Ballet Theatre Ashtabula School of Dance

Ballet Theatre
Ashtabula School of Dance

Ballet Theatre Ashtabula School of Dance provides students with a strong technical foundation in ballet via expert instruction and personal attention, in a studio space designed with safety and artistic excellence in mind. Classes are held year-round, and there are annual performance opportunities for all student levels, which dancers are strongly encouraged to take part in. Special artistic development opportunities are also available for Senior Company Division dancers, who have the chance to work with guest artists in a variety of dance genres. Our studios have shock-absorbing, basket-weave construction sprung floors surfaced with state-of-the-art marley, enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury. Many former BTA students have gone on to dance professionally in companies such as Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, MOMIX, Alberta Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, Les Ballets Trockadero, Ailey II, Verb Ballets, and Elisa Monte Dance, or have danced professionally for major cruise lines and in national tours of Broadway shows. Others have gotten their degrees in dance from institutions including the Juilliard School, Marymount Manhattan College, Mercyhurst University, and Wright State University. BTA also offers recreational classes, for students who enjoy dance for fun and fitness.

From ages 3-6, students are part of the Young Children’s Division, consisting of Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet. Children are introduced to basic ballet concepts and vocabulary, and begin to learn about movement and self-expression. Classes at this level emphasize imagination, simple musicality, and coordination, along with early learning concepts like listening for directions, being kind and respectful to classmates, and trying new things.

At age 7, students move into the Junior Company Division, consisting of Ballet I & II. At this level, dancers are expected to develop a sense of teamwork, responsibility, and self-confidence, learning and memorizing choreography and attending classes and rehearsals consistently. Once in Ballet I, all students are invited to perform in The Nutcracker and the Children’s Dance Recital. It’s important to note that entrance into Ballet I is the last time a student’s age determines their placement; advancement to subsequent levels happens when a student has shown sufficient growth in the skills and maturity needed to move on. This advancement is a unique journey for every student, focused on individual improvement, mastery of techniques, and self-confidence — not a timeframe.

Dancers advance to the pre-professional Senior Company Division, consisting of Ballet III & IV, when they demonstrate the levels of commitment, discipline, and focus required of young, developing artists. Senior Company Division dancers are encouraged to take extra classes beyond their requirements, take advantage of master classes and choreography workshops with guest artists, and are expected to be good role models to younger dancers. Missing classes or rehearsals at this level can quickly become a barrier to a dancer’s progress, so solid attendance is vital. While not all dancers at this level plan to pursue careers in dance, those who want to can get one-on-one support in researching programs, preparing for auditions, and creating individual training plans.

Winter/Spring 2024 Dance Classes

Creative Movement
for ages 3-4
with Emma Van Norman
spring: 6 weeks beginning Mar 25
4:30-5 p.m.
$42 class fee, $8 tutu/sash fee
This class focuses on the joy of movement, encouraging children to use and develop imagination through participation in dance, improvisation, & music. Students learn spatial awareness, musicality, teamwork, and develop social skills, coordination, and creativity.

REGISTER FOR SPRING

Ballet I
with Heather Burns
16-week session in progress – new students may join any time
5-6 p.m.
$180 class fee
Formal training in Classical Ballet begins at this level. We’ll focus on learning basic vocabulary, alignment, weight transfer, musicality, and coordination, while dancing in a fun and nurturing environment.
Call (440) 964-3396 to register mid-season.

Teen/Adult Ballet
with Heather Burns
16 week session in progress – new students may join any time 
6-7 p.m.
$180 class fee
For the student who always wanted to take ballet, but never did. We’ll cover the basics of ballet: learning dance vocabulary, proper body alignment, and coordination. Dance for fitness & fun — it’s never too late to start!

Ballet III & IV
with Clover Robinson
16-week session in progress; call (440) 964-3396 to find out about registration
5-6:30 p.m.
Dancers will study sustained barre and center work, along with adagio, pirouettes, and allegro combinations, and will be expected to work with greater emphasis on discipline and precision in skills.

Partnering
for Ballet III & IV, or by invitation
with Clover Robinson & Jayson Gage
16-week session in progress
6:45-7:45 p.m.
This class will introduce the principles of Classical Ballet partnering to help prepare dancers for choreography involving partnering. Pointe shoes required.

Yoga Flow – canceled

Spring Concert Rehearsal (Senior Division) 7:45-8:45 p.m. 

Ballet II
with Clover Robinson
16-week session in progress – call for info on registration
5-6:30 p.m.
Ballet II students take two classes per week and focus on developing technical abilities as well as artistic expression, developing self-confidence, coordination, balance, and musicality, while learning the discipline of the art form.

Ballet III & IV
with Cassandra Serdula
5-6:30 p.m.
see Monday’s description

Beginning Pointe
with Clover Robinson
16 weeks beginning Jan 16
6:45-7:45 p.m.
The study of Ballet technique as applied to pointe work.

Intermediate/Advanced Pointe
with Cassandra Serdula
8 weeks beginning Sept 19
6:45-7:45 p.m.
The study of Ballet technique as applied to pointe work.

Spring concert rehearsal (Senior Division) – 7:45-8:45 p.m. beginning Feb 14

PreBallet
for ages 5-7
with Emma Van Norman
spring: 6 weeks beginning Mar 27
4:30-5:15 p.m.
$42 class fee, $8 tutu/sash fee
Dancers at this level will learn posture, flexibility, and coordination using music and expression, developing a strong foundation of physical and mental understanding necessary for Classical Ballet training. Fun and beautiful basic ballet concepts are introduced. Dancers will learn vocabulary and build a foundation in ballet technique prior to entering into our leveled classes.
REGISTER

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT)/Stretch Conditioning
for level II & up
8 weeks each beginning Jan 17
5:15-6 p.m.
PBT helps dancers understand which muscle groups take part in each movement, and helps them to initiate movement from the correct muscle. The class uses fitness and fusion balls as tools to find posture and weight placement, developing correct movement patterns by activating the correct muscles. This training will help dancers achieve a safe, healthy transition and progression into pointe, giving them a great support system for their classical ballet technique.
Stretch Conditioning class is an opportunity to release muscle tension and improve flexibility while strengthening core and stabilization muscles essential for enhancing a dancer’s technical development..

Ballet III & IV
with Clover Robinson
16- week session in progress
6-7:30 p.m.

Pilates for Dancers
for Senior Company Division
with Julia Kubec
8 weeks beginning Mar 20
7:45-8:45 p.m.
$85 class fee
This class is suitable for all levels of Pilates students and open to the public; you don’t need to be a dancer to attend!
REGISTER

Ballet II
with Heather Burns
5-6:30 p.m.
See Tuesday’s description

Ballet III & IV
with Clover Robinson
5-6:30 p.m.
see Monday’s description

Beginning/Intermediate Pointe
with Heather Burns
6:45-7:45 p.m.
see Tuesday’s description

Intermediate/Advanced Pointe
with Clover Robinson
6:45-7:45 p.m.
See Tuesday’s description

Spring concert rehearsal (Senior Division)7:45-8:45 p.m. beginning Feb 16

No Friday dance classes currently scheduled.

Partnering Workshop
for Senior Company Division
Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m.– 1 p.m.
$25 workshop fee
Learn new partnering skills and a classical pas de deux.

Land to Water Yoga & Somatic Movement
for adults
with Debra Lacey
8 weeks beginning March 9 (no class March 30)
9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
$90 class fee
This class is built around the role movement plays in restoring, healing, and rejuventating one’s relationship to body, mind, and spirit. It encourages new patterning in the body via awareness of “soma,” or lived-body, experiences. Each participant brings their internal and external awareness and develops, with practice, the ability to listen to their body and move with intention as the form flows from standing position, to floating in water, and back to standing. Students should bring a journal or notebook as journaling, drawing, and the visualization of imagery are tools used to deepen somatic responses, and candid dialogue allows participants to voice and witness their own, and others’, experiences.
REGISTER

Modern Dance
for Senior Company Division
with Debra Lacey
8 weeks beginning March 9 (no class March 30)
10:45 a.m.– noon
$85 class fee
In this eight-week modern dance study, we will apply somatic movement explorations to modern dance and become familiar with the six somatic Bartenieff Fundamental Patterns, which are the foundational neuromuscular pathways of learning. The understanding of these pathways will help students to realize more of their bodies’ potential in all movement endeavors. We will compare, contrast, and explore the differences between classical ballet and modern dance while creating an ongoing class warm up that will serve as a jumping-off point to an original piece of choreography, which will be performed at the spring dance concert in May.

Weekend Spring Concert rehearsals for Senior Division begin February 17.

Recital rehearsal for Junior Division dancers begin March 9.
Ballet I: Saturdays, 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Ballet II: Saturdays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Hip Hop: Saturdays, 12:30 – 1 p.m.

Fairytale Prince and Princess Camp
for ages 5 & up
July 15 – 19 with Emma Van Norman OR July 22 – 26 with Violet LaSalle
noon– 12:45 p.m.
$50 (including souvenir cape)

Dance Faculty Members

Pilates
Director of Dance