Class Description

ACROBATIC ARTS

• Otherwise known as Acro, is a beautiful fusion of classic dance technique and the precision and athleticism of acrobatic elements. Often defined by unique choreography, Acro dancers seamlessly blend musicality, emotional expression, line and extension with acrobatic movements in a dance context.
  • Acro 1 – Ages 6+

ADULT BEGINNER BALLET and TAP (All ages and abilities)

• Adult men and women are introduced to the fundamentals of ballet and tap movement. These classes are designed to strengthen muscles and introduce a basic vocabulary to the art of dance. Classes have more of a relaxed atmosphere, although a formal approach to traditional ballet and tap movements will be utilized.
  • These classes are independently taught and are not part of Sovereign Ballet’s registration program.
  • If you are interested in joining an adult class, please email info@sovereignballet.com directly.  We will provide you with the instructor’s contact information, class details, and payment instructions.  Registration through the Sovereign Ballet parent portal is not required for these classes.

BALLET

• Recreational Ballet (Ages 12+)
  • Perfect for dancers who want to enjoy ballet without the commitment of performance, Recreational Ballet focuses on the fundamental techniques that are the foundation of every dance genre.  Students will develop proper posture, coordination, balance, flexibility, strength, and musicality while building confidence.  Dancers may choose the ballet class that best aligns with their age and ability level and attend once a week.
    • Recreational Ballet students are not required to participate in the year-end recital and will be charged at the Elective Class tuition rate.
• Intro to Dance (Ages 4-6)
  • In this engaging one-hour class, children are introduced to movement through music and creative exploration while learning the fundamentals of both ballet and tap.  Students build strength, coordination, and a love for dance while developing basic vocabulary and an early sense of artistry and performance.  Using classical ballet and traditional tap terminology, this class lays a strong technical foundation and sparks a lifelong interest in dance.
    • Fall Term – 3 months – Sept through November
    • Spring Term – 4 months – February through June
    • Homeschool Tuesdays or Saturdays
• Level 1 (Ages 6-8+)
• Level 2 (Ages 8-10+)
  • Students build a beginner-level ballet vocabulary while learning safe, effective stretching and strengthening techniques.  Classes begin at the barre and eventually move to center work, focusing on alignment, balance, musicality, and creating clean ballet lines.  Dancers also develop memory, self-awareness, and a sense of personal responsibility.
• Level 3 (Ages 10-13+)
  • Students advance their technique with more challenging barre and center combinations, focusing on increased strength, stamina, and control.  This level introduces beginning pointe work, emphasizing safe preparation and foundational strength.  Dancers continue refining alignment, balance, and musicality while deepening their performance quality.
• Level 4 & 5 (Ages 13+)
  • These advanced levels focus on refining technique and artistry through continued pointe work, building strength and proper alignment, while emphasizing intensive study, self-motivation, artistic expression, and musicality.  Training incorporates elements from major ballet training styles.
• Homeschool Ballet (3 years’ experience or Ages 10+) 
  • Designed specifically for homeschool students, this daytime ballet class provides focused technical training in a supportive and disciplined environment. Dancers will continue to build strength, flexibility, coordination, musicality, and artistry while developing a solid classical ballet foundation.
  • This class is intended for students with a minimum of three years of formal ballet training and is appropriate for dancers seeking consistent technical development as part of their homeschool education. Classes emphasize proper alignment, classical vocabulary, performance quality, and the confidence needed to progress to more advanced levels.

CONDITIONING

• Conditioning presents all the principles for quicker improvement for the serious dancer: core and joint stability, muscular and joint flexibility, streamlined action, and a strong midline. Conditioning will help provide the stability or the flexibility or even the efficient strength and ease 21^st-century dancing requires.

CONTEMPORARY

• Contemporary dance incorporates ballet, modern, jazz and lyrical genres. It combines the strong and controlled legwork of Ballet, with elements of Modern dance focusing on unpredictable changes of rhythm, speed and direction. Focusing heavily on choreography for self-expression in creating new techniques and styles. The movement emphasizes the use of gravity, momentum, moving on and off balance, and suspension.
  • Contemporary 1 – Ages 10-12
  • Contemporary 2 – 3 years’ experience or Ages 13+

HIP HOP

• For intermediate dancers, this class builds strength, confidence, and versatility through groove-focused choreography.  Students explore styles like Old School, House, Popping, Locking, and Commercial, while learning the cultural roots behind each.  Class includes a groove-based warm-up, foundational drills, musicality exercises, and challenging choreography to develop control, flow, and expressive style.
  • Ages 12+ (younger dancers can be evaluated upon inquiry)

JAZZ

• Builds on technique while developing style, confidence, and musicality.  Inspired by Luigi and Giordano, dancers strengthen precision, control, and dynamic movement.  Includes warm-up, center work, and progressions (turns, jumps, kicks), exploring styles from lyrical to Broadway with a focus on expression and performance quality.
  • Jazz 1 – Ages 7-12
  • Jazz 2 – 3 years’ experience or Ages 13+

MODERN

• Modern Dance focuses on the freedom of movement and expression. It consists of distinctively American movement styles and vocabularies with clearly defined and recognizable dance training systems including the Graham and Horton techniques. Students will focus on these techniques this year as well as supplemental contemporary dance practices to strengthen their technical dance skills and performance qualities.
  • Modern 1 – Ages 6+
  • Modern 2 – Ages 9+
  • Modern 3 – 3 years’ experience or Ages 13+

TAP

• Tap dancing consists of learning rhythm patterns. Learning and memorizing patterns are a great workout for your brain. And it’s all math. Repeating, reversing and counting the rhythm patterns reinforces math concepts. Knowing where the body’s weight should be and when to shift the weight from one foot to the other is essential for proper tap technique. Training the muscle memory in this way improves balance, coordination and control. And the benefits of a strong core are numerous, including less back pain and risk of falling. Tap increases picking up combinations quicker, musicality, and stage presence, all beneficial for any dance genre.
  • Tap 1 – Ages 6+
  • Tap 2 – Ages 9+
  • Tap 3 – 3 years’ experience or Ages 13+

• Theatre Dance explores the style of movement commonly seen in Broadway and musical theatre productions. Blending the technique of ballet with the energy and style of jazz, dancers learn to use movement to advance a storyline, develop characters, and express emotion. Classes focus on musicality, performance quality, stage presence, and storytelling through choreography, helping dancers become confident, expressive performers both on stage and in the studio.
  • Ages 12+ (younger dancers can be evaluated upon inquiry)

WORKSHOP

Our rotating Workshops provide exclusive enrichment opportunities designed to complement each dancer’s regular training. These workshops change throughout the season, allowing students to explore specialized topics, develop new skills, and become more confident, well-rounded dancers. These classes are not part of regular attendance.

• Dance Essentials (Ages 9+)
  • An interactive seminar-style class focused on the knowledge every dancer should have beyond the studio. Topics rotate throughout the year and may include dance history, anatomy, injury prevention, nutrition and hydration, audition preparation, hair and stage makeup, pointe shoe care, dance etiquette, goal setting, mental preparation, and other valuable educational topics that help dancers succeed both in and out of the studio.
• Dance Lab (Ages 12+, younger dancers can be evaluated upon inquiry)
  • A hands-on technique class that rotates its focus each week, giving dancers the opportunity to strengthen specific skills that enhance their overall training. Rotating topics may include Advanced Acro Skills, Basic Ballroom, Stretch & Flexibility, Steps on Broadway Online, and other specialty workshops led by Sovereign Ballet faculty and guest instructors.

Workshop topics and instructors are subject to change throughout the season, allowing dancers to experience a diverse range of training opportunities while keeping the program fresh, engaging, and responsive to the needs and interests of our students. This flexible format encourages dancers to broaden their versatility, reinforce their technical foundation, and gain valuable skills that extend beyond their regular weekly classes.

Level Advancement and Promotion

Advancement through Sovereign Ballet is based on many factors including a student’s strength, commitment, attendance, maturity, mastery of material and artistic development as assessed by the teacher and Director. A student’s ability to execute the required material is considered above all else, including age. Advancement to the next level may occur at anytime during the year, but is generally determined at the end of each school year.

Repeating Levels of Study

Parents and students should not anticipate annual level advancements. Ballet classes do not progress at the same pace as traditional academic grades. It is common for students to repeat levels of study. Because the range of the criteria for promotion is so diverse, it may be two or more years before a student is ready for advancement to the next level of study.

Criteria for advancement:

• Technical Ability: defined as sufficient mastery of ballet technique and mastery at every level
• Physique: defined as strength, turnout, flexibility and bone structure which allow a student to safely perform the course requirements, physical characteristics become increasingly important as a student progresses through the levels
• Interest: defined as demonstrating a willingness and desire to pursue this course of study in ballet
• Attendance: defined as attending all classes and rehearsals required of the student’s level, consistent attendance allows the student to keep up with the material presented, to practice and develop the muscles and to prepare for performances.

New students ages 9 and up are required to attend an Audition Class for placement into the appropriate Class Level. Students are placed based on age, technique, physique, personal strength and intangibles such as talent, grace and maturity.