|
|
|
Sarah Kennedy Ballet and Athletic Arts,
and Ballet for Young People
Welcome!
Under normal circumstances:
Classes and lessons - solo private, semi- private
small groups (3 - 4) large groups (5 - 12)
Special events are TBD.
I use Facebook as well as e-mail to communicate. Please Check FB for snow days and other special communications!
You can see our FB page directly from this site - even if you do not have FB.
Class fees and tuition are subject to change depending upon enrollment. Below is the system used in 2019. For details in development for 2020 please see the Home page.
Tuition is per 18 week semester following the school year. Due at registration, with the option to pay in two parts, or monthly if you are enrolled for three of more classes per month. Currently all payment is by cash or check to Sarah Kennedy.
Preschool Ballet $325 Semester One - Fall, $325 Semester Two - Spring (per school semester of 18)
Pink and Lilac classes Beginning Ballet $325 Semester One - Fall, $325 Semester Two - Spring
Violet class Beginning - Int. $325 Semester One Fall, $325 Semester Two - Spring
Green and Black classes Intermediate - Adv. ballet/pre- pointe and pointe - two 90-minute classes per week $685 - Semester One - Fall (per school semester of 36 classes - two per week) $685 Semester Two - Spring
Adult fitness and dance classes by 5 or 10 class card are $15 per each class.
Drop-ins - for any students are available by permission of instructor only.
In Class
The outside doors are locked for your safety. If you have been accidentally locked out of the building, please knock on our window (right next to the door) so I can let you in. :-))
As a general guide -
Ballet should be practiced at a minimum of 2 days per week once dancers progress beyond "little-kid" levels. A ballet dancer cannot progress onto pointe without meeting that requirement for usually two years prior to beginning pointe and accomplishing milestones of mental and physical development and technique. A serious student would be dancing three days a week or 4 - 5 hours - starting at about age 10 - 12.
Your progress is directly affected by your effort, attention, congenial attitude, and the amount of regular practice you put in. By the age of seven and eight, two ballet classes per week is the appropriate minimum amount of practice for a young student.
We follow a school year calendar with regular registration, tuition, and attendance.
You get out what you put in, arrive ready to participate!
There is a bathroom/changing room down the hall. Use it before class. Parents are responsible for you when you arrive and before class begins. Please arrive for class with your ballet clothes/shoes on and your hair pinned up and back. (Do not arrive at your class time and then go to the changing room to prepare, You will miss half of your class that way.) Boys are requested to wear ballet slippers in black or white, and non-cumbersome fitness attire: ballet slippers, socks, shorts and T-shirt are great.
Dancers who are seen to observe our standards of diligent attendance, class preparedness/attire, and effort without fuss or complaint, will be given preference when special opportunities arise. More importantly, from their own efforts, young dancers will have the benefit of marked improvement in their dancing and self-esteem.
1) Effort, respect, gratitude, politeness, friendship and support for each other, are our most important standards. Girls and boys, men and women, who dance develop a strong sense of self respect, "grit," and personal sovereignty.
2) Practice at home, including stretching and strengthening, is expected of all dancers:
Practice for your own success. Technique gives freedom!
3) Observance of proper class attendance, attire, and hair/dress code shows respect, and commitment to learning and personal excellence: You will also gain the added benefit of seeing the marked improvement that this small but significant effort will have on your dancing!
Notes on Classes
Participation Expectations: Intermediate and advanced dancers are expected to attend two classes per week. You are welcome and encouraged to attend more than two classes, and when you do, there is significant benefit to your dancing.
The philosophy is to provide a respectful but interactive ballet class experience that supports our young people in learning to see and move in the world beautifully, and to be a groundwork that will stay with them for life.
Every class has an age-appropriate balance of creativity (and make-believe) and technical discipline. Through ballet you are studying the arts and the humanities and applied sciences, and I hope you will become inspired to gain thoughtful new insights about yourself and the world.
Performances: Children are regularly asked to contribute to our creative projects/performances, as we are all making art together. We perform to make art together, and to engender experiences of surprise, delight, and discovery through performance.
Special excursions are often a part of what we do to supplement our understandings and development, and to inspire questions and imagination! These have been trips to the ballet, to the wildlife center, walks in the woods, and to the museum, as well as creating our own artwork and choreography (dance-making at home.)
Please be prepared to participate in as many supplemental events (mentioned above,) as you can!
Performances - 2020 will find a creative solution to performing on stage as stated below.
There will be one or two staged - All school - performances per school year (and some special performances – see below.)
All dancers will be expected to prepare for and participate in these two performances, for which there will be a non-optional performance fee that helps to cover the expense of the venue and performance.
Volunteering and Collaborating!
Young Musicians - and older young musicians: We love to collaborate! Please volunteer to play music for us - even just one little piece, in class or in performance. We love it! Tell us what you would like to play...
Any families who can help with scenery making, costumes, costume making, stage management, box office, chaperoning – etc. are invited to let me know you are interested, and what your availability is: time, place, type of skill.
Much thanks for all the volunteer support that you have brought to us!