This ballet studio has changed my life. I took ballet for 8-10 years when I was a kid, but gave it up in high school after my first teacher moved away. I hadn't found another studio that I loved as much....until now.
Miss Ann, the Director of CCB, is an amazing teacher and dancer. She is a perfectionist who will encourage and stretch you to the edge of your comfort zone and beyond. She and the many other talented teachers at the studio help to create dancers from age 3 to adult with impressive technical skills and artistic passion. Her teens are sought after by summer intensive programs, prestigious ballet schools, and professional ballet companies.
I have been taking adult classes at CCB for about a year, and the personal attention and quality of corrections given are superior. The classes are usually small, but even when there are lots of students in class, Miss Ann has her eye on every student and she will not let you get away with relaxing your turnout or sloppy foot placement when the combinations are challenging. It is because of her careful critique that I've managed to come so far in just a year of (re)training. I am now completely obsessed, and am guilty of rearranging my work schedule around the CCB schedule. :)
A few reasons why I (and all of the other dancers there) love this studio:
1) It is a dedicated ballet studio. All of the teachers teach classical ballet (hence the name...) in a traditional style. That is *not* to say that class is boring...there is so much artistry to be learned in classical choreography.
2) The teachers are passionate about ballet AND teaching. All of the instructors put time and effort into developing their curriculum and helping students' technique. It is a supportive environment. Kids in the student division and company will be expected to work hard, but the quality of their dancing reflects it. Some of the dancers have gone on to professional careers or dance programs in college, but many do it as their hobby...and both paths are supported.
3) Multiple adult classes per week. I started out with Beginning Ballet and I was so excited that there were four classes offered (M, Tu, W, Sa). Many other studios that I checked out only offered 1 or 2, and as I became more and more obsessed with ballet and wanted to take more classes, I had many to choose from here. :)
4) The adult-only classes welcome everyone and students improve with continued attendance. (One of my pet peeves for adult classes is teachers who don't take adults seriously; for example, they don't give corrections if you are doing something wrong that could set you up for an injury or to help you look more graceful, or they push you too quickly through barre without good technique or enough warmup for more vigorous center exercises. This never happens at CCB.) If you are taking class just for exercise, you will still be given corrections to improve and avoid injuries. And if you want to challenge yourself to perform, or dance on pointe, Miss Ann will help you achieve your goals (safely and carefully, of course). The ladies (and gentlemen...men, don't be shy!) in the adult classes are friendly and welcoming. No one is going to make you feel awkward if you can't figure out a combination, instead they'll pull you aside and help you figure out the steps afterwards. If you have never danced before, the beginning teachers will break down the movements for you slowly and will even spend extra time before/after class to answer questions and help you improve. The intermediate classes are obviously more challenging, but we still have a lot of fun. I always leave class exhausted, but with a huge smile on my face.
5) Performance opportunities, even for adults! There is an annual Nutcracker, and adults are always welcome to join, wear pretty dresses or fancy bow ties, and help fill the stage with acting and dancing. After all of the rehearsals, the show looks amazing (thanks to Miss Ann's eagle eye for the details). There are more advanced parts for the adults who have been coming for years. Some of the adult ladies who started dancing as adults have performed solos on pointe in the performances, which I find amazing and inspiring! And men are always needed for partnering and solos.
Some general FYIs:
When you arrive for your first class, it's not immediately obvious what to do since classes will probably be going on and other parents/students may or may not be in the lobby. For the adult classes, sign in on the class roll sheet and bring cash/check to give to the teacher. If you become obsessed like me, there are options for monthly class cards. Even the drop-in rate is very reasonable and more than worth it for the quality of instruction. For the little ones, email or talk with Miss Ann before enrolling so she can figure out the right class.
Plenty of street parking, or there is a lot right next to Boulevard Burger.
tl;dr: Awesome ballet training for all ages and levels. Stop reading and go try a class! read more