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, 2026.  This is where their dance journey begins!

Age 3 to 5:
​Baby Ballet

Age 4 to 7:
​Pre Ballet

Age 7 to 10:
​Ballet 1

Age 11 to 13:
Ballet 1 OR
​Ballet 1 Adv

Age 14 to 15:
​Ballet 1 Adv OR
​Ballet 1-2

If you need more information on any of the above classes, simply click on the category below to go to the main page for that program.  Dancers with Experience should email the studio or set up a trial to find the right starting point.

Age 16+:  Go to our Adult Ballet Program for your journey.

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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.

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.

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.

Intro to Ballet 1: Age 6 to 8

6 Year old dancers who have completed at least one year of Pre Ballet and are ready for a 45 minute class, as well as 7 to 8 year old dancers who are new to ballet are invited to join Intro to Ballet 1.  This class serves as a bridge between Pre Ballet and Ballet 1, transitioning from the more activity based Pre Ballet format to the traditional structure of Ballet 1 and higher as the season progresses.
Please note: Most dancers start Intro to Ballet 1 in first grade.  If your 6 year old has a summer birthday and will be in kindergarten, you may want to enroll them in Pre Ballet to stay with their peers.

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 enroll in Intro to Ballet 1 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.

Most dancers spend an average of 2 years per level, with some levels only taking 1 year, and others taking 3 or 4 years.  Which levels go faster or slower varies based on the individual dancer, as a variety of factors affect progression, including things outside of everyone's control such as growth spurts and recovering from injury or illness.

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. 

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.

Most dancers begin taking classes twice a week starting at Ballet 1 Advanced or Ballet 1-2.

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.
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Dancers at this level often begin expressing an interest in participating in dance competitions.  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.  

Ballet 2 - 3: Age 10 to 16

This class is offered as needed, generally when a group of dancers 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.

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.

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.

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.

Dancers generally complete Ballet 4 Advanced at some point in high school. Dancers who have not yet graduated continue with the Advanced Level classes.

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.

Progression by Ability: Advanced Levels

Our Advanced Level class are for serious dancers who are dedicated to continuing their progression in ballet, whether for personal enjoyment or as a step on the path to a college program or professional path.

Ballet 5: Age 14 to Adult

Ballet 5 dancers have successfully completed either Ballet 4 Advanced or Intermediate Adult Ballet.  Using the Cecchetti ISTD Intermediate curriculum (aka professional level 1), Ballet 5 has a foundational approach, ensuring that dancers have truly mastered the previous coursework.  Patterns combine simplicity with technical clarity to refine movements while building strength, speed and endurance.

This classes is by invitation only.

Ballet 6: Age 15 to Adult

Ballet 6 uses the Cecchetti ISTD Advanced 1 syllabus (aka professional level 2), with many of the patterns coming from Enrico Cecchetti's original coursework.  While dancers continue to add to their ballet "vocabulary", patterns become increasingly complex and performance based.

This classes is by invitation only and is not offered every year.

The studio continues to add levels as we have dancers who are ready for them.  Through the Cecchetti Method, there is the possibility of adding Ballet 7 (Cecchetti ISTD Advanced 2), and Ballet 8 (Cecchetti Diploma level).