School Year Programs

September 5, 2024 - May 2, 2025

Overview

Children are taught creative dance and pre-ballet until age 8. At age 8, they take classical ballet class twice a week. The bones in the feet are too soft to safely withstand turn out before the age of 8.

Dancers go on pointe when they are trained enough to rise on pointe with no shoes and no support while easily keeping their placement, but not before age 11. They are then accompanied by the teacher to the store to make sure the shoes fit properly. Free individual pointe instruction is given for several months to insure that the dancer's feet are safe.

Among the many benefits that our students enjoy are:

• Large studio with sprung dance floor and soaring ceiling.
• Live piano accompaniment in classical ballet classes on a Steinway grand piano.
• Variety of classes including Pointe, Choreography, Variations, Repertoire, Pantomime, and Adagio
• Performing opportunities for dancers in the age 6 class and older including 6 performances of The Nutcracker in December, Ballet a la Modern in February, and 6 performances of a full-length classical ballet in June. No cost for costumes, make-up, and rehearsals; and no minimum ticket purchase.
• SBT dancers have gone on to dance with professional companies including: Boston Ballet, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Chicago City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, Koresh Dance Company, and Laura Dean Dancers.
• Located in a charming college town with easy parking, train and bus service.

Enrollment

Existing Students

Existing SBT students may register starting April 15. There is a $50 registration fee; this fee will be deducted from your tuition if you pay for 30 weeks in advance of 9/1/24. You are guaranteed a place in class if you register by April 30 11:59 PM.

New Students

New student registration begins May 1 starting at 7:00 AM. Registration will be at the theatre, 118 Park Avenue Swarthmore PA 19081.

When new student enrollment begins, you may register on a first-come basis. Most classes are filled by 8:00 AM that day. A minimum of two places are available to new students for each class. Some classes will have more spaces available.

If there is space in your desired class, then you will be enrolled when your tuition (check or cash for 10 or 30 weeks) and the signed forms are received.

Tuition is refundable (less $50) only when the Director is informed after their first class and before their second class.

Dates & Holidays

• Classes begin on Thursday, September 5, 2024 (to make up for missing class on Thanksgiving) and end on Friday, May 2, 2025
• Holidays (no classes):
  • November 28 & 29, 2024
  • December 16, 2024 to January 6, 2025
  • April 14-18, 2025
  There ARE classes on Public Holidays that fall on a Monday (e.g. Presidents day)
• Tuition Due Dates:
  • When you register tuition is due for the first 10 weeks of classes or all 30 weeks.
  • If you paid for 10 weeks of tuition at registration, then tuition payments are due again on November 14, 2024 and February 17, 2025.
  • Full year payment of discounted tuition is due before September 1, 2024.
• Parents of enrolled students may observe class from inside studio: April 28 to May 2, 2025

Pre-Ballet Program — ages 3-7

Elegant movement, limbering, strengthening, balancing, turning across floor without getting dizzy, and improving stamina. Students learn how to use muscles correctly to achieve the best results. Class size is limited. There is a 5% tuition discount to 2 or more students in one family. No deduction or credit for missed classes. Tuition is only refundable (less $50) if informed after their first class and before their second class.

Dancewear for Pre-Ballet and Creative Classes

• Female: Hair in a ballet bun or so it doesn't move. Footless tights and short sleeve or no sleeve PLAIN leotard or unitard, any color. No shoes.
• No leotards with low cut back as it slips off shoulders.
• No long sleeves
• No sparkles, puff sleeves, ruffles, skirts, leg warmers or jewelry except stud earrings.
• Male: Hair neatly controlled. White T-shirt and black footless tights (preferred) or shorts. No shoes.

Classical Ballet Program

Level is determined by Swarthmore Ballet Theatre. Ballet classes are accompanied on a Steinway grand piano. There is a 5% tuition discount to 2 or more students in one family. No deduction or credit for missed classes. Tuition is only refundable (less $50) if informed after the first class. Class size is limited.

Dancewear for Classical Ballet Classes

• Female: Hair in a ballet bun. Pink or skin color ballet shoes (split soles preferred); students from age 11 to when they go on pointe wear leather ballet shoes.
• Short sleeve or no sleeve leotard any SINGLE color EXCEPT light pink, and pink or skin color tights. Belt required, can be just a piece of elastic; belt color must contrast with leotard.
• No puff sleeves, ruffles, sparkles or leg warmers. No skirts until level V and no jewelry except stud earrings.
• Male: Hair neatly controlled. Dance belt or compression shorts, white T-shirt and black tights (preferred) or shorts, white leather (no black leather) or black or white canvas ballet shoes.

Dancewear for Choreography

• Short sleeve or no sleeve Leotard any SINGLE color EXCEPT light pink and footless tights.
• No puff sleeves, ruffles, sparkles or leg warmers. No skirts until level V & no jewelry except stud earrings.
• Hair may be in a ponytail.
• Male: Hair neatly controlled. Dance belt or compression shorts, white T-shirt and black footless tights (preferred) or shorts, no shoes.

Dancewear for Stretching and Strengthening Class

• Female: Hair in a ballet bun. Pink ballet shoes (split soles preferred) and pink tights. Short sleeve or no sleeve leotard any SINGLE color EXCEPT light pink. Belt required, can be just a piece of elastic; belt color must contrast with leotard.
• No puff sleeves, ruffles, sparkles or leg warmers. No skirts until level V and no jewelry except stud earrings.
• Male: Hair neatly controlled. Dance belt or compression shorts, white T-shirt and black tights (preferred) or shorts, white leather (no black leather) or black or white canvas ballet shoes.

Classical Ballet Classes for Adults

There is a 5% tuition discount to 2 or more students in one family. No deduction or credit for missed classes. $15 Single extra class, tuition must be paid up for 10 weeks.

$15 Single extra class for students whose tuition is paid up for 10 weeks.

Dancewear for Adult Ballet Classes

• Female: Pink (no black) leather or canvas ballet shoes any color. Tights (any color, pink preferred) and leotard any color any style. Hair in a ballet bun or so it doesn't move.
• May wear skirt. No sparkles. No floppy jewelry.
• Male: Dance belt or compression shorts, T-shirt, and tights or unitard or sweatpants or shorts. White (no black) leather or black or white canvas ballet shoes.

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