ISB | PROGRAMS

pre-professional Ballet program

The Indianapolis School of Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program, for students ages eight to young adult, is an intensive, graded course of study in ballet and other forms of dance designed to help motivated and career-minded students meet the highest standards of the dance profession. The path to attaining that goal is centered on the Artistic Director’s and the Faculty’s collective belief in the proven results of sound, concentrated training: the more classes diligently applied, the faster the student's growth and progress. Therefore, students with special potential and commitment are urged to take as many classes as they can. Artistic and financial incentives are in place to enable that possibility.  Most importantly, the mode of procedure for the entire Pre-Professional Program is outlined in the section “Administrative Policies.”

Placement in the pre-professional program must be approved by the the Artistic Director.  New students above should contact the school to schedule a trial class ($15) to be evaluated for placement and receive a list of approved classes.

2011-2012 School Year Classes -

Primary includes the beginner/elementary levels 1,2 and 3, in which students ages seven to twelve acquire the initial layers of knowledge that form the foundation of ballet technique. These primary levels are considered the most important of all because the students' development from this point forward depends greatly on the strength of their early base.

Level 1 (Ages 8-10)

Thursday 5:00 - 6:00 Ballet

Saturday 11:30 - 12:30 Ballet

Saturday 12:30 - 1:00 Tap I

$513.00 per semester/$120 monthly • 2½ hours per week 

Level 2 (Ages 9-11)

Tuesday 5:00 - 6:30 Ballet

Tuesday 6:30 - 7:00 Tap

Saturday 9:30 -11:00 Ballet

$649.80 per semester/$152 monthly • 4 hours per week

Level 3 (Ages 10 -12)

Tuesday 5:00 - 6:30 Ballet

Tuesday 7:00 - 7:30 Tap

Thursday 5:00 - 6:30 Ballet

Saturday11:00 - 12:30 Ballet

$769.50 per semester/$180 monthly • 5 or more hours per week

Intermediate includes levels 4, 5 and 6, where students hone their skills by building on their basic foundation. Also by level 4, class schedules intensify with addition of Pointe work for the female dancer, classes addressing the special technical requirements of the male dancer, as well as increased participation in rehearsals, performances and special events.  Performance rehearsals are scheduled on Saturday afternoons.

Level 4 (Ages 11 & up)

Monday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Pointe

Wednesday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Pointe

Friday 5:00 - 7:00 Ballet/Pointe

One elective in jazz, modern or tap

$940.50 per semester/$220 monthly • 7 or more hours per week

Level 5 (Ages 12 & up)

Monday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Pointe

Wednesday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Pointe

Friday 5:00 - 6:30 Ballet

Friday 6:45 - 7:45 Pointe

Saturday 12:30 - 2:30 Ballet/Pointe

One elective in jazz, modern or tap

$1132.88 per semester/$265 monthly • 9 or more hours per week

Level 6 (Ages 13 & up)

Monday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Pointe

Wednesday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Variations

Thursday 6:30 - 7:30 Body Conditioning

Friday 4:45 - 6:45 Ballet/Pointe

Saturday 12:30 - 2:30 Ballet/Pointe

Two electives in jazz, modern or tap

$1239.75 per semester/$290 monthly • 11 or more hours per week

Advanced includes the upper levels 7 and 8, where students expand their technical and artistic skills by intensifying their class schedules with separate Pointe classes for the ladies, Variations and/or Partnering for both the male and female dancers, as well as even greater participation in rehearsals, performances and special events.

Level 7 (Ages 15 & up) 

Monday 4:30 - 6:30 Ballet/Pointe

Tuesday 4:30 - 6:00 Ballet/Pointe

Tuesday 6:00 - 7:00 Variations

Thursday 4:30 - 6:30 Ballet/Pointe

Thursday 6:30 - 7:30 Body Conditioning

Friday 4:30 - 6:30 Ballet/Pointe

Saturday 11:00 - 12:30 Ballet

Saturday 12:30 - 1:30 Pointe

One elective in jazz, modern or tap

$1,303.88 per semester/$305 monthly • 13 or more hours per week

Level 8 (Ages 16 & up) 

Monday 4:30 - 6:30 Ballet/Pointe

Tuesday 4:30 - 6:00 Ballet

Tuesday 6:00 - 7:00 Variations

Thursday 4:30 - 6:30 Ballet/Pointe

Thursday 6:30 - 7:30 Body Conditioning

Friday 4:30 - 6:30 Ballet/Pointe

Saturday 11:00 - 12:30 Ballet

Saturday 12:30 - 1:30 Pointe

One elective in jazz, modern or tap

$1303.88 per semester/$305 monthly • 13 or more hours per week

packages

The Pre-Professional Program’s main focus is Ballet with additional instruction in Tap, Jazz, Modern, Character and Ballroom Dance.  Body Conditioning is also offered. All levels are organized in packages from entry Level 1 to the most advanced Level 8. Packages consist of the recommended minimum number of classes per week at each level, including the appropriate ballet classes and other dance requirements.  (Ages indicated at various levels are guidelines.  See placement information below class offerings.)

Policies and procedures

Starting at Intermediate Level 4, all students enrolled in a full level package are entitled to take any scheduled classes at or below their own level at no additional cost.

A choice of electives included is included in Levels 4 – 8 required packages.  Additional electives may be added to packages for $135 per class each semester.

Some students who attend all required classes and are doing exceptional work may be invited by faculty panel to take classes in a level above their own at no additional cost.

There will be no required formal academic grading or certification at the end of the school year. Evaluation and student-parent-teacher communication will be ongoing. The students' progress will be a true measure of their accomplishment.

Beginning with Level 2, classes missed due to short-term illness, injury or vacation may be made up by taking extra classes at the student's own or lower level, or a higher level with the permission of the Artistic Director.

Students who wish to take fewer class hours than recommended may do so with permission from the Artistic Director. 

PLACEMENT

It is important to note that a level is merely an indication of a student's current stage of accomplishing the required skills. Placement in levels is neither an arbitrary "reward-punishment" process nor is it based entirely on years of study or age (except for the 7-year old entry-level minimum in ballet). Since the teaching content of the class is guided more by the students' physical facility and quickness in digesting material than by the demands of a pre-ordered syllabus, they will be placed where the Artistic Director and faculty feel they will learn the most and where gaps in training can be addressed. At the same time, students will be allowed and encouraged to advance through the level system according to their own talents, hard work, and dedicated attendance. Furthermore, the technical attainment of the school's overall student body often fluctuates from year to year, and the numbers attached to class levels may have little meaning compared to those same numbers in previous years.