About The School
NW CAMPUS
The Washington School of Ballet’s Northwest Campus on Wisconsin Avenue shares studios with the internationally-acclaimed Washington Ballet. Students catch glimpses of company rehearsals and can earn the opportunity to perform in company productions. Notable alumni from The Washington School of Ballet include Virginia Johnson, Kevin McKenzie, Amanda McKerrow, Shirley MacLaine, Georgia Engel, and Chelsea Clinton. TWSB students have gone on to dance professionally with The Washington Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and numerous other companies all over the U.S. and the world.
The Washington School of Ballet is a training facility for students ages 4 through Adult, and is divided into The Lower Division, The Upper Division and The Recreational Division.
The Northwest Campus is located at 3515 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC 200016
Select classes will also be held at the nearby National Cathedral School dance studios located at 3500 Woodley Rd., NW Washington DC 20016 and the Cathedral College of Preachers located at 3510 Woodley Rd., NW Washington, DC 20016.
Please check the class schedules to verify where classes will be held.
The Lower Division
The Lower Division includes Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet I and II and Graded levels 1A-3
Creative Movement
Creative Movement is meant for the 4-5 year old student. This level introduces young students to music and movement. Students learn dance etiquette, discipline, and group interaction while developing coordination and musicality. Classes meet for 45 minutes.
Pre-Ballet
Pre-Ballet serves as an introduction to the classroom and body movement for students ages five, six, and seven. First Year Pre-Ballet classes meet for 45 minutes per week. Second Year Pre-Ballet classes meet for one hour per week. Pre-Ballet is a one to two year program, depending on focus and development.
Levels 1 A & B
When students enter Level 1, they can expect to spend more time in the studio. This is the first year of intensive training for the ballet student. Classes meet twice a week.
1A begins to develop a strong foundation for classical ballet.
1B continues to develop a classical ballet foundation with more repetitive work for the development of strength.
Level 2
In level 2, classes are held twice a week for 1.5 hours. Level 2 includes an introduction to longer combinations of ballet steps and more intricate musicality.
Level 3
Level 3 is the Pre-Pointe year, when classes meet three times per week for 2 hours. Level 3’s syllabus and schedule is more rigorous, with a focus on strengthening feet and ankles to prepare students for pointe. Depending on their strength and development, Level 3 students will begin pointe during the spring semester.
The Upper Division
The Upper Division consists of Levels 4 through 6.
Level 4
In Level 4 students are required to attend classes 4 times each week for 1.75 hours per class. Level 4 includes rigorous ballet training technique and an increased amount of pointe work. Level 4 emphasizes core work, quick thinking and attention to detail.
Level 5
Level 5 attends classes 5 times per week. The focus in this level is on more intricate foot work and dance sequencing, including more rigorous ballet vocabulary and pointe work.
Level 6
Level 6 continues the rigorous pre-professional training, meeting 5 times each week. Students are graduated out of the leveled classes at age 18.
*Movement through the Levels is purely up to the discretion of the faculty. The faculty may require a student to repeat a level as necessary to ensure the proper training and development of the student.
Professional Training Program
The Professional Training Program (PTP) offers gifted students who hope to pursue a career in ballet the opportunity to study at a professional level. Students attend classes Monday through Saturday to study classical technique, pointe, modern, pas de deux, pilates and men's class. The esteemed faculty is under the direction of Kee Juan Han. Students are frequently asked to perform in The Washington Ballet's company productions. Students also have access to physical therapists every week. PTP students are accepted by invitation only.
Trainee Program
The Washington Ballet also offers aTrainee Program. Ballet Master of the Trainee Program, Monique Meunier, and other distinguished faculty of the Washington Ballet, provide intense and valuable training to those invited in to the Program. This one or two year program aims at giving students age 17+ a polished training required to enter the professional field. Students will also train under Artistic Director, Septime Webre, TWB Associate Artistic Director David Palmer, and Kee Juan Han, TWSB school director. Trainees will receive vigorous training, coaching and mentoring. They will also maintain a challenging performance schedule, at times, dancing alongside the members of the Washington Ballet, and the Washington Ballet’s Studio Company. Trainees will also be given consideration for higher positions within the organization.
Recreational Division
The Teen Program
The Teen level is for students who still want to enjoy the benefits of learning classical ballet without the rigorous scheduling requirements that come with the Upper Division. Students are eligible for the Teen Program after completion of Level 4. Students in the Teen Program will have the opportunity to study, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Flamenco, Ballet and Pointe.
Syllabi
Each level at The Washington School of Ballet has its own syllabus, and students must master the skills in that level before they may advance. The syllabi were developed by the director of The Washington School of Ballet to ensure that the School's students receive the best ballet training possible.
Please click here for information on adult open classes.
SE CAMPUS AT THEARC
TWB@THEARC is housed at the Town Hall Education Arts and Recreation Center (THEARC), a multi-disciplinary facility in Southeast Washington where music, art, and social services are offered in an environment that inspires both adults and children to learn, share, discover, and flourish. TWB@THEARC’s state-of-the-art facility includes two studios, dressing and locker rooms, and a 365-seat theatre, where The Washington Ballet performs its famed Nutcracker with select students from The Washington School of Ballet in the production.
The Southeast campus is located at 1901 Mississippi Ave., SE Washington, DC 20020
Youth Programs
The Washington Ballet offers a graded curriculum for all children's classes including ballet, African and hip hop. The children's program is defined by ages 4-17.
Creative Movement
Designed as a preparation for our Pre-Ballet classes, Creative Movement encourages 4 year olds to explore their bodies’ potential for movement and to dance independently and imaginatively. Elements of beginning ballet technique, musicality, and formulation are also introduced, with an emphasis being placed on familiarizing the students with the discipline, structure, and progression of a ballet class.
Pre-Ballet I and II
Pre-Ballet serves as an introduction to the classroom and body movement for students ages five and six. Classes meet one hour per week and are offered on Saturdays. Pre-Ballet is a one to two year program, depending on age and understanding. Upon completion of the Pre-Ballet program, students begin twb@THEARC's graded levels.
Graded Levels (1-3)
The Washington Ballet @ THEARC currently has three graded levels for students ages seven to sixteen. Classes meet at least twice a week, and as students progress, they can expect to spend more time in the studio. All students follow a rigorous ballet syllabus designed to prepare them for professional careers. Classes include ballet technique and pre-pointe instruction.
African Dance
Ms. Soumah’s “West African Dance class explores the richness of African Dance traditions from Guinea, Mali and Senegal. Her class emphasizes the relationship between music and dance. Students will learn the history and identity of the dances through dance, music and song. Students will feel empowered and inspired to learn more about how these dances and chants relate to their parent cultures.” –Description from Coyaba Dance Theater website found through danceplace.org
Hip Hop
Urban Artistry instruction ranges from Hip Hop Freestyle foundation to advanced execution and performance techniques. Junious “House” Brickhouse (The Assassins Crew) and his Urban Artistry program are focused on building well-rounded “Ambassadors of Urban Dance and Hip Hop Culture.” For more information about Urban Artistry, visit their website at UrbanArtistry.org.
twb@THEARC Dancers
The twb@THEARC Dancers is a performance group composed of students from the school. They perform throughout the community representing The Washington Ballet School @ THEARC.
Dress Code and Tuition
Tuition is based on the information provided on the Income Assessment of your registration packet. twb@THEARC uses a sliding scale of household income and family size to determine the payment group. From there, the tuition is calculated based on the number of classes a student enrolls in. twb@THEARC hopes that in using this method to determine student tuition the program is accessible to a wide range of families.
Click here for Dress code information.
Adult Programs
The Washington School of Ballet offers open adult classes on a drop-in basis throughout the year, and students may join classes at any time of the year-No audition or pre-registration is necessary. We encourage students who are unsure about their level to attend an advanced beginner class and discuss their placement with the instructor.
The Washington School of Ballet has no required dress code for adult students. We do encourage students to wear a leotard, tights, and ballet slippers, but students are welcome to wear clothing that is comfortable and allows easy movement. Hair should be pulled back from the face and off of the neck. Cost: Classes cost $15.00 per class, or $13.00 with purchase of class card for ballet classes. Class cards are $130 and are good for ten classes. Cash or check only please. If you would like to pay by credit card single classes are $17 and a 10 class card is $150.
Please click here for information on adult open classes.
Syllabi
Each level at The Washington Ballet has its own syllabus, and students must master the skills in that level before they may advance. The syllabi were developed by the director of The Washington School of Ballet to ensure that the School's students receive the best ballet training possible.
Click the links below to download the appropriate pdf syllabi: Pre-Ballet
Ballet Level 1 A
Ballet Level 1 B
Ballet Level 2A
Please check back for additional syllabi.
Alexandria Campus at the Athenaeum
The Athenaeum is home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association and located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria. In 2008, The Washington School of Ballet and The Athenaeum formed a partnership to provide quality ballet classes to young students in the Northern Virginia community. The Athenaeum provides an elegant and expansive space for students to learn the foundations of ballet.
Creative Movement
Pre-Ballet
Level 1
Partners
School Partnership Programs
The Washington Ballet (TWB) continually creates collaborations between of public, charter and private schools to create individualized programs to meet needs and interests. The schools provide the uniforms, transportation to TWB@THEARC and pay a nominal fee for the classes. The Washington Ballet has worked with the Catholic School of Greater Washington, DC Preparatory Academy, and The Washington Middle School for Girls.
Professional Company Partnership Programs
The professional company partnership program seeks to enrich and diversify the class offerings at the dance studios as well as expose students to professional dance. These experiences include master classes, workshops and opportunities to attend performances. Partnerships have included African Heritage Dancers and Drummers, K2 Dance Company , Step Afrika!, Andrew Cacho Dancers and Drummers, the DC Youth Ensemble and Bowen McCauley Dance. The Washington Ballet currently collaborates with Coyaba Dance Theatre to provide African classes and Urban Artistry to provide Hip Hop classes. Additional opportunities are ongoing.
The Washington Ballet @ THEARC also rents the large and small dance studios for companies use. The studio rental is based on an hourly rate and discounts are given to non-profit organizations. If interested in a rental or partnership please contact School Coordinator, Mary Wroth at 202-889-8150 x236.
General Information
Mailing address: 3515 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016
Phone number 202-362-3606
Evaluations:
Students will receive written evaluations from the faculty twice a year. These evaluations will be sent home to give the student and the parent the opportunity to see the progress made and to better understand what improvement the student needs to make.
Parent Observation:
The Washington School of Ballet’s classes are generally closed to parents in order to provide a focused learning environment. However, parents will get an opportunity to observe twice throughout the year. The school will notify each Level in regards the Parent Observation schedule.
Make-up Policy:
At the Washington School of Ballet students in Levels 3 and up are required to make-up their missed classes in order to ensure they progress. Students in Level 2 and under DO NOT NEED TO MAKE-UP.
Inclement Weather:
When there is inclement weather, please call the School and press Extension #7. School closings will also be listed on WTOP and News Channel 9.