Mendocino Ballet School

This is a year-round program from August -May with Special Summer Workshops. We have a 2 week August Ballet Intensive that is mandatory for all students who have been part of the program and want to be considered for advanced placement in the Fall. New students will also be assessed here and placed in the appropriate level after teacher evaluation.

FALL 2025 SCHEDULE

Our Fall schedule is available for previous students to view, however you will not want to register your child for classes until AFTER their student assessment at our August Dance Intensive, where any level changes will take place.

Click HERE to pull up the schedule in a new window so you can zoom in.

MENDOCINO SCHOOL OF BALLET CLASS LEVELS

Beginning I is the first level in our Ballet School. Beginning I focuses on the foundation of ballet technique at the barre, and learning to implement those basics at center floor. Once proper plié, turn out, and proper tendu and footwork are mastered, the class will be introduced to new steps. This class is twice a week, by audition only.

Beginning II level builds on the beginning I ballet foundation, where core strength and barre work come together. Basic foundational steps are memorized here, and we look for dancers to be able to articulate their leg muscle and use their upper body with their core engaged with neutral pelvic alignment. New positions are introduced throughout the school year in sequential order, to build their strength and their mind body connection ability.

Apprentice I level focuses on maintaining foundational ballet technique, learning and improving their vocabulary of terms, as well as learning to improve their strength and flexibility at barre and center floor. Footwork is a focus, as demi-pointe shoes are introduced in this level, based on teacher evaluation. Ankle strength is a focus preparing for point work in the next years. Introduction to the beauty of dance starts through teaching proper arm, head and shoulders technique, also called épaulment.

Apprentice II level focus' on the technique as well as learning the art of ballet, as well as the introduction to point shoes. Ankle strength while learning ballet pointe technique is focused on in class as well as épaulment, the proper head, arm and upper body positions in relation to the legs, which is beginning to be utilized more and more. Performance quality and the art of expressing yourself through your dance, while maintaining your technique is being learned in this level especially.

Corps and Company Class: This class if for dancers who have been on pointe for at least 2 years and have proficient ballet technique and can perform as a corps dancer on pointe. To be in 'Company', dancers must be able to be proficient on pointe for solo's to be awarded and performed en pointe. Dancers at this level will be expected to show performance quality with the use of their épaulement (Head, upper body and arm positioning). Whereas Corps dancers will not be expected to dance en pointe for Solo’s, but for group piece, learning how to dance as a whole, connected group. These classes help prepare our dancers on a pre-professional level, getting them ready for a possible future dance career.

* Each level we introduce them how to be a confident performer and will give parents the ability to have class observations on the last class of each month. This gives the students someone to 'perform' for and shows how they conduct their energy as performers, while also giving the parents the ability to watch different teachers and the class progress.

* pop up workshops will be available each month in Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Dance Theatre and more.

Questions? Call us at 707-463-2290 or email us at office@mendocinoballet.org.