Level Descriptions

Bay Area Ballet Conservatory offers ballet classes for ages 3-18, divided into two divisions: Primary and Pre-Professional.

Primary Division Ballet - Levels of Study

Pre Ballet | Ages 3-5

Pre Ballet is a structured introduction to movement. Some basic positions and terminology is introduced. Each class begins with a warm-up that includes stretching and strengthening exercise, center exercises, and locomotive exercises. Age appropriate ballet etiquette is introduced.
This class is 45 minutes and students attend once per week.
Summer Session eligibility is age 3 by June 1. School Session eligibility is age 5 by September 1 / entering Kindergarten. Pre Ballet is appropriate for Preschool, Pre-K and TK. All children entering Pre Ballet should display readiness for a classroom setting without a parent present and follow the class structure.

Level 1A | Ages 5-8

Level 1A begins an introduction to a more formal classical ballet education, class structure and etiquette. Students continue to learn foundational positions and terminology. Class begins with conditioning exercises for flexibility and strength, followed by center barre, center work, and locomotive work. By end of School Session, the class is introduced to working at the ballet barre.
This class meets for 60 minutes. Students may take this class one or two times per week.
Summer Session eligibility is age 5 by June 1. School Session eligibility is age 5 by September 1 / entering Kindergarten. Children must be at least in Kindergarten to enter Level 1A, and typically spend 1 summer + 1 school year in this level.

Level 1B | Teacher Recommendation, Age 8+

This level contains increased stretching and conditioning skills, increased time learning at the barre and basic center work. Proper basic technique, posture/alignment are strongly emphasized, as well as coordination, musicality and class etiquette.
This class meets for 60 minutes. Students may take this class one or two times per week.
Level 1B students are placed by teacher recommendation. Children typically spend 1 - 2 years in this level.

Pre Professional Division Ballet & Pointe - Levels of Study

Pre Professional Level 2 | Teacher Recommendation

Formal ballet training that includes conditioning, stretching, barre work and center work. This level has a heavy focus on posture and alignment, which helps carry a student through more advanced material in the future.
Each class is either 75 or 90 minutes and is offered three times per week. Enrollment in two Level 2 classes per week is strictly required.
Children typically spend 1 – 2 years in Level 2.

Pre Professional Level 3 | Teacher Recommendation

Formal ballet training that includes conditioning, stretching, barre work and center work. Continued focus on posture and alignment, which helps carry a student through more advanced material in the future. More advanced barre and center work begins, as well as preparations for pirouettes and allegro.
Each class is either 75 or 90 minutes and is offered two times per week. Enrollment in both Level 3 classes per week is strictly required.
Children typically spend 1 – 3 years in Level 3.

Pre Professional Level 4A | Teacher Recommendation

Meets three times per week. Enrollment in all Level 4A technique classes is required. Students typically spend 1-3 years in Level 4A.

Formal ballet training that includes conditioning, stretching, barre work and center work. This level has a heavy focus on posture and alignment, which helps carry a student through more advanced material in the future. More advanced barre work continues, as well as more complex exercise patterning. Intermediate level pirouettes, allegro and traveling phrases are introduced.

Level 4B | Teacher Recommendation

Meets four times per week. Enrollment in a minimum of three Level 4B classes is required, though enrollment in all Level 4B classes is strongly encouraged. Students typically spend 1 – 3 years in Level 4B.

Level 5 | Teacher Recommendation

Meets five times per week. Enrollment in a minimum of three Level 5 technique classes is required, though enrollment in all Level 5 classes is strongly encouraged. Students typically spend 2 - 4 years in Level 5.

Formal ballet training that includes conditioning, stretching, advanced barre work and center work. Beyond the technical elements of this advanced level, there is a heavy focus on refinement, epaulement and artistry. This level includes an increase in movement vocabulary – exploring all the steps. A dancer at this level will spend many years working to perfect the material given.

Level 6 | Teacher Recommendation

Meets five times per week. Enrollment in a minimum of four Level 6 technique classes is required, though enrollment in all Level 6 classes is strongly encouraged. Students typically spend 2 - 4 years in Level 6.

Beginner Pointe I & II | Teacher Recommendation

Beginning Pointe I & II meets one time per week. Beginner Pointe I & II students must be enrolled in a minimum of three Pre Professional Division ballet classes per week. Consistent attendance of both ballet and pointe classes is expected. Students typically spend 1 – 3 years in Beginning Pointe I & II.

Intermediate Pointe | Teacher Recommendation

Intermediate pointe meets three times per week. Enrollment in a minimum of two Intermediate Pointe and three Pre Professional Division ballet classes per week is required. Consistent attendance of both ballet and pointe classes is expected. Students typically spend 2 – 4 years in Intermediate Pointe.

Advanced Pointe | Teacher Recommendation

Advanced Pointe meets 3x per week. Enrollment in a minimum of three Advanced Pointe and four Pre-Professional Division ballet classes per week is required. Consistent attendance of both ballet and pointe classes is expected. Advanced pointe students taking 4 ballet classes / week may take Thursday Level 5/6 ballet classes en pointe for extra pointework but does not count towards their 3x / week pointe class requirement.

Bay Area Ballet Youth Company (BABYC)

BABYC is a performing youth company open by audition for students in Levels 4A - 6. BABYC is divided in to three groups; Apprentice, Junior and Senior. Audition for new company dancers will be held Saturday, September 10. BABYC dancers must adhere to the following enrollment requirements:

Enrollment in at least the minimum required Pre Professional Division ballet classes
Enrollment in at least the minimum required Pointe classes, if applicable. It is not required that BABYC dancers are training en pointe.