Dancers follow a specific progression through the levels as they go through their dance journey. Some steps are based on age, others are based on ability, and a few are based on both.
Step 1: Beginning Level Classes
Select the age range that includes your dancer's age as of September 1, 2022. This is where their dance journey begins!
If you need more information on any of the above classes, simply click on them to go to the main page for that program.
Age 16+: Go to our Adult Ballet Program for your journey.
Step 2: Progression through the Levels
Once a dancer has a starting point, they progress through the levels in order. Find your dancer's first class below and continue down the list to see their dance journey!
Progression by Age: Young Dancers Program
Progression through the following classes is mostly by age. There is overlap between the ages for each class so that dancers can move at the pace that works best for them.
Baby Ballet: Age 3 to 5 |
Perfect for a low key first dance experience. With a more relaxed dress code and in-studio recital, this is a great starting point for dancers who are just discovering dance.
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Pre Ballet: Age 4 to 7 |
For our young dancers ready for the full dance studio experience. In addition to learning more steps, dancers in this level participate in our full studio recital on the stage, complete with costumes.
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Many dancers choose to participate in our Winter Ballet Productions as early as their second year of Pre Ballet.
This is an optional experience for dancers who would like to perform more than once a year and be a part of a "real ballet" like Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty! You can get more information about this opportunity on our Productions page. |
Ballet 1: Age 7 to 12 |
Once a dancer turns 7, they are ready for a more serious ballet class. These classes follow the same structure as the professionals, with patterns carefully tailored to build a solid foundation that will serve them for the rest of their dance lives.
Please note: Most dancers start Ballet 1 in second grade. If your 7 year old has a summer birthday and will be in first grade, you may want to stay in Pre Ballet for an additional year to keep them with their peers. |
Progression by Ability: Ballet Technique and Performance
At this point, progression is based on ability, mastery of specific goals, and emotional/mental readiness for the next level. Dancers receive personalized placements at the end of each dance season for the next year.
Ballet 1 Advanced: Age 8 to 13 |
Dancers continue to work on the steps from Ballet 1, while adding in more foundational patterns and steps.
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Ballet 1-2: Age 9 to 15 |
Dancers finish polishing the center work from Ballet 1, while beginning to learn the barre work for Ballet 2. As Ballet 1 patterns are mastered by the class, the Ballet 2 pattern for the same step is introduced.
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Most dancers begin taking classes twice a week starting at Ballet 1-2 or Ballet 2.
This is also when a lot of dancers (age 11+) get the invitation to join Pre Pointe! You can see more information on our Pointe program by clicking here. Dancers at this level also express an interest in participating in dance competitions at this age. If your dancer has started asking about competing, click here for more details. |
Ballet 2: Age 10 to 16 |
While dancers at this level continue to learn new steps using patterns that focus solely on that step, they also begin learning patterns that combine two or three steps from the previous levels for continued polishing.
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Ballet 2 - 3: Age 10 to 16 |
This class is offered as needed, generally when a class is ready for the challenge of Ballet 3 barre work and a few Ballet 3 center steps, but still has some mastery work to finish on the Ballet 2 course work.
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Ballet 3: Age 11 to 18 |
In addition to building on the steps learned in the previous levels, Ballet 3 dancers work to develop a sense of artistry (putting feeling into their dancing), musicality ("hearing" the steps in the music and finishing one step fully before moving on to the next one), and corps de ballet work(making their movements match each other exactly). Because there is a lot to learn at this level, it is often divided into Ballet 3 Beginning and Ballet 3 Advanced.
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Ballet 4 Beginning: Age 12 to 18 |
Ballet 4 dancers are expected to have a full mastery of the steps and vocabulary associated with ballet up to this point. This is the level where everything starts to come together, and even class patterns feel like a choreographed dance.
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Ballet 4 Advanced: Age 13 to Adult |
As the last of the pre-professional levels, Ballet 4 Advanced focuses on clean technique, fully understanding the mechanics of performing (timing, spacing, artistry, working as a group) and developing stage presence.
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Advanced Ballet: Age 14 to Adult |
Advanced Ballet combines elements of Ballet 4 and Ballet 5, as well as other steps of interest (such as fouette turns and different types of pirouettes). Many of the patterns are designed to have varying degrees of difficulty so that each dancer can work at their own pace.
This class is by invitation only and is not offered every year. |
Ballet 5: Age 14 to Adult |
Ballet 5, also known as professional level one, is for serious dancers who have fully mastered Ballet 4 Advanced. The focus of this class is on allowing each dancer to develop their own style while continuing to learn new steps in the ballet syllabus.
This classes is by invitation only and is not offered every year. |
Dancers who continue at the studio after graduating high school may choose to continue their progression in the Ballet Technique and Performance Program, or switch into the Adult Ballet Program.