Kingsport Ballet Etiquette

At Kingsport Ballet, we believe that discipline, respect, and professionalism build the foundation for artistry. Think of this as your guide to showing up as your best dancer self—polished, prepared, and positive!

Attire: 

• Dress Code: please follow the KB dress code for your level. Tights, leotards, shirts, and shoes
must be free of holes/rips, or properly mended before class.

• Jewelry: no jewelry or watches (including smartwatches) are allowed in class - they are a safety
hazard! If you just had your ears pierced, please let your teacher know in advance

• Warm-ups: only allowed by explicit permission! If allowed, they should be neat, fitted, and not
display any offensive or inappropriate words or graphics.

• Shoes: holes mended, frays trimmed, elastics and ribbons sewn securely, ribbons and strings
tucked in for safety!

• Hair: must be secured in a classical ballet bun or pulled back neatly if too short. Loose hair is a
distraction, can form bad habits, and can be unsafe!

• Personal Care: no strong perfumes, arrive well-groomed, wear deodorant

Non-compliance:
• Prep I/II - BIIIA/B
1st Offense: student receives verbal warning,
2nd: student will be asked to fix issue/borrow from emergency stash. If student chooses not to fix issue, they’ll be asked to sit out and turn notes into the teacher at the end of class.
3rd: teacher reserves right to contact parents

• BIIIC/D-BV/VI
1st Offense: student will be asked to leave class and fix issue before returning to class/rehearsal.
2nd: student will be asked to leave for the day.
3rd: teacher reserves right to contact parents

Note: older dancers are encouraged to guide younger dancers and set a good example

Attitude: 

• Respect your teachers and staff: no arguing, interrupting, talking back, making inappropriate/obscene gestures, jokes or comments

• Respect your peers: no arguing, yelling, whispering, gossiping, judging, or negative commentary with or toward a fellow student

• Disruptions: no talking or chatting in class unless it’s relevant to class. In class or when rehearsals are taking place, do not talk while other dancers are dancing or being corrected. Corrections apply to EVERYONE!

• Attitude/Body Language: keep a positive attitude and body language. No hands on hips, crossed arms, yawning, slouching or hanging on the barre

• If you are sitting out due to injury or lateness, interrupting class or rehearsal, including speaking to the dancers, is not permitted - this is disruptive and distracting to both fellow students and teachers

During class/rehearsal

• Timeliness: Please ensure that you are on time to class, and ready to enter the classroom when it’s time. If you are 15+ minutes late, you will be asked to sit out and observe class (advanced students may be asked to give themselves a warm-up if rehearsals are taking place).

• Proper Start/End: students should complete reverence at the beginning and end of class, and thank teachers at the end of each class and rehearsal 

• Corrections/Direction: dancers are expected to apply corrections given upon receiving them - please don’t wait for your teacher to ask you to show them the applied correction! Dancers are expected to answer questions asked by teacher.

• Leaving the Classroom: dancers are to ask for permission to leave the classroom. If you have a planned need for early departure, please let your teacher/staff know in advance. 

• Classroom Re-entry: students arriving late or coming back from stepping out are asked to wait at the door until re-entry is permitted by teacher.

• Sitting: sitting during class and rehearsal is never allowed without explicit instruction from teacher (i.e. if you are injured or if it is relevant to the rehearsal). This is IMPERATIVE for more advanced students, particularly while in pointe shoes, as this poses a high risk for injury. For example: if you are in Waltz of the Flowers in Act II of the Nutcracker, you should not be sitting down during Spanish.

• Focus: dancers should not interact with anyone outside of the classroom/through the observation window. Dancers should not be going in and out of the classroom without permission. Dancers should not be talking while other dancers are dancing.

• Teacher/Class Rules: 

• Dancers are not to sit in the front of the studio with the teachers (unless permission has been given)

• Dancers should not walk through the middle of the dance floor/between students and teacher

• Dancers should not provide input in teacher/staff discussions 

• Dancers should raise their hand to ask a question 

• Dancers should not provide input on corrections to other dancers, or provide excuses for any corrections 

KB Studio Etiquette:

• Personal Items: dance bags, clothes, and street shoes are to stay in the dressing room or bathroom. Students may keep pointe shoes in a neat and contained area for quick changes during class. Warm-ups, rollers, bands, etc. should be kept in a contained and neat area. 

• Food/Drink: No food or drink is allowed in the studio except for water, which should be kept in an area designated by your teacher. Absolutely no gum allowed at any time.

• Medical Necessities: Students with inhalers or other medical equipment can keep their devices in the studio and may use them at any time without permission.

• Phones/Tablets: students should leave phones/tablets in the dressing room during class and rehearsal. If you need to use your phone for any reason, please ask your instructor for permission! 

• Studio Space Usage: dancers who which to use the studio spaces outside of class time need permission from KB staff/teachers, and a KB staff member must be present during the time of use. This is for everyone’s safety!

• All dancers and families are expected to respect the studio space, dressing rooms, main areas and bathrooms, and clean up after themselves. We work hard to create a clean, comfortable and safe environment. Please help us keep it that way!

KB General Areas: 

• Be respectful and quiet in common areas: we please ask that anyone in the common areas are respectful of the classes and rehearsals going on at KB. Please don’t yell, run around/up and down the halls, or cause any disruptions in the main areas.

• Food/drink: any food or drink other than water are to be consumed in the kitchen or other designated areas. Please no food or drink in the studios OR dressing room.

• KB Offices/Costume Rooms: students and families are to ask permission to enter any staff office, the KB boutique closets, and the costume area/room. No costume, prop or accessories usage without explicit permission. Costumes should never leave the premises without explicit permission. 

• All dancers are expected to respect the studio space, dressing rooms, main areas and bathrooms, and clean up after themselves. We work hard to create a clean, comfortable and safe environment. Please help us keep it that way!

FOR COMPANY DANCERS: 

Company-level leotard rules: 

• No holes/rips in any part of leotard - be very careful with mesh as holes can very easily form

• Camisole/no sleeves preferred. Your teacher reserves the right to ask you to change if you are wearing a leotard that obstructs your lines making corrections difficult.

• Fridays/color day - no brightly colored leotards or patterns 

• Last Friday of the month - company members can wear any leotard!

• Students must have a plain black camisole leotard and company leotard with them at all times

• Company dancers must wear black skirts (or shorts under appropriate circumstances) and company-color skirt on Saturdays

• No mesh tights