Ballet
Our ballet program is based on the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum developed by Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens along with the Artistic & Medical Advisory Boards for the American Ballet Theatre. This curriculum is rooted in movement fundamentals and incorporates the French, Italian, Danish, and Russian schools of training. We focus on balance, alignment, coordination, and musicality to give students a strong ballet foundation, which can be useful in all styles of dance. We also embrace the professional training and dancing backgrounds of our faculty which have included the School of American Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, New York City Ballet, New York University and Juilliard.
Our ballet classes uphold a “task-involving climate” in which teachers encourage collaborative learning, effort, positive self-talk and refocusing, and view mistakes as part of the learning process. Our teachers strive to be good roles models, set effective goals and focus on helpful corrections. We feel dance education, specifically ballet can encompass math, science, art, creative thinking, physical exercise and A LOT of fun!
We encourage ballet students to take as many classes as they would like in their assigned level! We have found it especially rewarding for students to take multiple times a week as they advance in level. Dancing on pointe is a special aspect of ballet which takes diligent training to master. The more you practice the easier it becomes! We encourage students to share what they have learned on stage in our Nutcracker and Spring performances. We find rehearsing and demonstrating dances for the community an exhilarating experience for students, bringing them a sense of mastery, comradery, and confidence.
Listed below are the requirements to perform in our Winter and Spring Performances.
*Please note: If you have scheduling conflicts you may fill your requirements with any level below the one you are assigned.
Class Levels
Pre Primary—Ages 3-4
Class is offered on Saturdays; students are welcome to attend the performances as our favorite audience members! *Students must be potty-trained*
Primary Level—Ages 5-6
Minimum of: 1 ballet class per week
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions Primary and Level 1 will not be participating in Nutcracker this December.
Level 1A: Ages 7 and up
Minimum of: 1 ballet class per week, students can take twice a week.
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions Primary and Level 1 will not be participating in Nutcracker this December.
Level 1B: Ages 8 and up
Minimum of: 1 ballet classes per week, twice a week encouraged.
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions Primary and Level 1 will not be participating in Nutcracker this December.
Level 2: Ages 9 & up
Minimum of: 2 ballet classes per week
Plus:Level 2/3a repertoire class
Level 3A: Ages 10 & up
Minimum of: 2 ballet classes per week
Plus: Level 2/3a repertoire class
Level 3B: Ages 11 & up
Minimum of: 3 ballet technique class per week, 1 pointe class per week
Plus: Level 3b repertoire class
Level 4A: Ages 12 & up
Minimum of:
3 ballet technique classes per week, 2 pointe classes per week
Plus: Level 4a repertoire class
Level 4B: Ages 13 and up.
Minimum of: 4 ballet technique classes per week, 2 pointe classes per week
Plus: Level pro div/4b repertoire class
Level 5/Professional Division: Ages 14 and up
Minimum of: 4 ballet technique classes per week, 3 hours of pointe per week (fulfilled in technique or pointe classes)
Plus: Level pro div/4b repertoire class
Repertoire (rep. for short) will be offered this year! This class will include learning Nutcracker divertissements, Spring Show pieces, classical variations and a chance to explore the creative process of choreographing for the stage. If you want to perform and are interested in choreography, this is the class for you.
Dress Code
DRESS CODE
Dance and acrobatics wear can be found at:
La Luna Dancewear (they have a list of our ballet dress code and do pointe shoe fittings!)
33 Bullet Hill Rd
Suite 307
Southbury CT 06488
(203) 262-1829
https://www.lalunadancewear.com
or online at www.discountdance.com
Ballet
[hair must be off the face and neck (in a bun), no jewelry other than small earrings]
Level 5 -black leotards, pink tights, skirts (optional), pink technique shoes, pink pointe shoes
Level 4b -dark green leotards, pink tights, skirts (optional), pink technique shoes, pink pointe shoes
Level 4a -dark green leotards, pink tights, skirts (optional), pink technique shoes, pink pointe shoes
Level 3b -burgundy leotards, pink tights, skirts (optional), pink technique shoes, pink pointe shoes
Level 3a – burgundy leotards, pink tights, pink technique shoes
Level 2 -dark blue leotards, pink tights, pink technique shoes
Level 1 – light blue leotards, pink tights, pink technique shoes
PrePrimary & Primary–pink tights, pink leotard with skirt attached, pink ballet technique shoes
Boys -black dance shorts or full-length tights, white t-shirt, dance belt, black technique shoes
