Our organization
The School of Modern Ballet is organized into two paths:
Intensive: a year-round school with an emphasis on growth and progression.
Enrichment: affords students the freedom to explore different forms of dance each quarter.
Our Methodology
Ballet Esprit School of Modern Ballet is committed to serving its community by offering preprofessional quality training in classical ballet and classical modern dance education within a holistic environment through Revolutionary Principles of Movement, complementing all traditional styles implemented in our syllabus, such as ABT, RAD, Cechetti and Vagonava. The intensive programming is organized with a specific curriculum, offered throughout the year.
The School: We serve all ages with varying goals and aspirations who desire to study dance on a yearly basis. Derived from our own innate ability to originate and sustain dynamic moment working with kinesiology and anatomy, our syllabus is a road to success; the freedom of movement making ballet for every body.
Our comprehensive training teaches discipline and appreciation for the beauty of art as well as the sheer joy and science of dance based on continual research in kinesiology through RPM under Master Teachers, Cheryl Ale, Wes Chapman and Amy Lowe.
Faculty: Each faculty member supports the love of dance and encourages each individual to reach his or her maximum potential; body, mind and soul. Learn more about our faculty here.
Partnerships: Our partnerships with PBS Station WTCI Educate, Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, Lookout Lake and The Hunter Museum of American Art add to our comprehensive training through discipline and appreciation for the beauty of art as well as the sheer joy of dancing. Learn more about our partners here.
Seasonal extras: Our technical studies continue throughout the academic year with a mid-summer intensive and another during winter break for ages eleven and up, to maximize the chance to advance while adding guest artists to our program.
Seasonal performance experiences provide a creative outlet, produce a sense of confidence and responsibility, and allow students to use their gifts with a sense of purpose within a supportive community.
May the growth developed at Ballet Esprit be rooted and grounded in love.
Below is specific information about intensive, enrichment and syllabus.
Intensive
Ballet Esprit Intensive study consists of levels III, IV & V students committed to at least three to five days of ballet technique classes per week. Modern classes are now highly recommended as well as involvement in the Youth Ensemble, our upper school performing company, now an option.
Requirements:
Both Parents and Students participating in the Intensive Division are strongly encouraged to reflect and reconsider the level of commitment required to participate in this Division. Parents and Students must realize that this is a serious decision and should not be taken lightly.
We request that biannually families mindfully review the pros and cons of a dancer’s involvement before coming to a decision to recommit to this program for another semester. The sober reality is that each year’s decision to participate in the division will affect the entire family’s time and energy.
All Intensive Students must study for at least six weeks in the summer either here at Ballet Esprit or in another accredited quality program (with approval of Directors) to stay in the division the following term.
Students may have to be excused from performances if they incur more than two unexcused absences within 6 six weeks leading up to the dates.
Students who initially exhibit the qualifications for the Intensive Division may progress or may plateau. It is impossible to accurately envision a student’s future progress. There are many factors that figure into dancers’ development. Parents should view the first year or two as a trial period for the student. Their assigned level may be as far as some students advance or care to carry their commitment.
Every new year should be used as a platform to redirect or rededicate one’s talents, gifting, time, loyalty, and energy to their uniquely individual path and direction.
It is our intention to foster students who love dancing and dedicate their talents to their highest potential in body, mind and spirit within whatever level they are placed.
Commitment to the intensive study program is an artistic performance opportunity for your child. Please know that we love working with your child; we will respect and support whichever dance training track you choose.
We have a policy that once a student is accepted into intensive study, they will not be removed from the program for any technical reason. A student, however, may be expelled from the program for behavioral discipline, with the hope of restoration over time.
Advancement within the program is not automatic. This policy allows a dancer to continue training in their assigned level even when they have reached their full potential. This idea also allows the dancer and their parents to reflect on their commitment to the division if their advancement through the levels is not to their satisfaction. It includes the possibility that, following an evaluation conference, a student with their parents may decide to transfer to the Enrichment Division in order to continue dancing, or they may decide to pursue an entirely new area of interest.
Students and Parents should be aware that level advancement within the Intensive Division is not automatic year after year. Attaining Ballet Esprit Collective status has kaleidoscopic requirements. Talent, physical health, athleticism, persistence, cooperation and a mindful/spiritual pursuit; example - fruit - growth - development and maturity are all elements that banner the call to pursuit of the pre professional program, within the Ballet Esprit Collective.
Enrichment
Enrichment consists of levels I, II and III. The program affords dancers the opportunity to excel in their ballet training, as well as explore other dance genres and opportunities. The enrichment classes have the freedom to explore different styles of dance each quarter with the ballet curriculum.
Diverse training contributes within our partnership settings seasonally in a variety of settings and venues. These can include Ballet Esprit’s Collective and School, The Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, The Hunter Museum of American Art, Lookout Lake, and other community performances.
More information: To learn more, including commitment details, please read the Family Handbook.
Requirements:
Attendance is set at the minimal requirement of one to two ballet classes per week during the academic year.
Strict adherence to the dress code will be enforced.
Each student should possess the willingness to train within the administered syllabus of the designated level.
A humble attitude to accept corrections and work within the reasonable classroom etiquette we have established.
Willingness to comply happily with rehearsal and performance schedules and requirements.
All Enrichment Students are encouraged to study during the summer either here with Ballet Esprit or in another accredited quality program (with approval of Directors), but it is not mandatory.
Student progress:
Students who are in the Enrichment Division may make steady progress or they may plateau.
It is our intention to foster dancers who love dancing and dedicate their talents to their highest potential in body, mind and spirit within whatever level they are placed.
It is impossible to accurately envision a student’s future progress. There are many factors that figure into dancers’ development.
Every new year should be used as a new opportunity to redirect or rededicate one’s talents, gifting, time, loyalty, and energy to their uniquely individual path and direction.
We have a policy of evaluating students on a bi-annual basis. Once accepted into the Enrichment Program, it is possible to be moved into the Intensive Division if the student displays the desire, the commitment level, and the talent necessary to fulfill the Intensive Division requirements.
Any student of the Ballet Esprit School of Modern Ballet, however, may be expelled from either Division for behavioral discipline, with the hope of restoration within time.
Advancement within the Enrichment Division is not automatic. This policy allows the dancer who has reached their maximum potential to continue to work at their assigned level. Parents and students may request an evaluation, followed with a joint conference with the Educational Director, so that the student, with their parents, may decide to continue dancing in the Enrichment program, move into the Intensive Division or to pursue an entirely new area of interest.
Syllabus
Customized path per student. Each practice is personalized in a comfortable, kind, inclusive, encouraging, and accepting environment. Over time, the goal is to create a ballet practice that is a personal movement meditation.
Syllabus. Ballet Esprit dance training is a product of Sarah’s professional dance performance experiences, extensive continued teacher trainings and licensing with Revolutionary Principles of Movement and extensive background teaching classical ballet technique, working with all ages from 1.5 years to the colligate/preprofessional level and beyond.
Proven through time. With over twenty-five years of teaching experience under her belt, our founder, Sarah’s abilities create dancer success stories time after time.
Results. Our students have progressed onto training scholarships, summer intensives, Universities. Others have progressed to professional dance careers, local and abroad. Most important than proficient classical ballet technicians, Sarah’s teaching style and syllabus creates dancers who love and enjoy dancing with artistic development and creative freedom.
Ballet with a mindful approach. We use a classical ballet technique teaching style inspired by Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore, India. This individualistic, somatic approach to teaching ballet technique allows experienced dancers to grow and train through the guidance and individualized input of knowledgeable instructors while new students are given the uniquely curated instruction, guidance, and input to become healthy well rounded dancers. Students learn a set series of classical barre and centre combinations designed to increase strength, flexibility, and quality of movement.