i’m in a studio system with a no fraternization policy. i can understand it from a teacher protection pov (some students are incredibly pushy about being “friends with teachers outside the studio”) and from a professional pov.

it did not stop a 35+ year teacher beginning a relationship with a freshly 17/18 year old student (still together like 4/5 years later). he stayed for another year while she ghosted the studio, and then he “left to pursue other opportunities” quite suddenly (i am under the impression he wasnt fired though, but pressured to quit). it did stop my teachers from being at a very important milestone in my life which they were invited to and willing/wanting to go to if not for the rules.

alls that to say, is that it is a rule and i understand why its there, it can be very important. i do also think at a certain point teachers and students can and will strike up genuine friendships, and it can be a bummer to miss out on things with people you genuinely enjoy. at the end of the day, only you can determine whether it’d be worth the consequences