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Pre-Ballet Division (ages 3-6)
Movement Exploration is a gentle introduction to movement with music for three year olds. The students work to develop the skills needed to work within a group dynamic, listen actively and follow directions. Classes are designed as structured play, using imagery & imagination to explore movement and develop gross motor skills.
Creative Movement is for children who are four years old and will be entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2008. Students continue to develop the group dynamic skills in the Movement Exploration curriculum. Gross motor skills such as marching, galloping, skipping and leaping are expanded. Exercises for coordination and rhythm are introduced through creative games and dances.
Ballet Preparatory 1 is for Kindergarten students. Students will continue to develop classroom etiquette, body and spatial awareness skills. Classes balance work with fun as rhythm studies, folk dances and exercises for balance are added to the curriculum. Age appropriate pre-ballet exercises and positions are introduced.
Ballet Preparatory 2 is for first graders and is a continuation of the Ballet Preparatory 1 curriculum with an emphasis on developing self-discipline. Exercises that promote body alignment, posture and age appropriate stretches are introduced. Basic classical ballet positions are taught and an increased focus is expected in preparation for Level 1.
See a complete school-year 2008-09 Class Schedule and Calendar for the Pre-Ballet Division. It is also available for download.
Primary Ballet Division (ages 7-10)
Students progress through a designed curriculum that provides comprehensive dance training. In the Primary Ballet Division, great emphasis is placed on proper posture and body alignment as well as developing the core strength needed for correct and safe training. Level 1 and 2 students work carefully with a lot of repetition in order to isolate the correct muscle groups for each exercise. Level 3 brings an increase in the amount of vocabulary as well as a greater emphasis on stretching and flexibility. When the class is deemed ready, students in level 4 begin their pre-pointe and pointe training. Pointe work begins slowly with attention to proper foot alignment and strength-building exercises. Performance is also an integral part of the training for all Primary Division students. (See Performance Opportunities)
Primary Ballet Division General Guidelines:
- Level 1 (second grade, 7 years): one ballet class per week
- Level 2 (third grade, 8 years): two ballet classes per week
- Level 3 (fourth grade, 9 years): two ballet classes per week
- Level 4 (fifth grade, 10 years): three ballet classes per week including additional time for pre-pointe curriculum. Optional 4th technique class available.
See a complete school-year 2008-09 Class Schedule and Calendar for the Primary Ballet Division. It is also available for download.
Intermediate Ballet Division (ages 11-13)
In the Intermediate Ballet Division, a strong emphasis is placed on expanding the students’ technical vocabulary as well as strengthening their pointe work. Performance continues to be an integral part of the training. (See Performance Opportunities)
Intermediate Ballet General Guidelines:
- Level 5 (6th grade, 11-12 years): 3 Ballet Technique & 2 Pointe classes per week, optional 4th Technique class available
- Level 6 (7th grade, 12-13 years): 4 Ballet Technique & 3 Pointe classes per week, optional 5th Technique class available
See a complete school-year 2008-09 Class Schedule and Calendar for the Intermediate Ballet Division. It is also available for download.
Advanced Ballet Division (ages 13-18)
Training in the Advanced Ballet Division is designed to provide a comprehensive curriculum. There is a gradation of increased vocabulary both in technique and pointe classes. The growth that comes through performance preparation is a large contributing factor to the complete training of a dancer at these levels. (See Performance Opportunities)
Advanced Ballet Division General Guidelines
- Level 7 (8th grade, 13-14 years): 5 Ballet Technique & 4 Pointe* classes per week, optional 5th pointe class available.
- Level 8 (9-10th grade, 14-16 years): 5 Ballet Technique & 2 Pointe* classes per week (2 weekly Technique classes are taken en pointe)
- Level 9 (11-12th grade, 16-18 years): 5 Ballet Technique & 4 Pointe* classes per week
*Modern classes may replace 1-2 pointe classes in the second semester (see Infusion Training below)
See a complete school-year 2008-09 Class Schedule and Calendar for the Advanced Ballet Division. It is also available for download.
open division (drop-in classes for older teens/adults)
Marin Ballet offers morning Open Division ballet classes for older teens and adults. Classes are held on a “drop-in basis” in a fun, productive and encouraging atmosphere. Ballet classes are taught by a professional staff with live piano accompaniment. Occasionally, classes in additional dance forms such as West African, Swing, Modern or Pilates are offered on a workshop basis.
See a complete Class Schedule and Calendar for the Open Division. It is also available for download.
Advanced Ballet Division students may occasionally take Open Division classes with permission from the Artistic Director. Students enrolled in the regular school year session (Sept-May) or the 6-week Summer Program are not required to pay the drop-in fee. During session breaks (June & August), students wishing to attend Open Division classes pay the special drop-in rate of $9. All students must sign in at the front desk prior to attending Open Division classes. Open Division classes are not considered “make-up classes” for Advanced Division Students.
Boys’ Training
Marin Ballet offers a specialized boys’ training program for boys in levels 4 through 9. Separate boys’ conditioning and technique classes begin at approximately 10 years of age as the girls in the same level begin their pre-pointe & pointe training.
Infusion
With the demands of the students’ academic schedules and fundamental Ballet Technique training, Marin Ballet has found that it is most successful to include valuable additional dance training on an infusion basis. Infusion training could include studies in Modern Dance, Pilates,West African Dance, Jazz, Character Dance or Flamenco. These techniques are woven into the curriculum on a semester or workshop basis and are often explored in greater depth during the summer workshops.
Tutorials
Marin Ballet offers a structured tutorial program, designed to be problem-solving and solution oriented. Tutorials provide a supplement to an Advanced Ballet Division student’s training through one-on-one classes that support specific goals. Tutorials may be effective in helping a student assume greater responsibility for her/his individual training challenges. Tutorials are usually structured in a series of 1-3 lessons. A form is available from the school office for students to request evaluation for tutorials. The Artistic Director will take requests intoconsideration, and consult with the faculty to make a recommendation that best suits the student’s needs. Tutorial fees are paid directly to Marin Ballet, and cover the teacher, facility and pianist as applicable. Scholarship rates are available for scholarship students.
summer training program
Marin Ballet offers workshops and classes for students of all levels during the summer. It is an ideal time to explore new dance forms as well as further a dancer’s training without the pressure of an academic schedule. The Marin Ballet faculty is often augmented during the summer with leading guest teachers as well as professionals in specialty areas of dance. It is very important for students who have begun their pre-pointe and pointe training to spend atleast part of their summer continuing in their dance training. A great deal of strength specific to dance can be lost during this long break, requiring an extended period of review at the start of the Fall Semester.
• Marin Ballet Summer 2008: Information about summer workshops and ongoing classes has been mailed to our currently registered families.
- View summer class information here.
- Download and print a summer registration form here.
- Summer Choreography project with Julia Adam: Families of Level 3 & 4 students may read about the unique opportunity to participate in the creation of a new Battle Scene for Nutcracker 2008. Level 8 & 9 students will be a part of this artistic process in the creation the new Snow Scene.
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