Our Foundation and Intensive Training Programs are available for dancers ages 6 and up who desire a high level training program to develop their skills and further explore the world of dance and ballet. Foundation Training levels are for dancers ages 6 through 12 and focus on building a strong technical foundation of classical ballet training while promoting a love of dance and music. Intensive Training levels are for dancers ages 12 and older who are passionate about dance and wish to participate in a high level training program to develop their skills and further explore the world of dance and ballet.

Students in these programs attend 3 – 6 classes per week including ballet and modern with the option of jazz.  Our highly experienced faculty provide top level training in order to develop technique, artistry and foster and lifelong love of dance. All ballet classes are accompanied by live musicians.

Students in these programs may be eligible to participate in examinations and audition to participate in Alberta Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” and various other productions.

A production fee is included in your registration and is non refundable. Participation in the Year End Performance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. This fee includes all wardrobe and costume charges, theatre rental fees, videographer and photographer, and any other costs associated with the Year End Performance.

All Foundation and Intensive programs qualify for our monthly payment plan. A 20% deposit is required to participate.

Foundation and Intensive Base Program

Foundation and Intensive Training Program students attend a minimum of two ballet classes per week. Once a dancer reaches Intensive Training level 2, a modern dance class is added to the base program as well as a Workshop class.  Students are also able to add an exam ballet and pointe class (when ready) to the base program to accommodate the increased workload and technical expectations of the work.

Examinations and Assessments

All Foundation and Intensive training levels follow the Alberta Ballet School Open Division curriculum designed by Artistic Advisor Diane van Schoor and members of the artistic faculty. Students in Foundation Training Levels 1 and 2 will participate in assessment classes to monitor progress and receive productive feedback. Students in Foundation Training level 3 through Intensive Training Level 12 may be offered the ability to train towards examinations in Royal Academy of Dance or Cecchetti methods of training in addition to their ABS curriculum. Students in these levels who would like to be assessed for examinations must be in the Foundation or Intensive Training Program and are required to register for the corresponding exam class for their level.

Optional Exam Ballet Classes

Students in the Foundation or Intensive Training Program Levels 3 and up have the option of enrolling in a corresponding exam class. Exam programming offers students an additional ballet class each week where students will further develop and refine the details of classical technique and artistry. This program allows students to progress at a faster rate and accomplish a superior understanding of the art of ballet. Students who are interested in being assessed for examinations in the Cecchetti or Royal Academy of Dance methods are required to enroll in the corresponding exam class.

Optional Jazz and YYC Dance Project Jazz Enrichment Classes

Jazz is a fun, invigorating class set to contemporary music. All jazz classes follow the YYC Dance Project curriculum and will focus on increasing the student’s movement skills, flexibility and style.  These skills are complementary to the dancer’s ballet training and help to build a versatile dancer. The YYC Jazz Enrichment class is taught by a graduate of the YYC Dance Project program and is an additional option for dancers wishing to increase their skills in this genre of dance.

Performance Group

Foundation and Intensive Training students level 3 and up are eligible to audition for the Open Division Performance Group. This group will rehearse weekly beginning in January of each season and will offer dancers additional performance opportunities. This is a great way to become more involved in the school and gain further performance experience.