Curriculum
Elementary Program (ages 3-8)
Our elementary program, comprising Creative Movement and Elementary 1-2, is designed to prepare students for formal ballet training by building strength, flexibility, coordination, and musicality in a safe, age-appropriate format. Classes are structured to include improvisation and learning through play while teaching the seven basic movements of ballet: plier (to bend), éntendre (to stretch), glisser (to glide), relever (to rise), tourner (to turn), and élancer (to dart).
The weekly class requirements for each elementary level are as follows:
Creative Movement (ages 3-4): one 30-minute class
Elementary 1 (ages 4-6): one 45-minute class
Elementary 2 (ages 6-8): one 60-minute class
Students in Elementary 1 & 2 are welcome to take a second class each week.
Ballet Program (ages 8 and up)
Classical ballet technique is the primary area of study at the Academy of Dance. Our program is designed to train students to the highest levels of technical achievement. Students in this division take classes in ballet technique, body conditioning, pointe, and variations. Additionally, we offer elective classes in jazz, contemporary, character, and modern improvisation for students in our ballet program.
The weekly class requirements for each technique level are as follows:
Ballet 1 (audition required): two Ballet Technique
Recommended Enrichment classes: Jazz, Character
Ballet 2 (audition required): two Ballet Technique, one Conditioning
Recommended Enrichment classes: Jazz, Character
Ballet 3 (audition required): three Ballet Technique, one Conditioning, one Variations; pointe work is incorporated into technique class
Recommended Enrichment classes: Jazz, Character
Ballet 4 (audition required): four Ballet Technique, one Conditioning, one Variations, one Stretch; pointe work is incorporated into technique class
Recommended Enrichment classes: Contemporary, Character, Modern Improvisation
Ballet 5 (audition required): four Ballet Technique, one Conditioning, one Variations, one Stretch; pointe work is incorporated into technique class
Recommended Enrichment classes: Contemporary, Character, Modern Improvisation