Pre-Ballet: Young dancers ages 4½ to 7 participate in the program and gain an introduction to ballet vocabulary in a fun and creative atmosphere. There are three 8 week sessions per year. Each 8 week session ends with a Parent's Peek Day. Classes are taught by PSB professional faculty with a student assistant.
The Syllabus Program, for dancers age 7 - 19, has 6 levels, and dance skills are taught according to a developmental curriculum.
Level S1: Meets one hour per week
Level S2: Meets one and a half hours per week
Level S3: Meets twice per week and includes Character dance
Level S4: Meets three times per week and includes Modern dance. S4 may include an introduction to pointe work: eligible dancers will be evaluated by instructor and company physician.
Level S5: Meets three times per week and includes pointe technique.
Level S6: Meets five times per week and includes pointe and variations.
Modern/Jazz: An optional class for PSB students in Level 5, 6, and Teen Workshop.
Once a dancer reaches her/his teens, there are three paths the dancer can follow:
- Continue in the Syllabus Program. Many dancers will study in the syllabus program throughout their high school years. This is a good choice for the strong dancer who wants a daily class.
- Teen Workshop: This program is a good choice for the dancer for whom ballet is an ancillary activity. TW dancers take class once or twice per week.
- CORPS: This intensive program is for the most serious high school dancer. This class meets for 3 hours daily. Some dancers will be placed in the preparatory Pre-CORPS level prior to acceptance to CORPS. Click here for detailed information and audition requirements for this nationally recognized pre-professional program.
Adaptive Dance
Portland Ballet has partnered with Easter Seals Maine to offer ballet classes for children with disabilities. Each of these very special students lives with physical and / or mental challenges including various cognitive and mobility disorders. For an hour each week, these youngsters enjoy a ballet class just like other children. This class is taught by PSB faculty with multiple teaching assistants to ensure a low student/teacher ratio. The children enter a studio where elegant music is played, and they get a taste of movement that is graceful, smooth, supple, and refined. This is a great opportunity for these youngsters to feel the sheer joy of moving and to be proud of themselves - a place where leg braces and walkers don't matter.
Adult Classes: Year round Drop-In classes for beginning to advanced dancers
SummerDance: PSB offers summer classes, camps, and intensives for all ages and abilities. Check our schedule for current offerings.
Private Lessons: Private lessons can be scheduled with all instructors
Performance Opportunity
Because ballet is a 'performing' art, the Portland School of Ballet provides numerous performance opportunities for its students. These opportunities also serve to educate and engage the community.
Students of all levels also perform at special events, schools, senior communities, and other community organizations. Click here for more information on these outreach performance opportunities.
Many PSB students perform in PBC's annual production of The Victorian Nutcracker, as well as the spring PSB production of a children's show, such as Peter and the Wolf, or our original ballet Around the World with Flat Stanley&tm; - The Case of the Red Shoes. Permission to use "Flat Stanley" was granted by the estate of author Jeff Brown. Hundreds of schoolchildren come to the theater to enjoy these presentations, and teachers appreciate the extensive Pre-Performance Educational Guide that is provided to all participating groups.
Every June, Portland School of Ballet presents its annual Year End Student Performance. Portland School of Ballet students in levels S I through CORPS present classwork and variations, demonstrating what they have learned throughout the year. This is a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to enjoy the accomplishments of their dancer.
