Schedule and Class Descriptions

• Students who are late should wait for a break between exercises before entering a class and will not be permitted into class more than 10 minutes after the class start time.
• The Adult Ballet Program does not uphold a dress code for ballet classes. Participants should wear clothes that do not restrict their or others’ movement during class. Street shoes are not permitted in the studios; they should be left in the change rooms or outside the studio. 
• Food and beverages (other than water) are not permitted inside the studios. The studios are rosin-free, but water may be used on the soles of shoes in case of slippery surface. 
• All electronic devices should be turned off during class.
• Students should not wear scented products including perfumes and hairspray to class.
• Occasionally Adult Ballet classes may be cancelled due to inclement weather at the discretion of Canada’s National Ballet School. If you are unsure about the status of your class, please check NBS’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the most up-to-date cancellation information. We will also always try our best to contact students by e-mail if their class is cancelled.
• Please note that we are not able to pro-rate term fees for missed time when a student is enrolling late in our program.

• Each student, except for students in Dance Based Conditioning and 9-Week Intro to Ballet, is allowed two make up classes due to personal absences. Due to the need to severely limit access to all classes, make up classes can only be taken with zoom classes.  Students must register for their make-up classes ahead of time by contacting Stephanie in the Registrar’s Office at stephanie.medeiros@nbs-enb.ca. Students in Dance Based Conditioning and 9-Week Intro to Ballet course are not eligible for make-up classes.
• Students will not be granted extra make-up classes for NBS holiday closures. Scheduled holidays are reflected in the price of the class. 
• Make-up classes must be used within the term a student is registered and cannot be credited forward to future terms. 
• Students can reserve make-up classes with any teacher as long as the level is the same (or below) as the one they are registered for. 
• To cancel a make-up class, students must contact Stephanie in the Registrar’s Office at stephanie.medeiros@nbs-enb.ca.

Class Transfers:

• During the first three weeks of a term, if students feel they have registered for a level inappropriate to their dance ability, they may request the Registrar’s Office to transfer them into another class level pending space availability in the class. Note: class transfers are not applicable to students in the 9-Week Intro to Ballet.
• After the third week, changes to students' class levels or schedules can be requested.  The same rules regarding class space availability will apply.

Class Withdrawals:

• If students withdraw from a class before the term has commenced, a full refund minus the $30 registration fee will be issued (registration fees are non-refundable). 
• After the term has commenced, refunds are granted only to students withdrawing for medical reasons and a notice from a physician must be provided. During the first three weeks of the term, students are eligible for a 50% refund excluding the $30 registration fee.  Refunds will not be granted after the third week of the term under any circumstance.

• Should a second-wave of COVID-19 result in the cancellation of on-site classes, all in-person classes will be moved online and continue through the scheduled duration of the term. Refunds will not be granted in the event of a COVID-19 shut down.

Please note that there will be no multiple class discounts offered this term. Due to significantly limited class capacity, we are discouraging dancers from registering in more than 1-2 onsite classes to allow space for other students to register for classes. 

Dance, in all its forms, requires grace and artistry but it also requires strength. Canada’s National Ballet School offers an early morning strengthening program for participants 18+. All can benefit from Dance Based Conditioning (DBC) classes, whether one has years of ballet experience or is new to the dance field. Led by NBS’ “Ballet Bob” McCollum, these classes will target core strength and coordination. With progression through a series of exercises participants will see an increase in balance as well as movement expression.

These classes are a rare opportunity for adults to benefit from the same conditioning exercises NBS’ Professional Ballet Program students use. They have been developed over many years into a unique, intense and highly respected conditioning system designed to improve the body’s strength and coordination while also preventing improper form and injury. DBC classes will allow adults the opportunity to learn the Dowd exercises and improve their core strength, coordination and balance.

A perfect way to see an improvement in overall fitness, these classes will work muscles and prepare participants to start the work day with a smile. Low impact DBC classes will enhance those already taking dance classes, while also providing a great introduction for those considering taking more intensive dance classes.

The ballet journey begins! This class is for the absolute beginner – no previous training is required. In this level the dancer will learn the strong fundamentals of ballet technique. Exercises for good posture, turnout, and supple use of feet and arms will be taught; students are introduced to basic barre and centre work. Dancers are also instructed in proper stretching technique to lengthen muscles, prevent injury, and increase flexibility. Students have commented that this class is beneficial beyond the studio and enhanced their everyday life. Based on a 15-week term.

Building upon “Intro to Ballet”, the student starts learning the language of ballet through exercises to develop the legs in a variety of ways: through the use of the leg in rotation, learning the five basic positions and movement of the leg through front, side and back positions. Dancers are introduced to a complete barre from grande pliés to grande battements. Centre work begins with port de bras combinations, training students in the proper use of the arms. Slow lifts of the legs in adage will strengthen the standing leg for more advanced levels and increase flexibility. Turning is a fun aspect of a ballet: students will be prepared for success by learning the proper use of the head (known as spotting). Waltzing combinations and basic balletic jumps are also introduced. An additional benefit to this level, students are taught conditioning exercises focusing on core strength and stability; these exercises will improve studio work and also help in daily activities. Completion of this level is a prerequisite to enter Advanced Beginner.

Building upon Beginner, Advanced Beginner goes deeper into the work and aesthetics of ballet. Barre exercises are longer in length and build a more refined and sustained muscularity that can be used throughout the class. Varied arm positions are encouraged in all exercises. One of the most beautiful lines in dance, the arabesque, is emphasized at the barre and in the centre. One of the exciting accomplishments achieved in Advanced Beginner is the pirouette and new jumps include the smooth glissade and the assemblé. Waltz turning is introduced into flowing combinations done on the diagonal in the studio.  

The journey continues with new turns, jumps, and diagonal combinations with more challenging tempos to further explore musicality and memorization. At the barre, exercises include more use of rises and relevés and balances on one standing leg. In centre work, the developé, a lovely unfolding of one leg in the air, is executed in the basic ballet positions of front, side and back. Students will continue to refine their turns and their spotting skills; they will be challenged through the introduction of new types of turns. New jumps include the jeté, the sissone and the pas de chat. Diagonal combinations vary from waltzing to jumps across the studio as the dancer explores their use of space.

Elementary continues to develop the dancer’s stamina, strength, memorization skills, and musicality. Barre work wakes up the brain, with longer combinations incorporating more varied dynamics (slow/fast or smooth/sharp) within the sequence as well as changes in weight placement. In centrework, chaînés are introduced; this turn is a true test of the dancer’s spotting skills. Allegro (Jumps) at this level begins to combine a variety of jumps and changes of direction in a single combination; this challenges the brain while improving the dancer’s endurance levels.

Advanced Elementary takes the student further into the study of ballet with more complex combinations, incorporating full use of the arms throughout the class and swifter changes of plié to rise at barre and in the centre. The piqué turn is introduced at this level and is usually done on the diagonal and repeated several times in succession. New jumps include an introduction to beats and sissone de coté (scissor-like jumps to the side). Three to four different jumps may be included in a single combination. Grande allegro (big travelling jumps) across the floor encourages further development of strength and stamina.

Intermediate moves the dancer to the next level of accomplishment with more intricate and detailed combinations. For instance, waltz combinations may have three different turns within and allegro may incorporate four to five different jumps in a single combination. At the barre, the arabesque penché, a show-stopping movement which often appears in staged ballets, is further explored to its full potential. In grande allegro dancers fly across the studio on the diagonal and the grande-jeté is introduced.

In Advanced Intermediate, the dancer explores the technique and artistry of ballet at an advanced level throughout the barre and centre. Exercises are longer and more challenging and allow the dancer to achieve a new level of professionalism. Turns at this level will include piqué en dehors as well as turns in arabesque and attitude positions. Multiple allegro combinations with beats will develop stamina and further challenge the dancer. Grande jeté en tournant is introduced in grande allegro. A mastery of Advanced Elementary or the elementary levels of RAD or Cecchetti is a prerequisite for this course.

Advanced is the culmination of the Adult Ballet program at NBS. Complex and varied in dynamic range, the combinations performed at the barre and in the centre will push the dancer to expand and challenge their movement potential. More turns, more batterie and more complex and expressive adages are given. Variation steps from the classical repertoire are also incorporated in this level, encouraging the dancer to further explore the artistry of ballet.

Try an existing class on our schedule to assess if it’s the right level for you. A Find Your Level class must be reserved by calling Reception at 416-964-3780 and can only be taken once.