ballet teacher - individual lessons VA

[Anonymous]

Are there any ballet teachers that will give beginner individual lessons? We cannot commit to a whole season or year but want to try it out. Looking around the Vienna/Fairfax area.

[Anonymous]

Ballet is not something you just do in a private lesson for say, a month.

Ballet is a very slow and tedious marathon. Beginning ballet is not something that lends itself to private lessons. For a beginner, the lesson will involve a lot of repetitive, minute and boring exercises. Things like standing properly. Or pointing one foot out to the side, slowly and properly, over and over. And more standing properly.

I highly doubt you will find a real ballet instructor who will do what you are proposing here.

If you just want to say that your kid took ballet, but don't want to commit to a studio, maybe find a high school student who has experience in dance. Or, some studios let you take one trial class. Maybe do that and if your child likes it, commit. That would be your best bet.

[Anonymous]

00:19 is right, however, in this economy you might find a teacher quite willing to do it. (Private lesson). But as a general rule all ballet classes are group with one instructor. If there is a chance you might go on as a professional, some teacher will do private instruction but that is only with someone already en pointe who needs specific fine tuning that only a private class can give. Or if a student needs work perfecting a particular solo.

You don't give age, but Ballet Petite can be fun for some girls (my dd didn't like it).

Try to steer away from anyone who comes off as too strict and demanding or that will kill your daughter's interest from day one.

As your child progresses, you will find that all ballet classes worldwide proceed much on the same pattern - in French. I don't speak french but I could easily take a class in China because the exercise progressions at the barre (the first 45 min. or so) are very similar although the combination may change. You just pick up the french by osmosis as the years go by. The second half of the class is in the center of the room and that's where you work on adagio, epaulment (arm positioning), fouettes. Finally, there are leaps or tour jetes across the room. And a reverence to the teacher at the end and polite applause. Also applause to the piano teacher if there is a live pianist in the corner (as opposed to a dead one).

[Anonymous]

Oh, as to specific instructions, in addition to the Ballet Petite mentioned above, try Maryland Youth Ballet but remember they are a serious school so might think your question baffling. But if you are intent on this one-on-one approach, Maryland Youth Ballet might have some late teens who would be thrilled to "give class" to a little one. Washington Ballet is the same way - very serious school with a Company, but still might have someone to suggest. It really turns on who picks up the phone and how creative they want to be because what you are asking for is not the norm. Still, I would try out ballet petite first.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, just noticed you want VA. Where in VA? i've taken class at almost every school.

[Anonymous]

Sign up for a class through parks and rec.
The classes are low cost and if you miss a few it's not a big deal and your child will get a feel for dance.

[Anonymous]

It's for a boy with some special needs. I'm not looking to turn him into a ballerina.

[Anonymous]

Then a well-trained high school student should work well for you.

[Anonymous]

You might ask at Cuppett if any of the teachers or any of the senior company members (teenagers) might be interested. Or put up a notice - they have a bulletin board there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sign up for a class through parks and rec.
The classes are low cost and if you miss a few it's not a big deal and your child will get a feel for dance.

+1

I think private ballet lessons would be boring for a little one.

[Anonymous]

There were little boys in my daughter's class at both Kintz-Mejia ballet in tysons and Maryland Youth Ballet in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine Kintz Mejia taking absences well.

[Anonymous]

Maryland Youth has a pretty strong program for boys AND various SN classes, so you might call them up and see if they have any ideas.

Also, it's the wrong time of year for this, but many schools have various summer programs that only last for a week or two.

[Anonymous]

I strongly recommend Reston Conservatory Ballet http://www.conservatoryballet.com/. Classes for boys are FREE and they have boy only classes beginning at age 3. They will not make you commit to a full year or season. I know they also have some other special needs students.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the tips!