Berkeley Parents Network: Berkeley Ballet Theater

Berkeley Parents Network

Berkeley Ballet Theater

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Classes & Lessons > Dance > Berkeley Ballet Theater

Website for Berkeley Ballet Theater: http://www.berkeleyballet.org/

Re: Ballet lessons for 5-year-old (Feb. 2004)
Last year when my daughter was 5 years old, I looked into Berkeley Ballet Theater's pre-ballet class and was able to observe it for several weeks becuase there was a confusion about my daughter's enrollment. This was what I saw -- the teacher danced/modeled in front of the class and verbally corrected students' arm/leg position and movement without showing individual kids how to do it right; the young assistant only danced with the kids and didn't play any role in helping them or showing them what they did right or wrong; and the atmosphere of the class, I felt, was quite cold. However, all the kids seemed to enjoy the class anyways, including one of the kids who was constantly told, ''Your arms are too high!'' ''Watch your position!'' etc., as she came out of the class and told her mother she had a good time dancing.

Re: Adult Ballet Classes (October 2002)
I highly recommend Berkeley Ballet Theatre. I've been taking classes there on and off for about 9 years. The teacher I've had most consistantly is Deborah Moss. She's great! She explains the exercises, takes time to really correct you etc. She's also really nice and funny.

I've stayed in the beginning class. People's levels are pretty varied, from real beginners to advanced, but starting back slowly, or recovering from injuries. There is an intro class, but if you have some prior training, beginning is probably for you. Last I checked there were classes Monday and Wednesday at 7:30-9:00 and Saturdays at noon.

There's another teacher, Kathleen Juba who also teaches, but I'm not sure of her schedule. They have a website, and the link for the adult classes is: http://www.berkeleyballet.org/Content.html Good luck! Mollie

Re: Adult Ballet Classes (October 2002)
I've taken the adult classes at Berkeley Ballet Theater for several years and really enjoy them. The adult classes are definitely diverse so you won't feel out of place there. I take the intermediate classes on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30. I really love that teacher. She is a beautiful dancer as well as great at giving corrections. It's hard to find a teacher that puts that much effort into her adult students. She also teaches a beginning/intermediate class on Saturdays at 12:00 that I go to. I prefer this class over the 10:00 intermediate because it is way less crowded and it is slower so it gives me a chance to focus on improving my technique. I've also taken the Saturday and Sunday intermediate classes at Shawl-Anderson. These are great classes also but the instructors don't give any corrections which on the plus side means more dancing time but you don't tend to improve your technique.

Feel free to contact me if you want to talk more about it or if you want a dance buddy. I know how intimidating it can be to get back into dancing. I just started up myself after about 1 1/2 years of not dancing. This included the pregnancy and birth of my baby so my dancer figure is history as well! Diana

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