IRISES LEVEL


CULTIVATE PATH

Intermediate III

Level placement by instructors required

Required Classes: Full Season = $600 | 8 total payments = $75/monthly

  • 70-minute Ballet Technique classes, twice per week
  • 30-minute Pointe Foundations/Pointe I class, twice per week

Optional Classes: Add $10/monthly

  • 40-minute Character/Contemporary II class, once per week

Tuition is posted monthly (September - April). Pointe requires readiness evaluation by Doxa Instructors.

2024-25 SEASON
  • MON + WED | 3:15-4:55p
  • MON + FRI | 5:45-7:25p

Dancers in this level enroll in and attend both of the paired class times per week; the times include ballet technique & pointe or pointe foundations. Dancers placed in Irises should not purchase pointe shoes until specifically instructed to do so by a Doxa Instructor.

Optional:

  • MON or WED 5:00-5:40p -- Character (fall) / Contemporary (spring)
  • SUN | 4:30-5:25p -- Open Ballet Technique (with instructor approval)

Students in this level must enroll in the two technique class times per week which includes pointe or pointe foundations classes. The schedule is arranged so that the two days of required classes begin at the same time and these classes are held back to back.

Character and Contemporary class (one each semester) is highly encouraged, but not required.

Prior Doxa experience is required. Level recommendations are made by Doxa Instructors after a student has trained for a minimum of one year at Doxa in the Nurture Path. Only dancers who have been placed in this level are able to enroll. Dancers in this level have passed the Lilacs Evaluation and have received Recommendation for Irises by a Doxa Instructor.

Dancers who have been recommended for or have previously enrolled in a Cultivate Path level may choose to enroll in an age-defined Nurture Path level instead. This option may be appealing if their goals regarding dance are purely recreational, they do not desire to pursue dancing en pointe, a scheduling conflict with another extracurricular activity, or some other reason.

Dancers must maintain their placement in Cultivate Path classes from year to year, and level changes are at the discretion of Doxa Instructors and capacity in each level. To re-enter the Cultivate Path after opting for Nurture Path classes instead, a dancer/parent should submit by email a desire to be reconsidered for Cultivate Path placement.

Irises wear a dark purple leotard. Please avoid lavender as this color is used in another level.

Open Tech class days are free choice for leotard color and black tights are acceptable. Boys in co-ed classes can wear a close-fitting t-shirt in the level color or in black or white.

All levels wear:

  • level-specific color leotard
  • pink ballet tights in primary technique and pointe/pointe foundations classes
  • pink ballet shoes
  • hair fully secured for class - ballet bun or French twist, neat and smooth
  • optional: a single-layer dance skirt or close-fitting pair of shorts

Character requires a knee-length black character skirt and heeled character shoes.

See dress code for more information on this policy and to view all levels.

In the spring semester, dancers will learn one recital dance per level-specific technique class in which they are enrolled.

Depending on the distribution of classes, usually dancers in this level perform in two or three recitals, and do both of their dances in both (or all three) recitals.

One Saturday dress rehearsal (usually 1-2 weeks before recitals, depending on how Easter falls) is the only commitment outside of consistent class attendance that is required for the recital.

Recital costume fees are now factored into tuition rates. There will be no additional costume fee in the 2023-24 Season.

Doxa generally presents a story ballet in the fall/winter (December) or in the spring (April), or both. Students must meet and maintain Cultivate path requirements in order to be eligible for participation.

There is a $50 participation fee per dancer for each story ballet, which are pooled and used to buy tights and ballet flats for the cast, depending on character roles.

Story ballets require extensive rehearsals outside of regular class times. Dancers are expected to be at all rehearsals scheduled for their given roles. A limited number of conflicts can be declared at the outset of each participation opportunity, which will be considered in casting and rehearsal scheduling. Once the rehearsal schedule is set, dancers are expected to prioritize rehearsals over future conflicts which may arise. Families who cannot make this commitment with their dancer should opt for recital participation only, or non-performing status.

To maintain level placement in this Cultivate Path level, eligibility for pointe placement, and story ballet casting opportunities, dancers must:

  • Adhere to dress code every class (dancers not in dress code with hair properly secured will not be allowed to take cultivate-level classes).
  • Demonstrate an "advanced dancer" mindset, defined as an eagerness to refine the finer details of technique.
  • Enroll in two weekly classes which include ballet technique and pointe foundations or pointe I, depending on placement. The Character/Contemporary I class is also encouraged, but not required. Maintain consistent attendance.
  • Pass the Vocabulary III Test
  • Complete exercises assigned as homework according to stated deadlines
  • Participate in Movement Assessments when scheduled (usually annually)
  • Receive a positive evaluation of conduct, work ethic, and technical improvement, which includes pointe readiness.
  • If cast in a story ballet, prioritize scheduled rehearsals over outside conflicts (maximum of 3 excused absences allowed per production). Story ballet participation is optional and can be determined at the outset of each production.
  • class load can meet school PE credit requirement (5 class hours) - request paperwork from your school
  • students are on track for potential pointe placement if pointe work is a goal
  • students are eligible for merit-based level advancement consideration
  • in addition to performing in the recital, students are eligible for story ballet productions, depending on roles available
  • students are considered for Doxa Kerusso ensemble participation, by invitation