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Adult Ballet training provides dancers with strength, flexibility, poise and elegance. With this foundation, your skill set and ability translate to any form of dance. Emily, Lilia and Allison set classes that give dancers the 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 kick start! Learn the foundations of ballet through simple barre, centre and jumping sequences.

Level 1 Ballet

For dancers with 1-2 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.

Level 2 Ballet

For dancers with 3-5 years of ballet training. Be prepared to sweat! This Intermediate level ballet class is accompanied by popular, and incredible, pianist Valentina Gurovsky.

Adult Pointe Work

As beautiful as it is challenging. In Emily’s pointe class you will learn slowly and step by step the necessary strengthening exercises for your legs and feet. This progression is essential for pointe work. Prospective students are asked to book an assessment lesson with Emily before joining the class. She looks for dancers with at least 3 years of continuous training in Ballet in order to ensure you have the necessary strength and technique to proceed safely.

Beginner Pointe

Teaches you correct alignment and posture as well as strengthening exercises for your feet and legs. You begin at the barre and slowly work up your skills until you are ready to dance very simple enchainments in the center.

Level 1 Pointe

Takes the basic training you have received in the Beginner Level and teaches you a more challenging vocabulary. This level speeds things up, and takes you off the barre sooner for basic pointe variations.

Floor Barre Conditioning and Stretch – Coming January 2017

A class for dancers of any genre. We begin class with some conditioning exercises targeting different dance specific muscle groups. These exercises will improve posture, alignment and general strength. We will then move into some ballet floor barre exercises. These are basic exercises you might do in a beginner ballet class, but laying on the floor. They help the dancer learn to stabilize the core, while moving the limbs with grace and control. We will finish off the hour with some deep stretching to release the muscles we have worked as well as to improve the dancers lines.

Winter Term (15 Weeks): Sunday Jan 7, 2018 – Monday April 23, 2018

Holidays: Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, April 1st and 2nd.
(Classes will run on Family Day, Monday Feb 19th)
(Classes will run during Spring Break, March 12-16)

Note: Prices do not include HST.

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 5th year and is steadily growing.

Advanced Foundation classes already began on September 2017. Pre-requisite for the exam is having passed the R.A.D Intermediate exam. Any student with 4+ years of ballet training is welcome to join the class, with assessment.

Grade 6 classes will begin January 2018. Students must have 3+ years of ballet experience. Please contact the studio for an assessment.

Our Intermediate class will also begin January 2018 as an accelerated class, and will only accept students with the required experience level.

The benefits of training towards a ballet exam:

• Progressive classes 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.

Dancers interested in joining the R.A.D. program, please contact Joy of Dance at info@joyofdance.ca or 416-406-3262 to leave a message for RAD Program Director Emily Tench.

Dancers interested in levels we are not currently offering are also welcome to contact us as we are always looking to start new levels.

GRADE 6

1.5 hr class

Grade 6 RAD is a beautiful syllabus based on the style of the Romantic period. It draws its inspiration from Romantique ballets like Giselle, La Sylphide and Raymonda.

On top of training in classical ballet, the Grade 6 syllabus Includes training in contemporary dance and Polish Court Dance (as seen in traditional versions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia).

The contemporary and Court Dance training aids in the learning of the romantic ballet style, as well and being a fun addition to the variety of movement styles ballet dancers perform on a regular basis.

Dancers will be trained progressively with initial focus on postural alignment and control, moving into a broader focus on the use of epaulement and artistry of the port de bras. Emphasis will also be placed on all elements of ballet: Adage, Pirouettes, Allegro, etc.

Course Expectations: Dancers interested in taking Grade 6 should have 3-4 years of ballet experience.

Dancers should be prepared to take 2-3 ballet classes per week, including the Grade 6 classes. This will ensure the fitness level required for Grade 6. 

Dancers should be prepared to practice at home a few hours each week. This ensures progress week to week as well as supports dancers’ memorization of the set work once that is required.

Mondays: 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Thursdays: 12:30-2:00 p.m.

Fees:

Once/ week: 15 classes: $270+ ($18/class)
Twice/ week: 30 classes: $540+ ($18/class)

Drop in Rate for Registered Students Only: $20+

*No accompanist for this class

Next Exam Period: November/December 2018

INTERMEDIATE

1.5 Hour Classes (special accelerated program)

This accelerated exam course is for experienced dancers who have at least 4 years of training and have been on pointe for at least 1 full year.

Interested dancers will need an assessment with Emily to determine if this is the right course for them.

Note: Dancers interested in Advanced level RAD exams must have passed their Intermediate exam first.

Course Expectations: Dancers must be prepared to take 2-3 drop-in classes and 1 pointe class at the Intermediate level, per week, to be prepared for this exam.

Dancers must be prepared to practice at home, a minimum of 3 hours a week to ensure progress and memorization of the exam material.

Thursdays: 6:00-7:30

Fees:

Once/ week: 15 classes: $345+* ($23/class)

Drop-In** Rate for Registered RAD student: $20+

*Cost includes fee for an accompanist playing every second class in preparation for Summer Exam. This is a specialized, small class size, course.

**Only students who have previously taken their Intermediate RAD exam may drop into this class.

Next Exam Period: Late July/August 2018

ADVANCED FOUNDATION

2 hr class

Advanced Foundation (which is equivalent to the RAD’s old Intermediate level prior to 1990’s) is a very challenging syllabus. Only dancers with a weekly, dedicated ballet practice should apply for this level. See below for per-requisites.

Female Dancers are required to wear “dead” pointe shoes, or “soft bock” shoes for class. There is a huge pointe component to this exam and the solo variation is performed on pointe, wearing either a tutu or a skirt.

Male Dancers will be working on many advanced turns and jumps, beyond what the women are required to practice. There are challenging, fun, solo variations for the men to learn as well.

Dancers will continue to train progressively (see note below). Emily demands a high level of attention to postural alignment and control which takes practice and dedication from the dancer to achieve. Injury prevention and clean alignment is a must.

Course Expectations: Pr-Requisite for Exam: Having passed their Intermediate RAD Exam

Pre-Requisite for course without exam: 5+ years of ballet training. Recent training at an Intermediate level. 2-3 years of Pointe experience.

Dancers should be prepared to take 4-5 ballet classes per week, including the Advanced Foundation Exam classes. This will ensure the fitness level required for Advanced Foundation.

Dancers should be prepared to practice at home 3-5 hours each week. This ensures progress week to week as well as supports dancers’ memorization of the set work once that is required.

Note: This course began on September 2017. The class has been working to develop new concepts and movements and gaining the strength and flexibility required for the set exam material. In January 2018, we will begin to work on the syllabus material.

Sundays: 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Mondays: 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Thursdays: 10:00-12:00 p.m.

Fees:

Once/ week: 15 classes: $345+ ($23/class)
Twice/ week: 30 classes: 660+ ($22/class)
Three/ week: 45 classes: 945+ ($21/class)

Drop in Rate for Registered Students Only (2 Hour): $25+

*No accompanist for this class

Planned Exam Period: November/December 2018 (some dedicated dancers may be ready for a Summer Exam)

INSPIRE: Training towards an RAD exam takes a real commitment. Dancers are expected to practice at home, take other classes and be confident with the syllabus material.  Hard work, mental focus and dedication are all part of the process.  Just remember that in life the best part is often the journey not the destination which gives us our greatest joy.  Step into your future, point your toes and embrace your dream.