“What is the youngest age a child can start ballet?” is a question hotly debated by experts and parents, and different dance schools often have different answers. Who knows best? What makes one dance company better than another? To help you make the most practical decision for your child, we compiled a short guide with the key information you need. 

What is the Youngest Age to Start Ballet?

While some ballet studios will offer classes to children as young as one or two years old, these are typically “parent-child” classes that don’t necessarily teach ballet technique. Instead, these classes are more likely to be used to stimulate the child and get their little bodies moving. The youngest age to start ballet is more likely to be between 3-4 years old, when the child has enough control over their bodies to start learning introductory ballet technique.

Ballet Classes for 3 & 4 Year Olds 

Many ballet studios offer ballet lessons for children as young as 3 years old. Your child won’t be able to learn how to pirouette just yet, but these classes can give them a head start in understanding and building a foundation for ballet technique.

Beginning ballet as young as 3 or 4 years old helps children with their communication skills and their ability to move in time with the music. It helps them learn to use certain areas of their bodies and muscles, and will help them develop introductory skills they will later use in ballet. 

Some dance studios will not offer ballet classes to children under the age of 6 due to potential injury, as this is a key period of growth and development. This is why it’s important to find a ballet studio with experienced instructors teaching younger age groups if you want your child to start ballet early.

How Do You Know When Your Child is Ready to Learn Ballet? 

Dancers are made—they’re not born. Mikhail Baryshnikov, a renowned dancer and choreographer who didn’t start ballet until the age of 11, is credited with this claim. You can have your child start ballet as early as 3 and see how they like it, or you can wait until they’re a little older and see if they have a true interest in practicing ballet. The important thing to remember is that it is never a good idea to force a child into a sport they won’t enjoy.

There really isn’t a “right” age to start, so your choice can be based on your preference and that of your child. If you are on the fence about it, you could see if a dance studio near you offers a trial class—that way, you can see if your child enjoys ballet with no commitment. 

How Do I Find the Right Ballet Studio? 

It’s crucial to do your research before signing your child up for lessons with a ballet studio. Talk to the studio owner and teachers about what you and your child want. Do you want a classical program that helps prepare your child for future roles, auditions, or scholarships? Or are you looking for laid-back classes to keep your child entertained after school?

If you’re booking for a more serious program, explore the growth opportunities of the studio. Do they offer high-level performances? Audition opportunities? Are they affiliated with any summer ballet intensives or other training opportunities with professional choreographers and instructors? Check the teachers’ credentials as well–many studios will provide ballet teacher bios online. Did the teacher train at a well-known school? What certifications or degrees do they have? 

Location is also important. It’s best to choose a studio close by if your child is going more than once a week so you don’t have to drive long distances.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide when you want your child to start ballet. The most important thing is to do your research and find the best dance studio for your child, considering their age and how serious they are about ballet.

Central Utah Ballet to Perform Ballet to Broadway on May 12-13

Central Utah Ballet is excited to present Ballet to Broadway on May 12-13, choreographed by the talented Lindsay Folkman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEHI, UTAH, May 2020—Central Utah Ballet will perform Ballet to Broadway, choreographed by award-winning choreographer, Lindsay Folkman and directed by Jennie Creer-King, at the Mid Valley Performing Arts Center in Taylorsville, Utah on May 12 and 13, 2022. This two-night performance almost sold out weeks before the performance in anticipation of the event.

Ballet to Broadway is a unique performance with a re-imagination of Broadway classics through the ages. From Singin’ in the Rain, Cabaret, andChicago, to Annie, Mama Mia, and Finding Neverland, each dance celebrates the original style and choreography with a contemporary dance reimagination by Folkman.

This is a new style of performance for the dancers at Central Utah Ballet, whose typical performances focus on classical, contemporary, and modern dance. The show, explained Folkman, includes “Some lip-syncing, some yelling, some singing—90% of these dancers have never had this type of experience before.” This challenge was intentional, according to Folkman, who sought to draw out a more facial and emotional performance from each dancer, pushing them to engage in greater expression on stage and to connect with the audience. “Being comfortable with being uncomfortable has been the biggest challenge for them,” said Folkman.

While the style of performance is new for Central Utah Ballet’s dancers, Broadway-style choreography is not new to Folkman, who has choreographed three musicals with Scera Center for the Arts in Provo and has choreographed retellings of The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio, Les Miserables, and an original story titled Unspoken.

“I’ve always told stories in my dance,” says Folkman. “People often ask me which choreographers inspire me the most, but I don’t find my inspiration from other choreographers—I’m most inspired by Steven Spielberg and Walt Disney…I’m inspired by taking the audience on a journey.”

Folkman says her goal with the show is to engage every single audience member throughout the performance. “I want to make it so they’re not just looking through the program for when their child, sibling, etcetera is in the show. I want to engage the entire audience and get them to feel something.”

Tickets to the May 12 performance have sold out with limited tickets remaining available for purchase online for the May 13 performance. More details can be found at https://my.arttix.org/overview/28735

About Central Utah Ballet

Central Utah Ballet is a fully comprehensive, classically based ballet program for youth seeking to learn classical ballet and contemporary dance. The ballet studio provides preschool and toddler ballet, children’s ballet technique classes, pre-professional ballet training programs, junior and senior ballet companies, adult dance classes, and live stage performance opportunities.

Central Utah Ballet focuses on training students with a proper syllabus appropriate to the emotional and physical development of each student. Parents find that the young children’s creative ballet programs are fun and engaging while introducing techniques, children’s ballet classes teach a progression of classical technique and discipline, and the pre-professional/company ballet programs prepare young adults for college or professional auditions.

About Lindsay Folkman

Lindsay has designed, choreographed, and directed full-length contemporary productions and countless repertoire pieces, boasting over twenty years of experience teaching and mentoring aspiring dancers and choreographers nationwide. Her extensive choreographic career includes ten original contemporary ballet productions on both studio and professional levels. She is a eight-time recipient of Utah’s “Best of State” Award in Choreography, including winning this year’s Best Choreographer award.

Outside of her artistic production work, Lindsay is a freelance choreographer and master instructor for various dance studios, musical theater companies, and competition dance soloists. Lindsay’s work has achieved multiple accolades at the internationally prestigious Youth America Grand Prix semi-final competition and has twice been awarded as YAGP “Outstanding Choreographer.” Her work has also won local awards and acknowledgment at the annual Utah Dance Festival, Shakespeare Festival, and the Utah High School Activities Association.

A summer ballet intensive is something of a rite of passage for ballet dancers. It is held during the standard break from traditional schools during the summer and often lasts a few weeks. These programs include daily rigorous and demanding dance training that fully immerse students in the art. Classical Utah Ballet offers two summer ballet intensives (Pre-Professional and Children’s) along with day camps for younger dancers (ages 3-6). 

What are the Benefits of a Summer Ballet Intensive?

These courses are called “intensive” for a reason: they are a series of dedicated and specialized classes that challenge and guide students towards ballet proficiency. Designed to make a space for the singular purpose of studying dance, they offer a glimpse into the world of a professional dancer, where their daily life and practice is dedicated to dance. 

Discipline

Discipline is required for strength training, too. Summer ballet intensives challenge and improve strength, flexibility, and muscle memory, which leads to improved technique. Dancers are required to be flexible and strong, and it takes sincere dedication to make it look effortless and graceful. A summer ballet intensive is somewhat akin to a boot camp in that regard: with singular focus, you are training your body to dance.

These days may be challenging, but the reward is worth the effort. Adherence to a static regimen also requires discipline, which is the only way to hone your craft. Our Pre-Professional Summer Intensive Schedule has four classes that rigorously train and fully immerse students in ballet dance. The summer intensive culminates in a final performance so that all your hard work may be recognized. 

Complete Immersion

Offered during the summer months when distractions are at a minimum, summer ballet intensives are about complete immersion in your dance training, a necessity for pre-professional and aspiring dancers. Being completely encompassed by the art includes receiving quality instruction, building strength, and training alongside peers who are similarly engaged. This lends itself to building a network of colleagues who will encourage and support you as you continue in your dance career. 

Final Thoughts

A summer ballet intensive is an enduring and memorable experience, and for some, considered to be one of the most valuable parts of your dance education. As a youth in the world of dancing, there is no other time that you can completely give yourself over to dancing and dancing alone without other large obligations competing for your time.

If you have already signed your child up for a pre-ballet class, congratulations! Your child is on their way to being better able to express themselves, connect with others, and find joy in dance. If not, perhaps you’re here to find out exactly what pre-ballet is or what benefits a toddler or preschooler might get out of these pre-ballet classes.

What is Pre-Ballet?

Pre-ballet is an introductory ballet class for young children. These classes are a great way for your child to learn creative movement and basic ballet techniques they can build upon in future classes.

 

In pre-ballet, students will learn basic techniques and terminology such as the 5 basic ballet positions, how to use a bar, and good ballet posture. While pre-ballet is not as rigid and structured as later ballet classes, it does introduce many early concepts of disciplined dance that will support later ballet progress.

 

Most importantly, however, pre-ballet offers a fun and engaging introduction to ballet that helps young children develop a genuine passion for dance.

 

Preparing For Your Child’s First Class

 

It’s important to buy your child proper ballet slippers that fit snugly but are not too small. Their feet should be able to relax, fully extended in the flat. Traditional ballet shoes are leather or canvas on top with a suede bottom. Since children in pre-ballet grow quickly, they are not typically expected to wear top-quality footwear–inexpensive ballet slippers work just fine for those quickly-growing feet.

 

It’s also important that your child is potty trained and you let them know what to expect for their first class. Tell them who their instructor is and what they will expect from your child. Let them know there will be other children learning ballet for the first time just like them. Tell them to expect that they will do some fun stretches at the beginning to warm up, and talk about some of the things you think they’ll love most about their new pre-ballet class.

 

Benefits of Pre-Ballet

 

Whether you expect your child to continue with a passion for ballet or simply hope to give them a new way to wear off some energy during the week, pre-ballet offers several benefits to young dancers:

• Creativity. We love pre-ballet for toddlers and preschoolers because it helps to foster creativity in a structured and engaging environment. If your child has difficulty expressing creativity, pre-ballet can help open them up to a more creative mindset.

• Balance & Flexibility. Young children grow quickly, which can mean they often experience stages of clumsiness as they adapt to their new, longer limbs and changing centers of gravity. The skills children learn in pre-ballet can help them develop strength, balance, and flexibility to more confidently control physical movement as they grow.

• Team Participation. For many children, pre-ballet is their first foray into a team sport. They will learn to be aware of the other children moving around them, how to work together in group practice and choreography, and the importance of remaining focused and on-task in a group.

• Ballet Basics. Finally, pre-ballet also offers a great foundational introduction to ballet. In a high-quality pre-ballet program, you can expect that your child will be introduced to basic ballet terms, skills, and techniques that they will be able to build upon in future classes.

 

Even at a young age, children who dance will gain strength, confidence, and even more emotional awareness when they are nurtured in safe environments. There are simply too many benefits of pre-ballet to name them all in this blog post, so jump over to this blog article to read more!

Pre-Ballet At Central Utah Ballet

 

Are you looking to enroll your child in a reputable ballet school in Utah? Then you’re in the right place. The wonders of ballet unfold to young learners (ages 3-5) in pre-ballet classes at Central Utah Ballet. In our classes, through a gentle and fun introduction to dance, your child will develop a love for ballet! Pre-ballet is specifically designed for young minds and is only taught by our most experienced teachers. By being introduced to age-appropriate skills in a fun and engaging environment, your child will have a positive first ballet experience.

 

Explore Classes

Central Utah Ballet offers pre-ballet preschool and toddler ballet classes for children 3-5. Learn more about these classes by clicking the button below!

 

As adults, it can be difficult to prioritize the things we love–especially when we have a family whose interests seem to trump our own. However, with self-care growing in the spotlight, the need to make time for our passions is being looked upon as less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

However, even without the self-care movement, there are still several reasons you should consider taking adult ballet classes.

Why You Should Take Adult Ballet Classes

“I see dance being used as communication between body and soul to express what is too deep to find for words.” -Ruth St. Denis

1. Ballet is a Great Form of Exercise

Adult ballet classes are a great form of exercise that, for many of us, doesn’t actually feel like exercise (at least not until we’re rubbing down our sore muscles the next day). Ballet is a whole-body workout. Not only is it a great source of cardio exercise, but it is also fantastic for strength training, balance, and coordination. While traditional adult ballet classes often require that you have some ballet experience, barre fitness classes allow adults a ballet-style workout without having to have knowledge of ballet technique.

Ballet helps to increase flexibility, coordination, and strength, all of which are important to maintain regardless of age. Done properly, this kind of training can help reduce injuries and increase mobility that many adults experience as they age.

2. Ballet Promotes Mental Wellness. 

As with most forms of exercise, ballet helps to release endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. For adults, adult ballet classes are also a good excuse to get out of the house, break away from the day-to-day responsibilities, socialize, and let out emotions in a healthy, productive way. All of these things can help to boost mood and improve attitude.

3. Ballet Can Help Improve Energy

Because of its positive benefits on mental and physical health, another benefit of adult ballet classes is that they can help to improve energy.

4. Adult Ballet Classes Provide Opportunities to Socialize

Adult friendships are difficult to begin and maintain. However, adult ballet classes give you an excuse to get together with other adults who are passionate about dance. It provides a fun, easy environment to socialize and interact with others.

5. Dancing Ballet Can Help Improve Self-Esteem

Adult ballet classes also provide the benefit of helping to improve self-esteem. Regardless of skill level, adult ballet classes can help to improve self-esteem by improving physical health and providing a structured, positive environment for self-expression. As your skills and technique progress, you’ll find yourself feeling a sense of pride and confidence as you execute skills you couldn’t–or that were rusty–before.

Final Thoughts

At Central Utah Ballet, we know that it can be difficult to make a commitment to adult ballet classes. That’s why our adult ballet classes are non-sequential, allowing for drop-ins at any time. Come when it’s convenient for you, or buy an unlimited monthly pass to come as often as you’d like. Explore our classes online or drop in today!

Central Utah Ballet offers ballet classes for children 3+. For toddler and preschool students ages 3-5, explore our pre-ballet classes. For students 6+, please take a look at our children’s ballet classes.

Below are some frequently asked questions about our program. Do you have a question that is not covered in this article? Contact us and we will be happy to assist you!

Central Utah Ballet’s Children’s Dance Program FAQs

Which class should I enroll my child in?

Pre-ballet classes are for ages 3-5 and participation is based solely on the age your child will be by August 1.

• Age 3 – Pre-Ballet 1
• Age 4 – Pre-Ballet 2
• Age 5 – Pre-Ballet 3

Children’s Ballet 1 and 2 are based on age while Ballet 3-6 is based on skill level. Central Utah Ballet offers free placement classes to help determine which class your child will benefit from.

• Age 6 – Ballet 1
• Age 7-8 – Ballet 2 (Placement class required–this helps us determine if your child belongs in Ballet 2 or a later class.)
• Ages 8+ – Placement class required to determine best-fit class

How much is tuition?

Tuition for Pre-Ballet is $40-50/month. Children’s Ballet 1-2 is $75/month and $150/month respectively. Children’s Ballet 3-6 ranges from $175-350 depending on the program you choose. See the full breakdown of our tuition pricing as well as registration and performance fees here.

Where is your ballet studio located?

Our ballet studio is located in Lehi, Utah at 132 S. 1350 East. For detailed driving instructions, visit our contact page here.

Will my child be in performances?

Yes! Every class offers parent observation performances as well as on-stage performance opportunities. For pre-ballet, these on-stage opportunities are optional.

How long are classes?

Class length varies by age and skill level. For our youngest students, classes are only 30 minutes long. For older students, classes range from 60-90 minutes long. For more information about class time, take a look at our class schedule here.

Does Central Utah Ballet participate in competitions?

 

Competitions are completely optional. Teachers will let you know about relevant competition opportunities if you are interested, or if you would like to learn about specific competitions, please let us know!

How do you qualify instructors for Central Utah Ballet?

Each teacher at Central Utah Ballet is handpicked for their talent and expertise. Jennie Creer-King, the founder and director of Central Utah Ballet has a wide ballet network of experienced instructors across the United States. She has invited the best of this network to instruct at Central Utah Ballet as regular or guest instructors.

Do I have to stay during classes?

Parents are not required to stay during classes. However, you are welcome to wait in the lobby if you prefer.

Am I allowed to watch during class?

We ask parents not to sit in classrooms during class time to avoid introducing distractions to our students. We do invite you to stay in the lobby during class if you’d prefer. However, we do offer parent observation performance opportunities where you’ll be able to experience your child’s progress!

Do you offer discounts for multiple children?

Contact us to inquire about multiple-children discounts!

Does my child have to be potty trained?

Yes, we ask that your child be potty trained before attending our pre-ballet classes.

What should my child wear to class?

Each of our classes require different dress codes. Find the pre-ballet dress code here and the children’s ballet dress code here.

Central Utah Ballet is proud to offer ballet dance classes for adults at our studio in Lehi, Utah. As dancers ourselves, we know that passion for ballet doesn’t diminish with age. Our ballet classes give adult dancers an opportunity to fuel their passion.

What Adult Ballet Classes are Offered at Central Utah Ballet?

We offer a few different adult dance classes at Central Utah Ballet:

• Ballet Technique: Our adult ballet classes help to refresh and refine classical ballet technique. While the class is technically beginner-intermediate, we find that intermediate dancers gain the most from the class. If you’re not sure if this class is the right fit, feel free to reach out or to stop by for a drop-in class!
• Adult Barre: Adult Barre is a great opportunity to improve your flexibility, strength, and technique. This class is for beginner-intermediate dancers. However, we do offer a fitness barre class where no experience is needed!
• Fitness Barre: No experience is needed for this class! Stop by for a great workout where we work on strength, flexibility, and stamina. You’ll walk out feeling taller, stronger, and more confident. Join us for a drop-in class or purchase an unlimited monthly pass for a discount!

Would you like to learn more about these classes or explore our class schedule? Click the button below!

What does our intermediate adult ballet technique class look like? Here is a video from one of our recent sessions! We know that love for ballet doesn’t fade with time, which makes our adult ballet technique classes a great opportunity to fill your soul with dance.

Drop-In vs. Monthly Passes

All of our adult dance and barre classes are drop-in. No registration or notice is required–simply show up for those classes you’re most interested in! We offer a drop-in class fee of only $12/class. You may also purchase an unlimited monthly pass for $50.

Because our classes are not seasonal and are offered on a drop-in basis, we do not currently offer performance opportunities for our adult ballet classes–most of our adults prefer it this way! We find this makes classes more accessible to adults who have difficult schedules and aren’t able to commit to regular classes or routines. It also helps alleviate stress for those dancers who want the opportunity to dance but don’t necessarily want to perform in the public eye.

Are There Opportunities for More Serious Adult Ballet Dancers?

Yes! If you are an advanced ballet dancer and are looking for more serious ballet opportunities, please let us know! We have a professional ballet company at Central Utah Ballet called Chrysalis Ballet. This is a great opportunity for adult dancers who are looking to continue growing their skills while opening up performance opportunities, or for college/university students who are preparing for scholarship or audition opportunities or seeking professional experience. Learn more about Chrysalis Ballet here.

If none of our adult ballet classes are quite what you had in mind, Central Utah Ballet also offers private ballet lessons. If you’re interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact us!

Three or four years old may seem early to start a child in ballet, but there are many new skills a child will learn in these classes.

5 Things Children Learn in Toddler Ballet Classes

There are many reasons parents enroll their toddlers in toddler ballet classes. Sometimes they are hoping these classes will help to engage their child and help them wear off energy. Other times, they’re focused on helping the child to develop balance and physical strength. Some parents may choose ballet to help their child engage in social opportunities, and others may be excited for the chance for their child to perform and develop confidence. Whatever the reason, there are several things your child will learn in toddler ballet classes.

1. Early Ballet Foundations

While your child won’t come out of toddler ballet classes with advanced technical classical ballet skills, they will have built foundations for these skills later. They will understand introductory concepts such as early posture skills and basic vocabulary. They will also learn ballet positions, how to stretch and warm up their bodies, and how to use a ballet barre.

2. Interacting with Instructors

For many toddlers, a toddler ballet class is one of their first experiences interacting with someone in a leadership role who is not their parent or caregiver. This is an important time of their lives! They will be simultaneously learning how to take instruction from someone other than an adult and doing so while surrounded by other children and taking part in fun physical activities.

3. Balance, Strength & Flexibility

Although your child will not be learning advanced ballet skills, they will be getting weekly exercise that will help them build strength and flexibility. Toddlers are still developing, learning to control their ever-growing bodies. Ballet helps them to practice balance, strength, and flexibility to better handle the future growth they will experience.

4. Social Skills

An early ballet class is also a great place for your child to practice early social skills. It may be their first experience in a group learning setting without a parent—and may be their first time working together with a group of children their age to complete common goals. Toddlers will learn how to pay attention to the teacher even if another child may be distracted. They will learn how to interact with other children on the stage, handle minor conflicts such as taking turns or getting their teacher’s attention, and more.

5. Confidence

Since toddler ballet classes introduce students to new skills, it’s also a great way to build confidence. Children love to learn new things—and love to be praised by parents and other adults. Your child will enjoy practicing the skills they learned each week and hearing positive feedback from their teacher as their skills progress. They’ll also have fun showing off their new dance moves to you! Ballet gives your child an opportunity to build confidence in trying new things in the presence of other children or adults (which is important for preschool and other challenges they will face soon) and may even have the opportunity to test their newfound confidence in short on-stage or in-studio performances.

Explore Classes

Central Utah Ballet offers pre-ballet preschool and toddler ballet classes for children 3-5. Learn more about these classes by clicking the button below!

There are many reasons dancers may be interested in private ballet lessons. They may be aspiring dancers who seek to improve their skills and technique. They may be preparing for an opportunity such as a solo, audition, or scholarship opportunity. They may even be adult students who would like to participate in adult ballet classes but want to brush up on their skills before joining other dancers.

Whatever the reason, you may be wondering whether you can take private ballet lessons.

Can You Have Private Ballet Lessons?

Yes, dancers of all ages and skill levels can take private ballet lessons. These lessons are often offered on a one-off or regular basis by ballet studios or individual instructors. Many dancers will choose to schedule regular private lessons to help them progress more quickly in ballet. Some may also schedule private ballet lessons leading up to an important audition or opportunity to help polish technique and choreography.

It can sometimes be challenging to find dance studios that offer private ballet lessons. It’s important to find an experienced instructor whose skills and techniques supplement your existing dance instruction. An inexperienced or less qualified instructor may support poor habits or fail to provide the desired benefits from the class. If your ballet studio does not offer private ballet lessons, it’s recommended that you look for private lessons at other reputable dance academies in the area. Some locations may require that you be a current student while others will offer private ballet lessons whether you participate in other classes at their studio or not.

Benefits of Private Ballet Lessons

Private ballet lessons offer many benefits including helping to improve technique, strengthen weaknesses, or prepare for upcoming opportunities.

One-on-One Training

All dancers can benefit from private ballet lessons because of the one-on-one instruction. Unlike a group ballet class where the instructor must share their time between all students, in a private lesson the instructor is focused only on you. This means there are better opportunities to polish techniques, offer skills to overcome challenges, or focus on elements that can specifically help you become a more successful dancer. Most dancers find that these private lessons offer a wide range of skills and techniques that they can later apply and practice in group lessons.

Concentrate on Goals

Each ballet dancer has different challenges and goals. One of the greatest benefits of private ballet lessons is that the curriculum is specifically driven by you. This means the ballet instructor can help you focus on strengthening your weaknesses, overcoming challenges, or achieving specific goals.

This is also beneficial if you feel like you’ve reached a plateau in your dancing. A private ballet instructor can help provide additional challenges, exercises, techniques, and choreography to help breathe new life into your dance.

Individual Choreography

Private ballet lessons are also a great time to work on individual choreography. Whether you’d like the instructor to help you come up with a piece for a solo or audition or would like support in polishing your own choreography, a private instructor can help. Some studios will also help to teach students how to improve choreography skills during these one-on-one lessons.

Preparation for Auditions/Scholarships

Another reason private ballet lessons benefit dancers is that it gives them direct coaching to prepare for important events such as auditions or scholarships. Instructors can help dancers focus specifically on audition pieces or polish technique.

Learn More About Private Lessons

Are you interested in learning more about private ballet lesson opportunities? Click the link below for more information.