CLASSES / CALENDAR / FACULTY / TUITION / ENROLL / FAQ
The 5-week, 10-class Introduction to Ballet courses are designed for beginners with little to no experience, students with some experience who are not yet ready to take open classes, or dancers returning to the art form after a few years away, ages 18 and up.
The courses give students an overview of the art form and cover all the fundamental elements that comprise the movement vocabulary of classical ballet and how these basics can be best applied by the individual student. Students progressively learn how these elements are used to build steps, phrases and eventually longer choreographed sequences (combinations) that are the basis of the dances of traditional theatrical presentations.
Class size is limited – pre-registration and full enrollment is required.
AGES
18 and above
LOCATION
José Mateo Ballet Theatre
400 Harvard Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 (in Harvard Square)
LEVEL I
Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 PM
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30–8:00 PM
Level I is designed for absolute beginners who are new to ballet. Students will learn essential and fundamental elements of ballet technique, including basic ballet positions, posture, terminology, and mechanics. Students will focus on arm and leg positioning, turn out, pointing of the feet, and correct body placement. Students will learn the typical structure of a traditional ballet class, progressing from barre to centre work, and the various steps that feature in each exercise performed throughout class. By the end of the course, students may progress to Level II.
LEVEL II
Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 PM
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30–8:00 PM
Level II is for students with some brief experience and/or who have completed Level I. Students will review and enhance their understanding of the concepts and steps learned in Level I. Steps will be strung together into phrases and combinations to create new steps and more complex exercises, whilst emphasizing correct body placement and control. By the end of the course, students may be prepared to move into the open classes to continue their ballet journey.
Re-enrollment in each class is recommended if the student feels that they are not ready to progress to the next level.
However, students are encouraged to only enroll for a maximum of 3 sessions of each level before it is recommended they move up.
CALENDAR 2025-26
FALL I
September 8 – October 10
FALL II
October 13 – November 14
WINTER I
November 17 – December 19^
^Makeup class for Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving) will be Friday, November 21
WINTER II
January 5 – February 6
WINTER III
February 9 – March 13
FACULTY
Learn more about our faculty here.
TUITION
$250 per session
5 weeks / 10 classes
FAQ
After an Enrollment Application has been received by José Mateo Ballet Theatre, should the student, for whatever reason, be unable to participate, withdraw from the program, be dismissed with cause, or be absent from the program, payments will not be refunded.
There are no refunds unless medical documentation is provided, in which case makeup classes will be provided for the period of time that the documented medical condition prevents the student from attending class.
Mixing and matching different classes/levels, and/or switching classes/levels is strictly prohibited.
How to get to our studios, dress code, health and safety protocol, and more information here.
Questions? Please email registration@ballettheatre.org or call 617-945-1944.
