Summer Intensives: Workshops for Teens

Join us for an in-depth ballet summer series taught by Liezl Austria, our ballet director certified by the Vaganova Ballet Academy. You’ll also enjoy enrichment classes in conditioning, contemporary and other dance forms, dance history, acting, performance skills, and musicality.

Instructor approval required. Please contact us to discuss your participation in the workshop. (Sign-up deadline for workshops is two weeks before the workshop begins.)

NOTE: The workshop schedule assumes that Health Department guidelines will allow for in-studio instruction.

Classes for kids and teens

First Steps  

For kids age 4-5.

This first foray into the world of dance and music teaches 4-year-olds lessons that will benefit them for life. They will learn about body awareness and movement, counting, and music in a fun and supportive environment. Kids will also gain confidence, poise, and develop a positive self-body image. Dancing is a team effort, and all dancers must work together onstage to create a beautiful performance. In that spirit, kids will learn to help and encourage one another in group dance exercises that foster compassion, empathy, and teamwork.

This class begins with a warmup so that kids learn the healthy habit of stretching before exercise. Kids will learn to count basic rhythms and to coordinate their movement to music. Kids will also learn age- and level-appropriate choreography with props from famous classic ballets. They will learn classic ballet stories, how musical instruments help create emotions, and characters they may see onstage and perform.

Duration and frequency: 45 minutes. Offered once a week.

Prerequisites: None.

What to wear and bring to class: Leotard with tights—or—shirt with shorts or leggings. Ballet slippers or socks. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Second Steps

For kids age 5-6.

Kids who complete First Steps will continue to expand their knowledge of movement, music, counting, and using emotion and acting to portray classic ballet characters in this 45-minute class. The lessons include many aspects of the First Steps course, so it is also an excellent first ballet course for 5- and 6-year-olds. 

This class begins with a warmup where kids learn to stretch and build the muscles needed for dance—and life—through conditioning exercises and jumps. They will learn about music and rhythm, how to count basic rhythms, and how to time their movement to music. Kids will learn how to express their emotions in dance by miming, and about some characters, stories and instruments featured in several well-known classic ballets. Students will also develop and explore their artistic expression by learning to identify the key instruments that set the mood the dancers portray.

Duration and frequency: 45 minutes. Offered twice a week.

Prerequisites: None.

What to wear and bring to class: Leotard with tights—or—shirt with shorts or leggings. Ballet slippers or socks. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Preliminary: Stretching and Flexibility

For dancers age 10-15. (Age 7-9 with instructor approval.)

Dancers make moving with grace and artistic expression seem effortless, but in reality, it requires years of disciplined work to build physical strength and flexibility. That’s why students begin this class after completing the Second Steps course and continue to take it as they advance through the Level 1, 2, and 3 classes.

This essential class focuses on body conditioning. The exercises build muscle and core strength, and the stretching improves flexibility and prevents injury. Students will learn to stretch and strengthen muscles in the feet, ankles, calves, legs, hips, abdominals, and the upper body. Dancers will also learn proper turn-out of the legs and how to isolate and engage the correct, key muscle groups through floor exercises.This class creates the foundation for the Vaganova Method of learning Classical ballet. Students will learn ballet fundamentals such as plié and the positions of the arms and feet. As students enhance their body’s strength and precision, they’ll apply it to musicality and expression in short choreographed sequences with props.

Duration and frequency: 60 minutes. Offered Monday through Thursday. Students are encouraged to attend 3-4 days per week.

Prerequisites: None.

What to wear and bring to class: For girls, white leotard, no tights, white socks and ballet slippers (DLD08M). For boys, white microfiber t-shirt (DL3011M-00 Grishko), dark gray tights, white socks, white ballet slippers (DL3011M-00), and dance belt. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Level 1

For dancers age 9-11.

Combined with the Preliminary: Stretching and Flexibility course, this class lays the foundation for learning Classical ballet, musicality, and artistic expression to create a character onstage. Students will begin developing positions of the body, legs, arms, and head with exercises facing the barre in slow tempo. This course builds on exercises that strengthen and stretch the feet and legs, and coordinate movement of the head, arms and legs.

Dancers will learn the correct technique for turn-out, which is essential to prevent injury. This class includes center work without a barre, port de bras, and jumps in slow tempo. Once dancers have the necessary muscle coordination and strength, they can advance to Pointe with instructor approval.

Duration and frequency: 60 minutes. Offered 4 times a week.

Prerequisites: Preliminary: Stretching and Flexibility.

What to wear and bring to class: Grishko ice-blue leotard (DA100MP), mesh skirt with ties (06017/1), pink tights, Grishko pink canvas shoes with ribbons (DLD08M). For boys, white microfiber t-shirt (DL3011M-00 Grishko), dark gray tights, white socks, white ballet slippers (DL3011M-00), and dance belt. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Optional: Warm-up boots (M-68) and black shorts (DA80M).

Level 2

For dancers age 11-13. 

In this class, students will continue and build upon the develop the skills and tasks learned in Level 1. Students will take the next step to develop and refine positions of the body, legs, arms, and head. Dancers will increase their foot strength to prepare for pointe by adding relevé to exercises and dance combinations done with one arm on the barre and in center work.

Students will work on coordinating arms, head, and legs, with greater flexibility and fluidity of movement to achieve more expressive and artistic movements. Dancers will also start to learn big poses with the legs extended in positions beyond 90 degrees. Once dancers develop the necessary muscle coordination and strength, they can advance to Pointe with instructor approval.

Duration and frequency: 90 minutes. Offered 5 times a week. (Recommend 4-5 times a week.)

Prerequisites: Preliminary: Stretching and Flexibility.

What to wear and bring to class: Grishko lilac leotard (DA100MP), mesh skirt with ties (06017/1), pink tights, Grishko pink canvas shoes with ribbons (DLD08M). For boys, white microfiber t-shirt (DL3011M-00 Grishko), dark gray tights, white socks, white ballet slippers (DL3011M-00), and dance belt. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Optional: Warm-up boots (M-68) and black shorts (DA80M).

Level 3

For dancers age 13-15.

This class builds on Levels 1 and 2. Exercises, combinations and steps in previous levels will increase in complexity and difficulty. Dancers will increase their foot strength to prepare for pointe by adding relevé to the exercises and dance combinations done in center work.

The pace of music and precise movements will increase, and exercises and combinations of steps will include turns and jumps. Students will begin to learn ballet variations appropriate for their age and ability. Once dancers develop the necessary muscle coordination and strength, they can advance to Pointe with instructor approval.

Duration and frequency: 90 minutes. Offered 5-6 times a week. Includes Pointe. (Recommend 6 days a week for serious dancers.)

Prerequisites: Preliminary: Stretching and Flexibility.

What to wear and bring to class: Grishko dark blue leotard (DA100MP), mesh skirt with ties (06017/1), pink tights, Grishko pink canvas shoes with ribbons (DLD08M). For boys, white microfiber t-shirt (DL3011M-00 Grishko), dark gray tights, white socks, white ballet slippers (DL3011M-00), and dance belt. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Optional: Warm-up boots (M-68) and black shorts (DA80M).

Level 4

For dancers pursuing a career in ballet, age 16 and up with instructor approval. Registration in this class

Note: Due to current COVID-19 guidelines, partnering is available only for people living in the same household. When COVID-19 guidelines permit, partnering will resume in full.

Duration and frequency: 90 minutes. Offered 10-12 times a week. (Recommend 10-12 times a week for serious dancers.)

Prerequisites: Available for serious dancers with instructor approval.

What to wear and bring to class: Grishko black leotard (DA100MP), mesh skirt with ties (06017/1), pink tights, Grishko pink canvas shoes with ribbons (DLD08M). For boys, white microfiber t-shirt (DL3011M-00 Grishko), dark gray tights, white socks, white ballet slippers (DL3011M-00), and dance belt. Bring a floor mat for exercises and stretching.

Optional: Warm-up boots (M-68) and black shorts (DA80M).