Class Divisions - Dance arts studio
Children's division - 20 months to age 8
All classes in our Children’s Division are taught by ABT® Certified Teachers and follow American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum, which consists of a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels.
Dance Arts Studio's Children's Division classes are divided by age to accommodate the developmental needs of every student. Ages 20 months through 3 years are introduced to spatial awareness, creative movement, pre-ballet and basic tumbling through our Dance with Me classes. At ages 3 and 4, students are part of our Pre-Primary level classes, which introduce young dancers to movement and music – with an emphasis on rhythm, dynamic and placement – to create an understanding of spatial awareness, correct alignment, teamwork and focus. Our Pre-Primary level covers ballet, creative movement, and tap during a 60-min, weekly class.
Ages 5 to 8 are part of our Primary level classes, which continues to build upon rhythm, dynamic and placement while creating an understanding of spatial awareness, correct alignment, teamwork and focus. Primary 1 (ages 5-6) and Primary 2 (ages 6-7) classes all include ballet and tap, which are offered as 60-minute classes that meet once a week.
All dancers in our Children’s Division Pre-Primary and Primary levels are required to wear a DAS-branded uniform, which can be purchased directly through the studio via our online store HERE.
youth & pre-professional ballet division - ages 8+
Dance Arts Studio’s Youth & Pre-Professional Ballet Division Levels 1-3 classes are taught by ABT® Certified Teachers and follow American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum, which consists of a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels; and is designed to strengthen technique, stamina and discipline through practical trainings and lessons in theory. Dance Arts Studio’s Level 4/5 ballet classes are taught by DAS Director Emeritas Grace Luttrell Nanavati and ABT® Certified Teachers Julie Ratz and Gina DeCroix Russell.
ABT’s NTC combines scientific principles with elements of classical French, Italian and Russian schools of ballet with a goal of training dancers to use their body correctly by educating them on anatomy, kinetics, coordination and alignment.
Classes in the Youth & Pre-Professional Division are offered in Levels 1 through 5 and require instructor placement, regardless of age. If you are a new student, please contact the studio to arrange a placement class.
All dancers in our Youth & Pre-Professional Ballet Division are required to wear a DAS-branded uniform, which can be purchased directly through the studio via our online store HERE.
Dance Arts Studio Open Division is intended to complement the training of dancers in Levels 1 to 5 of our Youth & Pre-Professional Division. But, while still strongly encouraged, ballet is not required for dancers wishing to train in our Open Division.
Classes in the Open Division are offered in modern, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre and tap.
Dancers age 8 and older, with little to no experience in the class offered, should begin with our Basic Technique jazz and tap class. Basic Technique typically coordinates with our Level 1 ballet classes.
Our Beginning Technique level is for dancers age 9 and older, with two or more years of training, and typically coordinates with our Level 2 ballet classes.
Dancers age 11 and older, with four or more years of training, are eligible for our Intermediate Technique offerings, which typically coordinate with our Level 3 ballet classes.
Our Advanced Technique classes are offered by instructor placement only and typically coordinate with our Levels 4 and 5 ballet classes, which have a minimum age requirement of 13.
Dance Arts Studio's Adult Division offers classes in ballet, tap, theatre, and stretch/flexibility, which are open to both novice and experienced dancers.
Adult Division classes are open to dancers 15 and older. Adults may also take classes in our Open Division and Youth & Pre-Professional Ballet Division at the level appropriate for their skill set and technique level.
Contact the studio to discuss any questions you may have about adult placement.