CLASSICAL BALLET PROGRAM

Ages 6+
Experience the beauty and discipline of classical ballet in a challenging and empowering environment. Our unified curriculum and syllabus, curated by the Metro Parks Dance faculty, focuses on the progressional development of a strong technical foundation and artistic mastery, coupled with a rigorous culture of excellence. Students will be challenged, encouraged and prepared for the demands of a professional career on or off the performance stage, all while building a supportive community along the way. The program welcomes students of all backgrounds and provides a high-quality dance education regardless of race, gender identity, body type, socio-economic status, disability, political or religious beliefs.
​
Classes and levels are cumulative and build on skills learned and mastered from year to year. It is expected that students will study for the full year. Consistent training is a key ingredient for a dancer's success. 
INTERESTED IN JOINING US? All new, prospective, and/or transfer students beyond Pre-Ballet or Ballet Basics should fill out our placement class request form before registering to determine appropriate class level and availability.

Primary Division

The Pre-ballet, Beginning I, II, and III syllabus focuses on preparing the body and mind for their future classical ballet training. Students will learn the importance of foundational vocabulary and movement patterns, coordination, alignment, and classroom etiquette. The fundamentals of musicality and body coordination are introduced with age-appropriate enrichment games and directional drills. In Pre-Ballet and Beginning I, basic conditioning exercises are introduced to develop the feeling of properly activating the muscles used in classical ballet technique.  As the levels progress, conditioning exercises intensify to increase muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and coordination.
During these levels, it is important for the students to familiarize themselves with the basic concepts of a classical ballet classroom structure: developing the ability to concentrate and lengthen the attention span, learning the basic behavioral expectations of the class, and practicing taking direction and receiving corrections from the teacher.

PERFORMANCES:
​Beginning II and III students who participated in the previous spring semester with Metro Parks Dance are eligible to audition and perform in The Mini-Nutcracker in the fall. ​
Fall 2026 Level Schedule:
pRE-bALLET | 6-7 YRS
​No experience necessary for Pre-Ballet. Students must be the minimum age on August 15, 2026. No exceptions. Class options listed below.
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Start Date
End Date
Value
Mondays
4:15-5 pm
Clark
Morgan*
Aug 17
Nov 16
$108
Wednesdays
4:15-5 pm
Clark
Morgan*
Aug 19
Nov 18
$108
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
bEGINNING i | 7-8 yRS
Students who are 7 years old must have completed pre-ballet or equivalent. No experience necessary for students who are 8 years old. Students must be the minimum age on August 15, 2026. No exceptions. Class options listed below.
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Start Date
End Date
Fee
Mondays
5-6pm
Clark
Morgan*
Aug 17
Nov 16
$108
Wednesdays
5-6pm
Clark
Morgan*
August 19
Nov 18
$108
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
bEGINNING ii | 8-9 YRS 
Faculty recommendation or placement class is is required to register.
Days
Time
Instructor
Location
Start Date
End Date
Fee
Tue/Thr
4-5 pm
Clark
McCabe*
Aug 17
Nov 18
$189
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
bEGINNING iii | 9-10 YRS
Faculty recommendation or placement class is is required to register.
Days
Time
Instructor
Location
Start Date
End Date
Fee
Tue/Thr
5-6:15 pm
Clark
McCabe*
Aug 16
Nov 18
$189
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
bALLET bASICS | 9-11 YRS
No experience necessary. Students must be the minimum age on August 15, 2026. 
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Start Date
End Date
Fee
Mondays
4:30-5:30
Wilkening
Sevier
Aug 17
Nov 16
$108
bALLET BASICS FOR TEENS | 12-18 YRS
​No experience necessary. ​Students must be the minimum age on August 15, 2026. 
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Start Date
End Date
Fee
Tuesdays
4:30-5:30
Pyron
Sevier
Aug 18
Nov 17
$108

Centennial Classical Ballet Division

Levels 1-3
The first three levels of the Centennial Classical Ballet Division, build on the skills learned in the Primary Division and are three of the most important years in the syllabus. The growing vocabulary and additional time demanded in these levels represent a signification progression in the development of a dance student especially for the preparation of pointe work. These levels deepen the development and understanding of proper body placement, muscular engagement, and muscular endurance.
Students are encouraged and nurtured to practice confidence and self-expression through nuances in épaulement and age-appropriate dancing steps. It is expected that students work to apply corrections without consistent cueing from teachers by the end of Level 3.

Pointe readiness evaluations are conducted when a third day of technique class is added to a student’s schedule (at least Level 2) and when the faculty deems the group is ready for the evaluations. The evaluation is conducted by a physical therapist specializing in ballet and dance training with input from the instructor(s) and supervisor. Students dancing en pointe must attend a minimum of three ballet classes a week to practice pointe safely. Students who do not attend class consistently may not be allowed to participate in pointe work. Once on pointe, it is expected that students dance consistently during the summer months to maintain the physicality required for pointe-work.
​
Level 2 students are now eligible and strongly encouraged to add Strength and Conditioning into their schedule to supplement their classwork. These additional classes will help students build strength, gain coordination, and accomplish a greater sense of musicality. 
​
PERFORMANCES:
Level 1-3 students who participated in the program the previous spring semester are eligible to audition and perform in Centennial Youth Ballet’s The Mini Nutcracker in the fall. New students to the program in the fall are eligible to understudy.
Level 1 FALL Schedule 
Faculty recommendation or placement class is is required to register.
Days
Time
Instructor
Location
Tuesday
4:30-6:00 pm
Parisot
Morgan *
Thursday
4:30-6:00 pm
Parisot
Morgan*
Start Date:
Aug 18
End Date:
Dec 3
Fee
$224
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
Level 2 fall Schedule
Faculty recommendation or placement class is is required to register.
Days
Time
Instructor
Location
Mon
6:00-7:30pm
Clark
Morgan*
Wed/Fri
4:30-6pm
Clark
Morgan*
Start Date
Aug 17
End Date
Dec 5
Fee
$336
The following class is not included in the semester fee:
Optional Add On
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Fee
Strength & Conditioning
Sat
10:00-11:00 am
Parisot
Morgan*
$70
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
Level 3 FALL Schedule
Faculty recommendation or placement class is required to register.
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Monday
4:30-6:00 pm
Parisot
Morgan*
Wednesday
6:00-8:00 pm
Parisot
Morgan
Thursday
4:30-6:00pm
Eliason
Morgan*
Saturday:
​Strength & Conditioning
11am-12:15 pm
Parisot
Morgan*
Start Date
Aug 17
End Date
Dec 5
Fee
$406
The following class is not included in the semester fee:
Optional Add On
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Fee
Contemporary Basics for Teens
Tuesdays
5:30-6:30 pm
Pyron
Sevier
$117
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete

Levels 4-6

​Levels 4-6 are designed to refine and further develop the skills learned in Pre-Ballet-Beginning 3 and Levels 1-3, while adding a more complex layer into the class structure for a students’ specialization in classical ballet. To provide students with a comprehensive program necessary to support each dancer to reach their fullest potential both technically and artistically, lessons will increase in length and frequency. 
Students in Levels 4-6 attend classes 4-5 days per week, supplemental classes such as Strength and Conditioning and Contemporary are a requirement and no longer optional. For students dance on pointe, pointe work is practiced at a minimum of twice a week in their technique class. The syllabus vocabulary becomes increasingly complex with a demand of virtuosity and performance artistry. Faculty safely and properly train students for their future endeavors, whether that be external summer programs, college dance programs, or professional careers on and off the stage. Variations and classical partnering workshops are added to the schedule of dancers in Level 6 throughout the year.
​
PERFORMANCES:
Students in Levels 4-6 who participated in the program the previous semester have the option to perform in both The Mini-Nutcracker and Centennial Youth Ballet’s Spring Concert. The Spring Concert provides dancers with the opportunity to perform classical repertoire and new contemporary, classical, or neo-classical works by faculty and guest choreographers. New students to the program in the fall are eligible to understudy.
Level 4 fall Schedule (Not currently Offered)
Level 5 FALL Schedule
Faculty recommendation or placement class is is required to register.
Days
Time
Instructor
Location
Monday
6:00-8:30pm
Parisot
Morgan*
Tuesday
6:30-8:30pm*
Parisot
Morgan*
Wednesday: Contemporary I
4:30-6:00pm
Roybal
Sevier*
Friday
4:30-6:30pm
Eliason
Morgan*
Saturdays
9:45-11:00am
Eliason
Morgan/NSA*
Saturdays:
​Strength & Conditioning
11:00-12:15pm
Parisot
Morgan*
Start Date
Aug 17
Contemporary End Date
Nov 18
Semester End Date
Dec 5
Fee
$540
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete
Level 6 fall Schedule
Faculty recommendation or placement class is is required to register.
Day
Time
Instructor
Location
Monday
4:00-6:00 pm
Eliason
Morgan*
Tuesday
4:00-6:30 pm
Eliason
Morgan*
Wednesday: Contemporary II
6:00-7:30 pm
Morrison
Sevier*
Thursday
6:00-8:30 pm
Parisot
Morgan*
Saturday: Strength & Conditioning
9:45-11:00 am
Parisot
Morgan*
Saturday
11:00 am -12:30 pm
Eliason
Morgan/NSA*
Start Date:
Aug 17
Contemporary End Date:
Nov 18
Semester End Date:
Dec 5
Fee
$540
*Class will relocate to CPAS once building repairs are complete

Common FAQs

which level should i register my child for?
New students beyond the Ballet Basics or Beginning I level should fill out the online placement class form to schedule a placement class to determine the appropriate level for the student before registering. 

Current Students enrolled in the Centennial Classical Ballet Division and in Beginning II and up will receive a written evaluation with class placement and registration materials in the Spring/Summer, if continuing in the program for the following school year. Students in Pre-Ballet and Beginning I do not receive a formal written evaluation but will receive placement info by email for the following year. Students will be evaluated by their current instructors in consultation with the dance supervisor. Families should register their child for their assign level for the upcoming academic year​
WILL MY CHILD PERFORM?
Performance is introduced in a developmentally appropriate way.  For all classes, an observation class at the end of the fall and spring sessions serves as a time when the students can share what they have learned with their family members and friends and is a great way to introduce them to dancing in front of an audience.

​We encourage all students in the primary division who are not performing to attend Centennial Youth Ballet's performance run of The Mini-Nutcracker in December. It's a wonderful way to showcase your child what their future ballet training can include.

​Students are eligible to perform in The Mini-Nutcracker when they are 8 years old and in Ballet: Beginning II or Levels 1-6 and have completed the previous spring semester in ballet with Metro Dance. Eligible students are invited to a casting audition in August in which all students who commit to the production schedule receive a role. The Mini-Nutcracker, a narrated, abbreviated version of the popular holiday ballet, is designed to introduce young children to ballet as a performance art. New students who did not complete the spring semester in ballet with Metro and were placed in Level 1 or higher are invited to audition and understudy.
​
Students who reach Levels 4, 5, & 6 are eligible to participate in the Centennial Youth Ballet, if they wish to commit the necessary time in class and rehearsal. Centennial Youth Ballet students who complete the fall session of classes are invited to perform in a spring concert in addition to The Mini-Nutcracker. The Spring Concert gives members of Centennial Youth Ballet the opportunity to learn and perform a range of ballet, including corps de ballet work, classical variations, as well as contemporary choreography to reflect the type of work being done in a professional dance world. With the support of Friends of Metro Dance, each spring semester guest artists are brought in to either stage or create new work for dancers to perform. Occasionally, we are invited to participate in a local festival and will invite students to participate in a short group dance as time and staff resources allow.  

Will I be able to watch my childs class?
Parents and family members are not allowed to watch classes inside the studio unless invited by the instructor or given permission by the supervisor. We happily welcome you to watch classes during Observation Week, the last week of classes each term.  We encourage attendance at Observation Day and know this is a special and unique educational opportunity. You will see your student’s progression and experience class from start to finish. We recommend staying to observe the entire class
where can i find the dress code?
You can view the dress code on our website.

Class Locations

Morgan Recreation Center ​​(Morgan)
411 Hume Street

​Centennial Performing Arts Studios (CPAS)
​211 27th Ave North​​
Sevier Park Community Center (Sevier)
3021 Lealand Lane, Sevier Park​
​
McCabe Park Community Center (McCabe)
​101 46th Ave North, McCabe Park​