• Going to a Performance
• Late Arrivals
• Tickets
• Theater Etiquette
• General Information

FAQ’s
Attending the Ballet

Going to a Performance

Q: Where will Harford Ballet perform their Spring Concert 2008?
A: The Harford Ballet Company will perform their 2008 Spring Concert at the new Patterson Mill High School in Bel Air.

Q: How do I get to Patterson Mill?
A: 85 Patterson Mill Rd. Bel Air, MD 21015
I- 95 to exit 77B. Follow Rt# 24 and turn right onto Rt #924 (first light). Follow Emmorton Rd./ Rt# 924 and turn right onto Patterson Mill Rd. The school in on the right.

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 the 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 the very young. Please note that every person regardless of age must have a ticket to enter the theater.

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 almost like watching TV!

Late Arrivals

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.

Tickets

Q: Can I reserve tickets for a performance over the phone?
A: We cannot reserve tickets without payment. Tickets may be purchased online with a credit card, or in person at our office with cash or check. At this time we cannot accept credit card payment in our office or at the door to the theater. The only way to use a credit card is to purchase tickets online.

Q: How can I purchase tickets to a Harford Ballet Company performance?
A: Tickets may be purchased in person at the Dance Conservatory with cash or check. Call 410-877-0777 for office hours. Ticket order forms with a check may also be mailed to our office. Please remember that advance ticket sales will be cut off at the end of the business day the Thursday prior to the performance. If you mail in a ticket order, please be sure it will arrive at our office before this cut off date. Tickets may also be purchased online at the Harford Ballet Company web site with a credit card.

Q: Can I use a credit card to pay for my ticket?
A: We can process credit card ticket orders via the Harford Ballet Company web site through PayPal. You do not need to establish a PayPal account to use this system. We regret that at this time, we cannot process credit cards over the phone, in person in our office, or at the door to the theater.

Q: I ordered tickets off the Harford Ballet Company web site with my credit card; when will I receive my tickets?
A: Although the PayPal system will ask you for a shipping 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 Dance Conservatory at 410-877-0777 for office hours when you may pick up your tickets.

Q: I mailed a ticket order form with a check to the HBC office; when will I receive my tickets?
A: Tickets orders submitted to HBC far enough in advance may include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for delivery of the purchased tickets. Please leave enough time for our office to process your order and for your tickets to travel to your home before the performance! All orders sent without a SASE (or orders which we feel may not reach your home before the performance) will 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 Dance Conservatory at 410-877-0777 for office hours when you may pick up your tickets.

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, tickets sales are final. There are no exchanges, refunds or credits.

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. If there is inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstance, which causes the theater to close, the performance will be cancelled. 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- 3281 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: Patterson Mill has seating on the main floor and limited stadium-style seating at the back of the auditorium. There are no obstructed-view seats at Patterson Mill. 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: 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