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The School
Placement and Going en Pointe
Determining Placement
Level
The directors and faculty of Hyde Park School of Dance care about each individual student’s progress. The HPSD syllabus guides students through all levels, from Creative Movement to Level VI. Whether young dancers are dancing recreationally or are interested in a career in dance, it is very important that they attend classes at their particular level. This ensures confident and careful training without the risk of frustration and injury.
Age range provides a general guideline for initial placement. Parents may ask the instructor to evaluate their student on the first day of class if there are questions about ability or readiness. Students are expected to spend at least one year (two 16-week semesters), and often two or more years, at a particular level before moving on to the next level.
Students may start ballet classes at any age. HPSD does not require students to begin in the pre-ballet program in order to take other classes. However, students should be evaluated by an instructor to determine their class placement if they are starting classes at 10 years or older, or transferring from another ballet school.
Students who wish to advance to Level IV must have completed one or more years of Ballet III and have permission from the Artistic Director. Often it takes more than one year to complete Ballet III. At the upper levels the School may recommend that a student enroll in a combination of two different class levels.
Student evaluations are conducted at the end of the spring session and recommendations are made at that time for the level placement in the fall. Promotion to a higher level is not automatic. It is determined by the instructor in consultation with the Artistic Director.
Level Placement Classes
The Hyde Park School of Dance has a progressive curriculum for its ballet and modern classes. In order to develop strong technique and avoid injury and frustration, students must complete all syllabus material before moving on to the next level. Each spring, instructors complete written Level Recommendations for student placement in the fall session.
Students in Ballet II and up, and all levels of Modern, are encouraged to take free Level Placement Classes in the spring. During these classes the artistic staff evaluate each student and explain the syllabus. Parents are strongly recommended to attend these classes. Level Placements Classes are scheduled in May each year. Please check the School Calendar for details.
Guidelines for Going on Pointe
To begin pointe training students must be physically mature. Most children are ready sometime between the ages of 10 and 12. Ultimately it is the instructor who decides whether a student is ready for pointe work. Most students need at least four years of serious ballet training before they are technically ready (pre-ballet is not considered part of this training). In addition, HPSD requires students to pass a written exam of ballet terminology. Students who graduate to pointe are required to take a minimum of three 90 minute technique classes in addition to pointe class. New pointe students are evaluated during the first week to assure placement in the proper level.
