Denton Ballet Academy

Creative Movement

Creative Movement is designed for children ages 2 and 3. This class is geared towards the youngest dance student and is structured to nurture a child's natural instinct to "dance", using a freer, more age-appropriate class format. With a more play-oriented approach, students in this level can explore their joy of movement and expression of artistry in a nurturing environment. Here they will explore the playful, creative, physical world with limbering exercises, exposure to a wide variety of music, rhythmic play, and a cooperative learning focus.

Dress Code:

Girls: Pink leotard, pink tights, pink canvas or leather ballet slippers. Skirts or decorated leotards are allowed. Hair needs to be fixed neatly off the face in a bun, pig tails, or pony tail.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white ballet slippers, white t-shirt.

Level 1 is the most introductory class designed for young children ages 3 and 4. Classes are taught as a combination of Pre-Ballet, Tap, and Tumbling. Emphasis is on learning the etiquette of a ballet class and proper classroom comportment. Students in this age group explore the more creative and expressive world of dance through limbering exercises and rhythm and movement games. They are also introduced to the most basic of ballet positions and counting.

Dress Code:

Girls: Pink leotard, pink tights, pink canvas or leather ballet slippers. Skirts or decorated leotards are allowed. Tap shoes should be black with a low heel. Hair needs to be fixed neatly off the face in a bun, pig tails, or pony tail.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white ballet slippers, white t-shirt.

Level 2

Level 2 is designed for students ages 5 and 6 and continues the basic dance instruction begun in Level 1. Classes are taught as a combination of Basic Ballet, Tap, and Tumbling. Additional basic ballet positions and steps are added, along with rhythmic motor skills such as skipping and jumping. Emphasis is also given to limbering exercises to expand the child's range of motion and flexibility.

Dress Code:

Girls: Pink leotard, pink tights, pink canvas or leather ballet slippers. Skirts or decorated leotards are allowed. Tap shoes should be black with a low heel. Hair needs to be fixed neatly off the face in a bun, pig tails, or pony tail.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white ballet slippers, white t-shirt.

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Level 3

Level 3 is designed for students ages 7 and 8. The classes are taught as a combination of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz. Additional basic ballet positions and steps are learned here. The focus of this class is to promote self confidence and expressiveness through rhythmic movements such as waltzing. Joy and expressiveness through dance are explored in greater depth as students begin to experience more fully the dance class experience.

Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black cap sleeved or tank leotard, pink tights, and pink canvas ballet slippers. Tap shoes should be black with a low heel. Jazz shoes should be leather oxford. Hair needs to be fixed neatly off the face in a bun, pig tails, or pony tail.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white ballet slippers, black jazz oxford, white t-shirt, dance brief.

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Level 4

Level 4 is designed for students 9 and older. In this class, students are introduced to the highly specific points of body alignment and control of the musculature required to develop as a classical ballet dancer. The classical ballet vocabulary (steps) is expanded and proper execution is studied and refined. Girls in this level may begin Pre-Pointe, a highly specialized class that prepares them for their future as an advanced pointe dancer. Jazz is taught as a separate class. It enhances the student's movement skills and compliments the restrictive nature of this phase of ballet technique. This class is also ideal for a late beginner.

Character Dance provides students with a class where they can move more freely and develop their stage presence.  While classical ballet training is methodical and precise, character dance focuses on movement, style, and stage presentation.  Classical ballet was established by the French in the late 1600's and imported to Russia in 1740.  It was the marriage between the formalized French school of classical ballet and the much older and established tradition of Russian folk dance that combined to produce the greatest ballet dancers in the world for over three hundred years.  If ballet is the foundation of all contemporary dance forms today, character dance is the foundation of classical ballet.

Ballet Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black cap sleeved or camisole leotard, pink convertible tights, and pink canvas ballet slippers. Elastics for ballet slippers need to be sewn at the "heel fold" for proper appearance and effect. Ballet slippers should fit snuggly, like a second skin, with no gaps or "growing room". Hair should be fixed neatly off the face and neck in a tight classical bun.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white canvas split sole ballet slippers, white t-shirt, dance brief, or dance belt.

Character Dress Code:

Girls Level 4 & 5:  Character skirt and black character shoe with 1-1/2 inch heel
Girls Level 6: Character skirt and black character shoe with 2-1/2 inch heel.
Boys:  Black sweat pants, character boot with solid heel.

Jazz/Hip Hop Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black leotard, pink or tan tights, black leather jazz oxford with laces. Jazz oxford should fit snuggly like a second skin with no gaps or "growing room". Hair should be fixed neatly off the face and neck in a bun or pony tail that is secured with a hair clip. Hair may not be worn down or long, as this interferes with movement and turning.

Boys: Same attire as ballet with black jazz oxford.

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Level 5

Level 5 is designed for students with a strong basic technique who are ready to begin learning a more expanded classical ballet vocabulary. In this class, students begin learning the larger and more difficult steps that require the maximum amount of strength and control. Artistic expression, which is used hand in hand with the physical technique, is explored here for the first time. Some students in this level are encouraged to apprentice Level 6 one or more days a week. Girls in this level begin pointe work with a highly technical and specific approach geared towards maximum strength and proper execution. Students are also encouraged to study jazz, as it is a less structured, more movement-based discipline, which allows greater freedom at a stage where the classical training is still fairly restrictive. This level is for admittance by evaluation only.

Character Dance provides students with a class where they can move more freely and develop their stage presence. While classical ballet training is methodical and precise, character dance focuses on movement, style, and stage presentation. Classical ballet was established by the French in the late 1600's and imported to Russia in 1740. It was the marriage between the formalized French school of classical ballet and the much older and established tradition of Russian folk dance that combined to produce the greatest ballet dancers in the world for over three hundred years. If ballet is the foundation of all contemporary dance forms today, character dance is the foundation of classical ballet.
 

Ballet Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black cap sleeved or camisole leotard, pink convertible tights, and pink canvas ballet slippers. Elastics for ballet slippers need to be sewn at the "heel fold" for proper appearance and effect. Ballet slippers should fit snuggly like a second skin with no gaps or "growing room". Hair should be fixed neatly off the face and neck in a tight classical bun.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white canvas split sole ballet slippers, white t-shirt, dance belt.

Character Dress Code:

Girls Level 4 & 5: Character skirt and black character shoe with 1-1/2 inch heel
Girls Level 6: Character skirt and black character shoe with 2-1/2 inch heel.
Boys: Black sweat pants, character boot with solid heel.
 

Jazz Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black leotard, pink or tan tights, black leather jazz oxford with laces. Jazz oxford should fit snuggly like a second skin with no gaps or "growing room". Hair should be fixed neatly off the face and neck in a bun or pony tail that is secured with a hair clip. Hair may not be worn down or long, as this interferes with movement and turning.

Boys: Same attire as ballet with black jazz oxford.

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Level 6 (by audition only)

Level 6 is designed for students who approach their dance training seriously. In this class, students attend a minimum of four days a week. Here students will master the full range of classical ballet vocabulary and refine their artistry. The teaching approach in this level, intense and demanding, is geared towards the student with professional aspirations. However, whether a student aspires to a career in ballet or simply enjoys the challenge of mastering this demanding art form, this level will benefit him or her by nurturing self confidence, ease of expression, and a love for ballet that will last a lifetime. Admittance to this level is by evaluation only.

Character Dance provides students with a class where they can move more freely and develop their stage presence. While classical ballet training is methodical and precise, character dance focuses on movement, style, and stage presentation. Classical ballet was established by the French in the late 1600's and imported to Russia in 1740. It was the marriage between the formalized French school of classical ballet and the much older and established tradition of Russian folk dance that combined to produce the greatest ballet dancers in the world for over three hundred years. If ballet is the foundation of all contemporary dance forms today, character dance is the foundation of classical ballet.

Ballet Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black cap sleeved or camisole leotard, pink convertible tights, and pink canvas ballet slippers. Elastics for ballet slippers need to be sewn at the "heel fold" for proper appearance and effect. Ballet slippers should fit snuggly like a second skin with no gaps or "growing room". Hair should be fixed neatly off the face and neck in a tight classical bun.

Boys: Black tights, white socks, white canvas split sole ballet slippers, white t-shirt, dance belt.

Character Dress Code:

Girls Level 4 & 5: Character skirt and black character shoe with 1-1/2 inch heel
Girls Level 6: Character skirt and black character shoe with 2-1/2 inch heel.
Boys: Black sweat pants, character boot with solid heel.

Jazz Dress Code:

Girls: Solid black leotard, pink or tan tights, black leather jazz oxford with laces. Jazz oxford should fit snuggly like a second skin with no gaps or "growing room". Hair should be fixed neatly off the face and neck in a bun or pony tail that is secured with a hair clip. Hair may not be worn down or long, as this interferes with movement and turning.

Boys: Same attire as ballet with black jazz oxford.

Click here to register