More specifically, our Professional Division classes follow the eight levels of the internationally renowned Vaganova Syllabus, a notated and progressive training program that has produced some of the best dancers in the world, including Anna Pavlova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the legendary choreographer George Balanchine.

What is the order of a ballet class?

A basic ballet class consists of several segments, usually: barre, center, adagio, allegro, and reverence. The components of a basic ballet class are usually consistent throughout most of the world.

What is advanced ballet?

Ideal for both the contemporary and classical dancers at the advanced and professional level, Advanced Ballet follows the structure of a traditional ballet class, placing emphasis on rhythm and musicality.

How is Vaganova ballet different?

While the Vaganova system is built on learning dance movements the student is going to show on stage one day, the Balanchine teaching method also includes a lot of training exercises that improve the quality of the dancer’s movement but are not to be shown outside the studio.

Where is the Vaganova Academy?

St Petersburg, Russia
The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet is a school of classical ballet in St Petersburg, Russia.

What is a ballet reverence?

A grande reverence is the elaborate curtsy performed by a female dancer after a performance to acknowledge the applause of the audience. Students, both male and female dancers, can also perform a grande reverence at the end of class to show respect to their teacher (and, if present, piano accompanist).

What does the Vaganova method focus on?

Students at Vaganova-based schools are expected to take daily courses in ballet as well as character dance, modern dance, calisthenics/strengthening, and study dance history, music, and language. Ballet demands versatility and ballet students cannot rely solely on the study of classical ballet.

What is a vocational syllabus in ballet?

The vocational syllabus was designed to prepare dancers who want to turn professional. That means, it would serve as a good foundation for dancers to audition for vocational ballet schools. About a decade ago, somewhere around year 2000 the Royal Academy of Dance did away with upper age limits for ballet examinations.

What grade level is ballet at VBA?

Grades: Ballet vs Academic. Children are eligible to audition for VBA after they finish the 4th grade at their regular school. This means that if they are successful, they will be entering grade 1 (ballet) / grade 5 (academic) at VBA.

What is the right age to take ballet exams?

About a decade ago, somewhere around year 2000 the Royal Academy of Dance did away with upper age limits for ballet examinations. Truthfully, there is no real need for ballet exams for children or adults UNLESS they want to pursue a career in dance.

What grades can my child audition for VBA?

Children are eligible to audition for VBA after they finish the 4th grade at their regular school. This means that if they are successful, they will be entering grade 1 (ballet) / grade 5 (academic) at VBA. Level 1 (secondary) – Level II (undergraduate): beige