All information on the following pages is to be left at home for the parents. After reading completely, we suggest you put it in a folder or binder so you will have it for easy reference.
Please note the requirements for the Student Gala listed on the “What To Bring” page (p 6). Order these items as early as possible because they tend to become harder to find closer to the workshop start date.
ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THESE ITEMS!
1 The Vision of Ballet Magnificat!
“Where there is no vision the people perish”. Proverbs 29:19
Ballet Magnificat! was founded in 1986 by Kathy Thibodeaux (Silver Medalist, II US International Ballet Competition). The Lord moved her heart to use the gift of dance He had given her for His honor and glory.
God gave her the vision for a professional touring company and Christian school of the arts. Kathy’s vision included providing a school where students could receive the highest level of training possible in a Christ- focused environment that would eventually accommodate resident students from around the world.
With no dancers or money, and no office or studio space, Kathy resigned her position as a professional dancer with Ballet Mississippi to begin Ballet Magnificat!
Since that time the company has toured extensively throughout the United States as well as worldwide to over 30 countries, to minister and pray with thousands.
The Ballet Magnificat! School opened in 1989 with over 250 students, and the annual Summer Dance Intensive hosts over 300 students from all over the world.
Ballet Magnificat! also helped begin the Belhaven University dance program located in Jackson, MS.
Ballet Magnificat! Brasil was launched on February 6, 2017. Headquartered in Curitiba, Brazil, the program now includes a performances company and trainee program. Dancers from all over Brazil and the USA have joined with an international staff to proudly serve as Ballet Magnificat’s first satellite campus.
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible is the only infallible, authoritative Word of God, the supreme rule for truth and life.
We believe the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the one and only eternal God, who is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
We believe in the incarnation, virgin birth, sinless life, death on the cross, substitutionary atonement for sin, bodily resurrection and future return of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe in the present power and work of God, the Holy Spirit, in the conviction of sin, regeneration, sanctification, and the giving of spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the body of Christ.
We believe in salvation by the free gift of grace apart from works, through repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord, and that true salvation will result in the manifestation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ – a Godly life.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved, unto eternal joy in the presence of God, and the lost, unto eternal damnation, shut away from the presence of God.
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
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We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe also that the rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God.
This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Ballet Magnificat’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Executive Leadership is Ballet Magnificat’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s application.
We believe in order to preserve the function and integrity of Ballet Magnificat as the body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to Ballet Magnificat’s dancers, staff and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Ballet Magnificat in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by our Statement of Faith.
Accountability Ballet Magnificat! is an inter-denominational Protestant ministry of Christian believers, called by God to maintain the highest standard of excellence artistically, technically, spiritually, and morally. All company dancers, apprentices, trainees, staff and volunteers are expected to conduct themselves according to the standards of the Ballet Magnificat! Code of Conduct to ensure the integrity and faithful witness of Ballet Magnificat! in all areas. We maintain and assert peer accountability and individual accountability to a local church.
Ballet Magnificat! Mission Statement
To present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the widest possible audience through the medium of dance, dance/drama, and personal witness.
To help in the restoration of dance as a worshipful part of the life of the Church, by exploring with congregations the part that movement and action can play in the expression of faith.
To present public performances for special audiences, such as children’s homes, hospitals, prisons, and senior citizen’s centers, in recognition of their special place in the eyes of God.
To provide a visual and artistic Christian witness to the arts community in particular.
To fulfill Jesus' command in Mark 16:15 through international tours and workshops.
To train dancers of all ages in a Christ-centered environment to use dance as a form of worship, with a mission and ministry focus; to serve dancers and parents who desire a distinctively Christian education for themselves and their children, with Biblical principles integrated into every aspect of our teaching. 3
Ballet Magnificat! SDI 5406 I-55 N Jackson, MS 39211
[email protected] (phone) 601 977 1001
Dear Parents & Student,
On behalf of Ballet Magnificat! thank you for registering with us for our Summer Dance Intensive!
The enclosed will give you information about our upcoming program. Students, please leave this information at home with your parents. You will receive all the information you will need upon arrival at registration. Parents, once your student is checked in, please get their counselor’s name and phone number and record it in the space provided on this page. Also included in this packet is information about arrival dates and times and a payment schedule.
This is the only packet of information you will receive prior to the student’s arrival in Jackson. It is designed to answer all of your questions and to help you prepare for our workshop. If you need additional information, please feel free to call us at 601-977-1001 or email us at [email protected]
We are looking forward to everything this summer has in store for us!
Blessings to you in Christ, Ballet Magnificat! Summer Dance Intensive Staff
Obtain the following information from your student after his/her arrival on campus:
Counselor’s Name & Phone # ______
Dorm ______Student’s Room Number ______
Important Phone Numbers:
Ballet Magnificat! Office …………………………..601 977 1001 Emergency After-Hours and/or Transportation Changes ……………………………601 946 8796 (This number is only to be used on travel days when air/bus/train schedules are changed, delayed, cancelled, etc. or if you are driving and encounter problems that will delay your arrival until after 4:00. Call the office during regular hours or email us for all other transportation changes.)
4 1. FORMS and PAYMENTS
Be sure to COMPLETELY fill out each of the forms in the Forms packet.
Please make a copy of the entire packet (except Teacher form) and send (do not email) both sets to:
Ballet Magnificat! SDI 5406 I-55 North Jackson, MS 39211
Teachers should send their form (page 11 of that packet) separately, either by mail or by email: [email protected]
Deadline to receive all forms and payment: April 23, 2021
If we have not received your fees and/or forms by April 23, 2021, we will assume you are not attending, will not assign you a room, and will move you to our inactive files.
There will be a $100 Late Fee applied to your account if any payments or forms are received AFTER April 23, 2021.
On Campus On-Campus Total Off-Campus Off-Campus Total Session Total with 5% Discount Total with 5% Discount
2 Weeks $2,170.00 $2,062.50 $1,198.00 $1,139.10 4 Weeks $3,768.00 $3,580.60 $1,842.00 $1,750.90
Accounts paid with a check, cashier’s check, or money order (besides the Application Fee) will receive a 5% discount. Accounts paid with a credit card or bank account number will lose the 5% discount (because of processing fees).
How To Make Payments There are 2 ways to make payments on your existing account. 1. By paying with a check, cashier’s check, or money order, you will receive a 5% discount on your account. Send to: Ballet Magnificat! SDI, 5406 I-55 North, Jackson MS 39211 2. You may pay online with a credit card or bank account number through your portal. By paying online, you will lose the 5% discount on your account. In the event you decide to pay online, we will process your initial payment, then delete the 5% discount and send you an updated statement. You will then have to submit a second payment to cover the balance.
Preferred Payment Plan If possible, please pay in 3 installments: February 1, March 1, and April 1
If your application is received after February 1, please pay the first installment, with the others due March 1 and April 1.
If your application is received after March 1, please pay the first two installments, with the third due April 1.
If your application is received after April 1, please pay the full balance. Balance must be paid by April 23.
This is our preferred payment plan, however if you prefer to pay all at once, or if you need to submit smaller, more frequent payments, that is totally fine. However, please do not wait until April 23 to submit your first payment.
Refunds 1. Refunds made after April 23, 2021, are subject to a $375 cancellation fee. 2. No refunds will be issued if we do not receive cancellation notification by 5:00pm (Central Time) on the Tuesday preceding your arrival day. 3. No refunds will be issued after the start of the workshop session, for any reason, including injury, illness, and homesickness.
5 2. WHAT TO BRING
To help you pack, we’re providing this checklist. Keep in mind that you will be staying in a dormitory and that you MUST be able to carry your own baggage upstairs and then back to the bus when you leave.
Girls Classroom Dress Code Guys Classroom Dress Code Black leotard – none that are low-cut in the front White short-sleeved t-shirt *(tights tops must be worn under all leotards – see p.13) Black socks or white socks A black or flesh-colored sports bra may be worn in lieu of a tights top, but the Black ballet shoes or white ballet shoes straps must follow the same line as the leotard straps. (please match the sock color) Pink tights Black shorts: “Soffe Authentic Ranger Panty” Pink ballet shoes (required for daily classes) Pointe shoes – bring enough for the duration of your stay Black jazz shoes (optional for contemporary) Black jazz shoes (optional for contemporary class) Black tights Black footless tights for contemporary (optional) Dance belt Other dark colored leotards may be worn for contemporary classes only Special Needs for Pointe Shoes Black “Soffe” brand shorts (or something very Extra ribbon and elastic similar) for some classes Thick thread or dental floss and big needle Short black dance skirt (georgette wrap skirts or Bullet Pointe Toe tape and Band-Aids skirts may be worn; not longer than mid-thigh, just long enough to cover bottom) Scissors
Ballet Bag Needs Pointe shoes (for girls) Student Gala Requirements Jazz shoes (optional) Girls – Capezio Long Sleeve Leotard Hair accessories – pins, brush, clips, hairspray, etc. (Black): CC450 (Cotton/Lycra Spandex) Extra leotards and tights (shoes, if possible) Hard ball or roller for foot cramps AND Toenail clippers and nail file M Stevens Wrap Skirt (Black): 531G Muscle rub (Bullet Pointe skirts not allowed for Gala) Ice packs (instant type only please – freezers are not available) Water bottle!!! Men – Black Jazz Pants AND Campus Dress is casual but modest. Black Ballet Shoes Any style of clothing tending toward immodesty is prohibited. No strapless, spaghetti strap or low-cut tops Ladies, please bring performance No midriffs showing make up and diamond stud earrings! No short shorts – they must be at least mid-thigh No shorts or pants with printing across the rear No extremely short skirts – they must be at least to the knee. A cover-up must always be worn over dance clothing when not in studio. Leggings may not be worn in place of pants unless a long shirt is also worn. Sweatpants or loose jazz pants and long t-shirt for the creative worship evenings. Girls may prefer to dress up a little more for Sunday worship, but it is not required. Be prepared to sit on the floor for chapel services. Remember to Bring Bible (No Message Bibles) Stamps and stationery Personal toiletries – bath soap, shampoo, hand soap, etc Umbrella and/or raincoat Notebook and pencils Laundry detergent for machines Towels and washcloths, hand towel (must be High Efficiency liquid, or pods) Extra Long Twin (dorm size) sheets and a blanket (dorms can get cool) Alarm clock (cell phones/iPods/tablets may not Pillow Camera be used as an alarm clock) Lanyard (for your room key, swipe card, and nametag) Sweatpants – great for creative worship Blue painter’s tape must be used for hanging Please do not bring Christmas lights for decoration. They are a fire hazard. things on walls – not Scotch or masking tape Spending Money Students may want to bring some spending money. Extra cash may be needed for snacks and Ballet Magnificat! merchandise.
6 3. PREPARATION
This is a dance INTENSIVE, so to help yourself get the most out of being here, there are some things you can do before you arrive. These tips will help you prepare for the busy schedule.
1. Pray daily for safe travel, your health, your teachers, and your preparedness to learn. 2. Eat properly – especially in the fruit and vegetable food group – and drink plenty of liquids. An increased diet of bananas will help prevent muscle cramps (a potassium/mineral supplement will have the same effect). 3. Stretch out several times each day, both now and while at the workshop, so that you can reduce the degree of soreness in your muscles.
4. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Preferred Arrival Preferred Departure Session Arrival Date Departure Date Time Time July 3 – July 17 Saturday, July 3 Saturday, July 17 Driving: 10am – 4pm Driving: 6am – 10am July 17 – July 31 Saturday, July 17 Saturday, July 31 Flying: 8am – 4pm Flying: 6am – 2pm July 3 – July 31 Saturday, June 31 Saturday, July 31 *Please do not plan to arrive earlier than July 3 or July 17. The workshop will conclude on the last Saturday of the session. Ballet Magnificat! cannot be responsible for housing or transportation for students arriving early or staying later than their scheduled workshop session. (Students traveling from outside the U.S. may be an exception, so please contact our office if you need assistance BEFORE you book your flight.)
Unaccompanied Minors 1. Check with your airline to determine if this affects your minor son/daughter. 2. Mark on your Transportation Form that your son/daughter is an Unaccompanied Minor. 3. Pay the required fee to the airline for travel both ways. We cannot pay this for you when we take your child to the airport to return home. 4. If the airline requires the name of the person who will pick up your minor child at the airport, please call our office for this information once you know the date and arrival time for your flight.
Arrival Weekend Saturday – Arrival Day: Dancers arrive and settle into their dorm rooms, meet their counselors, roommates, and small group members. After a hot dinner and a good night’s rest, everyone is ready for the next day.
Check-In Driving: 10:00am – 4:00pm Flying/Train: Upon Arrival
Sunday – Orientation, Placement Classes, Chapel
Monday – Classes begin!
Arrival and Shuttle Ballet Magnificat! will provide a shuttle for on-campus students coming by plane, train, or bus on arrival and departure days. The Jackson airport is very small. Once the student exits through the security checkpoint, they should proceed downstairs to the baggage claim area. There will be Ballet Magnificat! greeters to meet the students and guide them to the shuttle buses. We’ll be easy to spot. We will be wearing Ballet Magnificat! t-shirts. THIS SHUTTLE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO REGISTERED, ON-CAMPUS WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ONLY. PARENTS FLYING IN WITH THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL AS STUDENTS WHO WILL BE STAYING OFF CAMPUS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RIDE THESE BUSES – NO EXCEPTIONS.
ANY CHANGE IN TRAVEL PLANS must be communicated by a parent to Erin Beaver at: (office) 601-977-1001 or (cell) 601- 946-8796. This cell number is to be used only on travel days when air/bus/train schedules are changed, delayed, cancelled, etc. Call the office during regular hours for all other transportation changes, or email us at [email protected] as soon as possible.
7 Airlines that fly into Jackson International Airport (JAN) Ground Transportation into Jackson American Eagle (www.aa.com) Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) Delta (www.delta.com) Greyhound (www.greyhound.com) United Airlines (www.united.com)
PLEASE NOTE: The last shuttle on Saturday, July 31, leaves Belhaven campus around noon. The campus is then closed. If a student’s flight is later in the day than the preferred departure time (2:00pm), they will be taken to the airport on the last shuttle. A Ballet Magnificat! representative will remain outside security until 3:00pm, unless your child is an Unaccompanied Minor. At 3:00pm, the remaining students will be sent through security to wait for their flight without Ballet Magnificat! supervision.
Lodging If you are in need of overnight lodging while dropping off or picking up your student, search online for hotels near Ballet Magnificat! (5406 I-55 North, Jackson MS 39211) or Belhaven University (1500 Peachtree Street, Jackson MS 39202). We cannot make recommendations but do suggest the Madison, Pearl, and Ridgeland areas. Belhaven University and our studios are not far off Interstate 55, so if your hotel is convenient to the interstate, you will have no trouble getting to the college easily. Ballet Magnificat! does not provide transportation to and from hotels.
5. FIRST DAY – Check-in at Belhaven University (not Ballet Magnificat! studios)
If you are flying in, you will be dropped off at your dorm. If you are driving in, please follow these instructions:
Belhaven University, 1500 Peachtree Street, Jackson MS 39202 Check-in at Caldwell Dorm (#2) to receive your dorm assignment (do NOT unload your luggage yet!) If you are not being housed in Caldwell Dorm, you will be directed to your dorm for check in. When you finish unloading, please park in Lot B to leave space for others just arriving at Caldwell.
CALDWELL DORM- 2
LAKEVIEW DORM- 4
PARKING LOT B
HELEN WHITE DORM- 8
CAFETERIA/ STUDENT CENTER- 13
At check-in, you will receive a packet of information, a schedule, your placement time for tomorrow, etc. Your counselor will be waiting to greet you in your hallway.
Guests should plan to leave campus by 5:30pm.
First-Day Meals in the Campus Cafeteria Lite Lunch 11am – 2pm (available to guests for $7.50/person) Full Dinner 6pm – 7:30pm
8 6. CAMPUS LIFE
Dormitory Information 1. Rooms have two beds. Bathrooms serve either halls or suites. 2. You may want to bring some snack foods. Counselors will coordinate grocery purchases for their students on a limited basis. You are welcome to bring a mini-fridge. 3. You must bring your own sheets (twin-extra long), blanket, and pillow. 4. Each student will be provided with a door card to his/her dorm building and a key to get into his/her room. If you lose or misplace a key or card, notify your counselor or an on-campus administrator immediately. Student is liable for the replacement: $10 per key and/or $10 per card. Nametag replacements are $5. 5. ANY DAMAGE TO THE FACILITIES CAUSED BY A STUDENT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT (IF 18 OR OVER) OR THE PARENT/GUARDIAN (IF UNDER 18). 6. There are televisions in the lobbies of each dorm for viewing dance and other staff/counselor provided videos. Please do not bring movies/DVDs from home. 7. No offensive or objectionable music or reading material, including works containing witchcraft, sorcery, or vampires, e.g., Harry Potter and Twilight.
Counselor Groups Adult counselors live on each hallway in the dorms and are assigned to groups of 10-14 students (on average). These groups provide fellowship, fun, and friendship during the student’s time here. Counselors serve as parents-away-from- home and are there to help and support the students, no matter what the need.
Campus Rules 1. The buildings designated on the campus map (which will be included in your handbook at registration) are the only buildings in which students are allowed. 2. During free time, students must sign out with their counselor when leaving the dorm. Students must be in their dorm by 7:00pm. Quiet time begins at 9:30pm. Lights out by 10:00pm. 3. Counselors will be available 24 hours a day and Belhaven University has 24-hour campus security guards. We have set up specific rules and guidelines for your overall protection and safety that we will go over with you at orientation. 4. Dating is not permitted, so please do not look for opportunities to pair off with members of the opposite sex. 5. Students are not allowed to walk on campus alone.
Laundry Each dorm has laundry facilities. The cost is $1.50 per washer load and $1.50 per dryer load. The only way to pay the laundry fee is through an app. The machines do not accept quarters. Please follow these instructions for setting up the laundry app: 1. Download the Speed Queen app on the student’s phone. 2. Set up an account. 3. Add location. Location pin: BELHAV 4. Find your building. (You can choose any building if setting up prior to arrival. It can be changed once the student arrives and receives their dorm assignment.) 5. Add debit/credit card. 6. Find your machine. (This should only be done when you are ready to do laundry.)
The app requires you to load at least $10.00 into your laundry “account”, and it will not refund the unused money, so if you don’t plan to do that much laundry, you may want to coordinate with others in your small group and use 1 person’s app and the others pay them back with cash.
Bring your own detergent. It must be high-efficiency liquid, or pods. You may not use powder detergent in the machines. You may choose to hand-wash items in the sink instead of using the machines.
If the student is not bringing a debit/credit card to the SDI, this MUST be set up prior to arrival.
If the student is not bringing a smart phone to the SDI, they can use their counselor’s app and must bring dollar bills with which to pay them back.
9 Off-Campus Students Off-campus students will be assigned a small group and counselor just like on-campus students. They will have Bible studies and group times together with their small group. Off-campus students should come to check-in on Saturday to receive their packet and to meet their counselor. Most counselor groups will be meeting Saturday evening to get to know each other and go over a few things. Off-campus students should plan to stay for that group time, or leave and come back. Please communicate with their counselor about the time. Parents/Guardians should coordinate with the counselor upon arrival, regarding the best pick-up/drop-off locations and times for each day. For meals each day, off-campus students will need to bring their own meal, purchase individual meals in the cafeteria at a cost of $7.50 per meal, or purchase a meal card directly from the cafeteria. They may also be picked up by a Parent/Guardian for meal times- but they must be back in time for class or the evening activity.
Cafeteria 1. Cafeteria lines are open only during the times listed on the schedule. Therefore, DON’T BE LATE! 2. Every student receives a swipe card at check-in. For on-campus students, it also serves as your meal ticket, so if it is lost (or faulty), it must be replaced as soon as possible to avoid confusion in the cafeteria. 3. There will be gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free options at the cafeteria every day. Please discuss special dietary needs with the counselor upon arrival or call the office ahead of time if you wish.
7. DAILY SCHEDULE & CLASSES
Placement Class All students must participate in their assigned Placement Class on the first Sunday of your session. Students are selected from these Placement Classes to audition for the Pre-Professional Level. On Monday morning, we will post level assignments and you can then look at the schedule to see where your classes are each day.
Schedule The following is a rough outline of each week’s schedule. Please understand that times may vary slightly. A detailed schedule of classes, plus the evening and weekend schedule will be given to you when you arrive.
Monday-Friday Saturday 7:00-8:15 Breakfast Classes in the morning/afternoon 8:30-9:30 Chapel Planned afternoon/evening activity 10:00-11:45 Class 1 12:00-1:15 Lunch Sunday 1:45-3:00 Class 2 No dance classes 3:15-5:00 Class 3 Afternoon Worship Service on campus 4:45-6:15 Dinner Planned activities or rest time 6:15-8:30 Group times, Bible Studies, evening activities
Chapel Daily Chapel is mandatory for all students, including off-campus students. Each weekday morning, we begin the day with Chapel, consisting of worship time and speakers (company members and staff). Sunday afternoons, we have a worship service and speakers from local churches and ministries.
Because of the nature of the intense schedule while in Jackson, Ballet Magnificat! is not able to provide transportation for students who request to attend additional local church services in the Jackson area outside of the Summer Intensive.
In the Classroom 1. Be dressed for the first class before chapel begins. Wear a cover up while walking between classes. Class dress code will be strictly enforced. Ladies, tights must be worn UNDER the leotard. Absolutely no holes or cut-up class attire. NO “JUNK” ALLOWED IN CLASS. 2. Classes will start on time. Any special preparation needed for any class, such as taping feet for pointe class, should be done ahead of time. 3. Students must participate in all classes in the level to which they are assigned. 4. Attendance is required for ALL CLASSES. In cases of injury, students will be required to observe class. 5. If you are feeling ill, you must notify your counselor before chapel so that appropriate medical attention can be given before classes begin. 10 Daily Transportation Classes are held at Belhaven University and Ballet Magnificat! studios. Students will be transported back and forth to Ballet Magnificat! classes via our fleet of leased school buses. No one under 18 is allowed to drive themselves or ride with any other student during the workshop. Only counselors and Ballet Magnificat! staff members will be allowed to transport students by car, if the need arises.
8. MAIL, PHONES, & VISITORS
MAIL & PACKAGES for students should be sent to: Student’s Name, Dorm Name Initial & Room # (student will receive this at check-in) example: Belhaven University Elizabeth Johnson C312 – Ballet Magnificat! 1500 Peachtree Street Jackson, MS 39202
1. Mail is delivered each afternoon, Monday – Friday. 2. Ballet Magnificat! cannot be responsible if packages are lost. 3. Please do not call Belhaven or Ballet Magnificat! to inquire about the arrival of your package. If you wish to know when it is delivered to Belhaven, send it trackable. 4. Please do not mail packages or letters after the final Monday of the session. It may not get here in time and we cannot guarantee it will be forwarded. 5. PACKAGE SIZE LIMIT: PLEASE – Packages can be no larger than a standard shoe box. 6. PLEASE DO NOT send flowers, balloons, or edible arrangements. These take individual attention and we do not have staff to cover it.
Telephones/Computers 1. Students must call home after checking in at the dorms, then we ask that no phone calls are made until the first Thursday. This is to help the students get settled and plugged into the workshop. We realize that there are special situations and no student is EVER forbidden from speaking with a parent, so talk to your counselor (or parent call our office-in advance if necessary) if there are extenuating circumstances. 2. Students who do not bring a cell phone will need to place all personal calls from their counselor’s phone – please bring a calling card number to make long distance calls. 3. All cell phones, as well as ALL Wi-Fi enabled devices (laptops, tablets, iPods, Kindles, etc) may not be kept in student rooms. Counselors will keep them for use during free time. We want the students to focus on their technical and spiritual training, without distraction. Their time in Jackson is short, and we want them to receive the most out of it that they can. 4. It works best for students to call home rather than parents trying to call in. It is often difficult to reach a student during the busy workshop schedule and evening activities sometimes run late. DO NOT call after 10:00pm (Central Standard Time). 5. The voicemail system on campus will be activated and used by our counselors. You may call your child’s counselor directly (please get the number from your child after his/her arrival); or during business hours you may call our office at 601-977-1001, Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00 (central). 6. A Ballet Magnificat! staff member can be contacted after hours and on weekends by calling the office at 601- 977-1001 and following the directions we leave on the voicemail on how to reach an emergency cell phone number. Please use this number for true emergencies only. 7. Ballet Magnificat! is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of any valuables brought by students, including electronic devices, cell phones, computers, etc.
Visitors and Guests 1. No visitors or guests will be allowed on campus without the permission of the workshop administration. 2. Students are allowed to leave campus with a parent or legal guardian only and student’s counselor must be notified in advance. 3. No workshop student will be permitted to spend the night/weekend off-campus unless it is with a parent/legal guardian. Parents, please call the office to arrange any overnight off-campus visits. We cannot allow students to leave campus with other relatives or friends. 4. Off-campus visits are not allowed during times when student activities are planned -- Bible studies, creative worship, group times, etc. 11 9. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Student Gala On the last Friday of each two-week session, there will be a Student Gala where all students perform choreography learned and rehearsed in variations classes. (The Pre-Professional Level will only perform at the end of the four weeks.) All family and friends are welcome to attend these concerts.
Concerts by Ballet Magnificat! Ballet Magnificat! will perform for the workshop participants during each 2-week session. Parents are welcome to attend, as space allows.
10. CHECK OUT 1. Air/train/bus: A departure schedule is posted several days prior to the departure Saturdays. Students are asked to check and make a note of the time the shuttle bus will pick them up at their dorm. 2. Driving: Please plan to pick up your student by 10am. 3. Students are required to check out when leaving at the end of camp with the person in charge in the lobby on check-out days.
Tights Tops
Tights Top instructions: Use a pair of pink or black tights: (See pictures below)
Step 1: Using sharp scissors, cut out the crotch along the seam. This should be a very small hole – it will expand once you put them on. Step 2: Cut off the legs to desired length. Your tights should now look like a small shirt. Step 3: Turn the tights upside-down and pull the tights on over your head, with your arms going through the leg holes. Once you have the tights top on, you can trim them to fit comfortably. You may use old or inexpensive tights. The companies and trainees of Ballet Magnificat! wear tights tops for class/rehearsals.
Why Tights Tops? Tights Tops are an inexpensive way to provide support and modesty, allowing dancers of many shapes and sizes to wear a variety of styles of leotards. Even if you are wearing a long-sleeved leotard, we require a tights top to be worn underneath, for support.
12 FOR PARENTS’ EYES ONLY
HOW TO BE A GOOD WORKSHOP PARENT We are very excited about what God has in store for our annual Summer Dance Intensive! Listed below are some tips on how you can help your student get the most out of these weeks.
CONTACT WITH HOME After the initial “I made it to Jackson!” call, please, no phone calls until at least the 4th day. Allow the “settling in” process to take place. The nervousness many students experience with new situations quickly subsides as they get plugged into the workshop. Through the years, Ballet Magnificat! has noticed that students acclimate more quickly to their new surroundings when they are not calling home the first few days, which generally tends to foster homesickness. Counselors’ phones have voicemail capability. This will make it easier to get messages to students. Please, no non- emergency calls those first days. --We realize that there are special situations and no student is EVER forbidden from speaking with a parent, so talk to your counselor (or parent call our office – in advance if necessary) if there are extenuating circumstances.
COUNSELORS Our adult counselors have experience as dancers, parents, or both. They treat their small groups as families and work through problems together. Each counselor receives the names of his/her students before the workshop and prays for them in advance. Encourage your student to go to his/her counselor first with a problem instead of alarming you with a situation that may resolve itself before you can return a phone message. Our counselors arrive 3 days before the workshop begins so we can get to know them, and to undergo hours of preparatory training and orientation.
HOMESICKNESS For some students, this will be their first trip away from home alone. This can be traumatic for both students and parents. If your student is apprehensive about being away from home, perhaps you could persuade him/her to seek out someone in his/her group who may be going through the same thing.
DISCOURAGEMENT A cheerful card or an uplifting scripture can go a long way on a tough day. The first week can be rigorous until the routine sets in. Put a letter in the mail even before your student leaves home so it will be waiting here when they arrive. (We will put the room number on this first letter, but please address all mail with student’s room number as instructed above for future mailings.)
ROOMMATES Our process of selecting roommates begins with prayer. Participants are grouped by age and then sorted into counselor groups. If your student is having difficulty adjusting to his/her roommate, encourage your student to see the roommate as someone God wants to use in his/her life. Tell him/her to look for things in common and to use the opportunity to learn from differences. Each year, we see students develop wonderful friendships that continue for years with roommates they may have been uncertain about in the beginning.
LEVELS At the beginning of each session, students take a placement class and are placed in one of seven levels. As the week progresses, if a teacher notices that a student is incorrectly placed, then he/she can recommend to the appropriate people to move the student. Sometimes students say that their level is “too easy”, but a good dancer can learn something in any class level. The difference between levels is usually not very drastic. Please encourage your son/daughter to work hard in the level in which they are placed. If they are noticeably in the wrong level, they may be moved up; HOWEVER, if he/she has a bad attitude and doesn’t try in class because it is “too easy”, then it will be assumed that he/she is in the correct level. Please remember that just because your son/daughter is in the highest level at his/her home dance studio doesn’t mean that he/she will be in the highest level at Ballet Magnificat! Please do not call our offices about levels. We will make changes based on what we see during classes and will not change a student’s level because of a parent’s call. Thank you for your understanding.
PURITY TALK One evening has been set aside for the company members of Ballet Magnificat to talk with the students about the importance of sexual purity in their choices, actions and thoughts. Company dancers will share brief personal testimonies and encourage the students to live Biblical, God-honoring lives.
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