Class Description

Students in Pre-Ballet classes will learn through fun and imagination. They will develop good dance posture through stretching and strengthening exercises, while improving listening skills and the ability to follow instructions.

All students are evaluated at the end of the school year in June in order to move up to the next class level in July.

The Pre-Primary class is the first year in which students are introduced to the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus. Students will gain a basic understanding of ballet technique and ballet posture. Improved coordination of the body and teamwork will be cultivated as students learn a variety of dance steps and challenging dance patterns.

Instruction from the RAD Syllabus begins in September of each school year. Students who are ready to participate in the RAD exam for that year will receive an invitation in November. Non-exam students are required to pass the school assessment in June in order to move up to the next class level. For more information regarding the RAD, please visit www.rad.org.uk.

Students in the Primary class will learn an examination solo which requires detailed technique and expressive performance.

Students in Grades 1 & 2 will be introduced to a wider range of dance styles and will learn a classical ballet solo as well as a character dance solo.

Elementary-level students who would like to take the RAD exam are required to take 2 classes per week from September through the end of June. Non-exam students are required to pass the school assessment in June in order to move up to the next class level.

Intermediate-level students who would like to take the RAD exam are required to take 3 classes per week from September through the end of June. Non-exam students are required to take a minimum of 2 classes per week and must pass the school assessment in June in order to move up to the next class level.

Students in Grades 6 & 7 who would like to take the RAD exam are required to take 3 classes per week from September through the end of June. Non-exam students are required to take a minimum of 2 classes per week and must pass the school assessment in June in order to move up to the next class level.

Students in Grade 8 who would like to take the RAD exam are required to take 3 classes per week from September through the end of June. Non-exam students are required to take a minimum of 2 classes per week and must pass the school assessment in June in order to move up to the next class level.

Professional-level classes are by invitation only, and require 2 hours per week of instruction in addition to the Advanced class. Professional-level RAD examinations require students to dance on pointe during the exams.