New West Ballet School

Classical Ballet Track

Classical Ballet Levels

Classical ballet levels are designed to train students in the art of ballet, beginning with the basic terms and steps and building the students technical skills through each of the levels. Students will gain both gross and fine motor skills, musicality, and coordination. At the more advanced levels, the program offers advanced training in technique, refining movement through transitions, performance skills, and training en pointe.

Class Outline, Requirements, & Tuition

First Position 1.5-hour ballet class. 1x per week plus enhancement class. Must be 8 yrs. old by September 1st or by placement. First position is designed to be a program that intensifies the rigorous training of the classical ballet dancer. Building on foundations learned as a Pre-Ballet dancer and introducing concepts to beginners with a focus on more ballet technique, and more ballet central exercises. First position dancers are highly recommended to take an elective class at least once per week (additional fees apply).

  • $1,800 per year ($150 per month)
Second Position By placement. 1.5-hour ballet class. 2x per week plus enhancement class. Second position is designed to be a two-year program. Adding on to concepts from First Position with a focus on more ballet technique, and more ballet central exercises. Second position dancers are highly recommended to take an elective class at least once per week (additional fees apply).
  • $3,000 per year ($250 per month)
Once a dancer has finished Second Position, there are three tracks of training students may pursue at NWB: Conservatory Ballet Track, Production Ballet Track, or Recreational Ballet Track. These tracks offer classical ballet training, with the conservatory ballet track geared toward students wishing to train in a professional manner as a ballet dancer, the production track geared toward students not wishing to train as intensely as the pre-professional level, but still perform and have the opportunity to dance on pointe, and the recreational track geared toward students wishing to pursue ballet in a more leisurely manner.

Conservatory Ballet Track

Conservatory Ballet track classes are designed to train students in the art of ballet in a pre-professional, structured, and progressive sequence. It aims to prepare students for the rigors that a professional career entails – even if students ultimately chose to not become professional ballerinas. The conservatory track instills a good work ethic and how to perform under pressure – things that are highly translatable in whatever path a student chooses. Dancers wishing to follow the Conservatory Ballet track will be placed in the appropriate classical ballet level and will be guaranteed to be cast in the summer performance and given first consideration for lead roles. Conservatory ballet track dancers will also have priority casting in other performance opportunities (by audition) in NWB productions. Conservatory track is only available by invitation and audition.

Class Outline, Requirements, & Tuition

By placement. 2-hour ballet class includes pointe training. 4x per week plus an enhancement class, variations, and an elective class. Conservatory is designed to be a three-year pre-professional program. Adding on to last year’s concepts with a focus on more ballet technique, and more ballet central exercise. Continuation of beginning pointe training, with subsequent years including intermediate pointe classes, variation, and pas de deux classes (by invitation and availability). Classes followed by pointe-based classes (e.g., variations, pas de deux) will be 1.5-hours long. May also take teaching internship classes.

  • $4,200 per year ($350 per month)

Production Ballet Track

The Production Ballet track is geared for students who wish to explore the art of ballet in a more leisurely manner than the Conservatory track, but still wish to perform in our productions and dance en pointe. Dancers wishing to follow the production track will be placed in the appropriate classical ballet level and will be guaranteed to be cast in the summer performance. Production ballet track dancers will also have other opportunities to perform (by audition) in NWB performances.

Class Outline, Requirements, & Tuition

By placement. 2-hour ballet class includes beginning pointe training. 3x per week. Classes followed by pointe- based classes (e.g., variations, pas de deux) will be 1.5-hours long. Production dancers are highly recommended to take an enhancement and an elective class at least once per week (additional fees apply) and are encouraged to take, variation and pas de deux classes (by invitation). May also take teaching internship classes. Drop in class rates ($25 per class) will apply for warm-up classes outside of normal class enrollment.

  • $4,200 per year ($275 per month)

Recreactional Ballet Track

The Recreational Ballet track is geared for students who wish to explore the art of ballet in a more leisurely manner. The recreational track is also good for those students whose interests lie in other places (e.g., theater performers, ice skaters, etc.) and ballet is used as an enhancement of those other interests rather than the sole focus of the student. Dancers wishing to follow the recreational track will be placed in the appropriate classical ballet level. Recreational students are highly encouraged to attend the recommended number of classes for their classical ballet level each week; however, there is no attendance policy for recreational ballet track.

Class Outline, Requirements, & Tuition

  • Recreational Class Card = 12 class card for $270.00
Instead of paying monthly, recreational students can purchase a class card to allow for flexibility in their ballet training. Class cards are valid for three months from the date of purchase, within the current school year and only valid for Recreational Ballet Track students. Class cards are not considered tuition and cannot be used towards summer intensives or any other NWB activities.

It should be noted that recreational students are not eligible for performance opportunities (unless by invitation under special circumstances) and are not allowed to train en pointe. Recreational ballet students may take any ballet class within their classical level, open ballet, enhancement, or electives (unless class is noted as not eligible for recreational ballet track students). Please see the schedule for classes not eligible for recreational ballet track.

Additional Classes

Classes listed in the class outline are the minimum required classes for each level. Serious students should consider increasing the number of ballet classes they take each week. Tuition for additional ballet classes, beyond what is included in base tuition rate, is $30 per class per month. For serious students, New West Ballet does offer unlimited class pricing.

Classical Ballet Absence Policy

As classical ballet dancer, it is important that class attendance is regular and maintained. Muscle structure from class consistency allow pre-professional students to properly execute advanced ballet movement. Any dancer that is enrolled in the Conservatory or Production Tracks and misses 4 or more classes in a month must schedule private lesson(s) to catch up on missed lessons and muscle training. The cost of these privates is not included in your tuition and will be charged to your account according to the private lesson fee. It is up to the parent/student to schedule these privates through the front office (email, phone or in person). Students who incur too many absences may be asked to repeat their training level, may be moved to the recreational student track, may be removed from performance, and/or may be asked to refrain from pointe work during class. Please note during the months of July and August, NWB does not hold students to this absence policy.

Pre-Professional Injury & Absence Policy

Students are encouraged to be present and participate in the class in a modified manner when injured. It is our goal to keep our injured dancers active (as much as possible) to reduce down time in their training. To be eligible for a modified class, please provide NWB with a doctor’s note regarding the injury. Modified classes count as being present in class for attendance purposes. For extreme cases, please contact the NWB office.
  • Modified Class Depending on the injury, dancers may be asked to do class in a modified manner (e.g., floor barre, or only do the por de bra).
  • Note Taker If the injury requires no movement at all, the student should participate in the class as a note taker. Note takers are encouraged to be present and mindful in their notetaking, to use proper ballet terminology, be courteous of other dancers, be constructive in their corrections, and use the notes to continue their class education (without dancing). Notes will be collected by the teacher at the end of the class.

Classical Level Class Schedule