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 generally 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.

All-day campers should wear shoes that they can walk to the park in and dress in layers appropriate for indoors and out. Our current face mask policy can be found here.

OBSERVING CLASS

We strive to keep the total number of people in the space limited as part of our COVID-19 precautions and anyone not participating in class is asked to refrain from staying to watch. We find this also boosts focus and fosters independence. If your child requires support, and you need an exception to this rule, please contact us.

If do you choose to enter the theater with your camper, you are welcome to help your child transition into camp and watch for a few minutes. We want you and your child to feel comfortable in camp with us and will support you in any way we can. That said, we will encourage you to leave as soon as you feel comfortable. Experience has taught us that the presence of family members is often a distraction to students and can make it more challenging for campers to focus. 

Live end-of-term and end-of-camp performances are back! Generally these take place in the last 15-30 minutes on the final day of class or camp. Students may bring up to 4 guests to watch them perform. All guests must follow COVID-19 protocols, including masking and showing proof of vaccination.

PLEASE BRING

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

PLEASE DO NOT BRING

Toys, games, stuffed animals or any other objects that are not essential to camp.

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.

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.

For more information on open gym rules and availability, please click here.

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 & Camps: 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 (2) classes per term may schedule a makeup during open gym.

If you miss class due to symptoms of, or exposure to COVID-19, please contact us. Please stay home if you are sick.

PAYMENTS/REFUNDS/CREDITS

Tuition payment is due at the time of registration.

Account credits can not be viewed or accessed through our online portal. Please contact the office to use your credit.

Discounts and special offers may not be applied after a transaction has been processed.

Once a transaction has been processed, the payment is immediately subject to our refund/withdrawal policy.

If a student must withdraw from a class, camp, or workshop the following applies:

If a student withdraws more than 14 days before class begins, the student will receive: A refund of class tuition less 10% (per each enrollment) in the original form of payment OR an account credit for the full amount of class tuition.

If a student withdraws less than 14 days before class begins, the student is no longer eligible for a refund, but will receive an account credit for the full amount of tuition.

If a student withdraws after class begins, the student will receive a prorated account credit.

If a student withdraws more than 120 days after enrolling but before class begins, we will only be able to issue a refund of class tuition less 50% (per each enrollment) in the form of a paper check OR an account credit for the full amount of tuition.

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.

Account credits can be applied to any ETC purchase (including tuition, tickets, merchandise, etc) and expires one year after the date it is applied to the account. To use, please contact our office.

PLEASE NOTE: Classes with fewer than 2 students enrolled will be cancelled 1 business day before the class. In the event of a cancellation, a full refund or credit will be issued. Be sure to register in advance to ensure that your favorite class will not be cancelled.