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Monday to Thursday: 3 to 9 pm · Friday: 3 to 7 pm · Saturday: 9 am to 2 pm · Sunday: ClosedMonday to Thursday: 3 to 9 pmAuditions in late August
Sissonne Dance
(801) 555-0117
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Levels

Four levels, and how a dancer moves up

Ages are a guide. Teachers place every dancer at a placement visit, and move them up one level at a time.

  1. 01

    Foundation

    Ages 11 to 13
    Skills

    • Ballet barre and center work in order

    • First contemporary and conditioning classes

    • Learning to rehearse: marking, spacing and counts

    • About seven hours of class a week

    Moving up

    Teachers review every dancer in the spring and talk with the family first. A dancer moves up when class work is steady and the teachers agree.

  2. 02

    Intermediate

    Ages 12 to 15
    Skills

    • Longer ballet combinations at a steady pace

    • Turns, jumps and traveling steps

    • A first repertoire class, learning a short piece

    • About nine hours of class a week

    Moving up

    The same spring review, with a written note on what to work on. The family hears the decision in a letter in May.

  3. 03

    Advanced

    Ages 14 to 17
    Skills

    • Pointe and variations, when a teacher says a dancer is ready

    • Contemporary technique and floor work

    • Rehearsing a piece for the spring performance

    • About twelve hours of class a week

    Moving up

    Teachers look at technique, rehearsal habits and how a dancer works with the group, then meet the dancer and family together.

  4. 04

    Pre-professional

    Ages 15 to 18
    Skills

    • Ballet every weekday, plus Saturday technique

    • Repertoire and audition-style classes

    • Time with the director on audition choices and a plan for the year

    • About fourteen hours of class a week

    Moving up

    By invitation, after a meeting between the teachers, the dancer and the family. It is the highest level here, and ages are a guide, not a rule.

Where to startBook a placement visit

Sample levels.

Questions

Questions about levels

Who decides a dancer's level?

The teachers do, at the placement visit and again each spring. We tell the family in writing and explain what to work on.

Can a dancer move up in the middle of the year?

Sometimes, after a talk between the teachers, the dancer and the family. A move up changes the hours, so we always meet first.

When does a dancer start pointe?

When a teacher says the dancer is ready. Ages are a guide, and a teacher looks at strength and technique.