Our philosophy about ballet for children:
We believe that ballet can be taught in a joyful, fun manner that embraces children of all ages, abilities, and body types. If a child is excited about ballet, we are excited to teach them. Shawl-Anderson Dance Center and its teaching staff aim to move beyond the deeply held stereotypes related to ballet and to teach children in a manner that is fun, engaging, challenging, age appropriate, and uses what we know in current times about learning, caring for young dancers’ bodies, and more.

Our niche:
Shawl-Anderson Dance Center is not a conservatory program for pre-professional ballet dancers, but is a place for children and teens ages 5-18 who want to learn ballet, whether that means once a week or several times a week. Students might come only for ballet classes, or may be a part of our other programs, including the pre-professional track in modern dance. Our ballet classes are great compliments for students who are studying drama, musical theatre, and more. Some students take dance classes in lieu of physical education at their high schools.

Our curriculum:
Our ballet teachers teach technique that includes various ballet traditions including Vaganova, Cecchetti, and RAD methods. With younger children ages 5-7, as is age appropriate, the ballet classes still include games, stories, and props as a creative way into learning ballet technique. As children grow older, the program looks more “familiar” – with a warm up at the barre, center work, traveling across the room, leaps, and more. For children ages 7 and up, we have two performances a year at the Center in December and June, where students have the opportunity to learn and perform one dance. Our ballet program embraces the tradition of ballet as well as incorporating contemporary classical music. Please note that pointe work is NOT included in our teen program, as students must be attending several days a week to have the strength for pointe work.

Our teachers:
Our current ballet staff includes Wendy Diamond, Katie Kruger, Jetta Martin, Amanda Whitehead, Susan Williams, and Breton Tyner-Bryan. Our staff members have extensive experience as professional ballerinas, professional modern dancers, as teachers, as parents, and as teaching artists in public schools. The staff members bring many skills to every class.

FAQ's
Do you offer ballet for 3 and 4 year olds?
Our ballet program begins at age 5, when a child is typically in kindergarten. For children ages 3 and 4, we have creative-based modern dance classes that are a great pre-cursor for ballet. These classes work on jumping, galloping, skipping, telling stories through dance, and basic rhythms. Students who attend Modern Dance I and II will be well-prepared for Pre-Ballet at age 5.

Do you teach “real ballet?”
Absolutely! Our highly qualified staff members teach age appropriate classes comprised of basic ballet vocabulary. As students progress, the class format includes the traditional components: barre work, adagio, traveling work, turns, petit allegro, and grand allegro. We use traditional ballet music, classical music, music from the great ballets, and contemporary classical music. Students must still wear leotards and tights, ballet slippers, and have hair neatly pulled back.

Is your program right for teens who want to become a professional ballet dancer?
No. Our program does not offer the number of weekly technique classes needed for teens to be ready at age 18 to audition for ballet companies. The Center DOES offer a pre-professional modern track for teens. If you are looking for a conservatory style ballet program, we suggest looking into Berkeley Ballet Theater, Berkeley City Ballet, Contra Costa Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet School.

How many times a week must my child attend?
Your child is welcome to attend ballet classes 1-3 times a week. We also offer modern, jazz, and hip hop classes for children. It is common for children and teens to take 1 ballet class a week and 1-2 other classes at Shawl-Anderson each week.

How strict is your dress code?
We have a simple dress code of black leotards (any style), pink tights, and pink ballet slippers for girls. Boys can wear white shirts and black tights with black slippers. Hair must be neatly tied back and jewelry removed. Clothing can be purchased down the street on College Avenue at San Francisco Dancewear.

Boys and girls?
Absolutely! We welcome all children – boys and girls – who are enthusiastic about ballet. Shawl-Anderson also strives to not turn anyone away due to lack of funds. The Center has several scholarship funds, including the Stephanie Jacob Ballet Scholarship.

Thank you for your interest in ballet at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center. We look forward to dancing with you!