Anonymous wrote:Also, 10 is really too young for pointe at a legit studio so you should be fine - she is the perfect age for "serious" ballet leading up to pointe if that's what she wants. A few weeks at Ballet Nova camps should give her an idea of if she still likes it a lot or not.

+1. Girls should not go en pointe until age 12 because before then the bones in the foot are too soft.

I have very good friends whose daughter goes to ballet nova. She is 10 and loves the classes. She is not ready for pointe yet, but she is having a positive experience and really enjoys dancing.

Ballet nova is great because they really include the children who are not "naturals" into yearly Nutcracker performance.

Also, 10 is really too young for pointe at a legit studio so you should be fine - she is the perfect age for "serious" ballet leading up to pointe if that's what she wants. A few weeks at Ballet Nova camps should give her an idea of if she still likes it a lot or not.

Your best bet is definitely Ballet Nova bordering Falls Church and Arlington, next to REI. Fun but excellent training.

I do not recommend Adagio. Nice looking studio, but they teach girls nothing.

Classical Ballet Theater in Herndon?

My daughters have taken camp (and will again this summer) at Ballet Petite in Bethesda. They have a location in McLean. They have a great program and at the level you seem to be looking for.
http://www.balletpetite.com/RelId/623371/ISvars/default/Summer_Dance.htm

Try Adagio. I thought they had a Fairfax location, but website only mentions Arlington.
http://www.adagioballet.com/curriculum/summer-camp.html

DD (10) has taken ballet for 3 + years, and was advancing quickly when she took a 2-year break. In her previous class, she was ready for the pre-pointe class, a bit too early given her age at the time, prompting the decision to take a break. She's thinking of going back, but would like to start with a camp to get back in the swing of things. We're not looking at turning ballet into a career, but it is something she liked, and it provides a good balance to her swimming. Camps I've looked at seemed either designed for little kids, or meant for the truly advanced (en pointe) dancer. She's pretty rusty, but would like to join a camp where actual ballet instruction is offered, so that she can re-join her age group when classes start in the fall.

Suggestions? We are in Vienna -- so Mclean, Falls Church, and everything in-between would be good.