The Loudoun School of Ballet is a traditional dance school. Our Ballet and Contemporary departments offer a full range of technique classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, and modern dance; and our Preschool program introduces students to the joys of music and movement and to the fundamentals of technique.

We are not a competition or recital driven dance school, although some of our school's students do compete. For example, Monica Witt, trained by Maureen Miller, recently won Dance Masters of America's Miss Dance, the most prestigious award in dance; and Chase Madigan, Allison Perhach, and Kerime Konur have even more recently received Platinum Soloist Awards and accompanying scholarships from NYCDA. Participation in all school companies and competitions is considered a fun, extra-curricular activity.

Our dance classes remain focused on technique through the fall, winter, and spring semesters. Recitals are choreographed using class syllabi, thus eliminating the need to "teach" a recital dance for the entire year.

The school is not a single method or exam-driven school. Although individual teachers are accredited and capable of presenting students for examinations in Vaganova (Russian), Cecchetti (Italian), and Royal (English) methods, the school does not focus exclusively on one method. Today's professional dancers must be fluent in all styles and methods of dance. In addition, exam pressures conflict with the school's stated goal of developing dance as a performing art.

• class placement is made at the discretion of the department director, not by the student or parent
• most students will work in the same level for one or more years.
• entire classes do not advance to the next level as a unit - students with poor attendance do not progress at the same rate as those who attend consistently or who are enrolled in additional classes
• students or parents may request re-evaluations at anytime during the year
• students dropping out of class during the school year will not receive an automatic fall semester class placement recommendation for advancement to the next level for the next year
• students who do not complete semesters due to excessive absences, tardiness, illnesses, or injuries will require additional remedial classes for advancement to the next level for the next year
  

For more information please consult our placement guidelines.