Class Descriptions

Beginning - Intermediate Ballet Classes:

Pre-Ballet/Preliminary (age 4-6): Students learn basic ballet positions and movements, while also exploring the stories and music from classical ballets. This class encourages individual accomplishment and the joy of dance, while also introducing the idea of taking direction from the teacher and sharing turns with peers.

Introductory Ballet Age 10-13: Students learn basic ballet positions and movements, while also integrating stretching and general conditioning. Class begins with a thorough warmup at the barre and progresses into combinations in the center and traveling across the floor. Ballet is great for flexibility, stamina, coordination, and agility. Experience with other dance forms or sports can be helpful, but is not necessary to enjoy this class.

Ballet Brush-Up Age 11-17: Whether you have some recent ballet training or it’s been awhile, or even if you haven’t taken ballet before, you are welcome. Athletes from other sports or styles of dance - increase your flexibility, coordination, agility, and balance with this class! Class begins with a thorough warmup at the barre and progresses into combinations in the center and traveling across the floor.

Ballet Classes for more experienced dancers:

Intermediate/Advanced: At the Intermediate/Advanced level, there is an emphasis on learning more complex phrases and choreography along with incorporating a variety of ballet techniques (Cecchetti, Bournonville, contemporary influences, etc). Examples of steps explored in this level include: multiple pirouettes, fouetté turns, penché, rond de jambe en l’air and grand rond de jambe en l’air, tour de basque, saut de basque - it varies from week to week and class to class.

At least four years of prior ballet training is required for this level. Placement in Level B and up is by approval of the school, as each student develops at their own pace.

Intermediate/Advanced with Pointe: At the Intermediate/Advanced level, there is an emphasis on learning more complex phrases and choreography along with incorporating a variety of ballet techniques (Cecchetti, Bournonville, contemporary influences, etc). Examples of steps explored in this level include: multiple pirouettes, fouetté turns, penché, rond de jambe en l’air and grand rond de jambe en l’air, tour de basque, saut de basque - it varies from week to week and class to class.

This option includes a 30 minute pointe class directly following the 1.5 hour technique class on flat. Pointe class is not mandatory for enrollment in Intermediate/Advanced level ballet technique classes.  Enrollment in two classes per week along with instructor approval are necessary to begin or continue pointe work. Assessment of pointe readiness is done on an individual student basis. 

At least four years of prior ballet training is required for this level. Placement in Level B and up is by approval of the school, as each student develops at their own pace.

Adult Ballet: This is a low-stress, intermediate-level recreational adult class with a full progression of barre, center, and traveling movements. All levels are welcome but the majority of students are often those who danced a lot as kids and took several years off. This class focuses on good technique and avoiding injury, while meeting adult dancers where they are.

Non-Ballet Classes:

Character Dance: Classes will progress through the fundamental movements of character technique, which references European folk and national dances. The structure will be similar to a ballet class, incorporating barre and center work, with special attention to the mechanical and stylistic differences between classical and character movement vocabularies. Center will include classroom exercises and excerpts from repertoire (La Sylphide, Coppélia, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty).

Modern/Contemporary: Modern dance is more experimental than classical ballet. This class explores an understanding of the movements of the spine, expanded dance vocabulary, alignment, and musicality through full-bodied phrases. Movement vocabulary draws from an influence of Limon, Cunningham, and contemporary styles. The class will expand the dancer's qualitative range and investigate nuance and detail for greater depth in performance.

Stretch: This class is geared toward overall conditioning, stamina, and challenging muscles that are not targeted as much in a classical ballet structure. Exercises are done at the barre, on the floor, and standing. No props or tools are required.