Junior Division
Our Junior Division classes guide dancers through one of the most transformative stages of their training and development. As students build increasingly sophisticated classical ballet skills, they also cultivate discipline, resilience, confidence, emotional maturity, and a deeper appreciation for artistry and community. These years are marked by significant milestones—including the traditional rite of passage of beginning pointe work, exploring one of classical ballet’s most demanding and inspiring traditions, and opening the door to many of the art form’s most advanced technical, artistic, and performance opportunities.
Juniors (L1)
Ages 9+
At this level, students begin formal classical ballet training through increasingly structured barre and center work. As their vocabulary expands, dancers are introduced to more challenging allegro and traveling combinations, preparatory turning exercises for future pirouette work, and increasingly expressive port de bras and artistry. Students also begin Pre-Pointe Conditioning classes, establishing the strength, alignment, and body awareness that lay the foundation for Pre-Pointe classes and soft pre-pointe shoes in Junior Level 2. Performance opportunities also expand as students explore character work and theatrical storytelling through roles in The Nutcracker. Throughout the year, dancers celebrate many exciting milestones while developing greater confidence, independence, and a deeper appreciation for the traditions of classical ballet.
Juniors (L2)
Ages 10+
As confidence and understanding grow, students continue developing strength, coordination, and technical clarity through increasingly complex barre and center work. Their vocabulary expands through more advanced adagio, allegro, traveling combinations, introductory pirouettes, increasingly refined épaulement, artistry, musicality, and greater independence in learning and retaining choreography. Students who have established a strong technical foundation through consistent ballet training are invited to begin Pre-Pointe classes and, when ready, receive their first soft pre-pointe shoes as they continue developing the strength, alignment, and body awareness necessary for future pointe work. Performance opportunities also expand as dancers take on increasingly challenging character and ensemble roles in The Nutcracker, with opportunities to understudy or perform corps de ballet roles including Snow and/or Flowers. Throughout the year, dancers celebrate many exciting milestones while developing greater confidence, independence, and a deeper appreciation for the traditions of classical ballet.
Juniors (L3)
Ages 11+
As dancers become more secure in their training, they continue refining strength, placement, and technical precision while discovering new possibilities for artistic expression. Their vocabulary expands through increasingly advanced adagio, allegro, grand allegro preparation, pirouettes, and increasingly refined épaulement, artistry, musicality, and performance quality. Students who have demonstrated the strength, alignment, and technical readiness for pointe work are invited to receive their first pointe shoes, marking one of the most significant milestones in a classical dancer’s training. Performance opportunities continue to expand through increasingly challenging ensemble and featured roles in The Nutcracker and other productions, fostering growing confidence, leadership, and stage presence. Throughout the year, dancers celebrate many exciting milestones while preparing for the technical and artistic expectations of the Senior Division.
Juniors (L4)
Ages 12+
As dancers transition toward advanced study, they continue refining strength, placement, technical precision, and artistic maturity through increasingly challenging barre and center work. Their vocabulary expands through more sophisticated adagio, allegro, grand allegro, pirouettes, and increasingly nuanced musicality, artistry, and performance quality. Performance opportunities continue to grow as dancers take on more demanding ensemble and featured roles, developing greater stylistic awareness, rehearsal responsibility, confidence, and leadership within the studio community. Throughout the year, students celebrate many exciting milestones while cultivating the independence, discipline, and artistic maturity that prepare them for the technical and artistic expectations of the Senior Division.