Conservatory Ballet

Curriculum

Approach

The Conservatory Ballet takes a whole-person approach to each of our students. We nurture each individual in class, in performance, and in everyday life to become not just an excellent dancer but a good citizen and leader. The Conservatory Ballet’s distinguished faculty and staff prepare our students not just for professional dance companies, but also for their individual walks of life with good conduct, discipline, etiquette, and self confidence. Wherever their path takes them, Conservatory Ballet students venture toward success.

Methodology

The Conservatory Ballet uses the Vaganova methodology as the foundation of its training curriculum. This method, used to train some of the greatest dancers in the history of classical ballet, is known for its clean lines, musicality, epaulement, port de bras, artistry, and athleticism. The Conservatory Ballet combines this foundational focus with additional emphasis on neo-classical, contemporary, and modern styles to create well-rounded young artists ready for the demands of today’s dance companies.

Faculty

The Conservatory Ballet has assembled an internationally renowned faculty with broad performance and teaching experience. Each instructor is dedicated to nurturing the talents and strengths of each student, seeking to develop meaningful teacher-student relationships. The core faculty is supplemented by guest artists in both our year-round and summer programs, providing students the opportunity to work with a variety of dance artists from the United States and abroad.

Technique

The Conservatory Ballet’s year-round program is designed to meet the needs of the serious dance student wanting to focus on technical proficiency and developing artistry. Training for approximately four hours a day, six days a week, students have classes in classical ballet technique, pointe, men’s work, partnering, and classical, contemporary, and modern repertoire. In addition, classes are offered in character, music theory, and dance history. All students participate in numerous performance opportunities in various venues, allowing for the development and refinement of performance skills and artistry.

In addition to daily technique classes, female students are also guided in progressive pointe work according to the Vaganova syllabus, with additional emphasis on core strength for partnering, upper body suppleness, port de bras, and work in female classical and contemporary variations.

The Conservatory Ballet men’s program aims to train young male dancers for the rigors of a professional dance career. We focus on partnering skills, jumps, appropriate strength and flexibility training, along with coaching in male classical and contemporary variations

Dance Auditions

Students at the Conservatory Ballet are prepared for company and university dance auditions, having cultivated artistry and confidence through repetitive focus on proper technique, partnering, repertoire, and performance. Those choosing paths other than dance find themselves well-prepared, having developed strong skills in focus, self-discipline, working with others, and setting individual goals.

Training for those four hours a day, six days a week, the faculty knows each student and provides individual attention and proper corrections. The year-round program is for the hard-working, focused student. Only a select group of students is chosen yearly for the Conservatory Ballet’s accredited training. Standards are high, and the Conservatory Ballet seeks candidates that are inspired to excel in both dance and academic studies.

Class attendance is regularly taken, individual feedback is given daily in classes and rehearsals, and more formal evaluations take place at the end of each semester in January and May.

In addition, students are encouraged to seek out faculty and staff for their input in preparation for auditions and life beyond the Conservatory Ballet. With diverse backgrounds and experience, they are excellent resources willing to support our students in their endeavors.

Guest Teacher Program

The Conservatory Ballet also has a vibrant guest teacher program. Throughout the school year and during our summer programs, students have the opportunity to work with a variety of dance artists from the United States and abroad. Guest artists include well-established and recognized names such as Joan Boada, Rasta Thomas, Gretchen Patchel, frequenting the Conservatory Ballet’s studios. Through pre-planned field trips, the Conservatory Ballet also provides opportunities for its students to see other dancers showcase their talents at venues such as the Kennedy Center, Jacob’s Pillow, Wolf Trap, and more.

Students’ exposure to repertoire, choreography, and guest artists, as well as time spent in rehearsals each day, are all designed to culminate in specific performances. These performances provide a way for students to prepare themselves for a possible dance career by encouraging the development of stage presence, confidence, familiarity with theater protocol, etc. Performances also allow faculty to evaluate student progress outside of the studio. Beyond this, performances allow for interaction with audiences, communities, potential donors, and sponsors.