On Friday, July 29th, families are invited to attend an in-studio class observation for their student’s level. Two family members per student are welcomed to attend. All observations will finish by 3:00 p.m. Further details will be communicated during the program.

Resident Student Move-Out:

Move-out will be Friday, July 29th after the in-studio class observations. Please plan your travel accordingly! We recommend booking flights after 5:00 p.m. All residents MUST move out of the residence halls by 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 30th.

If your travel plans do not allow for a July 29th move-out, or your flight is before 5:00 p.m. please contact sbender@pittsburghballet.org. Students will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.

For any questions, please contact the school office at pbtschool@pittsburghballet.org.

Thank you,

-PBT School

Update April 28th, 2022

Here is an informational update for PBT’s upcoming Company Experience Workshop and Summer Intensive Program!

The Summer Programs Handbook has been uploaded to the Company Experience and Summer Intensive Google Sites. Please bookmark your respective site and check back often for updates.

Please note that the Physical Form, Medical Form and Handbook Acknowledgement, Release, and Vehicle Form must be completed and returned before May 15th, 2022. You will also need to upload a copy of your student's insurance card front and back Please upload them here!

Move-in Dates Reminder

Move-In for Company Experience students staying at the Chatham University residence halls is on Sunday, June 12 from 10 a.m.-to 1 p.m. Commuter students should report to PBT by 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 13.

Move-In for Intensive Summer Program students staying at the Chatham University residence halls is on Sunday, June 26, 2022. We are splitting students into groups for ease of transition. Please follow the linked arrival schedule:

ISP Commuter students will receive a schedule in advance of Day 1 with class times for Monday, June 27.

Students participating in both programs will not be expected to move out and back in between programs!

Hartwood Performance Sunday, June 26th

The “Company Experience” 2022 culminates with a main-stage outdoor and free performance alongside PBT dancers at the Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater on June 26 as part of their 2022 Summer Concert Series, open to the public. All Company Experience families are invited to attend, and we encourage all incoming ISP students (and families!) to attend this free event after moving in. Bus transportation will be provided for students/families if needed. The bus(es) will leave Chatham at approximately 6:45 p.m.

ISP Excursions

PBT School offers a variety of services and activities during the Intensive Summer Program. This will include on-campus activities and several excursions open to all ISP students (Pirates game, Civic Light Opera, Gateway Clipper Dinner Cruise, and more!).

To sign up for Excursions in your Family Portal. Click on "My Students", then "Available Add-Ons" Payment will be required at the time of sign-up.

*Please only enter the number one in the box beside each excursion you would like to sign up for. Please also be sure to double-check the total amount of the charge you are authorizing before submitting it!

Please stay tuned for more information and please contact the school office at pbtschool@pittsburghballet.org with any questions!

Thank You

-PBT School

Update March 25th, 2022

Housing

Please note that housing registration must be completed separately from program registration, including for those who are receiving a scholarship.

All housing registrations must be completed by 5:00 pm on Friday, April 8th. We are not able to guarantee housing past this deadline.

To register for housing, please follow the steps below:

1. Log on to your PBT Family Portal account at pbtadmin.org/portal

2. Click on “My Students."

3. Click on the green arrow beside “Available Add-ons/Housing.”

4. Click on “Sign Up” next to the appropriate housing.

If you will be securing your own housing independently and will not be staying in PBT housing for the program, please disregard this message.

Financial Aid

The ISP financial aid application is now live in our family portal.

To access the form, please follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your parent portal at https://pbtadmin.org/portal/

2. Click on "My Students" in the menu on the left of the page.

3. Click on the arrow next to "Available Forms" at the bottom right of the student account tile.

4. Fill out the form and submit it.

Please note the following important details about financial aid:

• Financial aid forms are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, April 15.

• Eligibility for financial aid will be determined based on the 2022-23 U.S. Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. For our 2022 Intensive Summer Program, we will only consider aid for households whose income is less than 300% of the poverty guidelines for their household size. Please be sure to read all of the instructions at the top of the financial aid form before submitting it.

If you have any questions, please email pbtschool@pittsburghballet.org.

Update 3.1.22

Intensive Summer Level Placement

PBT School will not assign levels for summer students prior to the start of the program. On the first day of classes, students will be placed into groups according to age. Students will then be placed into faculty-determined appropriate levels relative to the skill set of the entire ISP population. The PBT School faculty believe level assignments relative to the skill set of the group will provide the most challenging and comprehensive program for the individual student. Level placement is at the discretion of the PBT School Directors and faculty. Once levels have been determined, they are not likely to change during the program. Level assignments will be communicated to students at the end of the first day.