School Policies

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

Echo Theater typically follows Portland Public Schools regarding closures and late starts. In the event of a schedule change due to weather, we will email registered students (at least 2 hours in advance) and post an update on our website and Facebook. There are no refunds or credits issued for classes cancelled due to weather conditions. If we are running classes and you do not feel safe travelling to Echo due to weather, please stay home! We will issue you a voucher for open gym or FUNdamentals. 

WHAT TO WEAR

Please come to class in comfortable clothing that allows freedom of movement and is not distracting. Sweatpants, footless tights, leotards and unitards are all great. Shirts should be tucked in. Classes are taken barefoot. Long hair should be tied back. Skirts, jeans and loose long hair can be dangerous and are not allowed! Eyeglasses are allowed if they are secured. Jewelry should be removed before class or left at home; wedding rings are permitted but can be painful on the trapeze.

OBSERVING CLASS

Family and friends of students are invited to observe the first day of class or camp. Experience has taught us that the presence of family and friends is often a distraction to students. Therefore, after the first day of class, we ask that students have the opportunity to attend without the potential distraction of an audience (either their own or another student’s). Instructors are available to discuss each student’s progress, class experience, as well as potential exceptions to this rule. Family and friends are invited to a short performance at the end of each class or camp.

PLEASE BRING

A water bottle with your name on it. We have limited cups!

PLEASE DO NOT BRING

Toys, games, stuffed animals, or other distractions (unless approved by teachers)

DAY CARE

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to look after children before or after class. Parents who drop their children off unsupervised more than 10 minutes early or pick their children up more than 10 minutes late will be charged a day care fee of $10 per quarter hour.

OPEN GYM 

Echo Theater Company’s open gym offers an opportunity for established students to train on their own, without instruction, to build strength & flexibility, solidify existing skills and build performance skills at their own pace.

To attend open gym, students must have either:

• Completed a full term of Adult ETC School classes


• OR successfully complete a skills assessment

Students may only use apparatus they have been assessed on or taken a term of study in.

Under no circumstances may a student perform their own rigging. Only instructors may perform rigging. Communicate with the open gym supervisor to request any changes in apparatus.

Although there is a trained ETC School instructor present at all times, this is not an opportunity for instruction from staff or from other students. Students are responsible for their own warm up, conditioning, and general safety at all times.

Skills assessment:

All apparatus

• Ability to demonstrate proper stretching/warming up and cool down


• Ability to demonstrate awareness of personal limitations of knowledge & abilities

Rope & fabric

• 2 upside down straddles without touching the rope/fabric


• Basic rope/silks climb to top and down twice (no thuds down)

Trapeze, lyra, invented apparatus

• Controlled mount and dismount to standing on trapeze and lyra


• Controlled step step kick turn


• Catchers’ hang

Partner acro

• Thigh stand (controlled, unspotted, no wobble)


• Cathedral (controlled, unspotted, no wobble

Solo ground work

• Cartwheel, kick up to handstand, and forward roll.


• For canes: kick up to a controlled handstand alignment & cartwheel out safely on ground.

MISSED CLASSES

Baby Circus Classes: If you are unable to attend a Baby Circus class, you may schedule one (1) makeup class each half-term. Any other regularly scheduled Baby Circus class works as a “Makeup,” but makeup space is limited. Classes must be made up within one (1) term of your missed class.

Youth Classes: Unfortunately, due to the sequential nature of our youth classes and for the safety of our youth students, we are unable to offer make-up classes or credits for missed classes. We value continuity of instruction and a safe student/teacher ratio and can not accommodate additional students in our series’ classes. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Adult classes: A student who misses up to two classes per term may schedule a makeup during the following classes:

• Strength & Conditioning Training


• Adult Open Gym

PAYMENTS/REFUNDS/CREDITS

Discounts and special offers may not be applied retroactively.

Tuition payment is due at the time of registration. If a student must withdraw from a class, camp or workshop the following applies:

If a student withdraws more than one week before class begins, the student will receive:

• a refund of class tuition less $10 (per enrollment)


• OR a class or ticket credit for the full amount of tuition.

If a student withdraws less than one week before the start of class or camp, the student will receive a credit for the full amount of tuition.

If a student withdraws up to one day after the class or camp has begun, the student will receive a prorated class or ticket credit.

If a student withdraws two or more days after a class or camp has begun, we will be unable to issue a refund or credit.

If a student withdraws more than 120 days after enrolling (but before class begins), we will only be able to issue a 50% refund via paper check.

Private lesson cancellations require notification 24 hours prior to scheduled lesson time. If notification is not given 24 hours in advance full payment is required.

PLEASE NOTE: Classes with fewer than 2 students enrolled will be cancelled 1 business day before the class. A full refund or credit will be issued at that time. Be sure to register in advance to ensure that we won’t cancel your favorite class.