Class Policies

Welcome

OUR MISSION

At NECCA, the transformative power of circus arts enables a diverse and inclusive community of artists, teachers and students to realize their dreams.

OVERVIEW

Circus has been combining artistry and athleticism, awe and wonder, joy and playfulness, with a touch of magic for over 250 years. Here at NECCA, we believe that the many benefits of circus education should be available to anyone who wants to learn. Circus Arts can be a significant benefit to physical, mental and emotional health and we are dedicated to providing expert, specialized instruction to kids, recreational students, hobbyists, as well as pre-professionals and professionals. Whether you are looking to challenge yourself farther than you know you can go, or are just looking for a creative community, our coaches are devoted to challenging and inspiring each student where they are and focused on helping each individual meet their specific goals.

Contact Information

Phone: 802-254-9780
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram

LOCATION (BRATTLEBORO, VT)

Custom built Trapezium: 10 Town Crier Drive

EMAIL

TYPES OF CLASSES & PROGRAMMING

NECCA offers a variety of classes, workshops, and programs to fit every level and interest. If you don’t see something you’re looking for, just let us know. There’s always more in the works.

SESSION CLASSES

Session Classes meet once a week for several weeks at a time. We have classes for all ages, youth and adults, from beginner to advanced in multiple disciplines. These run throughout the year with the following approximate schedule and are a perfect way to get started and try something new.

Winter Session: January – mid March
Spring Session: End of March – early June
Summer Session: Mid June – August
Fall Session: September – December

WORKSHOPS

Our workshops offer focused training sessions in a specialized discipline. From an afternoon, to a multi-week immersive experience, our workshops offer a focused investigation and concentrated training with NECCA’s world class coaches and visiting instructors.

YOUTH CAMPS

For students age 5-17, our youth camps run during summer weeks and school breaks. Students have a chance to try something new and to delve deep into their favorite circus skills along with like-minded creative and energetic kids in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

From full time guided training to flexible independent residencies, we have options for aspiring professionals, working artists, and companies. Our ProTrack Program is a full-time, 3-year program designed to equip today’s professional artists with the tools they need to succeed in the business. The Residency Program is for the artist or artist-in-training with specific goals they want to achieve in a mid-term timeline. It is largely self-guided and includes hours of dedicated training space as well as check-ins. Our Company in Residence Program, made possible in part by a grant the National Endowment for the Arts, is by application and is designed for companies in creation looking to devise a show or polish an existing performance.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private lessons are fully customizable and allow students to work solo or in small groups on their desired apparatus with individualized coach attention. These can be scheduled as a one-of or as a regular occurrence on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. For more information or to book a private lesson, click HERE.

OPEN TRAINING

Any regular or session students are invited to attend our Open Studios that occur weekly throughout the year. Approved or invited students may sign up for Members Only training and come in to train at designated times. For more information on Open Studio & Members Only, click HERE.

FLYING TRAPEZE

In addition to a full range of flying trapeze session classes, we offer drop ins and other recurring flying events. Flying trapeze is appropriate for any level student and is a great way to try out circus for the first time. For more information about flying see our flying trapeze page.

PARTIES AND EVENTS

Our facilities and coaches are available for birthday parties, corporate events, and custom workshops. For more information, email our scheduler at scheduler@necenterforcircusarts.com.

OUTREACH PROGRAMMING

NECCA is committed to improving the lives of others through the benefits of circus. We are constantly adding to our programming in schools, after-school, and with communities that are underserved or just those that would benefit from learning or watching circus arts in action. If you have an idea for NECCA outreach OR if you would like to become involved, volunteer or donate to support our outreach programming, email outreach@necenterforcircusarts.com for more information.

NECCA POLICIES

IN THE LOBBY

When you first come in our lobby, someone will likely be at the registration desk to greet you and direct you where to go. Please check in here first to let them know you have arrived, verify your enrollment, and find out any information you might need for class. They will also make sure that you have a current waiver on file. Every student must have a waiver each year in order to participate.
The lobby is outfitted with cubbies for your shoes and personal belongings. Make sure everything fits neatly in a cubby so that it doesn’t get lost or tripped over. You will also find hooks for hanging coats by the bathrooms and shoe racks by the front door.
With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed on the premises due to student allergies and phobias.
While in the lobby, please be mindful of others and leave room for other students and classes that may need to travel through. Our lobby is a fantastic viewing space, just keep in mind that it is a shared area, so please share the space and pick up after yourself.
Family, friends and visitors of students may watch from the lobby area or any approved viewing space, but are not permitted in the training areas.
If our lobby or our bathrooms are in need of attention, please let someone at the front desk know.
Books on circus history, training, performing and physiology are available to read in our lobby. Please enjoy them while you are at NECCA, just don’t take them home with you, and always make sure to put them back on the bookshelf when you are done.
All non-students who wish to take photos or video must have permission from the front desk or a coach.
No acrobatics in the lobby or on the staircase.
No smoking is permitted anywhere on NECCA grounds.

PREPARING FOR CLASS

Please arrive at least ten minutes before the scheduled start time of your class to get settled in. If you arrive more than ten minutes late to a class, the coach may modify or limit your participation to be safe.
No food, glass, or open containers are allowed in the training space, however you are welcome and encouraged to bring a water bottle.
Street shoes must be removed before entering the studio.
Payment for lessons, classes, workshops, members only or anything else must be made in advance. Students will be asked not to participate if payment or arrangements for payment has not been made with the registrar.
Wear clothing that is easy to move in and free of zippers, belts, or anything else that could get tangled or snagged. We suggest supportive clothing that stays put when upside down. Some classes may have additional considerations such as specific shoes or long sleeved-shirts or leg coverage. If this is the case we will let you know in advance.
All jewelry that can be removed should be. Any jewelry that cannot be removed should be covered so that it does not get caught on anything.
Hair that is long enough to swing in front of your face should be tied back.
We strive to be a scent neutral environment. This means no perfumes, colognes, etc. and that you may need to use scent neutralizers such as deodorant when you train.

DURING CLASS AND TRAINING

WHAT TO EXPECT AS A STUDENT

DROP OFF/PICK UP OF YOUTH STUDENTS

No child under the age of 18 may be left without a parent or guardian if there are less than two adults on site. There must always be at least two adults when any children under the age of 18 are present. If a child under the age of 18 has a private lesson scheduled while no other classes are happening, the parent or guardian must remain on site for the lesson.

STUDENTS 5 AND UNDER

Any student age 5 or under must have a parent or guardian on site at ALL times while at NECCA. Parents or guardians are encouraged to watch from the designated areas as their child attends class.
Children 5 or under will be escorted to the restroom when needed and parents or guardians may be asked to escort them back to class.

STUDENTS AGE 6-11

Any students age 6-11 must be walked to class and have a parent or guardian on site until they are under the watch of their coach when their class begins and again immediately when their class ends. Parents or guardians of children age 6-11 may leave the NECCA grounds during the class time only as long as they have left contact information.
If you are late to pick up a child, they will be either in the care of the receptionist, or may be in the care of the coach in the studio.

STUDENTS AGE 12-18

Any students age 12 to 18 may be dropped off and/or picked up by a parent or guardian by walking them into the building or by dropping them off outside.
Students age 12 to 18 may be left in the visitor waiting areas for up to 10 minutes before or after their class. Coaches will keep an eye out and make sure that no student age 12 to 18 is left waiting longer than 10 minutes to be picked up after class and will alert the reception staff if this is the case.

OPEN TRAINING POLICIES

OPEN STUDIO

Open Studio is an open training session for students age 16+ who are currently enrolled in adult classes or are taking private lessons.
Youth Troupe participants and students under the age of 16 can attend with permission from a Program Director.
Although there is no instruction during open studio, there is a coach available to answer questions and help with equipment needs.
Students are only permitted to train on equipment on which they have trained with a NECCA coach.
Open Studio is a time to work on skills a student has been taught by a coach at NECCA. Students may not work on new skills they have not yet received instruction on.
Students may not teach other students during Open Studio.
All training must be over an appropriate mat (and Grover often does not count as a mat). Ask the coach on duty if you have any questions. NO ONE may train an aerial apparatus over bare floor at any time.
Please put all equipment away after use and put all mats and grovers back where they belong. If you are leaving something out for someone to use after you, please verify that they will put it away for you when they are done training with it.

MEMBERS ONLY

Members Only is open studio training without a host coach available and is intended for intermediate/advanced students and professionals by permission.
- To be considered for Members Only training contact Elsie at esmith@necenterforcircusarts.com with the following information:
- Your circus arts experience and what activities you wish to train during Members Only times.
- The classes you are currently taking at NECCA and/or video of your current training.
- What area of orientation you are seeking: floor skills, aerials, trampoline, tight wire and/or German wheel. Note that there are different requirements for each level, which will be reviewed when your orientation is arranged.
If you are a guest looking for short term training please include the dates of your proposed visit.
If you are approved for Members Only training you will receive an orientation of the training space. There is a one-time orientation cost of $20.
Any personal equipment must be inspected and approved prior to use.
Please put all equipment away after use, including putting all mats and grovers back where they belong. If you are leaving something out for someone to use after you, please verify that they will put it away for you when they are done training with it.
All members only participants are expected to follow the studio rules at all times.
Classes, workshops and lessons have priority use of the space. Check the calendar for what spaces are available and be aware that you may need to move your training in order to accommodate a class or lesson.

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT POLICIES

ENROLLMENT

All registrations and payments must go through our registration software, called “ASAP Connected.” You can create or view your account at any time by going to: necenterforcircusarts.asapconnected.com. If you have any trouble finding what you are looking for, contact info@necenterforcircusarts.com.

SESSION CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, & CAMPS

All open session classes, workshops, and camps are for sale at necenterforcircusarts.asapconnected.com.
Enrollment for session classes stays open through the first week of each session.
Enrollment for workshops and camps is open until the start of the workshop/camp.
If a class/workshop/camp is full, students may add themselves to the waitlist. If a spot becomes available, students will be notified by email in the order of the waitlist. Payment must be received in order to confirm a spot that was previously waitlisted.

Teen & Young Adults joining Adult Session Classes

Recreational – Student must be 16 years or older and at a 300/advanced level to join adult session classes (coach permission required)
Youth Troupe – Student must be 12 years or older, at a 300/advanced level, or a class in their discipline is not offered in the youth & teen program. *coach permission required

PRIVATE LESSONS

To schedule a private lesson, email scheduler@necenterforcircusarts.com.
Private lessons are not confirmed until the student receives the final confirmation email and payment is due at the time of confirmation, before the lesson is scheduled.

PROGRAMS REQUIRING PERMISSION OR ACCEPTANCE

If you are accepted into a program that requires an application or is by invitation only, you will create an account in our registration software and then we will get you enrolled and send you an email with an invoice. Your registration is confirmed once payment is received.

DROP-INS

If you are interested in trying a class, you may be able to drop-in during the first week of a session. Drop-ins are subject to space and approval. Email info@necenterforcircusarts.com to request a drop-in spot.

MAKEUPS

If you have to miss an adult or youth session class, email info@necenterforcircusarts.org and we help you enroll in one of our makeup classes.
Makeups are not transferable between family members or from session to session.

PAYMENT POLICIES

Payment in full is due in order to confirm registration and enrollment in a program. The only exceptions are programs that are on a payment schedule. Any student who has not paid in full or is not up to date on their payment schedule may be asked not to participate.

SCHOLARSHIPS

NECCA strives to create as many opportunities for scholarships to as many students as possible. A key point of our mission is to make the benefits of circus arts education available to anyone and everyone interested. This is made possible by the support of donors, sponsors, grants and proceeds from our Circus Spectacular performance each March. For more information or to apply for a scholarship, visit our Financial Aid page.

PAYMENT PLANS

To inquire about a payment plan, email info@necenterforcircusarts.com. Unless the program is designed otherwise, all payment plans must be complete by the start of the program.

JOINING LATE

Some session classes may be able to accommodate students who would like to join after the open enrollment period ends. This often depends on the level and subject of the class as well as availability. If you are interested in joining a class mid-session, email info@necenterforcircusarts.com. Enrollments during the open enrollment period of a session cannot be prorated.

DISCOUNTS

Only one discount, promotion or coupon can be applied to a registration purchase. If a registration is eligible for more than one discount, the highest discount will be applied.

CANCELLATIONS & WITHDRAWALS

IF A STUDENT NEEDS TO CANCEL

All refunds have a 5% administrative fee to cover credit costs.
Health or Injury Considerations – If a student must withdraw from any program due to health or injury, a full or partial credit may be issued depending on how much of a program the student was able to attend. A doctor’s note is required; exceptions are at the discretion of the Executive Director.
Workshops and Camps – 100% of the fee may be refunded prior to one month before the first day of the workshop, after which time 50% of the class fee may be refunded until two weeks before the first day of the workshop, after which time no refund will be given. Note: a 5% fee for card and admin fees will be retained.
Private lessons must be cancelled 48 hours in advance. If cancelled at least 48 hours in advance, a full credit will be issued. Lessons missed or cancelled without 48 hours notice are not credited or refunded except for extenuating circumstances.
Session Classes – 100% of the class fee will be credited prior to the end of the add/drop period less the drop in fee for any classes used. No credit or refund will be given after the add/drop period is over.
Programs – Please refer to the information provided upon acceptance into any of our other programs for withdrawal and credit information.
Refunds will require a 5% admin and credit card fee and can only be provided to the original payment method.

IF NECCA NEEDS TO CANCEL

Workshops – If NECCA cancels a workshop for any reason, the students will receive a full refund. If a student enrolls in a workshop, and does not meet the prerequisites, NECCA will offer a credit minus the cost of the class attended or the evaluation of the student.
Session Classes
- If a session class is under-enrolled, NECCA will run the first week of classes to allow time for additional students to enroll. If it is still under-enrolled after the first week, we will try to move any existing students to other classes and will reach out to students directly. If no alternative can be found, students will be given a credit or refund minus the cost of the classes that were held.
- If NECCA cancels a single meeting of a session class for a reason other than weather (for instance coach illness), we will make every effort to schedule a makeup class at a mutually agreed upon time. If a makeup cannot be scheduled, a credit for the single class will be issued.
- If a student enrolls in a class, and does not meet the prerequisites, NECCA will offer a credit minus the cost of the class attended or the evaluation of the student.
Private Lessons – If NECCA needs to cancel a private lesson for any reason (for example coach illness), the student will be notified as soon as possible and will receive a full credit.

WEATHER-RELATED CANCELLATIONS

In the case of inclement weather, NECCA will announce closings on Facebook, our website, and email.
Any private lessons cancelled by the student OR by NECCA for weather-related issues will result in a full credit or refund.
Any session classes cancelled by NECCA will result in a credit for the amount of that class.

OTHER POLICIES

STUDENT/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS

For the safety of our students and staff, any consensual romantic relationships between NECCA staff and a NECCA adult student MUST be disclosed to management to ensure that it does not affect the student’s experience at NECCA or other students’ experience at NECCA or the ability of the staff person to perform their job. No relationships of this nature are permitted between NECCA staff and a student under the age of 18.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH STUDENTS

Our coaches love that our youth students see them as friends and mentors. However, our staff will not reach out to students under the age of 18 online. If a youth student contacts a NECCA staff member online, they are permitted to choose whether or not to accept, but if they accept any communications must be made public.

MANDATORY REPORTING

Some of NECCA’s youth programming falls under the mandatory reporting guidelines and some may not. However, all NECCA coaches and staff are required by NECCA to act as mandatory reporters for every program involving students under the age of 18. This means that all staff are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

If you or someone else has a medical emergency, please notify the nearest staff member immediately. The staff person will assess the situation and may need to follow our incident/accident protocol which may include completing a report (anything more than basic first aid), requiring the individual seek medical attention or calling 911. Anyone who falls in a manner that could have caused damage to their head, neck or spine will not be moved and 911 will be called.

NON-MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Fire, Earthquake or Evacuation – Staff, students and visitors should leave through the nearest exit. Staff should guide visitors to the nearest exit.
Tornado or Severe Weather – Staff, students and visitors should gather in bathrooms and away from windows.
Lockdown Procedure – When there is an immediate threat making it more dangerous to exit the building than to stay inside, a lockdown procedure may be necessary. This is designed to secure the safety off all occupants of the building. If it is safe to exit the building, exit the building. If not, students, staff and visitors should go to the bathrooms or the storage room behind the trampoline wall. The storage room doors lock automatically if the tape is removed from the latch. Bathroom doors can be barricaded or wedged shut with a door-stopper. Call 911 and wait for emergency services to give the all clear. There is an internet-ready computer in the back of the storage area available if needed.

STUDENT PERFORMANCES

Throughout the year, NECCA provides opportunities for students to perform if they choose. It is not required, but performing can be a tremendous asset to connect with your circus training on a deeper level and share with others. We offer opportunities including our holiday show, community performances, end of session demonstrations, monthly Beta nights, and more. Talk to your coach if you are interested in performing and they will connect you with some options and opportunities.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND VOLUNTEERING

NECCA is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generosity of our donors for programming and operating support. We have a direct impact on the students and families with whom we work, and we also have a dynamic relationship with the community in which we live. We strive to spread the positive effects of circus – fitness, joy, connection, curiosity, empowerment – by building ties to local service organizations to foster our presence outside our physical doors. You can have a direct impact as well by helping us provide the benefits of circus and circus education to larger audiences. For more information on how your donation could help, contact info@necenterforcircusarts.org.

We are grateful for donations large and small. To donate, click here.

Interested in taking a personal role in helping NECCA? There are constantly volunteer needs and opportunities. For volunteer opportunities, see our iVolunteer Page. And thank you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OUR MISSION

OVERVIEW

LOCATION (BRATTLEBORO, VT)

EMAIL

SESSION CLASSES

WORKSHOPS

YOUTH CAMPS

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

PRIVATE LESSONS

OPEN TRAINING

FLYING TRAPEZE

PARTIES AND EVENTS

OUTREACH PROGRAMMING

IN THE LOBBY

PREPARING FOR CLASS

DURING CLASS AND TRAINING

STUDENTS 5 AND UNDER

STUDENTS AGE 6-11

STUDENTS AGE 12-18

OPEN STUDIO

MEMBERS ONLY

ENROLLMENT

SESSION CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, & CAMPS

Teen & Young Adults joining Adult Session Classes

PRIVATE LESSONS

PROGRAMS REQUIRING PERMISSION OR ACCEPTANCE

DROP-INS

MAKEUPS

PAYMENT POLICIES

SCHOLARSHIPS

PAYMENT PLANS

JOINING LATE

DISCOUNTS

CANCELLATIONS & WITHDRAWALS

IF A STUDENT NEEDS TO CANCEL

IF NECCA NEEDS TO CANCEL

WEATHER-RELATED CANCELLATIONS

STUDENT/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIPS

SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUTH STUDENTS

MANDATORY REPORTING

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

NON-MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

CONTACT

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