Class Descriptions
Class placement is based on student experience to ensure the most effective progression through the curriculum. Complete the New Student Inquiry and a HBS Staff member will contact you promptly to answer your questions and to guide you through the placement and registration process.
EVALUATIONS
In an effort to find the best placement level in our school, prospective students 8 years or older, should call the office to set up an free evaluation appointment. Ages 7 and below are invited to register for classes online for his or her respective age level. Many factors help determine the best placement for our prospective students including age, focus, experience, and maturity. All evaluations are reviewed and approved by the School Director and remain strictly confidential. Please allow 48 hours after the evaluation for placement to be determined. Please do not approach teachers or director about evaluations without a scheduled meeting as interruptions during or between classes could be disruptive.
CHILDREN'S DIVISION
HBS classes provide an inspired introduction to the arts with a focus on creativity, group interaction, motor skill development, and the joy of self-expression. At these levels, registration requirement is based on age. These levels introduce young children to their bodies through creativity and play where students will explore body movement and expression using music, props, games, and improvisation.
DUETS
Offers toddlers the opportunity to have fun while exploring movement and rhythm and developing focus and coordination.
Duets for ages 2-3yrs, accompanied by an adult - 1 class per week
CREATIVE
Introduces young children to their bodies through creativity and play. Students will explore body movement and expression using music, props, games, and improvisation preparing them to enter Pre-Ballet.
Creative for ages 3 and 4 yrs - 1 class per week
PRE-BALLET
Pre-Ballet 1 and Pre-Ballet 2 Combine elements of creative movement, body awareness, and rhythmic exercises using games, visualization, props, stories, and improvisation, all in a ballet context.
Pre-Ballet 1, age 5yrs - 1 class per week
Pre-Ballet 2, age 6yrs - 1 class per week
BALLET 1
Begins formalized ballet training while retaining creative elements from the Pre-Ballet levels.
Ballet 1, age 7yrs - 1 class per week
Ballet 1x, ages 7-8yrs - 1 class per week
STUDENT DIVISION
BALLET LEVELS 2-6
Students learn all of the primary exercises and steps in these levels. Extra concentration is placed on flexibility, body alignment, and terminology as well as dance history. Special emphasis is also placed on strengthening the students for pointe work. Ballet 3 is the introductory level for pointe work as the students gain strength. Students also learn to integrate head, arm, and leg movements. In Levels 5 and 6, the emphasis is on detail and quality of movement, concentrating on developing each student’s individual artistry as well as addressing any weaknesses.
Placement at these levels is based on previous training, strength, natural ability, and development.
HBS offers a comprehensive training environment that provides students with the skills necessary to pursue a career in classical ballet and inspires each of them to reach their best potential through the study and discipline of classical ballet.
Evaluation and placement is required for all levels ballet 1x and higher.
Age is not the only determining factor for placement, but rather all placements are at the sole discretion of the School Director. All classes in the school division are required to meet minimums in order to be enrolled. Our School Division students are eligible to audition and perform with the company in The Nutcracker.
BALLET 2 - 2X
Ballet 2, ages 8-9yrs* - 1 class per week
Ballet 2x, ages 9-10yrs* - 1 or 2 classes per week
Placement at these levels is based on previous training, strength, natural ability, and development.
BALLET 3
Ballet 3 is the introductory level for pointe work as the students gain strength. Students also learn to integrate head, arm, and leg movements.
Ballet 3, ages 10-11yrs* - 2 or 3 classes per week
Ballet 3X, ages 11-12yrs* - 2 or 3 classes per week
Placement at these levels is based on previous training, strength, natural ability, and development.
BALLET 4
Ballet 4, ages 12-14yrs* - 3 or more classes per week
Ballet 4x, ages 14-16yrs* - 3 or more classes per week
Placement at these levels is based on previous training, strength, natural ability, and development.
BALLET 5
Ballet 5 - 4 or more classes per week
Ballet 6 - 4 or more classes per week
Placement at these levels is based on previous training, strength, natural ability, and development.
POINTE
HBS offers pointe classes ranging from Introductory to Advanced Classes. Placement by School Director is required for these classes. All pointe progressions are at the sole discretion of the school director based on the students technique, strength, and development. For answers to frequently asked questions regarding our training program and how we determine readiness for pointework training, visit our FAQ Page.
OPEN/ADULT DIVISION
(AGES 13 TO ADULT)
This division is for students thirteen years and up. These classes are an extension of our School Ballet classes, but allow for more flexibility. Classes at this level can be taken as a drop in class. There are no minimum requirements for Open Division.
OPEN/ADULT - BEGINNER
Starts with the assumption that the student has no previous ballet experience. Within six months to a year, most students will be prepared to start the Beginning/Intermediate course in which steps are assembled to create combinations in a more challenging format.
OPEN/ADULT - INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
Gives students the opportunity to perform more challenging combinations as they work on artistry and stamina.
ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINES
Huntsville Ballet School offers additional disciplines including Boy’s Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, and Contemporary.
BOY'S & YOUNG MEN'S BALLET
Huntsville Ballet School offers classes specifically for boys and young men.
JAZZ
Jazz is a stylized dance that builds from a technical ballet foundation. The benefit of jazz dance is the ability to express the creative self through movement. It allows a full-bodied approach to sharing personal emotions and artistic insights. Because the body explores physical movement in jazz dance class while simultaneously allowing a free flow of personal expression, both a release and a strengthening of the mind/body connection occur.
TAP
Tap emphasizes the recognition of rhythm and coordination of the mind and body to music. Tap must be heard as well as seen, so it must be considered a musical form as well as a dance form, one that evolved as a unique percussive expression of American jazz music. Tappers consider themselves musicians and describe their feet as a set of drums—the heels playing the bass, the toes the melody. Like jazz, tap uses improvisation, polyrhythms, and a pattern of rhythmic accenting to give it a ropulsive (swinging) quality (encyclopedia.com).
MODERN
Modern dance is a technique that developed in the early twentieth century, partly in reaction to the traditional, more highly technical forms of dance such as ballet. Modern techniques from pioneers such as Martha Graham, José Limón, Lester Horton, and Alvin Ailey are explored and referenced in our classes. Use of weight and gravity, focus on floor work, spatial awareness and dynamics are addressed in an explorative and disciplined environment. Creativity, improvisation skills and discussion are encouraged in a focused and challenging atmosphere.
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. Contemporary dances therefore do not use fixed moves and instead try to develop totally new forms and dynamics, such as quick oppositional moves, shifting alignments, expressions of raw emotions, floor work, and in general trying to find the absolute limits of the human form and physique.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
CHILDREN'S DIVISION - PREBALLET ONLY
- The Nutcracker - available for level PreBallet 2 only, by Director announcement – no audition required.
- Annual School Performance – PreBallet levels only. All Creative levels will hold an in-class performance.
SCHOOL DIVISION - BALLET 1 AND UP
- The Nutcracker - a minimum number of ballet technique classes is required of all participating students to maintain artistic excellence.
- Spring Repertory – only by invitation from the Artistic Director
- Annual School Performance
PRE-PROFESSIONAL COMPANY
- Unplugged
- The Nutcracker
- Spring Repertory
- Annual School Performance