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Everyone can learn to dance at any age! We offer classes from absolute beginner to professional dancer level.
Ballet Absolute beginners:
For dancers with no prior experience of ballet, teaching from scratch starting at the beginning of each year, working through to simple combinations by the end of the year. These classes also teach the French vocabulary of the dance steps.
Ballet Basic Level 1:
Suitable for those with some prior dance experience and knowledge of ballet terminology, this class teaches the basics ballet steps in combinations set to beautiful music and adapts to the abilities of each dancer. All ages and fitness levels are welcome.
Through elegant ballet moves stability, co-ordination, stamina, muscular strength and flexibility are improved.
Ballet Level 2:
Suitable for dancers who have done ballet for roughly 2 years and are ready to progress to harder steps such as more complicated pirouettes.
Senior Ballet:
Suitable for older dancers who would like a slower paced class. The class involves barre and centre. The last 15 minutes of class are for repertoire learning adaptations of famous ballets.
Relaxed Ballet:
This is a more relaxed and fun class for adult dancers who are keen to dance and maybe can’t make the evening or weekend class due to family commitments. This class is not as technically focussed as other classes such as RAD classes.
vaganova Ballet:
The Vaganova method is a ballet technique and training system devised by the Russian dancer and pedagogue Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951). It was derived from the teachings of the Premier Maître de Ballet Marius Petipa, throughout the late 19th century. It was Agrippa Vaganova who perfected and cultivated this form of teaching classical ballet and turned it into a viable syllabus.[1] The method fuses elements of traditional French style from the romantic era with the athleticism and virtuosity of Italian Cecchetti technique.[2] The training system is designed to involve the whole body in every movement, with equal attention paid to the upper body, legs and feet. Vaganova believed that this approach increases consciousness of the body, thus creating a harmony of movement and greater expressive range.
RAD Intermediate Foundation:
The Royal Academy of Dance set syllabus Intermediate Foundation is the 1st level of Vocational exams. It focuses on technique and style, including 2 pointe exercises at the barre and 1 in the centre for females. An intermediate level of ballet technique is required - however completion of previous RAD examinations is not. Exam entry is at the discretion of the teacher. 2 years of training in the syllabus is usual before sitting the exam. Doing the exam is not compulsory, you can join the class and choose not to do the exam.
RAD Intermediate:
The Royal Academy of Dance set syllabus Intermediate is the 2nd level of Vocational exams. It focuses on technique and style, including 4 pointe exercises at the barre and 3 in the centre for females. An intermediate level of ballet technique is required - however completion of previous RAD examinations is not. Exam entry is at the discretion of the teacher. 2 years of training in the syllabus is usual before sitting the exam. Doing the exam is not compulsory, you can join the class and choose not to do the exam.
RAD Advanced Foundation & Advanced 1:
The Royal Academy of Dance set syllabus Advanced Foundation is the 3rd level of Vocational exams. The syllabus focusses on strong technique and style, including pointe work for females. An advanced level of ballet technique is required - however completion of previous RAD examinations is not. Exam entry is at the discretion of the teacher. 2 years of training in the syllabus is usual before sitting the exam. Doing the exam is not compulsory, you can join the class and choose not to do the exam.
Advanced 1 is the 4th level of 5 Vocational exams. A high level of ballet technique is required.
Pointe Class:
A class for dancers with experience in ballet but not necessarily in pointework. The class teaches the basics of pointework focussing on strengthening the feet, correct technique and injury prevention. If you have not done pointe before you will need to email the studio to arrange a private lesson to determine whether you can start pointework.
Floor Barre:
Floor barre is an excellent supplement to your ballet class. It was developed by Boris Kniaseff and is essentially practising ballet exercises whilst lying on the floor. It helps to train the correct muscles used in ballet technique.
RAD Discovering Repertoire Levels 2&3:
These classes are open to all adults. This syllabus has a ballet class element as well as a repertoire element which is based on classical ballet variations from Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker. The exam consists of a class (less exercises than a usual RAD exam), 8 preparatory exercises for the variation (optional), and then the variation (optional). There are 3 levels of the syllabus which can be done on or off pointe. The syllabus is examinable but dancers are also welcome to join the class with no intention to sit the exam.
https://www.rad.org.uk/news/discovering-repertoire-a-classical-ballet-performance-programme
Private Lessons/Coaching:
Private lessons or group coaching available for all levels for RAD syllabus, competition work and personal improvement.
Progressing ballet technique:
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is a program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon to help students advance in all dance forms by training muscle memory. PBT focuses on core stability, weight placement and alignment. PBT is practiced internationally. This class will leave your body feeling refreshed and invigorated and will improve your understanding of your body and how to use it in ballet.
Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Exams:
Adults dancers can do an exam in Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Discovering Repertoire level 2 or 3, Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 & 2 classes. To prepare for an exam takes a minimum of 1 year of regular 2 classes per week (unless a dancer comes with prior knowledge of that level of the syllabus). Dancers are very welcome to join the RAD and Discovering Repertoire classes and not do an exam and you can still move up a level after one year without doing the exam.
Exam Level Guidelines:
Basic Level 1 - Discovering Repertoire Level 2 (no pointework)
Ballet Basic Level 2 - Discovering Repertoire Level 3 (no pointework) or Intermediate Foundation (minimal pointework)
Advanced Level - Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 & 2 (pointework)
If you are wanting to do an exam at Danceworks Sydney and you started learning ballet as an adult, we recommend the Intermediate Foundation for you as a starting point. If you have done ballet as a child then you might want to go straight into a Vocational exam (Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1, Advanced 2). All Vocational exams involve pointework for girls, performing a short solo and free enchainement work (theory).
Adult Performance Groups:
In mid Term 3 of each year (approx. end of August till mid December) adult dancers are welcome to join the Performance Group in which dancers learn and rehearse a group ballet dance which is performed at the end of year performance. It is open to all levels as the dance is choreographed according to who is in the piece. It's a great opportunity to have a goal and work towards a performance, as well as an opportunity to perform for friends and family. Life is so short, why not spend a moment of it on stage doing what you love for the ones you love - be brave!
Class Info:
BOOK ONLINE HERE https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=487254&stype=-98
CLASS CHANGES Make sure you join our Facebook page to keep up to date on Class time changes or cancellations!
ABILITY You are not obliged to do all of the class, simply what you feel your body is capable of
AGE Adult classes are from 16yrs old
LEVEL If you enrol in the wrong level you can change up or down at any time
KIDS WATCHING If you have children they can sit in the corner of the studio for the duration of your lesson
"I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself."
— Mikhail Baryshnikov