New Orleans School of Ballet| Classes| Children| Adult

Youth Programs

New Orleans School of Ballet's Youth Program follows a progressive curriculum, divided by level and age. Each level is designed to be sensitive to the developmental needs of its age group. Our curriculum combines elements from the classic French, Italian, Russian, and American schools of training.

2024-25 classes begin Monday, August 26, 2024!

Register Here!

Birthday deadline: September 1, 2024.

The Nutcracker in New Orleans: December 14-15, 2024

By audition only, dancers 5 and older.

May Matinée: Sunday, May 25, 2025

All students are eligible to perform in our year-end culminating performance.

PREPARATORY PROGRAM:

PRE-BALLET: Ages 3-4

Imaginative movement activities introduce your child to musical, body, and spatial awareness, while developing coordination and motor skills. Patterns, storytelling, and musicality are the focus as well as encouragement to take direction from the instructor and share turns with peers.

Pre-Ballet: Wednesday, 3:45-4:30

Pre-Ballet: Saturday, 8:00-8:45

PRIMARY: Ages 5-6

An introduction to basic ballet with beginning development of ballet concepts including turn out, coordination, spatial awareness and a specific focus on class etiquette. Students will begin positions of the feet and arms as well as introductory movement vocabulary with focus on coordination and musicality. We emphasize further work on balance through fun games to strengthen and support muscle development is emphasized.

Primary: Wednesday, 4:30-5:30

Primary: Saturday, 8:45-9:45

CONSERVATORY PROGRAM:

Students learn the structure of a traditional ballet class format delivered in a formal classroom environment and students are offered elective classes to enhance their ballet training. Students enrolled in the Elementary levels attend classes two or more classes per week with an increasing time commitment. These critical levels lay the foundation of the classical ballet vocabulary, and move at a pace which facilitates understanding and safety. Attention is given to musicality, movement quality and anatomically correct work. At the discretion of the artistic director, pre-pointe and pointe work is introduced.

PREP: 1-2 days per week. Ages 7 and older.

Friday, 4:45-5:45

Saturday, 9:45-10:45

Level 1: 2 days a week attendance. Placement is required

Tuesday & Thursday, 4:45-5:45

Level 2: 2 days a week attendance. Placement is required.

Wednesday: 5:30-6:45

Thursday: 5:45-7:00

Level 3: 2 days a week required. 3 recommended. Placement is required

Monday: 5:00-7:00, Ballet & Pre-Pointe (mandatory)

Tuesday: 5:45-7:00 (recommended)

Friday: 5:45-7:45, Ballet & Pre-Pointe (mandatory)

Level 4: 3 days a week. Placement is required

Monday: 5:00-7:00, Ballet & Beginning Pointe

Tuesday: 5:45-7:00

Friday: 5:45-7:45, Ballet & Beginning Pointe

Level 5 & 6 (INT/ADVANCED): Placement is required; *mandatory classes

Students at the Intermediate/Advanced level develop their ballet technique by meeting four or more times per week. Some dancers at this level may be required to take supplemental Level 3 classes to strengthen their technique. Students complete these levels with knowledge of the full ballet vocabulary.

Monday : 6:45-9:00, Ballet & Pointe (Level 5/6*)

Tuesday: 7:15-9:00, Ballet & Pointe (Level 5/6*)

Wednesday: 7:00-9:00, Ballet & Pointe (Level 5*/6*)

Thursday: 7:15-9:00, Ballet & Pointe (Level 5*/6)

Saturday: 10:45-1:15, Ballet & Pointe/Variations (Level 5*/6*)

PRE-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM (PTP)

This is a rigorous education program designed to develop dance artists ready to take on the challenges of dance in the 21st century. Our PTP dancers receive the training, coaching, mentorship, and inspiration they need to pursue their passion for the arts through a graded curriculum of classical ballet taught by New Orleans School of Ballet’s experienced and distinguished faculty. For optimal training and the best overall experience, an entire school year commitment is required for this elite group. Int/Adv dancers are accepted into this program by invitation only.

PTP dancers have been accepted to or attended the following institutions as

year-round and summer intensive students:

The Royal Ballet

School of American Ballet

American Ballet Theatre

Bolshoi Ballet Academy

Boston Ballet

Miami City Ballet

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Houston Ballet

Pennsylvania Ballet

Joffrey Ballet Chicago