Our Studio

As one of Toronto's top voted dance studios, we strive to offer the very best in adult, youth and teen dance class instruction in a friendly and welcoming environment. Dance is the fastest pathway to joy, so come here to leave your troubles on the dance floor.
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Adult Ballet Classes

We will be closed: Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Monday, March 29, 31 and April 1, 2024, Victoria Day Sunday, & Monday May 19 and 20, 2024

Our Ballet Lessons

Ballet is an elegant and powerful dance form. It is an asset to all dance styles for its technical precision, lines, turning ability, artistry, flexibility and strength. Whether your focus is on dancing ballet itself or using it to build the technical foundation for other dance forms, Joy of Dance’s adult ballet classes give you the control, elegance and poise that only ballet can create. Our Toronto dance studio offers registered and drop-in ballet classes for adults of all skill levels.

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toronto, adult ballet classes, adult dance lessons, adult rad
toronto, adult ballet classes, adult dance lessons, adult rad
Ballet teacher guiding a student in Toronto

Available Classes

Ballet

Jump in or register for these classes

Adult ballet classes provide training in strength, flexibility, poise and elegance. With this foundation, your skills will translate into any form of dance. Our faculty provides classes that give dancers the time, personalized feedback and experience to grow technically and artistically at the level they are at, while preparing them to progress to the next level. Expect to work hard, sweat and laugh!

Beginner Ballet

For dancers with no ballet training or people who have been away from ballet for many years and need a refresher. Learn the foundations of ballet through simple barre, centre and jumping sequences.

Beginner+ Ballet

For dancers with 1-3 years of ballet training. Take your basic knowledge to the next level, learning more challenging movements and sequences while developing your understanding of technique and musicality and performance.

*This class is recommended to our Adult RAD Intermediate Foundation students as a training supplement to their Syllabus classes.

Elementary Ballet

For dancers with 3-5 years of ballet training. We continue the dancer’s education of safe dance alignment and strong, clear technique. The artistic essences of port de bras, breath, performance and musicality are infused, training adults to grow and strive for personal excellence! Our Sunday in-person class is accompanied by popular, and incredible, pianist Valentina Gurovsky.

*This class is recommended to our Adult RAD Intermediate students as a training supplement to their Syllabus classes.

Intermediate Ballet

For dancers with 5-10 years of ballet training. Students are introduced to a more advanced level of movement and choreography while continuing to elevate their technical precision, artistry, strength, and flexibility.

*This class is recommended to our Adult RAD Advanced Foundation and Advanced 1 registered students as a training supplement to their Syllabus classes.

Ballet Artistry and Technique for the Mature Student (low impact class) – not currently running

For Beginner to Elementary level students who prefer a low impact ballet class. This class focuses on musicality and artistry while working to strengthen and lengthen dancer’s muscles, improve fitness levels, balance and posture. Everyone should be able to enjoy the expressive elegance of ballet while being given inclusive options for turns and jumps.

Please check our VIRTUAL DANCE CLASSES page.


Pointe

Classes Offered:

Beginner Pointe: Registered Courses

Mondays May 15 through June 26, 2023
8:50-9:50 p.m.
Course Fee: $115+HST

Our Beginner Pointe registered courses progressively teach correct technique,
alignment and posture to enable safe beautiful pointe work. We begin class in bare
feet practicing strengthening exercises for the toes, feet and calves. We then put on the
pointe shoes for simple barre exercises, slowly working up your skills until you are
ready to perform simple enchainements in the center.
Prerequisite: 3 years of (recent) ballet training.

***Note: Dancers should take Ballet before Pointe. You must be properly warmed-up
and prepared to prevent injury.
The jump-in Beginner-Plus Ballet class fee is not included in the cost of the Pointe
Workshop, dancers should register for these classes separately.

 

Elementary Pointe: Jump-In Classes
Sundays: Ongoing
11:40-12:40am

Elementary Adult Pointe classes teach a different classical solo variation each month.
Each class begins with foot exercises in bare feet, then barre work that progressively
teaches the variation material. Finally we learn the variation over the course of the
month.
Prerequisite: At least 1 year of beginner pointe training and 4-5 years of ballet
training.

Prerequisite for Pointe:

  • Assessment for All New Students
  • At least 3 years of Ballet training.
  • Currently taking 2 ballet classes a week to ensure the necessary strength and technique to prevent injury.
  • *Dancers are expected to take a ballet class before their pointe class!

Assessments:

Pointe work is demanding and is an extension to your ballet training. Because of the physical risk involved in dancing on pointe we require you to book an assessment. Your teacher will ask you about your history of ballet and pointe training and then watch you dance some simple barre and centre exercises to assess your technique. They will then work with you on any of your issues; alignment, strength, flexibility, and give you a series of individualized exercises to ensure you are on the right track. If you are not quite ready for pointe shoes they will make sure you know exactly what you need to know to achieve your pointe goals. If you are ready, they will talk to you about what to look for in a shoe, where to buy them and any additional information about your feet that you might need at your first pointe shoe fitting.

If you are experienced in pointe we still request that you book an assessment. You will learn something about your dancing that will assist you in your progress and she will let you know if you have any old/bad habits that don’t serve you anymore and how to let go of them. The teacher can also look at your current shoes and make sure they are still working for you. Injury prevention is at the heart of all our assessments.

We require New Students to book a private assessment before joining group classes. Contact us at info@joyofdance.ca or speak to your ballet teacher.

  • Assessment of your basic technique, alignment, strength and flexibility to ensure you can join class safely and avoid injury.
  • Personalized exercises and/or stretches
  • 45 minute private assessment: $30 +hst


Preparing for Beginner Pointe

Preparing for Beginner Pointe
Pointe Assessments: Required for new students
-45 minute private assessment
-make sure your body is ready to start pointe safely
-learn personalized exercises to prepare for the pointe workshop.
$30+HST

To book an assessment:
Call Joy of Dance reception: 416-406-3262
Email: info@joyofdance.ca

At Home: Pointe Strengthening Exercises
To strengthen your feet in preparation for pointe please follow along with this video,
by Ballet Program Director Emily Tench, 3x/week.

Pre-Pointe Training Exercises (youtube)

Purchasing Your First Pointe Shoes:
***Dancers should consult with their ballet teacher before purchasing shoes***
For advice, please attend:

Mondays 7:15-8:45pm Beginner Plus Ballet – Rachel Zinck
Sundays 10:00-11:30am Elementary Ballet – Emily Tench

Here are a list of things to consider:

  •  Buy your shoes from experienced fitters. We suggest heading to DanceShoppe at
    Sheppard and Yonge St. as they do not require an appointment, have excellent fitters
    and a great relationship with Joy of Dance Centre . https://danceshoppe.com/
  • Your toes must be able to remain straight and not cross in the shoe while standing
    flat and on pointe.
  • Your toes should be held snugly together and feel well supported by the box, vamp
    and wings. (See Attached Diagram). The shoe will not be “comfortable”, it will be
    tight.
  • If you have a wide space between your big toe and second toe you will probably
    need a toe spacer to prevent bunions from forming. You can buy these at the same
    time to purchase your shoes.
  • Beginner pointe students should buy a shoe with a soft shank. Your feet will not yet
    be strong enough to control and work through a medium or strong shank.
  •  All the other “specs” of the pointe shoe will depend on the shape of your foot. It can
    take some trial and error to land on your “perfect pair”. So do be open to the idea that
    for your next pair of shoes you may want to try something different.
  • DO NOT SEW ON YOUR RIBBONS OR ELASTICS until the shoe has been
    checked by your teacher. Most of the time the fitters make a great choice, however
    once in a while the teacher will feel that the shoe is not appropriate and ask you to
    exchange it. You can not exchange or return shoes that have had ribbons or elastics
    sewn on.
  • DO NOT PUT YOUR SHOES ON AT HOME UNTIL AFTER YOUR FIRST
    LESSON! This is dangerous and can result in injury.
  • DO NOT “BREAK IN” YOUR SHOES. Wait until your teacher gives you
    guidance on what you can do to prepare your shoes. As a beginner, you will likely
    need to do very little to prepare your shoes, your feet should do most of the work.
Ballet Workshops and Intensives

Adult Ballet Summer Intensive
August 17-20, 2023
Thursday and Friday: 6:00-9:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am-3:00pm

Join us for four Incredible Days of Ballet! Whether you are working towards a ballet exam or want to improve your technique and artistry, the Joy of Dance ballet program faculty will help you achieve your dance goals.

Pricing
Thursday to Sunday Price: $350+HST
Thursday AND Friday Price: $150+HST
Saturday AND Sunday Price: $250+HST

LEVELS:
Beginner-Plus/ Elementary:
– 3-5 Years of Ballet Training
– RAD Intermediate Foundation – Intermediate

CLASSES:
Ballet Technique
Pointe (soft shoes optional)
Variations
Conditioning and Stretch
Turns and Jumps

To Register:

Call: 416-406-3262

Email: info@joyofdance.ca

Or sign up online

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Workshops

Progressing Ballet Technique is an innovative dance conditioning program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon in Australia. This training system develops a dancer’s muscle memory to improve their core stability, weight placement and alignment, as well as over-all strength and control. Dancers perform exercises using a fitness ball or resistance band. The tools give the dancer immediate feedback on their placement while training specific muscle groups and co-ordinations required for ballet and other dance forms. Each exercise has been developed with the care and guidance of a team of physiotherapists. The system is now taught world wide and has helped countless dancers prepare for careers in dance.

Please follow us on Instagram for news!

@joyofdanceto

If you have any questions, please email: ballet@joyofdance.ca

Ballet - Adult RAD Exam Program

Go to our Adult RAD Ballet Exam Program page for full details.

 

As an adult, do you wish you could have trained in ballet as a child? Or maybe you dream of continuing your training where you left off as a youth? At Joy of Dance we offer a very unique opportunity for Adults to train for Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exams. This one-of-a-kind program is in its 6th year and is steadily growing.


The benefits of training towards a ballet exam:

  • Progressive dance lessons where you learn new movements and concepts from the ground up.
  • The rate of learning and improvement is faster as there are clear expectations and goals.
  • The opportunity to learn solo variations, polishing them until quality, musicality and performance ability is at its peak.
  • The sense of achievement that comes from performing a set ballet class, solo variation and pointe work or character work for an external, international RAD Examiner.

 

If you are interested in our Adult RAD Ballet program, please fill in the following form by clicking the link and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible:
New Student Form

Dancers interested in levels we are not currently offering are also welcome to contact us as we are always looking to start new levels.
Contact us at Joy of Dance at info@joyofdance.ca or 416-406-3262 to leave a message for RAD Program Director Emily Tench.

Instructors

Allison Nichol

Ballet and Contemporary/Modern

Emily Tench

Teen and Adult Ballet Program Director

Naya Valdellon

Ballet

Rachel Zinck

Ballet

Pricing Options

For adult classes only, if you need to miss a class and give us 24 hours advanced notice, we offer you a make-up class in one of our various jump-in classes. No refunds ON ANY PURCHASES

Please refer to the RAD Program page for its pricing.

SINGLE CLASS FEE

$19.25

plus HST

Jump-in Classes

1 class = $19.25
5 classes = $90
10 classes = $175
20 classes = $330

(Ballet Pointe, 5 classes = $60)

Valid for 6 months from date of purchase.
NO REFUNDS OR EXTENSIONS.

RAD Jump-in Passes:

Single: $28 +HST
5-Class Pass: $140 +HST
10-Class Pass: $280 +HST

*All ballet students must register for a minimum of one RAD class to be eligible to do RAD Jump-in passes.

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Step 2

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Step 3

Pay for class online or by phone

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Adult RAD Ballet Program

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  • Thank you for your interest in our Adult RAD Ballet Program, please fill in the questionnaire below to the best of your ability. It will take about 10 minutes.

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