Youth Ballet
Ages 7-18
The Youth Program is where formal training begins. When completed in succession, it lays the foundation of our curriculum and the technique of classical ballet and other forms of dance.
The focus is on developing strong, coordinated, musical, and artistically educated students who have the ability and versatility to further their education beyond NSB to pursue a career in the arts and/or other related fields.
Youth Ballet Curriculum Outline:

Ballet I is the first level of academic ballet training at Northeast School of Ballet. Upon entering this level students are expected to have respect for the classroom and learning process. Dancers will be introduced to elementary ballet steps both at the barre and center. Stretching, coordination, strength building, and musicality will be major components in the student's dance education. All students are encouraged to learn terminology and practice exercises at home. Students at this level have the choice to attend three ballet classes a week and have the option to study jazz, tap, and ballroom. Level I students participate in NSB’s Annual Ballet Lecture-Demonstration during the winter/spring semester. Level 1 students (ages 7 and up) are also given the opportunity to audition for NYB’s The Nutcracker. Acceptance and casting for the production are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Staff of Northeast Youth Ballet.
Ballet II builds on the steps previously introduced in Ballet I and will evolve and incorporate different positions, patterning, and coordination. Ballet II students participate in NSB’s Annual Ballet Lecture-Demonstration during the winter/spring semester. Ballet II students are also given the opportunity to audition for NYB’s The Nutcracker. Acceptance and casting for the production are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Staff of Northeast Youth Ballet. Students In Ballet II are encouraged to attend at least two ballet classes a week and have the option to study jazz, tap, and ballroom.
Ballet III builds on the steps previously introduced and will evolve and incorporate different positions, patterning, and coordination. Ballet III students participate in NSB’s Annual Ballet Lecture-Demonstration during the winter/spring semester. Ballet III students are also given the opportunity to audition for NYB’s The Nutcracker. Acceptance and casting for the production are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Staff of Northeast Youth Ballet. Students in Ballet III are encouraged to attend at least three ballet classes a week and have the option to study jazz, tap, and ballroom.
Ballet IV offers a large amount of material and vocabulary to explore with increased expectations. Participation requires generally more than three years of classical ballet study. As a result, students should expect to remain in Level IV and V for two consecutive years at minimum. Students will begin to study either pre-pointe work or pointe work in Level IV which is a practice designed to prepare them for pointe classes in Level V. All students will need a green Thera-Band for foot and ankle strengthening and are required to bring a single subject spiral notebook to class to notate ballet terminology and practice exercises for homework. Level IV students participate in NSB’s Annual Ballet Lecture-Demonstration during the winter/spring semester and are also given the opportunity to audition for NYB’s The Nutcracker. Acceptance and casting for the production are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Staff of Northeast Youth Ballet. Students in Ballet IV are required to attend as many ballet classes in their level as are offered during the week and strongly encouraged to study modern, jazz, tap, and ballroom for versatility in their training.
Level V offers a large amount of material and vocabulary to explore with increased expectations. Participation requires generally more than three years of classical ballet study. As a result, students should expect to remain in Level V for two consecutive years at minimum. Students will begin to study either pre-pointe work or pointe work in Level IV which is a practice designed to prepare them for pointe classes in Level V. All students will need a green Thera-Band for foot and ankle strengthening and are required to bring a single subject spiral notebook to class to notate ballet terminology and practice exercises for homework. Level V students participate in NSB’s Annual Ballet Lecture-Demonstration during the winter/spring semester and are also given the opportunity to audition for NYB’s The Nutcracker. Acceptance and casting for the production are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Staff of Northeast Youth Ballet. Students in Ballet V are required to attend as many ballet classes in their level as are offered during the week and strongly encouraged to study modern, jazz, tap, ballroom, yoga and cross-training for versatility in their training.
Ballet VI & VII continue studying the previous dance disciplines with the addition of modern, contemporary ballet, jazz, ballroom, yoga and cross-training for versatility in their training.. Students at this level will have the physical ability to study classical and contemporary works, as well as choreography in complimentary dance disciplines. In addition, artistry and self-expression will be largely emphasized at this level. Performance opportunities include NSB’s Annual Ballet Lecture-Demonstration during the winter/spring semester and the opportunity to audition for NYB’s The Nutcracker. Acceptance and casting for the production are at the sole discretion of the Artistic Staff of Northeast Youth Ballet. Students In Ballet VI & VII are required to attend as many ballet classes as are offered to their level during the week and strongly encouraged to study other disciplines.