Educational Background/Training

Ballet Virginia is known for providing excellent ballet training in a positive and caring environment. We offer classes at both our Norfolk and Virginia Beach locations for ages 18 months through adults along with modern, contemporary, tap, and more. Age and ability-appropriate teaching is implemented throughout our classes. We provide a robust dance academy curriculum focused on quality instruction for students of all ages and abilities. Our 2 academies serve over 400 Hampton Roads students and have guided aspiring dancers to summer intensives, pre-professional training programs, and professional employment with top companies since 2008. Our collaboration with local arts-oriented organizations has allowed us to take dance education into the school setting for underrepresented children who would otherwise not be exposed to the performing arts. We provide instruction and simulate the professional experience to encourage future careers in the arts.

About the Artist/Ensemble

Ballet Virginia’s mission is fostering a lifelong passion for dance through nurturing education, invigorating performances, and artistic excellence; we uphold the highest standards, striving to maintain artistic excellence in all our endeavors. Our vision is to enrich the lives of all Hampton Roads residents through dance. Ballet Virginia currently works with community partners like The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, The Sandler Center Foundation, and Symphonicity to bring artistic excellence to all the Hampton Roads community. Dance provides an opportunity to bring people of all backgrounds together to create a community that is richer, stronger, and more innovative. We are building and growing programs for dancers of all ages and abilities while striving to keep it accessible. Our priority is to make the joy of dance available to our entire community.

Educational Program Description

Ballet Virginia is the only non-profit ballet academy and company in the Hampton Roads area. We serve our community with meaningful and accessible educational programs. For example, through our partnership with the Sandler Center Foundation and Virginia Beach City Public Schools, we provide instruction during weekly classes in Title I schools for the Leveling the Performing Field afterschool program. Students receive professional training in ballet. While laying a foundation for dance, they learn new skills, teamwork, and the dancer’s lexicon of French vocabulary. Our collaborative model aims to help increase acceptance rates of young dancers to their respective local magnet schools and gifted programs. Our Academy, Lower School, Upper School, and Adult programs all provide a course of study in the art of ballet over a variety of age ranges. Ballet Virginia instructors help student dancers build confidence, instill teamwork, and inspire relationships. Ballet Virginia is available for additional bookings and is expanding our reach throughout Southeastern Virginia.

We have asked students about their involvement in our programs, as continued participation impacts the connection to the art of dance. A second-year student remarked, “I like that I get to practice my leaps and turns across the floor. My mom and dad say they love watching me dance. I’m getting better! That’s why I love ballet.” Another student stated, “I love Ballet Virginia, I have been dancing here for five years and they have helped me improve as a dancer. The teachers, staff and overall environment is so positive. I look forward to class each day! I would suggest Ballet Virginia to anyone and I am very grateful to be able to take class and perform here.”

Audiences

• Elementary Students
• Secondary (Middle/High School) Students