General Information About the Center
Location & Contact Information
Tuition
Enrollment
Absences
Withdrawal
Student Rules & Guidelines
Uniform Requirements
Performance Opportunities
Parent Guidelines
The El Cerrito Ballet Center offers classical ballet training based on the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. The Royal Academy of Dance, London, England, has provided teacher training and student examinations for classical ballet since 1920, and its syllabus is taught in more than 50 countries. Current Director, Barbara Gabriel, has passed Royal Academy of Dance Children's and Professional level examinations. She has been a teaching member of the Royal Academy since 1970. In 1979, after five years of performing with the regional ballet company Dancer's Repertory Theatre, she became director of the El Cerrito Ballet Center, taking over for June Boblitt, who founded the Center in 1957.
Location and Contact Information:
- El Cerrito Ballet Center
6712 Portola Drive
El Cerrito, California 94530
510-235-1734
El Cerrito Ballet Center is located in St. John's Hall in El Cerrito, on Portola Avenue between San Pablo Avenue and Richmond Avenue. Messages can be left at the phone number shown above, or contact us by email.
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Tuition for the school year is paid in 9 installments, due the first of each month, beginning September first and ending May first. Annual tuition is based upon the number of classes taken per week. Inquire about rates for a family with more than one student.
| Class Per Week | Annual Tuition | Installment |
| 1 class per week | $576.00 annual tuition | $64 each installment |
| 2 classes per week | $792.00 annual tuition | $88 each installment |
| 3 classes per week | $1080.00 annual tuition | $120 each installment |
| 4 classes per week | $1296.00 annual tuition | $144 each installment |
| 5 classes per week | $1440.00 annual tuition | $160 each installment |
| 6 classes per week | $1728.00 annual tuition | $192 each installment |
Payment may be made by check or cash (exact amount please.) Checks are payable to El Cerrito Ballet Center. Payment of each installment is due by the first of each month. There is a charge for late payment of $10.00. There is a charge for returned checks of $20.00.
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Enrollment
New Students: To enroll, fill out and return both the registration and the tuition forms with a check for your first installment. Both forms can be picked up at the El Cerrito Ballet Center or sent in the mail. Students can enroll mid-year if space is available. Tuition will be pro-rated.
Returning Students Each year returning students must fill out and return the annual tuition form.
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There is no credit or refund for missed classes. Classes can be made up within 30 days following an absence. All students are encouraged to make-up missed classes. Students studying pointe work are required to make up when absent from more than one class during the month. Check with the instructor for the recommended make-up class(es). Click here to view the class schedule. Students who must leave a class early should clear that with the teacher prior to class.
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To discontinue classes, please fill out a withdrawal form, available on the display table by the front door. Notice must be given prior to the first of the month. Tuition is due unless a withdrawal form is received.
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Girls: Pink tights, and pink ballet slippers with pink elastic. Leotard requirements follow:
Pre-Primary and Beginning Children need: Ballet pink tank style, Capezio 142C.
Intermediate Children need: Black tank style, Capezio 142C or adult size
Elementary - Advanced professional level need: Black camisole style Capezio or other brands are accepted.
In addition, pre-primary and primary girls may also wear a matching
pink chiffon skirt. Also, students will need a circular character skirt
and character shoes (shown in the photo below). On the display table by
the front door you will find order forms for the skirts, and for those who
wish to sew it themselves, a sewing pattern. Character shoes are found at
dance supply shops.
Boys: White tee or leotard, black tights, white socks, and white ballet slippers with elastic.
Shoe Care: Shoes are a very important part of the ballet uniform. The fit of all new shoes should be checked by the instructor before attaching elastic to them, or ribbon on pointe shoes. This is especially important with pointe shoes, so new pointe shoes should not be worn at all until approved by the instructor, so that they can be returned if necessary. The instructor will show students (or parents) where to sew elastic or ribbons, and how ballet slippers should be worn alternately on the foot. Shoes can be spot cleaned with soap and water, or a small amount of cleaning fluid.
Cold Weather: Leg warmers and a close fitting dance sweater are recommended. Sweatshirts and jackets are not allowed. Advanced and adult students are permitted to wear tight fitting black leggings or yoga pants for warm up.
Hair and grooming: Grooming is an important part of ballet training. Hair must be held off the face and neck in a style suitable for dance. Children in the pre-primary through the beginning levels may wear long hair pulled back into pig tails or pony tail. Students in intermediate and advanced classes must put long hair up in a bun secured with bobby pins and a bun cover or hair net. Scrunchies and hair ties are not allowed. Short hair can be held off the face by using barrettes or a headband. No jewelry or watches are allowed in class. Elastic ties on ballet shoes must be tucked out of sight.
Performance Grooming: Make up and hair instructions are handed out prior to performances. All performing students are required to wear the specified makeup, to smooth hair with hair gel, and to secure the bun with a net. Short hair must be smoothed back with hair gel and bobby pins.
Dance Wear Sources: A good local source of dance shoes and dance
wear is the San Francisco Dancewear shop, 5900 College, in Oakland near
the Rockridge station (S F
Dancewear). It is recommended that you get your shoes locally, so that
they can be carefully fitted. Below are good on-line sources for dance
wear:
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Students have the opportunity to participate in informal and formal performances during the year.
Open House: Every year in December there is an informal Open House performance that includes all students in all classes.
Holiday Outreach Program: Each Holiday season students can choose to participate in a community outreach program that brings the Nutcracker Ballet to selected schools and senior centers. This requires a personal commitment to mandatory rehearsals and three to five performances, and a participation fee. Some of the performances may require being excused from school for half a day. June Performance:At the end of each school year there is a final performance. It is usually a gala program of short pieces or a full length ballet, and is choreographed to showcase each class. Like the Outreach Program, this performance requires a personal commitment to mandatory rehearsals and the performance. There is a participation fee and usually a costume purchase.
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During Class: Parents are welcome to watch class. Please remember that young students are easily distracted and are learning to work in a group. Parental assistance is not necessary unless requested by the instructor. (Please save corrections for after class time.) Please turn off cell phones during class, and exit the building to converse with other parents. Students need to listen attentively and concentrate on their exercises, without distraction. Please do not bring younger siblings who may be restless or noisy. And if you need to leave during class, please discuss that ahead of time with your child.
Performance Volunteers: Parents provide a lot of the backstage help that makes our performances so successful. We need parent volunteers as "class parents", ticket collectors, prop assistants, and much more.
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