Ballet Program

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Ballet is our expertise and you will receive only the finest training from world class faculty. We train dancers of all aspirations. You do not need to want to be a pro or study intensively to enjoy our classes although we can take you where you want to go.

Ballet classes are offered once a week or daily depending on your dance priority and personal schedule. Ballet classes are technique only as our goal is to teach you how to dance and not to just teach you dances. Students move through the 12 ballet levels as they meet the requirements according to natural ability, focus and level of intensity.

Primary & Elementary Ballet
Primary & Elementary studies will carefully train a child's body, teach the French vocabulary and begin to stretch and strengthen the body in preparation for the years ahead. The principles of ballet technique are applied gradually and emphasis is placed on gaining a strong core, placement and flexibility.

Intermediate Ballet
Intermediate dancers have learned how to concentrate, and the basis of a good work ethic has been set into place. This frees the dancer to progress onto consistent use of correct placement. Introductory classes in pointe are introduced when the student is ready; ballet vocabulary is increased. This level takes the dancer through "connecting" steps and stresses correct technique, line and port de bras. Increased strengthening of the feet, legs, abdomen and back is a focus, plus more difficult ballet enchainements are incorporated.

Advanced Ballet
After years of practice, dancers have acquired a level of technique and expertise and are ready to enhance performance style. Pointe work gains strength and dancers often move from understudy or corps roles to being cast in major roles. The advanced level builds self-sufficiency with increased musicality, advancement on pointe and a study of dance composition and choreography. Emphasis is placed on performance qualities in building outstanding and respectable dancers who are both athletic and graceful!

PRIMARY BALLET 

1 class/week - $49/month

W/Ballet Club - $76/month

2 class/week - $89/month


W/2 Ballet Club -  $120/mo


Mon 4:50-5:30 pm  Garling

Tues 12:50-1:30 pm  Garling

 Thurs  4:50-5:30 pm  Garling

BALLET CLUB REHEARSAL(S)

 Mon 5:30-5:50 pm  Flemming

 Thurs 5:30-5:50 pm  Garling


ELEMENTARY BALLET

1 class/wk - $59/month

Multiple class discounts offered.

Mon  4:45-5:45 pm   Fritz  

Wed 6-7 pm   Mora

Tues 4:45-5:45 pm Co Class - Pergament

Thr  6:30-7:30 pm - Co Clasls - Yeliohin



INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED BALLET LEVELS

1 class/wk - $69-79/month

Multiple class discounts offered.

Let us customize a schedule just for you!

Many classes available!

Ballet Program FAQ

Do you compete?
We compete against our best selves. We are a technique-based dance education center, and we do not enter competitions to win trophies. We offer high calibre performances at major facilities and as resident dance company of the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, we are afforded many great opportunities.
What ballet technique do you teach?
Artistic Director, Lori Garling Pergament, R.D.E., is a registered dance educator, has trained in several styles and is certified in Vaganova (Russian) ballet technique. Ballet Classes consist of pre-warm-up, barre and centrework. Barre consists of plies, tendus, degages/tendu jetes, rond de jambes, frappes, fondues/soutenus, petit battement, developpes, grand battement and stretching. Centre includes adage, practices from the barre, pirouettes, petit allegro and grand allergo. We strive to present a strong dance curriculum based on a fusion of training that is typical of the passionate dance in America today. We make every effort to present a well-rounded program of study that exposes dancers to the full range of techniques, choreography and approaches that are current.
Why are dance classes so repetitive?
Learning to dance is both physical and intellectual. The movements of dance are learned through repetition as the body builds "muscle memory" (which is what allows a dancer to eventually perform precise and complex movement with ease). In the first years of study, the dancer begins to build a basis for movement as every new position and practice is added. This process takes many years and is the reason that it is imperative to study under instructors who are in understanding of proper technique and present the information within a planned syllabus. Otherwise repetition may lead to injuries and a lack of accomplishment as a dancer.
How does my child move up?
Our staff strives to ready each dancer for the challenges of the next level through the evaluation of not only technical ability and physical accomplishments but also artistic development and personal work ethic. Because learning always occurs at different rates, there will sometimes be plateaus and other times of rapid progress. This is to be expected as the mind and body develop through the levels; therefore, the length of study is not first and foremost nor is age. There are two processes... the degree of natural talent and the talent of working. Work + Talent (+ a good attitude is assumed) = Success! A side note: class levels are not status symbols.
Ballet Dress code
Girls: plain black leotard, pink convertible tights; pink ballet shoes (Bloch prolite, split soles preferred). Saturdays is color day and any color leotard may be worn.
Hair: slicked and bunned; hairnet should be used around bun; no skirts or warm-ups please.
Boys: black tights, white T-shirt (tucked in and tight-fitting); dance support; think white socks; black or white ballet shoes (Bloch prolite, split soles preferred)
Hair: neatly styled and combed off of the face.