Pre-ballet begins at age 3.5yrs. For students 2-3.5yrs, please see Drop-ins Creative Dance!

A playful structured introduction to ballet designed for young dancers, focusing on basic ballet technique, musicality, coordination, and basic classroom skills. Students explore stretches, port de bras, barre exercises, marching, skipping, and more! We build focus, listening skills, confidence, and foundational ballet vocabulary.

-Required to enroll in 1 class a week. 

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

An introductory ballet class that builds foundational technique, coordination, balance, flexibility, and musicality through structured ballet exercises. Students practice basic positions, port de bras, pliés, tendus, relevés, jumps, and across-the-floor steps while developing focus, confidence, classroom etiquette, and beginning ballet vocabulary in a fun and encouraging environment.

-Required to enroll in 1 class a week. 

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

A ballet class focused on strengthening technique, coordination, flexibility, and balance. Students build on foundational ballet vocabulary through barre work, center steps, and traveling across-the-floor. Learning spotting for turns, basic jumps, port de bras, while introducing the concept of proper alignment, focus, confidence, and classroom discipline in a positive and creative environment.

-Required to enroll in 1 class a week. 

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

This is the first level to be invited to participate in our annual Christmas ballet, Once Upon A Christmas

A beginning intermediate ballet class designed to strengthen technique, flexibility, coordination, while introducing more detailed ballet vocabulary. Students focus on proper alignment, musicality, basic jumps, spotting for future turns, across-the-floor steps, port de bras, and memorization of combinations. This level is a structured yet encouraging environment that promotes confidence, discipline, and independence through dance.

-1x a week recommended (2x allowed with tuition)

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

*Most Classes from Beginning-Intermediate through Inter Adv 3 offer Hybrid Classes via zoom. Dancers can take in person or virtually. In person is always recommended!

This level is invited to participate in our annual Christmas ballet, Once Upon A Christmas

An intermediate ballet class focused on refining technique, strength, flexibility, and coordination through structured barre work, center combinations, and across-the-floor choreography. Students develop stronger alignment, musicality, balance, jumps, turns, and movement quality while expanding ballet vocabulary, performance skills, discipline, and confidence in a supportive and technically focused environment. 

-2x a week recommended (3x allowed with tuition)

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

*Most Classes from Beginning-Intermediate through Inter Adv 3 offer Hybrid Classes via zoom. Dancers can take in person or virtually. In person is always recommended!

This level is invited to participate in our annual Christmas ballet, Once Upon A Christmas

An intermediate ballet class focused on strengthening technique, artistry, flexibility, musicality, strength, and performance skills. Students continue to advance barre technique, turns, jumps, adagio, basic petite allegro, and across-the-floor combinations. They work to develop stronger alignment, coordination, balance, stamina, and confidence in a disciplined and encouraging training environment. At this level dancers begin to add the stretch and strengthen class which is the first step in our dance conditioning curriculum.

-2x ballet a week recommended with 1 stretch & strengthen (3x ballet allowed with tuition)

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

*Most Classes from Beginning-Intermediate through Inter Adv 3 offer Hybrid Classes via zoom. Dancers can take in person or virtually. In person is always recommended!

This level is invited to participate in our annual Christmas ballet, Once Upon A Christmas

An intermediate-advanced ballet class focused on refining technique, strength, flexibility, turns, jumps, and artistry through more complex barre work, center combinations, and across-the-floor combinations. Students develop greater control, musicality, balance, coordination, and performance skills while expanding ballet vocabulary, stamina, and confidence in a disciplined, encouraging  training environment. At this level students begin taking Dance Conditioning 1 to continue building their strength to support safe ballet training.

-It is recommended students at this level enroll in 2-3 ballet classes and 1 conditioning class.

-Some students at this level may be invited to join our Pointe Prep Program

-This level is invited to participate in the June Demonstration 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

*Most Classes from Beginning-Intermediate through Inter Adv 3 offer Hybrid Classes via zoom. Dancers can take in person or virtually. In person is always recommended!

It is recommended that students at this level enroll in 3 ballet classes and 1 conditioning class per week.

Some students at this level may be invited to join our Pointe Program.

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

*Most Classes from Beginning-Intermediate through Inter Adv 3 offer Hybrid Classes via zoom. Dancers can take in person or virtually. In person is always recommended!

Students at this level enroll in 3 Ballet classes,  Conditioning, Pointe Prep or Point 1,2,3. 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

*Most Classes from Beginning-Intermediate through Inter Adv 3 offer Hybrid Classes via zoom. Dancers can take in person or virtually. In person is always recommended!

Students at this level enroll in 3 Ballet, Styles, Contemporary, PBT/Conditioning, Pointe 1, 2, 3. 

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

Students at this level enroll in 4 Ballet/Pointe, PBT/Conditioning, Contemporary, and Styles.

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

Students at this level enroll in 4 Ballet/Pointe, PBT/Conditioning, Contemporary, Styles, Variation, Pas de Deux, and Company Rehearsals

-Enrollment is year round and students at this level work to develop their artistry as Ballet Joyeux Company members.

-Students in the Advanced Class perform multiple times throughout the year

-Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school (For new students, please call (925) 934 – 2133 to schedule a private assessment) 

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun

A Letter from Dr. Aimee Martel, PT

The Ballet School Performing Arts works very hard to make the health and safety of our dancers a top
priority. Earning that first pair of pointe shoes is an exciting time, and a big goal for many young
dancers. With the current research being conducted by the dance medicine community, it is our
responsibility to evaluate how and when we introduce our dancers to pointe.

Pointe work is a beautiful, yet potentially dangerous discipline, and the decision of when a dancer is
ready for pointe is not taken lightly. The risks of starting too early include injuries due to lack of foot
and ankle range of motion and strength, which in turn places undue stress up the chain on knees,
hips, pelvis, and spine that can manifest over time. It can also become a very frustrating experience
if your body is not yet ready to meet the required demands. Research is showing us that students
starting pointe around 12 years old are beginning with the same abilities as those who started closer
to 10 years old, with the advantage being the older students start pointe with more mature bodies,
stronger technique, and sufficient foot and ankle range of motion and strength. Age alone, however,
is not a determining factor. We have made the decision to adopt the following guidelines set by the
International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS):

•  Around age 12 or older with at least 2-4 years of ballet training, and placement in
  Intermediate Advanced 2 or above
•  When the teacher feels the student’s technique is strong enough to meet the demands of
  pointe work
• Pass a Pointe Readiness Assessment conducted by a dance medicine physical therapist. The
  assessment will measure trunk and lower extremity strength, neuromuscular control, balance,
  and ankle range of motion. This assessment will be offered to be scheduled by appointment at
  TBSPA.

WHAT TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD:
When your dancer is ready, they will be invited to enroll in the first level of our pointe program,
“Pointe Prep”, which will precede Pointe 1. The main goal of this class is to further prepare and
strengthen our dancers before they begin pointe work. Here they will learn specific exercises to
stabilize and strengthen their ankles, legs and core, gain more awareness and control of balance, and
improve the flexibility and range of motion necessary to safely get over the toe box of a pointe shoe.
The intention behind the Pointe Prep program is to make pointe a safer, more successful experience
from the beginning. With an anticipated enrollment of AT LEAST 12 months of good attendance, it
will give time to train proper muscle memory that will carry throughout her pointe experience.
Thanks to ongoing research from dance medicine specialists, it is obvious to us that there are no
benefits to starting early, but there are risks. Our aim is to keep your dancer as safe and healthy as
possible as they start this exciting phase of their ballet training. Please do not hesitate to contact me
or your student’s teacher with any questions regarding our program. We look forward to the day we
can confidently and enthusiastically promote your dancer to pointe work and are excited to help
them achieve their goal!

Sincerely,
Dr. Aimee Martel, PT

-Enrollment is year round and students progress to the next level at an individual pace.

-Students are assessed every class to determine if they’re prepared for the next level

-The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

-Hair must be secured in a ballet bun