Description Intro Ballet I – No previous dance experience

• These courses are designed for students with no previous knowledge or experience, or for those with prior dance experience who wish to refresh their knowledge of terminology and foundational technique after time away. Intro I also acts as an introduction to Houston Met Dance, its faculty, office staff and all the engaging classes offered.

• Students typically take 2-4 consecutive 6-week sessions if they are brand new to dance and 1-2 consecutive 6-week sessions if they have previous dance experience. tion text goes here

Description Intro Ballet II – For students that have completed Intro Ballet I

• These courses are designed for students who have attended at least one Intro I session and are now interested in moving forward. Intro II also acts as an introduction to Houston Met Dance, its faculty, office staff and all the engaging classes offered.

• Students typically take 1-2 consecutive 6-week sessions and in combination with Beginning Ballet.

• HMD’s Intro Ballet curriculum was developed by HMD Founder Michelle Smith. Michelle has an extensive background in ballet training, including the New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University. After college, she joined the Delia Stewart Dance Company, working first as principal dancer and then as Manager of the company and Director of the school, where she established a children’s program and diversified the adults’ program that became the base for Houston Met Dance over 30 years ago.

• Through this curriculum students learn classical ballet techniques and terminology while to building the physical stamina and strength necessary to accomplish matriculation into Beginning Level Ballet classes at Houston Met Dance.

• Lessons build from class to class and instruction is facilitated by HMD Ballet faculty (including Michelle) who rotate through the 6 weeks providing students with the opportunity to experience the full breathe of what Houston Met Dance has to offer, as they expand their ballet knowledge and experience.

• Each class includes barre exercises, center floor work, and across-the-floor combinations.

• The goal of our intro adult courses is the matriculation of students into our beginning-level classes on our Open Adult Schedule.

• Students typically take 2-4 consecutive 6-week sessions if they are brand new to dance and 1-2 consecutive 6-week sessions if they have previous dance experience.

• The #1 goal of our Intro Courses is to provide students that are new to formalized dance training with a pathway to beginning level Ballet classes in our Open Adult Schedule.

• Our intro courses are designed to progress through a 6 week curriculum and are not set up to accommodate drop-in or single-class attendance.

• As with any course of study, regular attendance is necessary to progress through the program. 

• Dance especially requires consistency to build the physical stamina and strength necessary to accomplish matriculation into the next level.

• Students that have never taken formalized dance typically take the Intro I course 1-2 consecutive times before matriculating into Intro II. 

• Intro II students are often encouraged to take Beginning Level classes in the open class schedule concurrently to help them more effectively transition into the Open Beginning program. 

• If a student misses a class they are encouraged to make it up in the same 6 week session if room permits. 

• It is important for students to early cancel classes ahead of time so that their credits can be used for make-ups in another intro class.

• Space is LIMITED. There are NO REFUNDS and NO PRORATING. Your registration and payment signify a commitment to the 6 specifically scheduled weeks.

• You are purchasing a course of scheduled classes that runs 6 weeks, not a class card that you can use at will.

• Students will not be admitted into classes if they are more than 15 minutes late, so that ability to arrive at Houston Met Dance in time for class, is very important.

• HMD does not allow class observations for any reason. For the majority of our students their class time at HMD is a sacred and vulnerable space where they put their bravery to the test in pursuit of joy and grounding.

• If you have never danced before, this is the place to start.

• If you have danced before or have a regular movement practice (yoga, aerobics, martial arts, etc.) and are concerned that Intro might be too slow for you, we recommend that you register for a single class at the beginning level and let the instructor know your concerns/ curiosities at the start of class.

• You are always encouraged to follow up with the instructor after class for feedback and/or additional class suggestions if desired.

• Before you purchase any HMD Adult Open Classes or Intro Courses, please understand that You are responsible for tracking your purchases, expiration dates and any related make-up credits.

• Only Intro Course classes that have been cancelled in advance(EARLY CANCEL)are saved as purchase credits that can be used for a make-up class.

• No shows are not automatically cancelled. Advance cancellation is Your responsibility. Classes from HMD’s Adult Open Class Schedule cannot be used to make-up or register for another Intro Course.

• Make-ups: Students wanting to make up missed Intro Course classes can only do so with an active credit by doing an EARLY CANCEL in advance. Due to the limited number of classes in the Intro Course sessions and the restricted number of participant spots available, Make-Ups are NOT guaranteed within the intro program timeframe.

• To ensure you get your credit if you miss an Intro Course class and retain the ability to take another intro level class within the same 6-week session timeframe, you must do the following steps:

  a) Log into your Mindbody Account on a laptop or desktop computer. (Unfortunately, The MindBody App on your cell phone/tablet DOES NOT allow students to access their profile or schedule nor fully manage their accounts. Instead, please use a fully functional web-browser to login.)

  b) Go to Adult Open Classes schedule page and look for “My Account” on the right side just above the class schedule calendar. Click on the words “My Account” to open a separate page for you to log onto your MindBody account.

  c) Once you have found your schedule and identified the class that you will miss, select EARLY CANCEL. The page should refresh and the class will no longer be listed.

  d) Then email classes@metdance.org to communicate the date of the class you will miss (the same that you cancelled on your MB account page) and communicate the date you wish to attend a make-up. This step is critical to being included in the make-up class! HMD will confirm once you are included in the roster for the substituted class.

In the event you are not able to attend a make-up class during the Intro Course session, credit can be used to register for any class in the Adult Open Class schedule.‍ ‍Please contact classes@metdance.org to use this option.

NOTE: If you miss the advance cancellation window due to an emergency or unforeseen event, contact us at classes@metdance.org to inform them. HMD can do a credit recovery and convert it for an Adult Open Class credit.

Remember, it is important that you EARLY CANCEL the class you will miss in advance so that your class credit is readily available for use. Failure to early cancel can result in an inactive credit and delayed access to make-up opportunities.