Pre-Professional

Ballet Technique
Daily ballet training develops alignment, coordination, musicality, strength, dynamic range, and technical refinement while deepening each dancer’s understanding of classical vocabulary, movement efficiency, and artistic clarity in performance.

Pointe / Pas de Deux
Pointe and partnering training develops classical partnering principles, pointe technique, coordination, weight-sharing, communication, alignment, musicality, and performance presence within classical and contemporary contexts. Dancers strengthen trust, responsiveness, precision, and artistic awareness essential to professional partnering.

Contemporary / Modern Technique
Training develops movement efficiency, articulation, floor work, dynamic phrasing, spatial awareness, and expressive range through diverse contemporary and modern methodologies. Dancers explore movement, adapt to varied artistic approaches, and respond thoughtfully to evolving choreographic processes.

Repertory
Repertory develops dancers’ ability to learn, retain, refine, and perform choreographic works within collaborative rehearsal and production environments. Through this process, dancers deepen artistic interpretation, strengthen professional rehearsal practices, and contribute thoughtfully within ensemble performance settings.

Supplemental Technique / Open Class
Supplemental classes expand dancers’ experiences through rotating faculty, guest artists, diverse movement practices, and contemporary methodologies, including improvisation, partnering, somatic exploration, floor work, and interdisciplinary movement approaches. These experiences cultivate versatility, curiosity, adaptability, and confidence.

Floor Werkq™ & Pilates
Develops conditioning, alignment, core strength, flexibility, mobility, and efficient movement organization while supporting injury prevention, recovery, and long-term physical sustainability. These practices cultivate body awareness and reinforce healthy movement patterns.

Elective Coursework
Allows dancers to expand their artistic, technical, or interdisciplinary experiences through additional movement practices, supplemental studies, or approved training opportunities that support individual growth and exploration. Approved advanced and professional-level Ruth Page School of Dance classes may also fulfill elective requirements.

Mental Health
Cultivates self-awareness, reflective practice, performance preparation, focus, resilience, and effective strategies for managing the physical and emotional demands of professional dance training. Guided discussion and practical application support healthy habits, artistic growth, and long-term professional well-being.

Nutrition
Develops an understanding of nutritional principles and sustainable wellness practices that support the physical and energetic demands of professional training and performance. Dancers apply informed decision-making to enhance performance, promote recovery, and support long-term health.

Dance History
Explores the historical, cultural, and artistic evolution of dance, including influential artists, choreographic practices, aesthetic movements, and diverse cultural traditions within global contexts. By connecting historical perspectives to contemporary practice, dancers cultivate informed and culturally aware approaches to their artistic and professional development.

Choreography Workshop
Develops compositional tools, improvisational practices, movement-generation strategies, and creative approaches that encourage artistic inquiry, experimentation, and thoughtful risk-taking. Through guided exploration and reflection, dancers use movement as a form of personal expression while strengthening creative decision-making, confidence, artistic identity, and an authentic voice.

Final Project / Creative Practice Lab
The culminating experience provides dedicated time for dancers to develop original work through guided exploration, choreography, improvisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and performance development in a faculty-mentored studio environment. The project integrates technical training, artistic practice, and creative inquiry, culminating in a work-in-progress showing and a final public performance.