Youth Ballet Training Program
The Morgantown Dance Youth Ballet Training Program is an intensive training program for youth who are serious about dancing Classical Ballet. The Program’s secondary purpose is to strengthen and develop translatable skills and values, such as strength, flexibility, coordination, musicality, balance, self-confidence, group work, expression/interpretation, etc.
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The Morgantown Dance Youth Ballet Training Program (YBTP) consists of multi-genre class attendance requirement that represents an advanced dedication to dance training. The YBTP program is designed to ensure that students know/learn all or most of the classical ballet vocabulary and achieve good execution in skills. Placements are required for the YBTP on a yearly and rolling basis and requires attending the placement audition or taking a placement class of the YBTP Director with prior approval. Ballet levels eligible to audition for the YBTP are Ballet Intro II – Ballet III+.
Students in the YBTP will have semester evaluations, one at the end of the fall semester, and one at the end of the spring semester. Evaluations are an essential part of the communication process, informing the students and the parents of the students’ progression or lack thereof, what the student needs to do to improve, explanation of promotions to the different levels or lack thereof. It is an opportunity for parents and students to ask questions and get answers concerning the students’ progress or lack thereof.
The Youth Ballet Company (YBC) is the performing entity of the YBTP, comprised of a subset of dancers in the YBTP. Acceptance into the YBC is by invitation of the YBC Artistic Director only.
These programs start in August and finish in May, per the Morgantown Dance 32-week dance season. Students have holidays off, as well as a Spring and Winter break that follow the regular school calendar.
Morgantown Dance Youth Ballet Company Artistic Director & Youth Ballet Training Program Director: Gerard Holt.
Students in the YBTP will have semester evaluations, one at the end of the fall semester, and one at the end of the spring semester. Evaluations are an essential part of the communication process, informing the students and the parents of the students’ progression or lack thereof, and what the student needs to do to improve. It is an opportunity for parents and students to ask questions and obtain answers concerning the students’ experience with the program.
The Youth Ballet Company (YBC) is the performing entity of the YBTP, comprised of a subset of dancers in the YBTP. Acceptance into the YBC is by invitation of the YBC Artistic Director only.
These programs start in August and finish in May, per the Morgantown Dance 32-week dance season. Students have holidays off, as well as a Spring and Winter break that follow the regular school calendar.
Morgantown Dance Youth Ballet Company Artistic Director & Youth Ballet Training Program Director: Gerard Holt.
Level I (Dancers in Ballet Intro II, Ballet I and Ballet I/II)
Requirements: Two ballet classes per week delivered by the YBTP Director at the placement level of the student, plus at least one modern, jazz or contemporary class, and attendance at a summer intensive one week or longer.
Uniform:
Female Identifying and Nonbinary Students: A grey leotard tailored in a fashion appropriate to classical ballet; full-length flesh toned footed tights and flesh toned ballet slippers and pointe shoes with ribbons and/or elastics sewn. Hair shall be secured in a tight bun.
Male Identifying and Nonbinary Students: A dancebelt, full-length black pants or footed tights, a white long or short sleeve leotard or form fitting white T-shirt, such as an Under Armour brand shirt. White socks with white or black ballet slippers with elastics sewn. Hair shall be groomed in a manner consistent with the classical ballet aesthetic. Hats, headbands, bandanas, and the like shall not be worn in class.
Level II (Dancers in Ballet II & II+)
Requirements: Three ballet classes per week, two delivered by the YBTP Director at the placement level of the student, plus one by another ballet instructor; one modern, jazz, or contemporary class, and attendance at a summer intensive one week or longer.
Uniform:
Female Identifying and Nonbinary Students: A navy blue leotard tailored in a fashion appropriate to classical ballet; full-length flesh toned footed tights and flesh toned ballet slippers and pointe shoes with ribbons and/or elastics sewn. Hair shall be secured in a tight bun.
Male Identifying and Nonbinary Students: A dancebelt, full-length black pants or footed tights, a white long or short sleeve leotard or form fitting white T-shirt, such as an Under Armour brand shirt. White socks with white or black ballet slippers with elastics sewn. Hair shall be groomed in a manner consistent with the classical ballet aesthetic. Hats, headbands, bandanas, and the like shall not be worn in class.
Level III (Dancers in Ballet III & III+)
Requirements: Three ballet classes per week, two delivered by the YBTP Director at the placement level of the student, plus one by another ballet instructor; one modern and one jazz or contemporary class per week, and attendance at a summer intensive two weeks or longer.
Uniform:
Female Identifying and Nonbinary Students: A burgundy leotard tailored in a fashion appropriate to classical ballet; full-length flesh toned footed tights and flesh toned ballet slippers and pointe shoes with ribbons and/or elastics sewn. Hair shall be secured in a tight bun.
Male Identifying and Nonbinary Students: A dancebelt, full-length black pants or footed tights, a white long or short sleeve leotard or form fitting white T-shirt, such as an Under Armour brand shirt. White socks with white or black ballet slippers with elastics sewn. Hair shall be groomed in a manner consistent with the classical ballet aesthetic. Hats, headbands, bandanas, and the like shall not be worn in class.