Best Ballet Studios In Minnesota

Focus, discipline, self-confidence, physical and mental acuity are but a few benefits of ballet. These five premier Minnesota ballet studios also help youth and adults augment their cultural awareness and appreciation for the arts. Devotees of ballet may be interested in knowing about all the live performances of professional ballet companies associated with these schools. Simply click on links to each ballet school listed below to find this year's schedule.

Minnesota Dance Theatre & The Dance Institute
528 Hennepin Ave., 6th Floor
Minneapolis, MN  55403
(612) 338-0627
www.mndance.org

Loyce Houlton founded Minnesota Dance Theatre in 1962 and it very quickly attained national recognition as a top dance institution in the United States. The institution merged with Ballet Arts Minnesota in 2006, continuing its history of synergy. It now operates as both a professional performing company and a dance school. The school starts girls and boys aged three-and-a-half to nine in classes that instill the essence of movement through music, imagery and self-expression. There is a special tuition-free program of weekly classes for boys. Youth eight to 18 participate in six levels of curriculum, each at a different skill level. Faculty place each incoming applicant based upon technical ability and strength. Students should anticipate a two-year matriculation through each level. A pre-professional trainee program is available for sixth level students. All classes promote classical Russian Ballet tradition enriched with contemporary dance methods and concepts. Students enroll for a full September through May school year.

Academy Of Russian Ballet
14675 Martin Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(612) 501-9208
www.academyofrussianballet.com

Co-directors Kirill Bak and Svetlana Gavrilova established The Academy of Russian Ballet in 2001. As graduates of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, they are ensuring Minnesota has direct access to the most highly respected ballet method in the world. The school touts this method as the strongest ballet foundation with the most effective and safest of methods in delivery. Bak and Gavrilova team up with nine other staff members to deliver four sessions of classes to fill each season of the year: fall, winter, spring and summer.

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St. Paul Ballet
1680 Grand Ave
St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 690-1588
www.spballet.org

School Manager Laura Greenwell and a score of instructors invite students of all ages and abilities to a comprehensive program for all needs. The reasonably priced children's drop-in open class program introduces young prospects to the movement of dance in a classroom setting. Children's full term program is delivered in a nurturing atmosphere, allowing children to grow at his or her own rate. The pre-professional full term program is classical ballet based on the Vaganova method, available to students who demonstrate mastery of strength, artistry and technical ability. Those not seeking pre-professional instruction but who enjoy the benefit of fitness, exercise and self-actualization should seek the teen and adult drop-in open class program. The school offers open classes for professionals, advanced performers and St. Paul Ballet Company members. Do not miss Ballet Tuesdays at The Landmark, performed the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 1:00 p.m.

Ballet Royale Minnesota
16368 Kenrick Ave.
Lakeville, MN 55044
952-898-3163
www.balletroyalemn.org

Founders and directors Denise and Rick Vogt have assembled a team of eight regular faculty, and many more guest faculty, to deliver the best features of classic French, Italian, Russian and English schools. Technique is based on the current body of knowledge of human anatomy and physical principles. The studios are filled six days a week with a variety of classes ranging from pre-ballet creative dance, youth programs, boys' ballet and Pas de Deux. There are also classes catered to those seeking more performance, those seeking more flexibility, teens starting later in their career and adults returning to ballet. Ballet Royale has a symbiotic relationship with Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, which performs regularly as Ames Center's resident dance company in Burnsville.

Minnesota Ballet
301 W. First St.
Suite 800
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 529-3742
www.minnesotaballet.org

Minnesota Ballet invites teens and adults to study ballet. Not only will you learn classical ballet technique, but you will also grow in grace and become stronger. Minnesota Ballet literature points out the ancillary benefits of dance such as enhanced flexibility, longevity and posture. In addition to ballet, the company offers classes in modern performance dance, tap dance, Broadway-style jazz, ballroom dance and Pilates mat exercises. Artistic Director Robert Gardner and a staff of six have a full schedule of classes at beginner and intermediate levels of dance over two semesters, September to January and January to May.

Related: Best Dance Classes For Kids In Minnesota

Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.