Classes: Toddlers through High School

We provide quality ballet training that pulls from classical ballet tradition. Our curriculum is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of opportunities within the dance and artistic world, providing dancers with sound technique and movement patterns that promote injury-free dancing. Read more about our approach here.

Class descriptions below are a guideline only. All placements are at director’s discretion. Please email info@amherstballet.org to schedule a placement class. The school holds the right to cancel classes if the enrollment is too low.

Dancers who attend classes consistently during the semester are invited to participate in that semester’s performance. 

Creative Movement	1 class per week: Saturday 3:00-4:00 PM Base tuition: $630/year (Tier 1 = $1260; Tier 2 = $787.50; Tier 3 = $630; Tier 4 = $472.50; Tier 5 = $315) A joyful introduction to dance and music for our youngest movers, these playful and encouraging classes are designed to nurture imagination, coordination, and collaboration. Through imaginative games and improvisation, dancers explore the building blocks of movement and sound—direction, level, tempo, rhythm, texture, melody, and shape—while developing strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. We invite children to move through creative play, yoga, games, and modern techniques. Thoughtful attention is given to cultivating respect for self, others, and the studio. This class lays a strong foundation for a lifelong love of movement and the arts. No previous training required. Recommended for ages 2-5.
Pre-Ballet	1 class per week: Monday 4:30-5:30PM Base tuition: $630/year (Tier 1 = $1260; Tier 2 = $787.50; Tier 3 = $630; Tier 4 = $472.50; Tier 5 = $315) This class provides young students with a transition from Creative Movement classes into the structure of a typical ballet class. Students will continue developing strength and coordination through creative exercises and games, and will add in ballet specific conditioning so that their bodies are prepared for the rigor of a full ballet class. We will confirm understanding of turnout and the basic positions of the arms and feet as well as plie and tendu. And students will learn the typical flow of a ballet class, from barre to center to across the floor work. No previous training required. Recommended for ages 5-6.
Level I	1 class per week: Monday 5:30 – 6:30 PM or Friday 4:30 – 5:30 PM Base tuition: $630/year (Tier 1 = $1260; Tier 2 = $787.50; Tier 3 = $630; Tier 4 = $472.50; Tier 5 = $315) Level 1 is designed for young beginners. We will cover foundational concepts of ballet, including turnout, positions of the arms and feet, and stage orientation. We will also develop comfort with the basic steps of ballet, including a simple barre and moving in various patterns around the room using structured movement. This class meets once per week and is eligible for the Spring Show. No previous training required. Recommended for ages 6-8.
Level II	2 classes per week: Monday 5:30 – 6:30 PM and/or Friday 4:30-5:30; Thursday 4:30 – 6:00 PM (required) Base tuition: $1260/year (Tier 1 = $2520; Tier 2 = $1575; Tier 3 = $1260; Tier 4 = $945; Tier 5 = $630) This class is for students with at least 1 year of classical ballet technique. Students will continue to develop strength and flexibility while expanding their ballet vocabulary. We will refine basic barre exercises and add center exercises. By the end of the year, students will be able to perform a simple bare with fluidity and elegance, and will be able to complete tendues, simple adagio, waltz, and simple jumps in center. This level is required to take 2 classes per week. 1 year of training required.
Level III	Minimum 2 classes per week: Tuesday 4:30 – 6:00 PM, Thursday 4:30 – 6:00 PM, Friday 5:30 – 7:00 PM, Saturday 11:30 – 1:00 PM Base tuition: $1890/year (Tier 1 = $3780; Tier 2 = $2362.50; Tier 3 = $1890; Tier 4 = $1417.50; Tier 5 = $945) This class is for students with at least 2 years of classical ballet technique. Students are expected to already be comfortable with a full barre as well as basic adagio, waltz, and jumps in center. We will work on developing comfort with more complex combinations at the barre, including positions of the body and incorporating port de bras. In center, we will work on developing stability working on one leg, as well as introduce simple turns and jumps on one leg. Students in this level are required to take 2 classes per week, and may take 3 if desired. 2 years of training required.
Level IV	Minimum 3 classes per week: Tuesday 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Thursday 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Friday 5:30 – 7:00 PM, Saturday 11:30 – 1:00 PM Pointe Technique: Tuesday 7:30 – 8:30 PM Base tuition: $2520/year (Tier 1 = $5040; Tier 2 = $3150; Tier 3 = $2520; Tier 4 = $1890; Tier 5 = $1260) This class is for students with at least 3 years of classical ballet training. Students are expected to enter the class with full command of all barre exercises, including using port des bras and body positions, and good working knowledge of center exercises. Students should have good control of turnout and the strength and flexibility to complete basic center exercises including work on one leg with composure. We will prepare for advanced training by developing full comfort with all exercises at barre and center, including usage of port des bras and positions of the body. The goal of this level is to develop coordination and fluidity with all basic exercises, including turns and simple petit and grande allegro, so that students are prepared to begin work on more advanced skills, standard repertoire, and pointe work. Students are required to take at least 3 classes per week, but encouraged to take 4. Students in this level are eligible for additional performance opportunities, and must attend Saturday classes as well as an additional rehearsal period following class on Saturday to be invited to perform. 3 years of training required.
Advanced	Minimum 3 classes per week: Tuesday 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Thursday 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Friday 7:00 – 8:30 PM, Saturday 11:30 – 1:00 PM Pointe Technique: Tuesday 7:30 – 8:30 PM Repertoire & Partnering: TBD Base tuition: $2940/year (Tier 1 = $5880; Tier 2 = $3675; Tier 3 = $2940; Tier 4 = $2205; Tier 5 = $1470) This class is for students with at least 4 years of classical ballet training, and who have a strong command of all barre and center exercises, including usage of port des bras and positions of the body. Dancers in this level will begin or continue pointe technique. We will develop fluidity and elegance as well as style, and develop confidence with multiple turns and batterie. Dancers in this level are eligible for additional performance opportunities, and must attend Saturday rehearsals in order to participate in those performances. Dancers are required to take at least 3 classes per week, but are encouraged to take up to 5, as well as additional pointe technique, partnering, and repertoire classes. 4 years of training required.
Contemporary	1 class per week: Wednesday 4:30-6:00 PM Base tuition: $800/year (Tier 1 = $1600; Tier 2 = $1000; Tier 3 = $800; Tier 4 = $600; Tier 5 = $400) This class blends technique with somatic practices, improvisation, composition, and spatial phrase work. Students will learn to move with intention, presence and artistry. Recommended for ages 12 and up, including adult students.
Contemporary Repertoire	Wednesday, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Students attending contemporary class at 4:30 are invited to stay for an hour of learning contemporary repertoire, with no additional fee. You must have attended contemporary class immediately before attending contemporary repertoire, as no warm up will be offered.

Drop-in Conditioning Class

Our ballet conditioning is offered on Saturdays, 1:00-2:00PM, for students in Level III and up, including adult students. No registration is required.

If you have taken class already on Saturday, conditioning is free! Otherwise, each class costs $10, payable by cash, check, PayPal, or Venmo. Reach out to info@amherstballet.org with questions.