Learning Tracks

Once your dancer reaches Graded classes they will have an opportunity to follow either the Academy Track or the Company Track. All dancers will be given Core Classes to enroll in that best suit their technique level and progression. Your dancer will feel supported and cared for regardless of the learning track they pursue.

Academy Track

Your dancer will have the opportunity to take minimal classes, progressing at a slower pace. This track allows for a flexible schedule in order to be able to participate in other extracurricular activities outside the studio. Academy dancers will learn the same curriculum & syllabi for their grade level and may spend more time at the same level than Company Track. They will have an opportunity to perform at our 2 performances each season, but will be limited in their roles, extracurricular class options, and Company classes.

 Our Programs

Through these carefully designed programs, your child will be cultivated to their full potential through education and compassion. They will be encouraged to expand their knowledge, which will in turn grow their confidence and leadership abilities. Each program is designed to progress your dancer’s knowledge, technique, artistry and continue to inspire their passion for dance and the arts. Your dancer will gain lifelong friendships, feel safe and cared for, and be inspired to learn.

In addition to our programs for young dancers, we offer a selection of classes for adults.

Ignite Program

Ages 18 mo – 6 years 1 Class per Week

Ignite your child’s imagination and creativity through the movements of dance. As they take their first dance steps in these carefully designed classes, they will fall in love with the joy of music and performance.

Parent & Me

Ages 18 mo – 3 years

Experience with your child their very first movements of dance. They will be introduced to the joy of music and encouraged to play, imagine and explore. Your little one will have the opportunity to move freely, while being inspired to learn their first ballet steps through creative movements and the use of props. Their creativity will be ignited through the joy of movement.

Creative Movement / Dance It Up!

Ages 3.5 – 5.5 years

For your little one that’s full of energy and loves to move. They will be introduced to musical rhythms to teach basic dance movements of ballet, tap, and jazz. They will find themselves craving to come to dance and see their friends as they form lasting bonds through teamwork. Balance and coordination developed through the use of props will be utilized throughout the semester to round out their curriculum in this fun, energetic class. Our creative movement class is a non-performing class that will have a simple showcase at the end of each semester.

Pre-Ballet

Ages 3 – 5 years

Imagine your child taking their first ballet steps into the studio, watching with delight the joy their movement brings. Your child will be immersed into the wonderful world of ballet, as they blissfully skip, gallop, and leap across the floor learning beginning ballet steps.

Primary ballet

Ages 5 – 6.5 years

Your child will step into their dance experience with joy and anticipation as they begin to utilize the foundational steps in classical ballet. They are excited to begin use at the barre while learning proper etiquette and technique in their foundational work. Your child’s spark will glow after each lesson, forming their lifelong love of movement.

Inspire Program

Ages 6 – 9 years 1-3 Classes per Week

We will inspire your dancer as they are introduced to the foundational techniques of Classical Ballet. They will begin to learn through the progressive curriculum set for each level.

Intro to Ballet 1

Ages 5.5 – 6.5 years

We ease your little ones into the standard Ballet 1 curriculum that will spark their interest for the future ahead. They will be immersed in a syllabus that focuses on proper posture and feet placement. Through imagination and creative development your dancer begins their journey of expression and technique. We will teach them the love of movement through a variety of exercises they will soon be practicing on their own, captivated by their own expression.

Ballet Grade 1

Ages 6 – 7 years

Your child will step into the Graded curriculum with excitement and delight. They will begin barre exercises with focus on developing proper placement of torso, hips, and legs without exceeding their anatomical limitations. The coordination of arms and head begin to be developed at this level. Your child will see the beauty in the work they put in, which will build their confidence and pride.

Ballet Grade 2

Ages 7 – 9 years

Your dancer will begin to develop artistry that will integrate into the movements in this level. Concentration on smooth transitions of head and arms throughout the exercises is emphasized. With continued focus on theory, technique and footwork, your dancer will further enhance their articulation through the metatarsals and develop elongated lines. Your dancer will begin the strength work needed for our upper levels through Progressing Ballet Technique and Conditioning classes, in addition to attending classes 2 times per week.

Develop Program

Ages 10 – 13 years 3-7 Classes per Week

By levels 3 & 4, your dancer has developed strong technique and continues to flourish through new curriculum and skills. At this stage, some dancers are preparing for pointe shoes with careful focus on strength and flexibility.

Ballet Grade 3

Ages 10+ years

Your dancer will begin to develop the more mature sense of musicality and quality of movement that is emphasized in Grade 3. Students grow strength and stability in the demonstration of pirouettes and grand allegro. Suppleness and smooth, graceful movements are developed in these levels along with the coordination of the head, arms, legs, and body. Dancers continue PBT/conditioning classes and are recommended to dance 2-3 times per week. This helps teach consistency for muscle memory and technique as they build upon their pre-pointe work. By Grade 4, dancers will be fully immersed in the pre-pointe program.

Ballet Grade 4

Ages 12+ years

As the curriculum develops in Grade 4, rhythmic patterns are emphasized and attention is given to aiding the dancer’s ability to “tune in” to muscular feelings. Emphasis is placed on greater stability and complexity in the study of adagio and developing graceful and subtle qualities in movement. Study of turning in open positions is part of the daily routine at this level, as is the study of battu, petite allegro, and grand allegro. Regular and repeated reference will be made to facilitate the dancer’s understanding of movement goals and ability to “self-correct”. Evaluation for pointe work is typically conducted by the end of this level.

Excel Program

Ages 12+ years 4-7 Classes per Week

As your dancer excels through the levels, they will focus on polishing their artistry, building on pointe work, and accomplishing higher technique. Your dancer will be performing in the community through our outreach programs and building leadership skills through focused training.

Ballet Grade 5

Ages 12+ years

In progressing through to this level, Grade 5 focuses on developing an understanding of technique reflected in the ability to coordinate movements in a series of sequences with an increasing vocabulary and awareness. Daily pointe work is added throughout the classes with attention to increased awareness of the body and technique to enhance performance. Concentrated work on petite allegro, adage and flexibility continues.

Ballet Grade 6

Ages 13+ years

Students will have an increased level of performance skill, interpretation of music, a developing spatial awareness, responsiveness to an audience, and an ability to work with others. Their technique and artistry will begin to be polished as they complete this level, opening up additional performance opportunities throughout our community. They become role models to the younger students as their strive for excellence is apparent in their work ethic.

Ballet Grade 7

Ages 14+ years

At this level, your dancer will be expected to understand the fundamental and relevant technique required, including performing a range of movement sequences and a range of performance skills in ballet. In order to excel at this level, no less than 4 technique classes a week are required. Throughout this level, an increasing vocabulary of the syllabus content is expected to be demonstrated by students with an understanding of technique and the ability to coordinate more complex movements.

Pre-Professsional Program

The Grade 8 – 10 Syllabus encourages a sense of performance and style. Female advanced dancers at this level are encouraged to wear pointe shoes to every class and male dancers are expected to participate in extra strengthening for lifts and jumps. Students wanting to pursue a pre-professional level can begin upper level curriculum with Grade 7. Grades 8, 9 & 10 move into the majors and finalize at Diploma.

Ballet Grade 8, 9, & 10

Your dancer will be able to demonstrate an expansive range of vocabulary communicating through a mature and accomplished sense of performance. They will be able to interpret music and display a sophisticated response to musical content and style. At this level, your dancer is considered pre-professional and is usually auditioning for professional positions or advanced college programs during their coaching.

Maestro Cecchetti Final Diploma

This final course work is a culmination of studies throughout the graded syllabus and curriculum that your dancer has accomplished throughout their training. Dancers must complete the graded exams with Cecchetti USA in order to be considered for this final level. Your dancer will have an understanding and knowledge base to carry them into the professional world.

Additional Classes

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) / Conditioning

Ages 8+

The PBT program is designed to enhance ballet technique and strength based on dance medicine, training, safety, and knowing how the body works from within. PBT encourages an understanding of which muscle groups take part in each movement. This class is recommended for all dancers beginning at Grade 2 and is required for dancers at Grade 4 and above.

Lyrical/Modern

Ages 10+

Lyrical uses an emotional connection to the music to define the routine. A combination of ballet and jazz movements make up smooth, fluid routines. Modern pushes the boundaries of traditional classical dance training. In these classes, dancers will gain insight of their own artistic self through emotion and practicing choreography. The focus will be on body placement, flexibility, turns, leaps, and floor progressions.

Pas de Deux

Ages 12+

Dancers will learn partnering skills, musicality, lifts and turns to selected repertoire pieces in this class. A variety of variation pieces will be taught to prepare the dancers for professional performance. This is an essential part of classical training for both male and female dancers.

Character Folk Dance

Ages 8+

Character Dance is a subdivision of classical dance. Learning Character Dance helps dancers gain a deeper understanding of story ballets, while boosting strength and musicality. Dancers will begin their training starting at Grade 2. Character Dance will be integrated into the regular class training. For a more robust training, we offer Character classes as an add-on for our dancers. In these classes we focus on performance style, pantomime, and specific character dance steps.

Ukrainian Folk Dance

Ages 5+

Traditional Ukrainian classes are high energy courses that build strength and flexibility. Dancers will learn the basics and aspects of the culture and its art form. Ukrainian folk dance classes are available for both Co-Ed and Boys, a highly recommended addition to the dancer’s curriculum. The Boys Class will focus on high impact movements, intensive foot work, and jumps. Dancers enrolled in these classes will have the additional opportunity to perform in our productions in character dance roles.

Ready to Dance?

Check out our Active class schedule!

Adult Programs

Whether you have a long history with ballet or are just starting out, BASV welcomes adult dancers to class! Adult dancers have the option of both drop-in or weekly classes to best suit your needs, and are offered optional performance opportunities. Join us today for an experience you will fall in love with!

Adult Ballet - Beginning

Ages 18+

Have you always wanted to learn ballet? No experience necessary! This class will introduce you to the history and concepts of classical ballet. Barre work incorporates learning and mastering body alignment, core strength, muscle strength, stamina, flexibility, and working with music. Exercises are built upon in center floor work, incorporating coordination and musicality. As you progress, you will move into combinations that include turns and jumps, work across the floor, increasing coordination between arms and legs and head positions. You will be amazed how toned your body becomes while enjoying this beautiful art.

Adult Ballet - Intermediate/Advanced

Ages 18+

Whether it’s been a season or several years since you’ve been in the studio, you will feel right at home with this intermediate/advanced ballet class. You will enjoy a traditional classical ballet class starting with barre, moving into center for adage & allegro exercises and ending with grand allegro. This class will be rewarding for students with diverse backgrounds in dance and builds upon the concepts and technique studied in the beginning ballet class, allowing for a range of abilities to join.

Strength & Stretch

A low impact class that focuses on lengthening and elongating muscles. The deep stretches you perform will help with flexibility and tight limited muscle groups. Throughout the class, exercises will work through deep stretching, flexibility and core strength. This is a perfect class for those that sit much of their day.

Ready to Dance?

Check out our Active class schedule!