Ballet Program Offerings

Tiny Twirlers – Ages 18-24 months

Welcome to our newsest (and cutest) addition to the Kenwood School of Programming! In this “care giver and baby class”, we will explore gross motor skills, music, rhythm, space awareness, and introduction to listening skills and following directions while using fun tactiles, games, movement, and more!

ITwirl Dance Programs – Ages 2-3 years

Welcome to our Pre-Ballet Program for 2-3 year old dancers! Kenwood School of Ballet’s Artistic Director, Kristi Mosbey has been developing an intuitive, tactile, and innovative Pre-Ballet program over the course of her eighteen year teaching career. This program has become an engaging primary program implemented by the KSB Teaching Artists, and a deeply loved and cherished experience by our youngest dancers over the last nine years.

Class will enhance your child’s coordination, balance and flexibility while teaching basic ballet positions. Your child will also enjoy simple and fun exercises in creative movement and music exploration. 

Ballet I/Musical Theatre I Program – Ages 4-6 years
In this beginner level Ballet, Jazz and Character Development class, dancers will learn correct body alignment, posture, character development, and classical ballet technique and terminology. Dancers will develop coordination, balance, flexibility, and musicality in a traditional Ballet and Jazz class format.  Classroom focus will be on appropriate etiquette, respect for others, and self-confidence.

Ballet IIA Program – Ages 7-10 years

In this beginner level Ballet class, dancers will learn correct body alignment, posture,  and classical ballet technique and terminology. Dancers will develop coordination, balance, flexibility, and musicality in a traditional Ballet class format.  Classroom focus will be on appropriate etiquette, respect for others, and self-confidence. This is a beginner level class for the older dancer. 

Ballet IIIA Program – Ages 10+ years

In this beginner level Ballet class, dancers will learn correct body alignment, posture,  and classical ballet technique and terminology. Dancers will develop coordination, balance, flexibility, and musicality in a traditional Ballet class format.  Classroom focus will be on appropriate etiquette, respect for others, and self-confidence. This is a beginner level class for the older dancer. 

Ballet IIB Program – Ages 7-10 years

In this audition/invitation only program, dancers must have completed an entire season in either Ballet I or Ballet IIA. This program is a twice weekly mandatory program. This Advanced Beginner class will begin to develop a deeper foundation of ballet technique and the beginnings of proper alignment.  Ballet etiquette will be enforced and students are expected to be engaged and focused in class.  Ballet IIB students work on developing technique, posture, vocabulary, flexibility, strength, and coordination. Turns are introduced, and steps are combined to form combinations.

Ballet IIIB Program – Ages 10+ years
In this audition/invitiation only program, dancer must have completed at least one season of Ballet IIB Program. Students are promoted according to individual progress in acquiring technique and strength. Dancers are presented with a more challenging vocabulary. Building on what was learned in Ballet IIB, the number of steps is increased. In this level, pre-pointe work is introduced. These dancers should be fully focused in class and aware of proper ballet etiquette. Proper alignment and posture is refined. The use of correct arms and heads (epaulement) is emphasized. These dancers should be able to perform a full barre, and some center steps and intermediate across the floor work.

Ballet IVB Program – Ages 12+ years

In this audition/invitiation only program, dancer must have completed at least one season of Ballet IIIB Program. This is a pre-pointe/ pointe class and is offered to students who were given permission by the Artistic Director. These students should have appropriate ankle, foot and core strength in addition to proper turnout, alignment and technique in order to be recommended for a pointe evaluation and be approved to go en pointe. Technique and proper alignment should be solid and artistry is introduced.  Dancers should be able to maintain their turnout and have strong ankles and feet in preparation for pre-pointe and pointe work. Steps will increase in difficulty and combinations will grow in length and complexity. 

PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) Ballet IIB + Classes
PBT, Progressing Ballet Technique, is an innovative program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon for students to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet.  We’re excited to teach our students the use of muscle memory to improve their understanding of core stability, weight placement and correct alignment for ballet training.   It can be very difficult for students to feel what muscles initiate the correct alignment in ballet training.  PBT uses a fit ball that is continually mobile under the student’s body which gives the students a sense of posture and weight –placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group.

Other Program Offerings 

Acrobatic Arts

This internationally acclaimed curriculum was developed by Mandy Yip. Acro Dance is based on safe and effective progressions with proven results in five divisions of AcroDance – Flexibility, Strength, Balancing, Limbering, and Tumbling. Developed with input from professional experts in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, contortion, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, yoga, Acro, Pilates, physiotherapy, and more, you will not find a more comprehensive program. Simple, thoughtful progressions take the beginner preschool level dancer from log rolls and somersaults to the advanced dancer tumbling effortlessly across the stage!

Open Technique – Level II+
In this class, dancers will be introduced to a variety of classical dance genres including Modern, Jazz, and Contemporary. Dancers will be exposed to a variety of movement qualities, musical rhythms and emotional interpretations. Dancers will learn through warm ups, across the floor and longer combinations. 

Musical Theatre – Level II+
These Jazz dance based classes will focus on learning proper jazz technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns. Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz such as Broadway, Street and Contemporary to help develop a well-rounded dancer. 

Hip Hop Level I+
Hip Hop is a high-energy genre that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Class warm-up concentrates on increasing stamina, improving flexibility, and building core strength. The curriculum emphasizes a foundation of basic hip hop movements, across the floor exercises, and longer center combinations. Tiny