Academy Ballet Program
Our Academy Ballet program is dedicated to educating children and teens with an engaging and innovative classroom curriculum. Classes offer enhanced ballet education by studying classical ballets and their characters, composers and choreography over 3-6 week periods.
Pointe, Tap, Contemporary, Dance Combo & our Repertory Theater student company are available for students who wish to further their dance education.
Beginning Ballet
CLASS DIVISIONS FOR K-3rd GRADE
Whether your ballerina is new to our program or continuing from our Fairytale Ballet division, our beginning ballet classes are the perfect combination of technique and fun with incorporations of classical ballet stories, dances and props. Annual performances opportunities.
Class selections below
Benefits
Enhanced gross motor skills, strength & flexibility
Mathematical enforcements through counting & rhythms
Spatial, group and musical awareness
Pre-Ballet
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Our Pre-Ballet classes gently ease out of the Fairytale Ballet Division in the Fall into the Academy Division where Ballet Stories are studied over 2-3 weeks with props and costume pieces. Students begin to focus on body placement and group awareness while continuing to learn steps in an engaging environment.
Details
Division Length: 2 years
Performance opportunities: The Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital
Dress Code: Class leotard, pink tights & pink ballet shoes. Hair in bun or ponytail. Details upon enrollment.
Ballet I
2nd & 3rd Grade
Ballet I classes continue learning Ballet Stories in class with an emphasis on character development. Students learn core ballet movements advancing throughout the year.
Details
Division Length: 2 years
Performance opportunities: Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital
Dress Code: Class leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, tan tap shoes if applicable, and hair in bun. Details upon enrollment.
Ballet Classes
CLASS DIVISIONS FOR 4th-12th GRADE
Our progressive ballet classes create a well-rounded ballerina with the incorporation of all aspects of a ballet. Students learn core ballet movements advancing throughout the year while learning how the ballet stories, characters, and composers combine to create a Ballet.
Annual performance & AFB Repertory Theater opportunities.
Class selections below / In-person & virtual class offerings available
Benefits
Core strength & flexibility
Mindfulness to body and breathing
Artistic growth & development
Ballet II
4th – 6th Grade
Ballet II is a continuation of Beginning Ballet or Ballet I.
Details
Division length: 2 years
Annual Performance opportunities: The Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital / Repertory Theater details below
Level Recommendations: Two classes per week is highly recommended with Pre-Pointe as the second class.
Dress Code: Class leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, tan tap shoes if applicable, and hair in bun. Details upon enrollment.
Ballet III
7th – 9th Grade
Ballet III is a continuation of Ballet II. Ballet stories, characters, and composers are studied with ballet movement and strength training.
Details
Division length: 2 years
Annual Performance opportunities: The Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital / Repertory Theater details below
Dress Code: Class leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, tan tap shoes if applicable. Hair in bun. Details upon enrollment.
Level Recommendations: 2 Ballet classes (III and III/IV tech) with a Pre-Pointe/Pointe 1 class are recommended. 6-8 Semesters of Ballet III are required for advancement into Ballet IV. Therefore, students who take 2 ballet classes per week will spend 2 years in Ballet III versus students that take 1 class per week spending 3+ years.
Ballet IV
9th Grade & up
Ballet IV is a continuation of Ballet III and has additional performance opportunities.
Details
Division length: 2 years
Annual Performance opportunities: The Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital / Repertory Theater details below
Dress Code: Class leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, tan tap shoes if applicable, and hair in bun.
Level Recommendations: 2 Ballet classes (IV and III/IV) with a Pre-Pointe or Pointe class are recommended. 6-8 Semesters of Ballet IV are required for advancement into Ballet V.
Ballet V
10th Grade & up
Ballet V is a continuation of Ballet IV and has additional performance opportunities
Details
Division length: 2+ years
Annual Performance opportunities: The Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital / Repertory Theater details below
Dress Code: Class leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes and tan tap shoes if applicable. Hair in bun.
Level Recommendations: 3 Ballet classes are highly recommended per week: 2 in Ballet V and 1 in Pointe.
Specialty Classes
Pre-Pointe
4th Grade & up
This class focuses on strengthening the feet, ankles, core and turn-out muscles. An essential class for a solid foundation, but particularly for continuing Pointe education and on to Ballet III class
*In-person & virtual class offerings available
Details
Division length: 2 or 3 years
Performance rehearsal during class time: None
Dress Code: Solid color leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and bun.
Level Recommendations: Students who are recommended for Pointe I in the Fall are encouraged to continue Pre-Pointe during Summertime.
Beginning Pointe
6th Grade & up
Pointe I trains the dancer to perform basic ballet techniques on pointe. This class is intended for the serious dancer who is taking 2 additional ballet classes per week which insures the student is physically prepared. Recommended for Ballet III or IV.
Details
Division length: 1-3 years
Prerequisite: Pre-Pointe or teacher approval.
Performance rehearsal during class time: June Recital
Dress Code: Solid color leotard, pink tights, pink pointe shoes, and bun.
Level Recommendations: Students not physically prepared for Pointe will find it painful and frustrating. For a successful class, it is important to wait until the body is ready.
Advanced Pointe
8th Grade & up
Pointe II is recommended for Ballet IV or V continued training.
Details
Division length: 1+ years
Prerequisite: Pointe I or teacher approval.
Performance rehearsal during class time: June Recital
Dress Code: Solid color leotard, pink tights, pink pointe shoes, and bun.
Contemporary / Cont & Jazz
6 years & up
Contemporary class blends the dance styles of ballet, jazz and modern. Contemporary/Jazz has extended Jazz portion during class. This class compliments and enhances ballet technique and training to strengthen dancers and assist in balance for turns & leaps.
Details
Division length: 1+ years
Annual Performance opportunities: The Nutcracker Ballet & June Recital
Dress Code: Solid color leotard, tights/leggings or jazz shorts and barefoot.
Repertory Theater
AFB Repertory Theater
All Academy Levels I No Auditions Requried
AFB Repertory Theater is A Fairytale Ballet’s Academy student dance company. Company experience is gleaned outside of weekly class time through weekend rehearsals and Summer intensives. Additional fees apply for costume & weekend rehearsal workshops.
AFB Repertory Theater divisions
Prima Ballerina Members: Participate in Nutcracker and June Recital Rehearsals and at least 1 Summer Intensive.
Principal Members: Participate in 2 of the above.
Corps de Ballet Members: Participate in 1 of the above.
Fall AFBRT Tech Class: Open to Ballet 3-5
Nutcracker Workshops: Open to Ballet 1-5
Recital Workshops: Open to Ballet 3-5
Nutcracker Rehearsals
Rehearsals occur over 6 to 8 weeks on Fall weekends at the Lakeview studio. Students will learn how to use movement to tell a story, perform choreography considerably longer than June Recital choreography, and work with dancers from other levels and locations. Rehearsal blocks are usually 3-4 hours, but most dancers will only need to attend 1-2 hours. Before the first rehearsal, all students will be notified of their specific rehearsal days and times.
Prerequisite: Ballet 1-5
Dress Code: Solid color leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and bun
Nutcracker Roles: Characters: Ballet I-V, Waltz of The Flowers: Ballet II-IV, Waltz of The Snowflakes: Ballet III-V, Sugar Plum Fairy Core: Ballet V
Recital Rehearsals
Rehearsals occur over 6 to 8 weeks on Spring weekends at the Lakeview studio to prepare for the June Recital. Students will prepare character roles and additional group pieces. Before the first rehearsal, all students will be notified of their specific rehearsal days and times.
Prerequisite: Ballet 3-5
Dress Code: Solid color leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and bun.
Recital Roles: Ballet III & up: Roles vary by Ballet performed/ details given during school year.