West End to Broadway
Annual Academy Performance Guide
Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 6:00pm • The Concert Hall at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido
Statement of Philosophy
Southern California Ballet Academy strives to provide a well-rounded dance training experience for each child. One of the ways that we can achieve this is through participation in a specially choreographed dance production presented at the summer’s end—a performance that is supported with a theme, costuming, rehearsals, lighting, props, and all of the exciting elements that make a theater experience complete.
We would like all of the students to be able to participate. Please review this guide before making this commitment with your child. If you have already made vacation plans, please let your teacher know, as we work around these.
How It Works
Classes:
There is both a 1) Participating Classes table at the bottom of this page and 2) a binder at the front desk with a list of participating classes and their corresponding costumes.
Measuring for Costumes:
You will be responsible for measuring your dancer to determine their costume size. You will need both their 1) measurements and 2) costume size in order to complete the registration form. This can be done either:In the lobby: If you need to borrow a measuring tape, this can be borrowed from the front desk. Half-sheet flyers with measurement instructions are available in the lobby to record the measurements.
At home: If you already have a measuring tape, please review the measuring instructions & size chart on the webpage to measure your dancer and determine their costume size before registering.
Register:
Once you and your dancer have decided which dances you would like to participate in and have taken measurements, please register through the form below.
Registration Deadline: Friday, May 4
Rehearsal Schedule
Initial Rehearsals
During regular class times May through August (Southern California Ballet Studio)
Character, Jazz, and Freestyle classes will begin rehearsing soon. Level ballet classes will not begin rehearsing until after assessments.
Mandatory Rehearsals:
AUGUST 16: 12pm-4pm | Mandatory studio run-through (Southern California Ballet Studio)
AUGUST 23: 12pm-4pm | Mandatory studio dress rehearsal (Southern California Ballet Studio)
AUGUST 30: 11:30am-3:30pm | Mandatory theater dress rehearsal (California Center for the Arts)
AUGUST 30: 5pm Arrival, 6pm Curtain | Performance (California Center for the Arts)
*Rehearsals for most ballet level dances will not begin until May 4. If your dancer will not be able to attend classes consistently throughout June and July, please do not sign up to perform for this class. The only chance for your dancer to learn the choreography is during class time, if they are unable to attend due to vacation or other summer activities they will not know their choreography for the show which will create a VERY uncomfortable situation for your dancer on the stage.
There are no refunds once your costume has been purchased.
Dancers who are enrolled in classes performing, but are not participating in the performance, will still learn the choreography as if they are part of the dance and will simply not perform at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts in September. Learning choreography is an important and educational experience to learn even if your dancer is not performing.
Fees
Fees are designed to cover the costs of venue rental, lighting supplies, props, backdrops, technical personnel, administration, extra rehearsal time for teachers, babysitters backstage (if needed), etc.
Participation fee: $130 per student
Costume fees*: Vary from $30 to $90 per costume (please check binder in-studio or at the bottom of this page)
Tickets to watch the performance: $30-$50 ($2-5 discounts for child/senior/student/military)
If you need to set up a payment plan, please email aotto@southerncaliforniaballet.org
*Costume fees vary since some are full purchases (owned by the dancer and able to keep), some are rentals from SCB (owned by SCB, rental fee pays for cleaning), and some are a combination of both purchased items and rentals.
Measuring Guide
How to Measure Dancers
Measure your dancer in inches using the diagram and adjacent instructions.
Determine your dancer’s costume size using the sizing chart below.
Keep these measurements & costume size handy so that you can enter them both into the registration form. Flyers with measurement guides are also available in the studio lobby.
Measuring Instructions
Have dancers wear fitted attire (preferably a leotard–no street clothes!) with proper undergarments in order to ensure the most accurate measurements.
When measuring, instruct dancers to stand up straight, look forward, and take a deep breath in & out to allow for a natural fit and additional room. This is especially important when taking the girth, bust, and waist measurements.
Girth - Girth is the most important measurement when determining size!
Place the measuring tape at the top of one shoulder, measuring over the fullest part of the chest, down the torso, through the legs and back up to the same shoulder, ensuring the tape follows close to the body shape.Bust - Measure around the fullest part of the chest, keeping the tape horizontal, and have dancers stand with arms down at their sides.
Waist - To identify the natural waistline, instruct dancers to bend over to one side and have the measurer place a finger at the indentation. As the dancers stand up, use this point as the indicator for where to measure around the waist.
Hips - Have dancers stand with their feet together and measure around the fullest part of the buttocks.
Inseam - Place the measuring tape at the inner leg, measuring from the crotch all the way to the floor.
Please Note: Dancers in Level 7 and below should add 1” to each measurement to account for growth. It is always easier to make a costume smaller rather than larger.
Register
Before you register, make sure you have:
Taken your dancer’s measurements, per the measuring guide.
Determined your dancer’s costume size, based on their measurements (both will be entered during registration).
Decided which classes’ dances you will participate in, using the Participating Classes table below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child participate if we will be away for part of the summer?
If your dancer will not be able to attend classes consistently throughout June and July, please do not sign up to perform for this class. The only chance for your dancer to learn the choreography is during class time, if they are unable to attend due to vacation or other summer activities they will not know their choreography for the show which will create a VERY uncomfortable situation for your dancer on the stage.
After the production is over, do we keep the costume?
You will keep the costume for any classes which do not list a rental.
What will my child be doing in class if they are not participating in the show?
Dancers who are enrolled in classes performing, but are not participating in the performance, will still learn the choreography as if they are part of the dance, but they will just not perform at the theater in September. Learning choreography is an important and educational experience to learn even if your dancer is not performing.
How do I take my child's measurements?
There are half-sheet flyers available at the studio that include measurement instructions and a place to write down the measurements for the form. Remember to add 1 inch to each measurement for dancers in Levels 7 and below and to have the measurements ready when you start the online form.
The Costume Book
Table of content
3-4 Creative Ballet
5-8 Pre-Primary Ballet
8-14 Primary Level Classes
14-23 Elementary Level Classes
23-30 Intermediate Level Classes
31-33 Company Level Classes