Applicable Costs: Tuition assistance applies to tuition only and cannot be applied to registration fees, Spring Recital fees, costumes fees, or any other fees or merchandise.

Notification: Financial aid applications for 2024-25 will be accepted from mid-July through mid-August. Deadlines and other details will be shared with returning families via e-mail and listed on the OAB website. Award notifications will be sent via e-mail by Friday, August 23, 2024. Accounts will be adjusted to reflect tuition assistance awards before September 6, 2024.

Multiple discounts: Families may only receive one of the following types of financial assistance: financial aid, work-study, or employee discounts. A multi-class discount can then be applied in addition to any of these options, which will be calculated off of the discounted tuition total.

Fee Discount: There are no discounts on registration, costume or Spring Recital fees.

Attendance: To maintain financial aid or work-study status, dancers must average 60% attendance or higher for the year per enrolled class, which will be assessed at spring break. Dancers whose attendance falls below 60% per enrolled class will be placed on probationary status until May 1, and must then demonstrate adequate knowledge and execution of recital dances before being permitted to perform in the Spring Recital, in addition to a re-assessment of financial aid status for any upcoming sessions.

Multi-Class: Registering for multiple (3-6+) 1+ hour classes in the same week qualifies a family for a multi-class discount. Families may combine enrollments of immediate family members to maximize the discount up to the 6+ class discount. Submit all registrations together then deduct the discount from any one dancer's tuition. Only one multi-class discount per family. Master classes do not apply toward the discount. If registering after the start of the school year, the discount will be pro-rated. If one or more classes are dropped, the discount will be re-calculated.

Tuition/Fees

Recital Fees: Families will be charged one recital fee which covers all dancers participating in the Spring Recital. Recital fees will be automatically added to an account by December 1, 2024. If a dancer chooses not to participate in the Spring Recital, they must notify the Academy Manager by January 2, 2025, and all recital fees will be removed from the account. If a student withdraws from the Spring Recital after January 2 but before May 1, a 50% refund will be issued. No refunds will be issued after May 1.

Payment Options: Tuition can be paid in 9 monthly installments or in full at the time of registration. If paying in monthly installments, one month's tuition is due upon registration with the remaining monthly payments due on the 15th of each month beginning September 15, 2024 and ending on April 15, 2024. Families participating in the Spring Recital are strongly encouraged to enroll in automatic payments if paying in monthly installments. Note: Dancers not participating in the Spring Recital or registering for adult classes must enroll in automatic payments or pay in full at the time of registration.

Schedule: Monthly payments are due on the 15th of each month (Sept-April) with a 5-day grace period. Any payments received after the 20th of each month will incur a $10 late fee.

Drop-Ins: Drop-ins allowed only for adult level class that have open spots. Current professional dancers may drop-in for $10. Class cards are discontinued.

Costume Fee: Families will be charged a costume fee for each student's costume. All costume fees will be automatically added to accounts by December 1, 2024. If a dancer chooses not to participate in the Spring Recital, they must notify the Academy Manager by January 2, 2025, and all costume fees will be removed from the account. If a student withdraws from the Spring Recital between January 2nd and May 1st, a 75% refund will be issued. For dancers who withdraw due to injury or illness after May 1, refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Balances: All tuition balances must be paid in full before dancers can take costumes home during costume pick-up week in May. Summer session balances or any outstanding balances must be paid in full before registration can be processed for the upcoming session.

Refunds/Credits

Canceled classes: If a class is canceled for reasons other than inclement weather, either a make-up class will be held or tuition will be adjusted.

Tuition/registration refund: If registration is canceled before the first day of class, a full tuition refund will be issued. If a dancer withdraws after the first day of class, a tuition refund will be issued and prorated from the date the Academy Manager is notified. Refunds will not be issued for classes missed due to individual circumstances. Registration fees (per class) are non-refundable.

Absences/Attendance

Attendance: Dancers must average 60% attendance or higher for the year per enrolled class, which will be assessed at spring break. Dancers whose attendance falls below 60% per enrolled class will be placed on probationary status until May 1, and must then demonstrate adequate knowledge and execution of recital dances before being permitted to perform in the Spring Recital.

Absence notification: Caregivers must notify the OAB if their dancer will be absent from class. Caregivers should call the OAB front desk at 402-346-0469 to ensure that the absence is recorded and the teacher is notified.

Make-ups/Cancellations

Weather: Make-up classes will only be held if there are 3 or more weather-related cancellations for a class during the school year. No refunds/tuition adjustments will be given for classes canceled due to inclement weather.

Classes: Individual dancers missing class because of illness, schedule conflicts, etc. may make-up the missed class if there is room available in another class of the same level.

Tuition: If a class is canceled for other reasons, either a make-up class will be held or tuition will be adjusted. No refunds/tuition adjustments will be given for missed classes due to individual circumstances.

Transferability: Missed classes cannot be transferred to another registration period. The class must be made up during the same registration period, e.g. summer or school-year.

Adjustments to schedule: OAB reserves the right to change the class schedule or faculty as necessary including canceling or combining classes that do not meet minimum enrollment numbers.

Facility

Behavior: Dancers are expected to be attentive, quiet, and courteous while on OAB premises. Unacceptable behavior will result in communication between the teacher and caregiver. Continued unacceptable behavior will result in communication between the Artistic Director, teacher, and caregiver, and may result in dismissal from OAB.

Waiting Students: For safety reasons, dancers in Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, or Primary classes must be picked up from the classroom or lobby by a caregiver. Dancers in Level 1 and up (who do not drive themselves) must remain inside the building until their caregiver has either parked or pulled up close enough for the dancer to walk safely to the vehicle.

Caregivers/Family in the building: Caregivers are invited to wait in common areas. Common areas must be kept quiet. Siblings not in classes may not run or make unnecessary loud noise. Common areas should be kept clean. Please dispose of trash or recycling, and do not leave food items on the ground or furniture. If multiple warnings are given for noise or cleanliness without improvement, caregivers or other individuals may be asked to wait outside or in their vehicle.

Pick-up/Drop-off: OAB maintains a locked campus at all times. Dancers may be dropped off 15 minutes before their classes begin and must be picked up within 15 minutes of their class ending.

Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, OAB will notify caregivers by 8:00 am (morning classes) and 2:00 pm (evening classes) of any cancelations. Notifications will be sent through email and push notifications, posted on social media, and listed on the OAB website. OAB does not follow Omaha Public Schools' inclement weather closings as daytime circumstances may change that allow for regularly scheduled evening classes.

Communication

Teacher communication: All written communication from OAB staff or teachers will be sent from either an OAB e-mail address or through the class registration system. Under certain circumstances, an OAB teacher may need to speak with a caregiver by phone or through an in-person meeting. If a caregiver wishes to speak directly with an OAB teacher, they should contact the OAB front desk to request a return phone call or in-person meeting.

Private Lessons

Protocol: OAB dancers: Dancers may schedule private lessons with an OAB teacher. The dancer's account will be charged the individual teacher's private teaching hourly rate plus a $5 rental fee, provided a front desk associate or other administrative staff is already in the building. If a front desk associate must be scheduled, the rental fee will increase to $25. Dancer accounts must be current on payments before private lessons can be scheduled.

Protocol: Non-OAB dancers: Dancers may schedule private lessons with an OAB teacher. The dancer will be charged the individual teacher's private teaching hourly rate plus a $10 rental fee, provided a front desk associate or other administrative staff is already in the building. If a front desk associate must be scheduled, the rental fee will increase to $25.

Class Placements/Student Evaluations

Supplemental classes: OAB strongly believes that ballet is the foundation for all supplemental classes. Therefore, starting in 2024-25, dancers who are new to a supplemental class must enroll in at least one ballet class and maintain ballet enrollment for the entire year. If they have already taken a specific supplemental class, this does not apply. OAB strongly suggest that all dancers enroll in ballet.

Evaluation schedule: Dancers will be evaluated according to the skills and techniques identified for their level. These evaluations will occur twice a year, in the fall and spring. Caregivers will receive a written evaluation form from each teacher, along with notes about classroom behaviors and up-to-date attendance information.

Push classes (Ballet Level 1-Intermediate): Dancers looking for an additional challenge may be eligible for a push class. Dancers enrolled in the recommended number of classes for their current level who demonstrate consistent attendance, strong technique, and skill proficiency may be invited to join a push class after an evaluation process in the fall. The decision to invite a dancer will be made at the sole discretion of the Artistic Director and current ballet teacher(s). To be considered for a push class, please enroll your dancer in the recommended number of classes specifically for their current level. They must consistently attend recommended classes to maintain push class enrollment.

Placement Process: All class placements for the upcoming season are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Director and OAB faculty, and take into account dancer attendance, technique, and skill proficiency.

Advancement to pointe: Level 4 dancers are eligible to start pointe work if they are approved by their Level 4 teacher(s). Dancers must exhibit strength, skill proficiency, and a strong foundation of technical knowledge to safely begin pointe, as student safety is OAB’s main concern. Pointe work evaluations will be completed in the fall of their Level 4 training, and dancers will be notified of their status by the end of October. Appointments for pointe shoe fittings will be scheduled in November.