The Ballet School at Tiffany’s Dance Academy

Our Approach
The Ballet School at Tiffany’s Dance Academy provides dancers with a solid base from which to grow in an informed, technical environment. We focus on understanding how dance shapes and forms the body. And, how it releases tension. This allows dancers to move efficiently. Dancers are trained to approach varying dance styles offered at Tiffany’s Dance Academy and beyond. The faculty draws on the Vagonova, Ceccetti, and French traditions, as well as knowledge gained from years of study in the American dance world where these traditions are blended to produce dancers who are unaffected by a particular style.
Performance Opportunities Abound
Tiffany’s Dance Academy offers more performance opportunities than your average dance studio. These include an annual Nutcracker, Performing Company Showcase, Spring Recital, and Regional Dance Conventions and Competitions for those who join the Performing Company.
Beyond TDA
Dancers trained in the program are accepted to various summer and year-round programs including the San Francisco Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, Arts Umbrella in Vancouver, Canada as well as collegiate dance programs including The University of Arizona, the University of California Irvine, the University of California Santa Barbara, NYU and Chapman University.
Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement Ages 5- 7

Basic Ballet – Age 8- 10
*Prerequisite: Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement
This level emphasizes correct postural alignment, principles of turn-out, balance, control, and elementary barre exercises. Center work consists of a repetition of barre work, carriage of the arms, and positions of the body in relationship to the eight points of focus of the stage.
Ballet I – Ages 9-11

Building on the foundation set by Basic Ballet, barre work exercises become more complex and of a longer duration to train muscle memory and increase flexibility. Special emphasis is placed on the dancer’s ability to connect and link steps for fluid movement, memorize patterns, and move through space while maintaining proper alignment. At this level we encourage the dancer to examine the combinations and plan ahead for self-correction. This level is typically repeated.
Ballet II
* prerequisite: Ballet
At this level, there is a marked developmental leap, both in the technical aspects of class and in the seriousness with which training is taken by the dancer. This is the age when the young dancer begins to evaluate past experiences in dance and to question whether or not a career would be desirable. Training intensifies to match this period of self-evaluation. All past work is repeated in more complex combinations increasing strength, endurance, stamina and ability to link steps together in a fluid manner. Understanding of motivation, movement goals, imagery, and presentation are stressed in order to develop better artistic expression. Pre- pointe is introduced at this level.
This level is typically repeated. Evaluation for full pointe work is conducted at the end of the 2nd year.
Ballet III
*prerequisite Ballet II
From this level forward the plasticity, coordination and smooth connection of movements of the arms, legs, feet, head, and body is the primary developmental goal. Rhythmic patterns are emphasized and attention is given to aiding the dancer’s ability to “tune in” to muscular feelings. Emphasis is placed on greater stability and complexity in the study of adagio and developing the smooth, graceful and subtle qualities in movement. Study of turning in open positions is part of the daily routine at this level, as is the study of battu, petite allegro, and grand allegro. Regular and repeated reference will be made to facilitate the dancer’s understanding of movement goals and ability to “self correct”.
Ballet IV/ V

Boys Ballet
Pointe
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