Attending the Ballet - Frequently Asked Questions
Going to a Ballet Performance
Q: Where will Harford Ballet perform Nutcracker 2010?
A: The Harford Ballet Company is currently in negotiations with various public schools in the area to determine the best dates and location for their annual Nutcracker. Please check back in early September for the finalized information.
Q: When will Nutcracker tickets be on sale?
A: Tickets will be onsale in mid October 2010 and the prices vary depending on your choosen seating section. Remember, to comply with building capacity regulations, a ticket is required for all patrons regardless of age including infants and toddlers.
Q: What is the address to the theater where Nutcracker is performed so I may look up directions?
A: The Harford Ballet Company is currently in negotiations with various public schools in the area to determine the best dates and location for their annual Nutcracker. Please check back in early September for the finalized information.
Q: How early should I arrive at the theater?
A: We recommend that patrons arrive at the theater 30 minutes before curtain. Be sure to leave home with enough time to allow for inclement weather, traffic, parking, and ticket pick-up if applicable. The HBC Box Office will open at the theater approximately 1 hour before curtain the day of the performance for ticket pickup or purchase (if available). The doors to the theater open approximately 20-30 minutes before curtain. By arriving at the theater well before the curtain time, you will have time to visit the restroom, find your seats and read the program.
Please be advised that latecomers may not be seated immediately. Late seating is at the discretion of the management at the first appropriate pause in the performance so as to not disturb the audience or performers. Assigned seating may no longer be valid after the show begins and latecomers may be seated in the best place available with minimal disruption to other patrons.
Q: What should I wear to a ballet performance?
A: Patrons may want to dress up for this special cultural event, but neat casual clothes are equally appropriate. Your comfort is most important.
Q: Is this performance appropriate for my small child?
A: The Harford Ballet Company welcomes patrons of all ages. We strive to provide entertaining shows that delight children and adults alike. Our performances are suitable for children as young as 2 years old, though we welcome guests of all ages! Please note that every person regardless of age must have a ticket to enter the theater. This is to comply with Fire Code Regulations and is by order of the Fire Marshall.
Q: How long will the performance last?
A: HBC’s Nutcracker consists of approximately 90 minutes of dancing presented in two acts with an intermission. The Spring Concert varies in length but should not exceed two hours of dancing and includes an intermission. Parents often worry that their small children will not be able to sit for the entire show, but HBC shows are designed to capture your child’s attention throughout the performance, to them, it’s like watching a movie on TV!
Q: Why can't I be seated immediately if I arrive to the theater after the performance begins?
A: The ballet is a cultural experience not a sporting event or movie. Patrons are asked to arrive at the theater with enough time to seat their party before curtain. Don’t forget to leave time for traffic, parking, ticket pick-up, finding your seat and visiting the restroom.
Once the curtain has gone up and the dancers have taken the stage, the seating of latecomers is a distraction to the dancers that could result in injury and is disruptive to patrons already enjoying the performance.
Although ushers will try to seat late patrons at the first appropriate pause in the performance, latecomers may not be seated until intermission if there is not a suitable pause in the action on stage. Seat locations printed on your tickets are not guaranteed past curtain time. Ushers may instead direct late patrons to the most accessible seats at the back of the theater by the entry door in an effort to seat latecomers as soon as possible with the least distraction to the rest of the house. Latecomers may then find their assigned seat at intermission.
Q: How can I purchase tickets to a Harford Ballet Company performance?
A: Tickets, when available, may be purchased online on this web site. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Harford Ballet with check or credit card (Visa or Mastercard). Call 410-877-0777 for office hours.
Q: Can I reserve tickets for a performance over the phone?
A: No, we are no longer able to process ticket orders by phone as all patrons are asked to sign and agree to our ticket Terms and Conditions either in person in our office or through our online form.
Q: Can I use a credit card to pay for my ticket?
A: We can process credit card ticket orders securely via the Harford Ballet Company web site through Authorize.net. You do not need to establish an account to use this system.
Q: I ordered tickets off the Harford Ballet Company web site with my credit card; when will I receive my tickets?
A: Although our purchasing system will ask you for a billing address, the Harford Ballet Company does not mail tickets without a self-addressed, stamped envelope. All tickets will instead be held at the HBC Box Office. HBC will open the Box Office in the lobby of the theater approximately one hour before curtain the day of the performance. If you would like to pick up your tickets before the day of the performance, call the Harford Ballet at 410-877-0777 for office hours when you may pick up your tickets. Please note that patrons will not be able to pick up tickets at our office the week of the show and will need to pick them up at the box office in the theater.
Q: Does my small child need a ticket to get into the performance?
A: Yes, all persons regardless of age must have a ticket to enter the theater. This is to comply with building capacity regulations.
Q: Can I return my tickets for a refund if I decide not to attend the performance?
A: No, all tickets sales are final. There are no exchanges, refunds or credits for any reason.
Q: What happens if there is inclement weather?
A: Harford Ballet follows the policies of whichever venue they are currently using - in this case, Patterson Mill High School and the Harford County Public Schools. If there is inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstance, in which the public school system is forced to close the theater , the performance will be canceled. We will be unable to refund or exchange any tickets, however, if you call the office, ticket payments can be treated as a tax-deductible donation. If there is bad weather, please check the Harford Ballet website or call 410-877-0777 1 hour prior to the performance to check on the theater situation.
Q: Is there assigned seating at the performance?
A: Yes, due to requests from our audience, we offer assigned seating for all performances. HBC processes ticket orders in the order in which they are received, assigning the best seats available.
Q: Do I have good seats for the performance?
A: The public school theaters have seating on the main floor and limited stadium-style seating at the back of the auditorium. There are no obstructed-view seats. All seats are appropriately staggered and raked to ensure that every seat has a clear view of the stage. If you have any special needs for seating, please call the HBC office at 410-877-0777 before you order your tickets.
Theater Etiquette
The Harford Ballet Company strives to provide our audiences with an entertaining, educational, and enjoyable experience at the ballet. To help us provide a high-quality ballet experience in Harford County, please take note of the following theater etiquette guidelines:
- Latecomers will not be admitted into the theater once the performance has begun until there is a suitable break or at intermission.
- No food or beverages are permitted in the theater.
- Tobacco use of any type is prohibited in all Harford County Public School buildings and areas of the campus.
- Flash photography is strictly prohibited for the safety of the performers.
- Videotaping or recording devices of any kind are prohibited during the performance.
- All electronic devices (cellular phones, pagers, watch alarms, etc.) should be turned off prior to entering the performance space.
- Please try to keep talking during the performance to a minimum, as it can be very distracting to other guests.
- Seat locations printed on your tickets are not guaranteed past curtain time.
- The ushers are available to assist you. If you experience any discomfort or have any concerns during a performance, please notify the nearest usher for assistance.
- In the event of an emergency, the ushers will direct audience members to leave the theater through the nearest exit. Patrons who need special assistance should contact an usher.
General Information
Q: How do I contact the Harford Ballet Company?
A: You may contact the HBC using our online contact form. Alternative contact information is below.
Our administrative offices are located at
The Dance Conservatory of Maryland
701 Whitaker Mill Road
Joppa, MD 21085
Phone: 410-877-0777
Fax: 410-877-2530
Email: info@harfordballetcompany.org
Website: www.harfordballetcompany.org
Harford Ballet Company Terms and Conditions for all ticket purchases:
As used herein, the terms “You” and “Your” and similar terms refer to the ticket purchaser and the person(s) for whom the tickets are purchased.
Payment Methods
Harford Ballet Company accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express for purchases made on its website. Those credit cards, along with cash and checks made to “Harford Ballet Company”, are accepted for purchases made at the Harford Ballet Company office. Money orders and C.O.Ds are not accepted. Tickets will not be held without full payment. All returned and cancelled checks will accrue a $35 fee and You will be refused admission to the event until tickets and fees are paid in full.
Cancelled or Postponed Events/ Inclement Weather Policy
Harford Ballet follows the policies of whichever venue it is currently using. If there is inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstance which causes the theater to close, the performance will be canceled. In the event of cancellation, Harford Ballet Company will not refund or exchange Your tickets; however, ticket payments can be treated as a tax-deductible donation if You contact the office and make that request. If a cancelled performance is rescheduled, all original tickets will be honored on the rescheduled date; however, all other refund and exchange policies will still apply.
No Refunds and Exchanges
After a ticket has been purchased, there will be no refunds or exchanges for any reason, even for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed tickets or cancelled performances. You agree that you will not attempt to evade, avoid, or circumvent these prohibitions in any manner with regard to tickets that you purchased. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, You will not cancel a payment made by check, nor will You dispute or otherwise seek a “chargeback” from the company whose credit card You used to purchase tickets. Should You do so, your tickets may be cancelled, and Harford Ballet Company may, in its sole discretion, refuse to honor pending and future ticket purchases made from all bank accounts, credit card accounts or online accounts on which such cancellation or chargebacks (regardless of chargeback outcome) have been sought. Further, Harford Ballet Company may prohibit use of its website by all persons in whose name the credit card accounts exist and any person who accesses any associated online account or credit card or who otherwise breaches this provision. In the event of chargebacks, Harford Ballet Company reserves the right to pursue collection of the ticket purchase price through other legal means, in which case the costs of collection will be paid by You.
Order Processing
Orders are processed only after a billing address and other billing information has been verified. Orders are processed in the order they are received. Seats are assigned based on seats available at the time the order is processed.
Delivery
Tickets will not be mailed without a self addressed, stamped envelope provided by You. Tickets may be held at Will Call to be picked up by You at the theater thirty (30) minutes prior to the performance.
Limitation of Liability
You assume all risks incidental to the event for which a ticket is issued, whether before, during or after performance, and You waive any claims for personal injury or death against Harford Ballet Company on behalf of Yourself and any accompanying minors or additional ticket holders.
License; Ejection and Cancellation; No Redemption Value
A ticket is a revocable license to attend a performance. Admission may be revoked, and even refused. Harford Ballet Company reserves the right, without refund of any amount paid, to refuse admission to, or to eject, any person whose conduct management deems disorderly, who uses vulgar or abusive language or who fails to comply with Harford Ballet Company rules. Latecomers will not be seated until an appropriate break in the performance, if any, at the discretion of the Management. Seat locations printed on tickets are not guaranteed past curtain time. A ticket is required for each person regardless of age, including infants and toddlers. Breach of terms or rules will terminate your license to attend the event without refund. A ticket is not redeemable for cash.
Recording, Transmission and Exhibition
You agree not to record or transmit, or aid in recording or transmitting, any description, account, picture, or reproduction of the event. You agree that the event for which You purchase tickets is a public event, that Your appearance and actions inside and outside the venue where the event occurs are public in nature, and that You have no expectation of privacy with regard to Your actions or conduct at the event.