Ballet Department
BALLET is formal movements and positions of the body, arms, head, and feet characterized by classical ballet. This method of dance is designed to enable a dancer to move with grace and agility, including control, speed, and turnout all while appearing effortless. This disciplined and stylized art form allows a dancer to portray a variety of dramatic emotional roles. Ballet class starts with exercises at the barre and is followed by work in center floor. Ballet Department classes range from ages six years old through adult: Levels beginner through advance
Contemporary Department
CONTEMPORARY department makes up our classes in Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Lyrical, Modern, Jazz Funk, Hip-Hop and Contemporary. Contemporary classes range from ages six years old through adult: Levels beginner through advance
Rising Stars Department
RISING STARS is our department for our younger dancers. Here they will learn coordination, storytelling, gross motor skill development, and introduction to proper foundations of dance etiquette and technique. Rising stars classes range from ages two years old through six.
Our Curriculum
The Loudoun School of Ballet is a traditional dance school. Our Ballet and Contemporary Departments offer a full range of technique classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, Broadway, hip hop and modern dance, as well as musical theatre and Commercial Jazz. Our Rising Stars program, which begins with dancers two years old, introduces students to the joys of music and movement and to the fundamentals of technique.
We are not a competition or recital-driven dance school, although some LSofB students do compete and perform in concerts and competitions. For example, our dancers have won at the prestigious regional Youth American Grand Prix competitions and at Dance Masters of America's Miss Dance. Our JCO dancers consistently receive the highest honors for solo performances and group dances as well as Outstanding Dancer and Elite Dancer scholarships at NYCDA and WCDE, respectively. The Loudoun School of Ballet students pursuing dance in college are often awarded scholarships to elite colleges and universities.
Our dance classes focus on technique through the fall, winter, and spring semesters. Recitals and performances are choreographed using class syllabi, thus eliminating the need to "teach" a recital dance for the entire year. The school is not a single method or an exam-driven school. Although individual teachers are accredited and capable of presenting students for examinations in Vaganova (Russian), Cecchetti (Italian), and Royal (English) methods, The Loudoun School of Ballet does not focus exclusively on one method. Today's professional dancers must be fluent in all styles and methods of dance. In addition, exam pressures conflict with The Loudoun School of Ballet's stated goal of developing dance as a performing art.
Class placement is made at the discretion of the Department Director, not by the student, parent or student’s age. Students may work in the same level for one or more years. Entire classes do not advance to the next level as a unit. Students with poor attendance will not progress at the same rate as those who attend consistently or who are enrolled in additional technique classes. Students or parents may request re-evaluations at any time during the school year. Students who do not complete semesters due to excessive absences, tardiness, illnesses, or injuries will require additional remedial classes for advancement to the next level for the next year in order to prevent injury and to ensure that they master the technique taught at each level.
