Ballet For Tots – for ages 3-4. Designed to explore natural freedom of movement, imagination, and musicality. Acceptance to this class is determined by our faculty.
Introduction to Ballet A – for ages 5-6. Children will learn elementary ballet movement, spatial patterns, terminology and body positions. No pre-requisites necessary.
Introduction to Ballet B – for ages 6-7. Children will learn proper ballet movement, isolations, spatial patterns, terminology and body positions. No pre-requisites necessary.
Ballet Theatre – Intro A-1A students are guided through imagery and storytelling with props and costumes. This class is designed to develop imaginations, story characters, improvisations, self-confidence, and team work. Students have the opportunity to dive into several ballet favorites.
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Professional level technique classes:
Division 1A – Students master basic classical ballet steps, posture, and positions with a focus on proper vocabulary and technique. Recommended pre-requisite Intro to Ballet if age appropriate.
Division 1B – Students continue to master basic classical ballet steps, posture, and positions with a focus on proper vocabulary, technique, and proprioception. Pre-requisite 1A or Introduction to Ballet.
Division 2A– Students learn to combine mastered steps, focus on building strength in center work and balance. Turns are introduced. Fundamental core work is introduced.
Division 2B – Students continue where they left off in division 2A with a stronger emphasis on musicality, foot dexterity, and balance.
Division 2A and 2B students are considered for beginner pointe classes and will be invited to attend pointe classes in technique shoes when the director and faculty deem them ready. This is called Pre-pointe.
Pre- Pointe – Focus is on strengthening the feet and ankles above and beyond what technique class provides. Extensive checklist required for advancement into beginner pointe in our handbook.
Beginner Pointe – Students may enroll in pointe classes only after they have achieved appropriate physical maturity and have mastered proper basic ballet technique. (Teacher recommendations) Pre-requisite is Pre-pointe. Proper sewing techniques and foot/shoe care are introduced. Beginner Pointe will be offered in the Summer sessions.
Division 2 Pointe classes – Pre-requisite beginner pointe. Students will apply beginner pointe barre exercises to elementary center work. Basic combinations are introduced. Classes include foot strengthening and resistance training.
Division 3 – Students are exposed to the full demands of classical ballet technique. Focus is on building strength in center and across the floor. Fundamental exercises for core work and extension are built upon.
Division 3 Pointe classes – Pre-requisite division 2 pointe. Center work is expanded upon adding turns and movement across the floor. After 1 year of this class partnering may be added upon director recommendations.
Division 4 – This level emphasizes line, speed, control of adagio, multiple turns and increasingly complex combinations. Partnering is introduced. Advanced strengthening techniques are introduced.
Division 5 – A pre-professional level for dancers striving for artistry in their work. Added to a full curriculum, are performance opportunities with professional company members and choreographic workshops.
Pointe classes (division 4-5) – Students must have at least 3 years of pointe experience. More advanced combinations and choreography are introduced.
Pas de Deux Class (Division 3, 4, 5) – Students are introduced to the art of partnering. Advanced students work on the entire range of promenades, with supported turns and lifts. Division 3 students MUST have at least 1 year of pointe class before enrolling.
Men’s and Boys’ Class must be taken in combination with division class. All are age appropriate and focus on strength and execution of ballet technique as well as back and arm strength.
Beginner Modern – Elementary classical modern technique is introduced. Basic floor and center work applied.
Intermediate Modern – Continued classical modern technique. Introduction to modern dance innovators and choreography learned.
Contemporary – This class combines the classical techniques of ballet and modern. Contemporary movement requires technical application as well as body awareness and is only for divisions 2+.
Flamenco – Traditional form of Spanish dance utilizing intricate foot and hand movements led by music. Each class is age appropriate. Focus is on character and musicality, and can add to ballet roles such as Hot Chocolate in Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Paquita.
Character – Is a specific subdivision of classical dance and is the stylized representation of a traditional folk or national dance, mostly from European countries, and uses movements and music which have been adapted for the theater. It is integral to much of the classical ballet repertoire including Swan Lake and Don Quixote.
OPEN Beginner ballet – For Teens and Adults. Focus is on elementary ballet movement, positions, patterns, and posture. Great for actors, ice-skaters, athletes, post-surgery recovery, ballroom dancers, toning the body, and grace.
OPEN Intermediate ballet – For Teens and Adults. Focus is on building strength in ballet movements and moving across the floor, balance, positions, patterns, and posture. Great for actors, ice-skaters, athletes, toning the body, ballroom dancers, and grace. Open to divisions 3-5 as make-ups or extra class.
PBT – Taught by certified instructors. Progressing Ballet Technique is a body-conditioning and strengthening program that is designed to enhance a student’s technique by training and focusing on the muscle memory required in dance. It focuses on core strength, weight distribution and alignment of the body.
Gyrokinesis – Taught by certified instructors. The Gyro method is a movement that addresses the entire body, opening energy pathways, stimulating the nervous system, increasing range of motion and creating functional strength through rhythmic, flowing movement sequences. It coordinates movement, breath and mental focus. No equipment is required.
OPEN yoga – Taught by certified instructors. Focuses on strengthening, stretching, and balancing simultaneously. Recommended for all open classes as well as divisions 3-5. Yoga creates blood flow, lowers the heartrate and helps to balance both the endocrine and nervous systems.
Zena-Rommett Floor Barre – Taught by certified instructors. Great for division 4-5 and open enrollment students. Focuses on body alignment and turnout, without the stresses of gravity.
Pilates – Taught by certified instructors. Great for divisions 1B-5 and open enrollment students. Focuses on balance and core strength from ankles to shoulders. All age appropriate levels. Open students welcome in the division 3-5.
Cross-training and conditioning – Certified and licensed instructors. For divisions 2-5. Get ahead of injuries and increase body awareness! All age appropriate classes. Focus is on well balanced strength specifically for dancers. Each class is designed to offer an increase in stamina, core strength, resistance, power and control for jumps, and increased flexibility.
Pre-Professional – While technically all levels before becoming a professional are “pre-professional”, our division 4 and 5 pre-professional program offers a unique opportunity to our students that no other school does. Once invited into this program, dancers are given studio time with choreographers and archival specialists from some of the most prestigious companies and institutions throughout the year. By providing this priceless experience, our upper level students have the chance to build the skills, self- confidence and training tactics required to enter their new chapters once graduated, much of which takes years as a free-lance artist to comprehend, if ever. The Pre-Pro program offers multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. This is by invitation only and we, at times will invite our younger students to sit in and watch. No matter what our students aspirations are, this program offers the skills and discipline to pursue and execute most any path they choose.