Grand Rapids Ballet School

Youth Ballet Program

Youth Ballet Program

From beginner to advanced, students at Grand Rapids Ballet School will receive the nurturing instruction of our professional teaching faculty to develop a thorough knowledge of technique, the invaluable skill of self-discipline, and a lasting love of dance.  Elements from the French, Italian, and Russian ballet techniques are incorporated into our curriculum, giving students a versatile and extensive dance education.

One Free Trial Ballet Class!

Available for ages 3 to 19. Contact Grand Rapids Ballet School to schedule a complimentary trial class at 616.454.4771 ext. 117 or email.

BALLET 1

Ballet 1 students will begin to learn the fundamentals of classical ballet. The curriculum will focus on basic ballet technique, musicality, and proper body alignment.  Students will also learn core ballet terminology and simple arm positions as they execute combinations at the barre, in the center, and across the floor.

TUITION

Payments can either be made monthly (8 payments), by semester (2 payments), or paid in full (1 payment).

Monthly: $1,304

Semester: $1,210

Full Year: $1,089

MONTHLY, SEMESTER, & YEAR-IN-FULL PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Prices are subject to change. All classes require a $20 registration fee. Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a no-refund policy. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation. Scheduled holidays, breaks, and weather-related school closings do not alter tuition.

DRESS CODE

Girls’ leotards should be solid colored tank, camisole, or short-sleeve styles; girls’ and boys’ ballet shoes should have elastics neatly sewn.

Girls

  • • lavender leotard (no attached skirt)
  • • soft pink or skin tone tights
  • • pink or skin tone ballet shoes
  • *Tights and shoes should complement each other in either pink or skin tone as appropriate.

Boys

  • • black leggings with black socks or black footed tights
  • • black ballet shoes
  • • plain white fitted athletic t-shirt (free of logos and writing)
youth ballet
ballet 1 grand rapids

SCHEDULE

2023-24 Ballet 1 Schedule
Full-time dancers meet twice per week.

DAYTIME
Wednesday6:00-7:00PM
Saturday12:00-1:00PM

BALLET 2

Ballet 2 students continue to build upon the fundamentals they acquired in Ballet 1.  They will increase their ballet vocabulary as new steps are introduced.  Students will gain the knowledge needed to execute longer, more complex combinations that will include more precise positions, while incorporating port de bras in coordination with their leg movements.  They will also focus on muscle awareness and correct body alignment, while working to increase overall strength.

TUITION

Payments can either be made monthly (8 payments), by semester (2 payments), or paid in full (1 payment). 

Monthly: $1,480

Semester: $1,370

Full Year: $1,233

MONTHLY, SEMESTER, & YEAR-IN-FULL PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Prices are subject to change. All classes require a $20 registration fee. Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a no-refund policy. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation. Scheduled holidays, breaks, and weather-related school closings do not alter tuition.

DRESS CODE

Girls’ leotards should be solid colored tank, camisole, or short-sleeve styles; girls’ and boys’ ballet shoes should have elastics neatly sewn.

Girls

  • • light blue leotard
  • • soft pink or skin tone tights
  • • pink or skin tone ballet shoes
  • *Tights and shoes should complement each other in either pink or skin tone as appropriate.

Boys

  • • black leggings with black socks or black footed tights
  • • black ballet shoes
  • • plain white fitted athletic t-shirt (free of logos and writing)
ballet 2

SCHEDULE

2023-24 Ballet 2 Schedule
Full-time dancers meet three times per week.

Our Ballet 2 Class is now full. Please contact our School Administrator at school@grballet.com or 616.454.4771 ext 117 to be placed on a waiting list.

DAYTIME
Monday4:30-5:45pm
Wednesday4:30-5:45pm
Saturday10-11:15am

BALLET 3

Ballet 3 students will begin to learn to refine their technique and strive to execute the steps using their best technique. Classroom work will focus on the proper extension of the legs and shape of the feet, use of their abdominal muscles, and use of turnout. Students will work to develop movement sequences as more steps will be linked together while incorporating epaulement and port de bras. Combinations will become more difficult as new vocabulary will be introduced, both at barre and in center work.

Contemporary students are first introduced to contemporary movement. They are encouraged to explore new movement outside of the comfort zone of ballet technique. Students will learn the use parallel positioning of the legs, floor work, contractions of the upper body, and the use of their breath in coordination with their movement.

TUITION

Payments can either be made monthly (8 payments), by semester (2 payments), or paid in full (1 payment). 

Monthly: $1,880

Semester: $1,740

Full Year: $1,566

MONTHLY, SEMESTER, & YEAR-IN-FULL PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Prices are subject to change. All classes require a $20 registration fee. Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a no-refund policy. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation. Scheduled holidays, breaks, and weather-related school closings do not alter tuition.

DRESS CODE

Girls’ leotards should be solid colored tank, camisole, or short-sleeve styles; girls’ and boys’ ballet shoes should have elastics neatly sewn.

Girls

  • • royal blue leotard
  • • soft pink or skin tone tights
  • • pink or skin tone ballet shoes
  • *Tights and shoes should complement each other in either pink or skin tone as appropriate.

Boys

  • • black tights
  • • black ballet shoes
  • • plain white fitted athletic t-shirt (free of logos and writing)

Contemporary 

  • • thin socks
  • • Ladies: any color leotard and/or black tights are optional
  • • no additional warm-ups
ballet 3 girl

SCHEDULE

2023-24 Ballet 3 Schedule
Full-time dancers meet four days per week.

DAYTIMESUBJECT
Tuesday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7pmYoung Men’s Class
Wednesday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:15pmContemporary
Friday4:30-6pmTechnique
Saturday11:30am-1pmTechnique

BALLET 4

Ballet 4 students will continue to advance their technique with more difficult steps during both barre and center work, with the addition of more combinations en relevé, faster tempos and syncopation.  Students will continue to develop the 90-degree extension of their legs and the strength of their feet en relevé. Double pirouettes and more complex petite and grand allegro are introduced as well.

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon for students to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet.  Each exercise has been developed with care and guidance with a team of physiotherapists.  Students will learn to use muscle memory to improve their understanding of core stability, weight placement, and alignment.  An exercise ball is continually mobile under the students’ body during the exercises, giving them a sense of posture and weight placement while feeling each correct muscle group. A smaller fusion ball is also used for specific exercises and resistance bands are used to strengthen the entire upper body and use of port de bras.  PBT is taught by certified instructors Attila Mosolygo and Mindy Mosolygo.

Pointe introduces students to pointe shoes and pointe work, drawing on previously learned ballet technique and body strength. Students will focus on gaining the needed strength in their feet and ankles for the ability to roll through their demi-pointe with control and push all the way over the box of the pointe shoe with straight legs en relevé.  Each class will include combinations at the barre, and then progressing to the center and across the floor as the students gain strength and technique.  2nd year students will continue to build upon this foundation with the addition of more difficult steps on one leg and double pirouettes.

Contemporary students are encouraged to be open-minded as they continue to explore new movements and create different shapes outside of their classical ballet technique.  They will work on finding the relaxation of their torso, the ability to isolate their joints, and breathing with each movement. Students will focus on coordination, gaining overall strength, and contemporary floor work. They will be challenged to put intention into every transition and step they execute.

TUITION

Payments can either be made monthly (8 payments), by semester (2 payments), or paid in full (1 payment). 

Monthly: $2,288

Semester: $2,120

Full Year: $1,908

MONTHLY, SEMESTER, & YEAR-IN-FULL PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Prices are subject to change. All classes require a $20 registration fee. Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a no-refund policy. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation. Scheduled holidays, breaks, and weather-related school closings do not alter tuition.

DRESS CODE

Girls’ leotards should be solid colored tank, camisole, or short-sleeve styles; girls’ and boys’ ballet shoes should have elastics neatly sewn.

Girls

  • • burgundy leotard
  • • soft pink or skin tone tights
  • • pink or skin tone ballet shoes
  • *Tights and shoes should complement each other in either pink or skin tone as appropriate.

Boys

  • • black tights
  • • black ballet shoes
  • • plain white fitted athletic t-shirt (free of logos and writing)

Contemporary 

  • • thin socks
  • • Ladies: any color leotard and/or black tights are optional
  • • no additional warm-ups

SCHEDULE

2023-24 Ballet 4 Schedule
Full-time dancers meet five days per week.

DAYTIMESUBJECT
Monday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:15pmContemporary
Tuesday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:15pmPointe
6:15-7pmYoung Men’s
Thursday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:15pmPointe
Friday4:30-6pm PBT / Technique
Saturday11:30am-1pmTechnique

BALLET 5

Ballet 5 students are required to take technique class en pointe two times a week.  They will work on increasing their stamina and strength in order to execute all the steps en pointe.  The demands of the student are greater in Ballet 5, as class attendance increases to six days a week, pushing dancers to define and polish their technique.  Students also begin to add individual artistry, elegance and grace into their classroom work.  They are required to dance with more precision for complex combinations that include more difficult musicality and timing.  In this class, faculty will begin to put a greater importance upon students to self-correct and self-motivate themselves.

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon for students to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet.  Each exercise has been developed with care and guidance with a team of physiotherapists.  Students will learn to use muscle memory to improve their understanding of core stability, weight placement, and alignment.  An exercise ball is continually mobile under the students’ body during the exercises, giving them a sense of posture and weight placement while feeling each correct muscle group. A smaller fusion ball is also used for specific exercises and resistance bands are used to strengthen the entire upper body and use of port de bras.  PBT is taught by certified instructors Attila Mosolygo and Mindy Mosolygo.

Pointe students will continue to strengthen their pointe work and demonstrate progress made in overall foot strength, balance en pointe, and ability to execute combinations with more clarity.  All classes will include combinations at the barre and in the center. Steps will become more difficult with the addition of consecutive turns and hops en pointe, for example.

In Variations/Repertoire class, students will learn classical ballet variations and excerpts from classical and contemporary ballets or original choreography will be taught.

Contemporary students will continue to explore unique movement set to various types of music. They will use their strong, classical ballet training base to help them master different styles of dance. Students will be challenged to expand every movement they execute to its fullest and be encouraged to express their emotions.  Students will continue to explore floor work that includes rolling with ease and they will gain the ability to transition without any tension. Contemporary partnering work will also be introduced.

TUITION

Payments can either be made monthly (8 payments), by semester (2 payments), or paid in full (1 payment). 

Monthly: $2,688

Semester: $2,490

Full Year: $2,241

MONTHLY, SEMESTER, & YEAR-IN-FULL PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Prices are subject to change. All classes require a $20 registration fee. Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a no-refund policy. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation. Scheduled holidays, breaks, and weather-related school closings do not alter tuition.

DRESS CODE

Girls’ leotards should be solid colored tank, camisole, or short-sleeve styles; girls’ and boys’ ballet shoes should have elastics neatly sewn.

Girls

  • • navy leotard
  • • soft pink or skin tone tights
  • • pink or skin tone ballet shoes
  • *Tights and shoes should complement each other in either pink or skin tone as appropriate.

Boys

  • • black tights
  • • black ballet shoes
  • • plain white fitted athletic t-shirt (free of logos and writing)

Contemporary 

  • • thin socks
  • • Ladies: any color leotard and/or black tights are optional
  • • no additional warm-ups
ballet 5 girl

SCHEDULE

2023-24 Ballet 5 Schedule
Full-time dancers meet 6 days per week.

DAYTIMESUBJECT
Monday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:30pmContemporary
Tuesday4:30-5pmProgressing Ballet Technique
5-6:15pmTechnique
6:15-7pmYoung Mens
6:30-7:15pmPointe
Wednesday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:15pmPointe/Variations/Conditioning
Thursday4:30-6:15pmTechnique en pointe
Friday4:30-6pmTechnique en pointe
Saturday10:00-11:30amTechnique en pointe

BALLET 6

Ballet 6 students are required to take technique class en pointe 4 times a week as the training becomes more demanding.  Classroom work will include more complex combinations and advanced pointe work, as the students will be required to add strength, increased flexibility, and fluidity of movement into the combinations.  They will continue to polish their technique as they work to incorporate more use of their epaulement and port de bras, multiple pirouettes, as well as the development of individual artistry and a fine sense of musicality.  Ballet 6 students will work to gain consistency in their overall technique.

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon for students to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet.  Each exercise has been developed with care and guidance with a team of physiotherapists.  Students will learn to use muscle memory to improve their understanding of core stability, weight placement, and alignment.  An exercise ball is continually mobile under the students’ body during the exercises, giving them a sense of posture and weight placement while feeling each correct muscle group. A smaller fusion ball is also used for specific exercises and resistance bands are used to strengthen the entire upper body and use of port de bras.  PBT is taught by certified instructors Attila Mosolygo and Mindy Mosolygo.

Pointe students will continue to strengthen their work by executing the most advanced steps. They will work to refine all transitions and move with control as they incorporate more fluidity in their port de bras. In Variations class, students will learn classical ballet variations and in Repertoire class, excerpts from classical and contemporary ballets will be taught.

In Variations/Repertoire class, students will learn classical ballet variations and excerpts from classical and contemporary ballets or original choreography will be taught.

Contemporary students will continue to explore unique movements set to various types of music. They will use their strong, classical ballet training base to help them master different styles of dance. Students will be challenged to expand every movement they execute to its fullest and be encouraged to express their emotions. Students will continue to explore floor work that includes rolling with ease and they will gain the ability to transition without any tension.

TUITION

Payments can either be made monthly (8 payments), by semester (2 payments), or paid in full (1 payment). 

Monthly: $2,968

Semester: $2,750

Full Year:$2,475

MONTHLY, SEMESTER, & YEAR-IN-FULL PAYMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE. Prices are subject to change. All classes require a $20 registration fee. Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a no-refund policy. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation. Scheduled holidays, breaks, and weather-related school closings do not alter tuition.

DRESS CODE

Girls’ leotards should be solid colored tank, camisole, or short-sleeve styles; girls’ and boys’ ballet shoes should have elastics neatly sewn.

Girls

  • • black leotard
  • • soft pink or skin tone tights
  • • pink or skin tone ballet shoes
  • *Tights and shoes should complement each other in either pink or skin tone as appropriate.

Boys

  • • black tights
  • • black ballet shoes
  • • plain white fitted athletic t-shirt (free of logos and writing)

Contemporary 

  • • thin socks
  • • Ladies: any color leotard and/or black tights are optional
  • • no additional warm-ups

SCHEDULE

2023-24 Ballet 6 Schedule
Full-time dancers meet 6 days per week.

DAYTIMESUBJECT
Monday4:30-6pmTechnique en pointe
6:15-7:30pmContemporary
Tuesday4:30-5pmProgressing Ballet Technique
5-6:15pmTechnique
6:15-7pmYoung Mens
6:30-7:15pmPointe/Variations
Wednesday4:30-6pmTechnique
6:15-7:15pmPas de deux, Conditioning, Repertoire
Thursday4:30-6:15pmTechnique en pointe
Friday4:30-6pmTechnique en pointe
Saturday10:00-11:30amTechnique en pointe

Payment Options:

Families may select to pay for the year-in-full (receiving a 10% discount), for the semester, or monthly (incurring an 8% processing fee).

*Monthly payment option requires payment by credit card, kept on file. Scheduled holidays, breaks and weather-related school closings do not alter monthly tuition.

Terms and Conditions:

Grand Rapids Ballet School maintains a policy of offering no refunds. Once the program in question has begun, tuition is non-refundable and if unused will be received as a donation.

All returned checks are subject to a $25 fee.  Students with outstanding balances from the previous term will not be permitted to re-enroll until all accounts are made current.

All students are charged a $20 registration fee.

Please note: The School does not accept responsibility for injury or trauma incurred by any student.

Financial Aid 

Each year the GRBS awards $68,000 in financial aid to students who demonstrate financial need or artistic excellence. The financial aid fund is made possible through contributions by Wege Foundation, Beusse & Porter Family Foundation, James H. Schindler, and Stephen Dunker Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Families interested in applying for financial aid should submit an application form to Grand Rapids Ballet School.  The deadline for the 2023-24 school year has passed, but families can inquire to the School Office if needed.

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