FAQ

THIS PAGE RELATES MOSTLY TO NUTCRACKER NIBBLES CLASSES. FOR MORE INFO ON THE BOYS NUTCRACKER CLASS, PLEASE VISIT THAT PAGE ABOVE.
Who is the teacher?

    

Steffanie Casperson teaches the Nutcracker Nibbles classes. Steffanie began her first class at the age of 3. She continued with her training, and at age 19 was offered her first professional job dancing. After an LDS mission, she danced for Ballet West for 4 seasons. She retired to have her first child. Steffanie is now a homeschooling mother of 4. She has been teaching little ones for 7 years.

What age are the classes geared towards?

    Class content and structure is designed for preschoolers. In 30 minutes of dancing time, participants will perform basic ballet stretches, learn beginning forms and terminology for ballet, familiarize themselves with concepts relating to all forms of dance, dance and imagine to music from the Nutcracker ballet, and deepen their understanding of ballet as an art form. Fifteen minutes will be given to creating a craft to take home which relates to both the Nutcracker story and concepts covered in class.

Can my 2 or 7 year old participate?

    Children younger than 3 or older than 6 may participate as long as the parent acknowledges class content and pacing will not change significantly to accommodate shorter attention spans or more advanced levels of dance or comprehension.

Can parents stay and watch?

    During the first class, parents are encouraged to arrive early and stay for the first five minutes while their dancer familiarizes himself or herself with the teacher, the other members of the class, and the ballet studio. After that time, if needed, the studio door may remain open and parents are welcome to remain in the hall. Nutcracker Nibbles should be a warm and happy introduction into ballet. Parents, while often helpful to their child, become a distraction to other members of the class. However, as part of our final class, we hope parents will be able to attend for the last 10 minutes so the dancers may share with them all that we have learned. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

What should my child wear?

    

Dance attire helps dancers move, as it is non-restrictive, and ballet shoes are best suited for studio floors - not too slippery, while still allowing dancers to spin and turn. If your dancer has tights, leotards, or ballet slippers, we encourage them to use them. However, this is a short class, and many dancers and parents are just deciding if they are interested in further ballet study. If you don’t have official ballet gear, please send your child in clothing that he or she can move easily in. (Leggings are nice for girls, boys do great in shorts and a t-shirt. Socks may be worn on the feet, and we may chose to remove them if we are doing steps that cause slipping concerns.)

Are there refunds for missed classes?

    Unfortunately, there are no refunds for missed classes. Each registered child has a place in class and will be provided with a craft at each class to keep. If your child misses a class, please ask the teacher for the craft from the class he or her missed.

Can classes be prorated if we know there is one we can’t attend?

    Because Nutcracker Nibbles classes represent a small commitment, it is hoped families will be able to attend all 3 classes. Classes will not be prorated for any reason. However, if you need to miss a class, please ask the teacher for the craft you missed. She may also be able to instruct your dancer about other concepts covered in the class not attended.

What if we try this and my child simply is not ready?

    Because Nutcracker Nibbles is offered only once during the year, and space is limited, once a child is registered, that spot in class will remain his or hers for all three classes. These classes are meant to be a simple and fun exploration of ballet. Of course, if students feel overwhelmed, they need not return. However, no refund will be offered.

What if we try these classes and my child loves them - then what?

Nutcracker Nibbles is only the tiniest taste of ballet classes and training. If your dancer loved the experience in Nutcracker Nibbles class, we encourage you to register him or her for any beginning ballet class at Cache Valley Civic Ballet. Registration for spring semester opens Nov 14, and the semester runs Jan 9 - May 16 with an end-of-the-year performance on May 13. More information can be found here.