The Associates Program encourages a healthy, thoughtful and disciplined love of dance. The program is challenging, progressive and fun, giving students the opportunity to study in a professional setting without necessarily leading to entry into the full-time Professional Ballet Program or a professional career.
The program is divided into thirteen levels progressing from Primary Levels I and II to Certificate Levels I through VI and Senior Associate Levels I through V.
A student's advancement to a subsequent level is not guaranteed; advancement through levels is dependent upon our perception of the student's ability to meet the demands and challenges of subsequent levels.
Class teachers are artistic faculty of Canada's National Ballet School. Teaching assistants are students in our Teacher Training Program.
The Associates Program supplements its ballet training by offering a range of classes in a variety of dance styles and techniques:
Historical, National and Character Dance is the study of folk and court dances from the 16th through 19th centuries. The dances studied by students in Certificate Levels IV, V and VI provide an opportunity to learn the roots of classical ballet. In Character Dance, students learn a variety of national dances prepared for the stage, enhancing the students' vocabulary of movement styles.
Pointe Classes augment girls' ballet training and are offered to Certificate IV, V, VI students and Senior Associates. The goal is to ensure students dance as skilfully on pointe as when wearing soft ballet shoes.
Repertoire Classes foster the students' ability to work in an ensemble by studying group dances from traditional and contemporary ballets.
Jazz Classes acquaint students with the history, lineage and various forms of contemporary North American dance while enhancing the performers' versatility.
