Upper School (ages 13-18)

Placement Policy

Students age 8 and older, with previous dance experience, please contact Managing Director of Schools, Vicki Parsons, to schedule a placement class for the remainder of the 2009/10 school year. Early placement classes for fall 2010 will be held on Saturday, June 5 for students, age 8 and older with previous dance experience who are new to Ballet Austin. These classes may also be used for placement into summer classes and intensives. Class for students age 8-12 will be from 2:00-3:30pm and class for students age 13 and older will be held from 3:30-5:00pm. Both classes will be held at the Butler Dance Education Center. Please arrive one half hour early for check-in.
The Upper School is open to middle and high school students only.

Printable version of Upper School flier (including schedule and tuition information)

Students placed in the Upper School have shown they have the discipline and determination to commit to a serious ballet program as well as having the required technical ability and physical strength.

Progression to the next level is based on the student’s mastery of the vocabulary and the physical understanding of the syllabus in their current level. Since students progress at different rates this may be a two or three year process.

Upper School students (Levels 5, 6, 7, 8) attend class 9.5 – 14.5 hours per week, depending on the level. Ballet technique and pointe, with variations and partnering starting in Level 7, comprise the core curriculum of the Upper School.

Upper School students are eligible to audition for Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker. Students participate in the Spring Performance in the AustinVentures StudioTheater and are given the opportunity to participate in the Young Artists program. They have conferences with Ballet Austin Academy Artistic Staff twice a year. In addition, students may take advantage of "Opening Night at the Ballet" and receive one complimentary ticket to each opening night performance of Ballet Austin’s season, with the exception of The Nutcracker.

Dress Code

Upper School Girls: Black leotard -simple camisole or sleeved leotards only, no halter tops, no criss-cross backs- (solid colored leotards may be worn in Saturday classes), pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and pink pointe shoes. Hair must be secured in a bun.

Upper School Boys: White short-sleeve leotard or fitted T-shirt, black footed tights, white ballet shoes, white socks, dance belt.

Electives through the Butler Community School (Upper School)

Academy students are encouraged to expand their dance options by learning different movement styles and to build connections to the greater dance community. Additional dance and fitness classes offered through the Butler Community School include jazz, tap, hip hop, hula, modern, theatre dance, yoga and more. Both the Academy and Community School are housed at the Butler Dance Education Center. Community School classes allow for a flexible, pay as you go schedule with no minimum attendance requirements. Class-cards may be used interchangeably at any or all of the Community School dance and fitness classes. While enrolled in the 2009/10 school year, students may purchase a class-card at a special rate of 50% off the regular class-card rate. Schedules will be available in the Schools Office or online.

2009/10 Class Schedule

Students age 8 to 12, with no previous dance experience, are placed in Level 1 of the Lower School. Students age 13 and older, with no previous dance experience, are recommended for the Butler Community School's Beginning Ballet for Teens and Adults.

Students registering after the start of the school year will be asked to take a class with their age group as a placement class.

The 2009/10 school year begins September 8, 2009

Levels 6-8 Student Warm up schedule 09