Where Young Dancers Are Encouraged to Thrive
Encouragement, Empowerment, Confidence through Engagement
- We are 100% youth focused and our mission is to encourage, Empower, and instill confidence through engagement.
- We limit our class sizes so that we can provide more individualized attention for each student
- We offer Supplemental classes, including Nutrition, kinesiology, cross-training, music, appreciation, theater, and dance history, in addition to other dance styles.
- We offer multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. 3 formal performances plus outreach performances
- Our students are encouraged to audition for summer programs.
- We bring in guest master teachers
- Our studio works closely with other studios in town to maintain a sense of community.
- Our studio is purposely designed from the outside in to establish an atmosphere that is welcoming, focused, serene, and inspiring.
- Our students regularly pursue a career in dance.
- We have a non-profit that provides many opportunities beyond our classes.
Technique as the Foundation of Artistry
Where Technique Becomes Freedom
Ballet is the most technically designed dance using precise placement, shape, and coordination for every part of the body. It has endless possibility of movement. Ballet terminology is the language which describes most movements found in dance, and for this reason, it is considered the base of all other dance forms. As a professional dancer of almost twenty years, I am constantly met with ballet’s endless challenges. I have come to accept that the true beauty of learning to dance is not the pursuit of perfection, but the pursuit of expression.
As a teacher, I try to instill the idea that technique is a pathway, not a destination. If they learn to overcome the technical processes of dancing while in the classroom, the concern with whether they can or cannot perform the steps melts away, allowing their true artistry to shine. I feel class should be more than just learning steps. It should be an experience in movement related to everyday life. Students must be exposed to art, story telling, history, and music. They must develop an awareness of their fellow dancer, audience, and surroundings. It is only through the understanding of this relationship one can communicate beyond the steps, and reach their audience. A dancer must develop their minds and bodies as one. You cannot discipline your mind, and allow your outward appearance to go unchanged. Just as you cannot put on a smock and call yourself a doctor. This is why in ballet, uniformity through dresscode is so important for artistic development. By limiting all outward forms of expression, students are pushed to explore their inner beauty. At somepoint, each student must learn to love this process and take responsibility for his or her own growth. The teacher then becomes a guide and source for new knowledge in this progression, not a source for approval. This is the pivotal point between being a student and being an artist. It is my sincere desire to see our students achieve this level of artistic freedom; that point at which technique becomes their foundation to paint colors unimagined.
Developing disciplined dancers beyond perfection
Why Choose Our Studio
Choosing a studio for your child is a big decision, and one requiring much consideration. You will spend thousands of dollars over the course of your child’s training, and will want to make sure it is a solid and worthwhile investment. Every studio is not equal. The quality of any dance program, can be found in its ballet training. Ballet is the basis for all other dance styles, and good technique is expected when auditioning for professional jobs. Without a strong technical base, students can struggle for years. However, with good training, a student will develop self confidence, poise, and discipline which will carry over into many other aspects of their lives. At our school, we follow a time proven progressive syllabus rooted in classical training. Although age is a consideration, our students are placed in levels according to their technical proficiency. Terminology is standard in daily classroom work. At each of the specific levels, emphasis is placed on the development of technique, musicality, portebras, epaulment, use of the head and artistry. Our students are encouraged to attend classes in other disciplines to increase their range of styles. We believe the ever changing expectations placed on dancers, requires they be well rounded, and able to adapt to the demands of the industry.
A strong program provides professional guidance and consistent training
Preparing Dancers for the Next Step
What to look for:
Professional teachers:
Ballet takes many years to master and understand. It is encouraged to choose a teacher who has had a professional performance career in ballet. This does not guarantee they will be a great teacher. However, they will have their many years of experience, and connections to bring to the table. This should only be taken as a guide, and you should not limit yourself solely to this consideration. There are many great teachers who have not danced professionally, but have studied in a university or other conservatory type program.
Ballet classes:
Ballet classes should include a minimum of 1.5 hours of training each (1hr for younger students), and be offered multiple times throughout the week, depending on the students level.
In addition to ballet technique, students of appropriate age should study pointe work, and partnering.
Students should also be exposed to character dance, variations, and dance history.
These classes help to build a student’s repertoire for auditioning for summer programs and professional jobs.
Performance and Training Opportunities:
Students should be encouraged to attend summer programs and other opportunities, providing settings for networking.
Performance opportunities must be offered so students gain stage experience and develope their resumes.
