Our Curriculum: Foundations for a Lifetime Love of Dance

Creative Movement: Learning through Play: From age 3 to 5, children learn the fundamentals of ballet through creative play. Movement props, music and imagery games are utilized to encourage learning and the joy of dance. Correct ballet terminology, positions and basic movements are learned in a fun and interesting classroom environment. We also integrate literature into the curriculum through kinesthetic (movement) learning. Current research has found a tremendous benefit of including books in dance education, improving the child’s overall cognitive development.
 

Ballet For the Young Child: Building on the Basics:  Between ages 6-8, training begins to take on more of an academic structure.  The transition from the younger classes into traditional class structure is gradual and allows for creativity and play in younger classes.  Each level builds upon learning from the previous year. The environment is friendly and nurturing while recognizing each student’s creative talents. As students progress through these elementary years, they are schooled in classical technique as well as disciplines such as dress code and classroom etiquette. Our syllabus ensures that vocabulary, musicality, technical skill, and artistry are taught in a planned, sequential manner. Children thrive in the ongoing educational challenges while simultaneously growing in the love of dance.
 

Intermediate to Advanced Study:  Advancing & Performing  We pay particular attention to the young dancer’s changing body, which is a most fragile and important instrument that deserves only the finest and most proper instruction.  As in any quality school, we strongly recommend that beginning around age eight, students take at least two ballet classes weekly to receive maximum benefit, and beginning at Level 5, we require this.

Advanced to Pre-Professional Ballet: Perfecting Skills:  As students progress into advanced levels, they have the opportunity to study daily in pre-professional training. Our most advanced students take 11 classes per week. Many of our advanced students also work as Assistant Teachers, preparing them for future careers in dance education. Our students have been accepted into top levels of summer programs at the Atlanta Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, North Carolina School of the Arts, Southern Ballet Theatre and the Princeton Ballet School. Click here for a complete listing of our students' achievements.

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© The Wilmington School of Ballet

3834 Oleander Drive

Wilmington, NC  28403

(910) 794-9590