School
Our Approach
The School of Ballet Nouveau Colorado serves more than 400 students per year and is committed to every student regardless of age, ability, aspiration, or socio-economic status. Under the guidance of Julia Wilkinson Manley since 2002, the school is highly respected for providing a nurturing and professional environment for students from pre-school through adult.
BNC students regularly win top honors at area ballet competitions and gain entry into some of the nation's most respected college dance programs and summer intensives. BNC provides its students with high-quality performance experiences that include a year-end Gala performance and BNC’s annual production of The Nutcracker, which brings students together with the professional company. The school's Student Company gives upper level students a pre-professional company experience that includes community education performances and culminates in an annual production at the end of each school year. The School of BNC also provides a summer intensive program and summer classes.
BNC has developed its own teaching syllabus. Our syllabus is based on a mixture of the English RAD system, the Italian Cecchetti method, and the French system (the first syllabus made for ballet). We teach a "neutral" technique that builds a great deal of strength and versatility, so that our student dancers will be able to adapt to any diversity they encounter in the professional dance world. In our more advanced levels, students study Pilates, Modern dance, Jazz, and Composition (another word for choreography), as well as their regular ballet and pointe classes. These classes work together to build kinesthetically healthy, diverse dancers.
Faculty
Julia Wilkinson Manley
School Director
Julia Wilkinson Manley began her training with Cristina Munro (London Festival Ballet, Eliot Feld) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Julia attended the Boston Ballet Centre for Dance Education and the Houston Ballet Academy. At the University of Oklahoma, she earned a BFA in ballet pedagogy and danced soloist roles in Balanchine's Serenade, Miguel Terekhov's Four Moons, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.
Garrett Ammon
Artistic Director
Garrett Ammon is an acclaimed choreographer who began his tenure as artistic director of Ballet Nouveau Colorado (BNC) in 2007. Since that time, BNC has garnered national attention and praise for its daring work, including being named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" (2009). Ammon was also recently honored as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Livingston Fellow (2011).
Dawn Fay
Associate Artistic Director
Dawn Fay was named Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Nouveau Colorado in 2007. Her acclaimed professional career spanned more than twenty years and included being named one of Dance Magazine’s "25 to Watch" for 2007. Fay is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts. She began her professional career at Ballet Oklahoma and went on to dance with Miami City Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders and Ballet Memphis.
Kristi Capps
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Kristi Capps began dancing at the age of nine. Her ballet training includes the School of American Ballet, Harid Conservatory and North Carolina School of the Arts. While at NCSA, she was chosen to study and perform with the Hungarian State Ballet School in Budapest, Hungary. Upon her graduation, Kristi was a member of the Atlanta Ballet for three seasons and then joined Cincinnati Ballet in 1996. Rising quickly through the ranks to Principal, Mrs. Capps delighted audiences in many lead roles including Swanhilda in Coppelia, Kitri in Don Quixote, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Giselle in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella in Cinderella and Diamond pas de deux in George Balanchine’s Jewels. Her repertoire also includes works by choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Val Caniparoli, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Trey McIntyre, Kirk Peterson, Stanton Welch and Jorma Elo. In 2002, Kristi danced the role of the Sleepwalker in the recreation of George Balanchine's La Sonnambula under the direction of Frederic Franklin, CBE for the Balanchine Trust Archives. As a guest artist, she performed with many ballet companies and galas such as the International Ballet Festival of Miami, Florida, International Dance Festival in Vail, Colorado, and Stars of American Ballet in Spain. Mrs. Capps also danced as a principal with the Chautauqua Ballet Company in New York under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. In 2007, Kristi performed original works by Luca Veggetti at New York City's Guggenheim Museum "Works in Process" series and in 2008 she performed the leading role in George Balanchine's Chaconne with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. As well as being a Principal dancer with the Cincinnati Ballet, Mrs. Capps maintained a faculty position with the Otto M. Budig Academy of the Cincinnati Ballet. She has held guest faculty positions at Midwest Ballet Theater, The Eric Kunzel School of Creative and Performing Arts, and Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet. She has also been a guest teacher at numerous ballet schools, colleges, and conservatories in states such as North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio and Alabama.
Diane Caputo
Ms. Caputo is a native of Denver and began dance lessons at the age of 9. She attended the United States International University in San Diego, CA on a dance scholarship. After graduating with a Musical Theater Dance Arts degree she auditioned and was accepted at the MGM hotel in Reno Nevada to perform in "Hello Hollywood Hello". Her professional training has been from the East to West coast spending time studying privately with such greats as; Henry LaTang, Savion Glover, Michael Minery, Rhonda Miller, Al Gilbert, Charlie McGowen and Laurie Johnson just to mention a few.
Ms. Caputo has performed in musicals; West Side Story, Oklahoma, Oliver, and Guys and Dolls. She was a member of the Original Bronco Cheerleaders and performed with a local jazz company, Jazz West. Her involvement in the community has been immense. She owned and operated her own dance school for 31 years. During this time she was the director/choreographer for the Miss Colorado Pageant, regional director for Dance Educators of America and a member for 25 years. She was the choreographer for numerous high school musicals, judged for several national talent competitions and was on the faculty for PDTA traveling state wide teaching at conventions. She received an award for 30 years of Excellence in Business from the City of Westminster.
In 2008 she joined the Academy of Colorado Ballet faculty as the administrator, served as the interim Academy Director and was the Tap instructor as well as guest choreographer for the performing and competing company until June 2010.
Megan Coatney
Megan trained at Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theatre under the direction of Dianna Cuatto, and graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in 2001 with a BFA in Ballet Performance. Prior to BNC, she danced with Corpus Christi Ballet for two years and then City Ballet of San Diego for four years. Key roles include Russian Girl in George Balanchine's Serenade, and lead roles in Apollo, Carmen and Romeo & Juliet. In 2006, Megan was involved in X International, a competition for choreographers and dancers in Moscow and NYC. Since joining BNC, Megan has performed in Garrett Ammon's Moulin Rouge, and tomorrow came, and An Occasional Dream. Megan has also performed in Ma Cong's Passion, There and Jennifer Hart's 25 Things. She plays the electric bass guitar and enjoys gardening, photography and animals. This is Megan's fifth season teaching with the School of BNC.
Ben Delony
A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ben began his dance training with Marianne Hebert and Madalyn Montegudo. He then went on to dance at Baton Rouge Ballet Theater and summer programs at Ballet Austin, Harid Conservatory, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Ben is a graduate of the ballet department at Indiana University, where he was mentored by Guoping Wang, Doricha Sales, and Violette Verdy. Performances at IU include lead roles in George Balanchine's The Four Temperaments and Rubies, Twyla Tharp's Sweet Fields, and Agnes deMille's Rodeo, as well as dancing in works by Jacques Cesbron, Matthew Neenan, Vaslav Njinisky, and Michael Vernon. Ben spent the past season with Ballet Memphis, where he danced works by choreographers Steven McMahon and Jane Comfort. He was also singled out by Alistair Macauly as one of the most memorable "Mother Gingers" in the NYTimes dance critic's 2010 national Nutcracker tour. This is Ben’s first season with BNC, and he is also a new addition to the faculty of the School of BNC.
Elona Fish
Elona's dance training is nationwide. She has trained with Alvin Ailey Summer Program, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, Milwaukee Ballet School, David Taylor Dance Theatre, and many others. Elona received her B.F.A. in Dance Studies at the Missouri State University. Elona has taught throughout the Denver metro area. This is Elona's fourth season with the School of BNC.
Camcie Foster
Camcie began her dance training in 1980 with Mme Halina Lutomski (Elmira, NY) where she studied ballet and ethnic dance. From 1991-2002 she studied under Master Rafael Grigorian. She additionally studied under Danita Schiff and Richard Lee and at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Dale Weary. From 1995-2002, Camcie was the principal ballerina in the Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre (Binghamton, NY) and danced with Ballet Nouveau Colorado from 2002-2006. She appeared in the principal roles of many ballets, includingRomeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Baba Yaga, Cipollino, and The Nutcracker and was featured in the off-Broadway production of Mark Twain – The Musical. Camcie has been teaching ballet andcharacter dance since 1991, and was Assistant Director and Choreographer for the Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre for eight years. She holds a BA in Russian Studies from CU Boulder and she has her Pilates teaching certificate from the prestigious Pilates Center of Boulder.
Diana Fantano Hoffman
Diana Fantano Hoffman, originally from Huntington, New York, graduated from The Julliard School where she earned her BFA in Dance. Diana performed with several ballet and modern dance companies in New York and Virginia including Eglevsky Ballet, Contemporary Ballet Theater, Ballet Long Island and Zawacki Dance, and has worked with world-renowned artists Anna Sokolow, Anthony Tudor, Alexandra Danilova, Melissa Haydon, Edward Villella, Hector Zaraspe and David Parsons, among others. She has performed principal roles in Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Flower Festival in Genzano, Stars and Stripes and Serenade, as well as many modern and contemporary works. Diana had the pleasure of representing the United States in the International Festival of Dance Academies held in Hong Kong and Taiwan in 1986. She also appeared on the Live from Lincoln Center PBS Broadcast of Juilliard at 80, and is an award recipient of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Talent Search.
Michelle Martineau
Michelle Martineau received the majority of her ballet training with BNC. She performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker, and she was a member of the School of BNC's Student Company, with whom she performed such roles as the Fairy of the Enchanted Garden from The Sleeping Beauty. Her teachers have included BNC School Director Julia Wilkinson Manley, Former BNC Artistic Director Robert Mills, Randall Newsom (Northern Illinois University), Mary Margaret Holt (University of Oklahoma), David Taylor (David Taylor Dance Theatre), Robert Sher- Maccherndl (Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet), and Melissa McCorkle (Martha Graham Dance Company). Michelle attended Metropolitan State College of Denver where she studied Secondary English Education. She received a yearly Presidential Academic Achievement scholarship from MSCD and the Boulder Valley Education Association’s Teachers Scholarship. This is her sixth year teaching with the School of BNC.
Karleen Quackenbush
Karleen Quackenbush is originally from Arvada, CO, and in August of 2009, she graduated from Colorado State University with a B.A. in Dance and a Minor in English. At CSU, Karleen worked with faculty choreographers Chung-Fu Chang, Melissa Corr and Carol Roderick, as well as several guest choreographers including Mary Wohl Haan and Jacques Heim, the artistic director of Diavolo Dance Theater. She was a member of CSU's Tour Dance Company and performed at K-12 schools throughout Colorado to share the art of dance with younger generations. Karleen also danced with Canyon Concert Ballet of Fort Collins, CO, performing in the Nutcracker and David Taylor's Contemporary Classics. After graduating, Karleen got married and moved to Wenham, MA near Boston. There she taught ballet at the Hamilton-Wenham School of Dance, worked with Boston Ballet’s outreach program Citydance and danced with modern company Forty Steps Dance under the artistic direction of Sallee Slagle. Currently, Karleen is dancing with contemporary company Life/Art Dance Ensemble based in Golden, CO. She is thrilled to be back home in Colorado and to be working with the faculty and students at Ballet Nouveau Colorado.
Karen Shanley
Karen's passion for dance/movement has kept her happily in the dance scene since she was a little girl. She studied ballet with Evelyn LeMone, Wilson Morelli, Yasuki Sasa, Margaret Craske, Antony Tudor, El Gabriel and Larry Rosenberg and modern with Betty Jones, Viola Farber, Jeff Slayton. She earned a BA in dance from UCLA, an MA from Ohio State University where her focus was modern and dance history.
As a teen she was a soloist with Morelli Ballet (Los Angeles) and performed in famed ballerina Alicia Alonso's production of Coppelia. She was a featured dancer with Hawaii Dance Theatre, and later performed in the companies of modern dance pioneers Jean Erdman and Charles Weidman in NYC. Karen also performed with Ballet Hysell (New Orleans Ballet), Anaheim Ballet, Jeff Slayton and Dancers and Gloria Newman Dance Theatre as well as a free-lance performer.
Karen has taught various levels of ballet and modern at Univ. of Nebraska (Omaha), University of Hawaii, Brooklyn College, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Cal State University Long Beach, American Dance, San Luis Obispo, as well as summer dance intensives in Sun Valley, ID and Anaheim Ballet, CA.
Before moving to Colorado in 2007, Karen was a professor at Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA where for 24 years she taught ballet, modern, and was Dance Department Chair for 17 years. Karen is a certified Pilates and GYROTONIC® instructor and has her own studio Jasper Peak Pilates in Lafayette.
Meredith Strathmeyer
Meredith trained with Chamberlain School of the Performing Arts and attended summer programs on full scholarship at School of American Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet Austin and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the celebrated Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ballet Performance and an Outside Field in Comparative Literature. In college, Meredith performed noted roles such as Choleric in Balanchine's The Four Temperaments and the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. Since joining BNC Meredith has been nominated for the Princess Grace award and has danced leading roles in Garrett Ammon's and tomorrow came, Love of My Life, Moulin Rouge, and An Occasional Dream, as well as world premiere works by Lauri Stallings, Ma Cong, Maurya Kerr, and Amy Seiwert. Ms Strathmeyer has taught within the BNC school for several years and is a certified Pilates instructor.
Heather Sutton
Heather has been dancing since the age of 3 and at 15 began dancing professionally with Chambers Ballet Company under the artistic direction of Russell Chambers. Heather has also been a guest artist with Commonwealth Civic Ballet, City Ballet Cooperative and Margot Parson's Dance Company. While performing, teaching dance classes and directing the student company she graduated from Bridgewater State College with a BA in Special Physical Education with a concentration in motor development. Heather moved to Colorado in 1999 to attend Naropa University where she received an MA in Somatic Psychology and she is currently a registered dance movement therapist. Heather began teaching at Ballet Nouveau Colorado in 2011 and has been involved in the planning and implementing of the Ballet Expressions program which provides outreach and movement education to children with physical and developmental disabilities. Heather is also excited to be participating in Project: Generations, an outreach program that will be bringing movement education and cross generational artistic collaboration to older adults in the community.
Ellen Walker
Ellen K. Walker trained with Chamberlain School of the Performing Arts and attended summer programs on scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School and the Kirov Academy of Ballet. During High School she danced soloist roles in Raymonda, Coppelia, and George Balanchine's Agon. Ellen graduated summa cum laude from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Religious Studies. While at SMU she performed roles in many works including Twyla Tharp's Octet, Eleo Pomare's Las Desenamoradas, Arthur Mitchell’s Holberg Suite, Ben Stevenson's End of Time Pas de Deux and a world premiere by Joost Vrounraets of the Bejart Company. Ellen danced with Ballet Austin where she performed in Stephen Mills' productions of The Firebird and The Nutcracker, Marius Petipa's Swan Lake and Jennifer Hart's The Four Seasons. She completed Ballet Austin's pedagogy program and taught in both the academy and community school.
Tuition
Our goal is to provide the best dance education in the region while keeping our tuition rates very competitive. By pre-paying you can save an extra 5%.
Use the tables to help determine your tuition and be sure to review our payment policies. Also, be sure to read about our Refer a Friend discount.
Early Dance
| DANCE WITH ME | |||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | SESSION AMOUNT (excludes summer) | SESSION INSTALLMENT PLAN | |
| 1 | 117 | 58.50 | |
| DANCE WITH ME - Summer Session | |||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | SUMMER SESSION AMOUNT | SESSION INSTALLMENT PLAN | |
| 1 | 88 | 44 | |
| PRE-SCHOOL BALLET | |||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT | ADD 1 TAP CLASS | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT WITH TAP |
| 1 | 42 | 15 | 57 |
| 2 | 63 | 15 | 78 |
| BALLET I & BALLET II | |||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT | ADD 1 TAP CLASS | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT WITH TAP |
| 1 | 57 | 15 | 72 |
| 2 | 97 | 15 | 112 |
Levels A-G & Int/Adv Teen
| LEVELS A-G & INT/ADV TEEN | ||
| # OF HOURS PER WEEK | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT | 5% PRE-PAY DISCOUNT (due by 08/11/2012 & 1/05/2013) |
| 1.25 | 86 | 409 |
| 1.5 | 104 | 494 |
| 2 | 129 | 613 |
| 2.5 | 163 | 773 |
| 3 | 181 | 858 |
| 3.5 | 206 | 978 |
| 4 | 218 | 1037 |
| 4.5 | 243 | 1156 |
| 5 | 251 | 1191 |
| 6 | 278 | 1319 |
| 7 | 295 | 1399 |
| 8 | 310 | 1473 |
| 9 | 320 | 1522 |
| 10 | 329 | 1561 |
Late Beginners
| BEGINNING 9+ | |||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | # OF HOURS PER WEEK | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT | 5% PRE-PAY DISCOUNT (due by 08/11/2012 & 01/05/2013) |
| 1 Ballet | 1.5 | 85 | 404 |
| 2 Ballet | 3 | 145 | 689 |
| 2 Ballet + Jazz | 4 | 194 | 922 |
| 3 Ballet + Jazz | 5.5 | 265 | 1259 |
| BEGINNING TEEN | |||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | # OF HOURS PER WEEK | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT | 5% PRE-PAY DISCOUNT (due by 08/11/2012 & 01/05/2013) |
| 1 Ballet | 1.25 | 71 | 337 |
| 2 Ballet | 2.5 | 141 | 670 |
| 2 Ballet + Jazz | 3.5 | 170 | 808 |
| 3 Ballet + Jazz | 4.75 | 230 | 1093 |
Adults
| ADULT CLASSES | ||
| # OF CLASSES PER WEEK | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT | 5% PRE-PAY DISCOUNT (due by 08/11/2012 & 01/26/2013) |
| 1 | 57 | 325 |
| 2 | 113 | 644 |
| 3 | 168 | 958 |
| NEW! Unlimited | 175 | 998 |
| ADULT PUNCH CARDS | ||
| # OF HOURS | AMOUNT | Adult Punch Cards are by the class and expire 6 months after issue date. Punch cards are non-transferrable. A $25 registration fee is due with 2012-2013 registration form. |
| 5 | 75 | |
| 10 | 140 | |
| 15 | 195 | |
| ZUMBA® | ||
| # OF CLASSES | AMOUNT | Zumba drop in rates are available at $10 per class. Please see the front desk for details. |
| 5 Class Punch Card | $40 | |
Adaptive Dance Education
| BALLET EXPRESSIONS | |
| LEVEL | MONTHLY INSTALLMENT AMOUNT |
| 4-7 years old | 30 |
| 8-12 years old | 45 |
| 13-18 years old | 60 |
Refer a Friend
We appreciate referrals of new families. To show our gratitude, we give a $20 tuition credit for each family referral, as follows:
- Applies to new families only.
- May not be a sibling or parent of an existing BNC Family.
Payment of Tuition and Fees
- Tuition is divided into equal monthly installments. Each monthly installment does not change based on the number of weeks in a month.
- Tuition is due the 1st of each month; you will not receive a bill or monthly statement.
- Tuition received after the 5th of the month will result in a $10 late fee. Postmarks will not be considered in determining the late status of payments.
- Additional fees may be assessed each month the payment is overdue.
- Please place tuition payments in the tuition box near the front desk, or mail them to:
Ballet Nouveau Colorado
3001 Industrial Lane, #12
Broomfield, CO 80020 - Tuition may also be paid by Visa or MasterCard at the front desk or by phone.
- Do not leave tuition on a desk or counter, or with an instructor.
- Please label all payments clearly with the student’s first and last name and the tuition or fee being paid.
- Returned checks will result in a $20 charge.
- Overdue accounts may result in dismissal from classes until finances are settled.
- All accounts must be current for a student to participate in any BNC production, performance or rehearsal.
- Under no circumstance will BNC refund or credit paid tuition. Exceptions may be made in the case of serious injury accompanied by a doctor's note.
Registration Forms
Please download the appropriate form below. You can then print and complete it, then bring it to the front desk staff at BNC.
Levels A-G & Intermediate/Advanced Teen Registration 2012-13 [PDF]
Adult Registration 2012-13 [PDF]
9+ and Beginning Teen Registration 2012-13 [PDF]
Dance with Me Registration 2012-13 [PDF]
Pre-School Ballet-Ballet I & II Registration 2012-13 [PDF]
Ballet Expressions Registration 2012-13 [PDF]
Private Lessons
Students may set up private lessons with the School Director, or the BNC teacher of their choice by communicating with the front desk staff. Students must be enrolled in BNC’s school in order to be eligible for private lessons.
- 30 minutes – $40 ($45 with School Director) Recommended for Ballet A and above $20 per additional student
- 45 minutes – $50 ($58 with School Director) Recommended for Ballet A and above $25 per additional student
- 60 minutes – $65 ($75 with School Director) Recommended for Ballet B and above $30 per additional student
- 90 minutes – $115 ($140 with School Director) Recommended for Ballet C and above $40 per additional student
Book at least 5 private lessons at a time and save 5%!
Private lessons must be cancelled at least 6 hours prior to the private lesson. Private lessons cancelled within less than 6 hours will be charged the full amount.
Audition Preparation
Students in Ballet E and above requiring DVDs for summer intensives may set up sessions with the School Director. $85 per hour ($100 per hour on Sundays).
Dress Code
General Philosophy
Our dress code is based on classical standards for ballet training and helps students focus on their class work and prepares them for performances. Students feel pride in themselves when they are dressed properly and ready for class.
Class Attire
Use the tables below to assist in determining the appropriate attire and shoes for your classes. Additionally, be sure to review the information below these tables as you make decisions about your dance wear purchases.
Photo Credit: Garrett Ammon
Early Dance
| Dance With Me | Pre-School Ballet | Ballet I | Ballet II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There is no formal dress code for Dance With Me. Below are our recommendations for both children and adults attending this class: Dance or exercise apparel Ballet shoes Hair pulled back from face |
Leotard (Girls) | Plain & unadorned black or pink leotard | ||
| Shirt (Boys) | Plain white short sleeve crew-neck t-shirt | |||
| Tights | Girls: Pink full-footed ballet tights (no footless or rolled-up tights) Boys: Opaque black dance tights or black dance leggings over black socks |
|||
| Shoes | Girls: Pink leather ballet shoes with full sole Boys: Black leather ballet shoes with full sole |
|||
| Hair | Girls: Secure ponytail or bun Boys: Short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long |
Girls: Bun with hairnet, bobby pins and hair clips (no bangs or wispies) Boys: Short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long |
||
| Tap (Girls & Boys) | Dress code + low-heeled tap shoes | |||
Primary Division
| Ballet A | Ballet B | Ballet 9+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leotard (Girls) | Plain & unadorned black leotard | ||
| Shirt (Boys) | Plain white short sleeve crew-neck t-shirt | ||
| Tights | Girls: Pink full-footed ballet tights (no footless or rolled-up tights) Boys: Opaque black dance tights or black dance leggings over black socks |
||
| Shoes | Girls: Pink leather ballet shoes with full sole Boys: Black leather ballet shoes with full sole |
||
| Hair | Girls: Bun with hairnet, bobby pins and hair clips (no bangs or wispies) Boys: Short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long |
||
| Jazz (Girls & Boys) | Dress code + black jazz pants and black jazz shoes | ||
Intermediate Division
| Ballet C | Ballet D | Ballet E | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leotard (Girls) | Plain & unadorned black leotard | ||
| Shirt (Boys) | Plain white short sleeve crew-neck t-shirt | ||
| Tights | Girls: Pink full-footed ballet tights (no footless or rolled-up tights) Boys: Opaque black dance tights or black dance leggings over black socks |
||
| Shoes | Girls: Pink leather ballet shoes with full sole Boys: Black leather ballet shoes with full sole |
Ladies: Pink leather ballet shoes with full or split sole Men: Black leather ballet shoes with full or split sole |
|
| Hair | Girls: Bun with hairnet, bobby pins and hair clips (no bangs or wispies) Boys: Short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long |
||
| Jazz (Girls & Boys) | Dress code + black jazz pants and black jazz shoes | ||
| Modern (Girls & Boys) | Dress code + black jazz pants and bare feet | ||
| Pilates (Ladies & Men) | ----------N/A---------- | Leotard, t-shirt or other exercise top Tights, leggings, shorts or other exercise attire Bare feet or socks |
|
| Pre-Pointe & Pointe Shoe Basics (Ladies) | ----------N/A---------- | Ballet D: Students will be fit in pre-pointe shoes between October and December based on the overall strength and level of the class. Ballet D & E: To save money and hassle, pre-pointe and pointe shoes must be reviewed and approved by School Director before sewing or wearing them for class. Although pointe shoes are very exciting for younger dancers, they are not toys and can cause serious injuries – please do not allow younger dancers to try on pointe shoes. |
|
Advanced Division
| Ballet F | Ballet G | |
|---|---|---|
| Leotard (Ladies) | Plain & unadorned black or navy leotard | Plain & unadorned black, navy, maroon or hunter green leotard |
| Shirt (Men) | Plain white short sleeve crew-neck t-shirt | |
| Tights | Ladies: Pink full-footed ballet tights (no footless or rolled-up tights) Men: Opaque black dance tights or black dance leggings over black socks |
|
| Shoes | Ladies: Pink leather ballet shoes with full or split sole Men: Black leather ballet shoes with full or split sole |
|
| Hair | Ladies: Bun with hairnet, bobby pins and hair clips (no bangs or wispies) Men: Short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long |
|
| Jazz (Ladies & Men) | Dress code + black jazz pants and black jazz shoes | |
| Modern (Ladies & Men) | Dress code + black jazz pants and bare feet | |
| Pilates (Ladies & Men) | Leotard, t-shirt or other exercise top Tights, leggings, shorts or other exercise attire Bare feet or socks |
|
| Contemporary (Ladies & Men) | Dress code + other attire and footwear determined by instructor | |
| Pointe Shoes (Ladies) | To save money and hassle, pointe shoes must be reviewed and approved by School Director before sewing or wearing them for class. Although pointe shoes are very exciting for younger dancers, they are not toys, and can cause serious injuries – please do not allow younger dancers to try on pointe shoes. |
|
Recreational Teens
| Beginning Teen | Intermediate Teen | Advanced Teen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leotard (Ladies) | Plain & unadorned black or navy leotard | ||
| Shirt (Men) | Plain white short sleeve crew-neck t-shirt | ||
| Tights | Ladies: Pink full-footed ballet tights (no footless or rolled-up tights) Men: Opaque black dance tights or black dance leggings over black socks |
||
| Shoes | Ladies: Pink leather ballet shoes with full or split sole Men: Black leather ballet shoes with full or split sole |
||
| Hair | Ladies: Bun with hairnet, bobby pins and hair clips (no bangs or wispies) Men: Short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long |
||
| Jazz (Ladies & Men) | Dress code + black jazz pants and black jazz shoes | ||
| Modern (Ladies & Men) | Dress code + black jazz pants and bare feet | ||
| Pilates (Ladies & Men) | ----------N/A---------- | Leotard, t-shirt or other exercise top Tights, leggings, shorts or other exercise attire Bare feet or socks |
|
Adults
There is no formal dress code for adults. We recommend comfortable dance or exercise apparel that allows free movement. Ballet shoes are recommended for ballet class, and jazz shoes for jazz class. Hair pulled back from face.
- Avoid designs, sequins, decorations or attached skirts on any leotards
- Skirts may not be worn in class
- Avoid designs on any boys' t-shirts
- Hair requirements are a part of our dress code, see our Hair Guide for details
- Students will be asked to correct dress code violations prior to class
- If there are ongoing concerns with a students attire, he/she will be asked to sit out of class when not in dress code
A special note for girls
Girls' tights serve as underwear beneath their leotards, be sure to buy dance tights which have a cotton crotch. Underwear inhibit movement and are not allowed under tights. We know this can be a bit of a surprise for younger dancers, but they adjust quickly.
A special note for boys and men
Boys and men should always wear dance briefs or a dance belt under their tights. These items serve the same purpose as a jockstrap and protect a male dancer from injury. You can purchase dance briefs and dance belts from Boulder BodyWear.
Help avoid an uncomfortable situation for your dancer by explaining these aspects of ballet dress code ahead of time, and arrive to class in proper attire. This will also prepare them for our year-end Gala and other performances as they progress.
Purchasing Dance Wear
We recommend purchasing dance wear at Boulder BodyWear. They carry approved brands and styles, and understand our dress code. BNC families receive a 20% discount – be sure to mention your affiliation at checkout.
2660 Canyon Blvd, Ste A1
Boulder, CO 80302
303.447.9100
Accessories
Watches, bracelets, necklaces and large earrings are a safety hazard and are not permitted in class – small, secure earrings are okay. Students who wear jewelry to class will be asked to remove it. BNC is not responsible for jewelry removed during class, so it is best to leave it at home.
Street Clothes
Even though we are all very comfortable wearing dance wear here in our building, dancers should always enter or leave the facility wearing street clothes. Please, for your dancer's personal safety, be sure he/she wears street clothes and shoes over his/her dance wear or changes in the dressing rooms.
Warm-Up Clothes
Warm-ups and other clothes cover up students' bodies, and make it hard for teachers to see their technique. Therefore, no warm-ups, skirts, shorts, shirts or street wear in any ballet class. Warm-ups and other clothing are allowed for floor work in Body Conditioning and Pilates.
Hair Guide
General Philosophy
Our hair requirements are a part of our dress code and are based on classical standards for ballet training. Improper hairstyles are not only messy, they actually interfere with training. Students feel pride in themselves when their hair is neat and done well.
Expectations
- Standard hair for girls is a secure, slicked-back bun with no bangs
- Ponytails are okay only for girls in Pre-School Ballet
- Standard hair for boys is short and neat, or pulled into a ponytail if long
- We recommend keeping a separate bag with a brush/comb, bobby pins, elastics, clips and hairnets in the dancer’s dance bag, along with hairspray/gel
- Girls with short hair need to pull hair back with clips – no headbands are allowed in class
- When hair is long enough to put into a ponytail, it must be put into a bun
- Students will be asked to correct hair style violations prior to class
- If there are ongoing concerns with a student hair, he/she will be asked to sit out of class when not in dress code.
Need Help?
We know it can be tricky learning to put hair in a bun, and we are happy to help you. Just ask at the front desk. Times before and after class can be very busy for the front desk, so please leave adequate time for help with hair. While we are happy to help, you are responsible for your hair. Please do not make a habit of depending on staff to do your hair.
Class Placement
Class placements are determined by the School Director. Each student is placed based on their skill level and attainment of curriculum goals, rather than age. Students commonly spend multiple years in a level before advancing to the next.
We recommend that each student’s schedule reflect the School Director’s recommendations and it should be created to support his/her personal goals. Students who take less than the recommended number of classes per week can expect to spend more time in each level to solidify their technique.
See specific level pages for additional information on recommendations & requirements.
Class Size
We are committed to every student. To ensure that we provide the highest quality dance instruction and attention, we limit our class sizes.
Classes can fill up quickly so we encourage you to sign up early to secure your spot. A waiting list is maintained for classes that are full and openings are offered to students on a first come first serve basis. Visit the front desk to be added to the waiting list.
Maximum Class Sizes
Dance With Me – 10 children & their caregivers
Ballet Expressions – 10 students
Pre-School Ballet – 10 students
Pre-School Tap – 15 students
Ballet I and II – 15 students
Tap I/II – 20 students
Primary, Intermediate and Advanced Division Ballet – 20 students
Recreational Teen Ballet - 20 students
Jazz, Modern, Contemporary and Composition – 25 students
Classes are subject to change. Classes with fewer than 8 students may be cancelled.
Policies
Student Conduct
- Conduct yourself at all times in a positive, cooperative way and follow the rules of the school.
- Give your full attention to the teacher in class, without talking or socializing.
- Refrain from hanging or leaning on barres, touching the mirrors and touching the stereo equipment.
- Students may not enter a studio without the permission of a teacher.
- You may not sit down or leave the studio without the instructor’s permission.
- Please use the restroom before and after class to avoid leaving class for bathroom breaks.
- Show respect and encouragement for all fellow dancers in the school.
- Act as a role model for younger dancers.
- No running through hallways.
- Do not use, touch, or play with others’ belongings without permission.
Attendance and Punctuality
- Please notify the front desk ahead of time if a dancer will be late or needs to be dismissed early. The front desk will notify the instructor.
- Due to risk of injury, students may be asked to observe if they arrive more than 10 minutes late to class. This is for your student’s safety.
- Gala attendance requirements are strictly enforced and are outlined in our Gala information packet, which is distributed in January.
Visiting the Facility
- Please drop off and pick up students on time. Students may not stay unsupervised at BNC more than 15 minutes before or after class.
- Siblings and friends must be supervised at all times by an adult.
- Parents are welcome to accompany students to the door of the classroom, but please do not enter the studio unless invited by the teacher.
- Visitors–please do not stand or sit in hallways outside of classrooms.
- Visitors who cause a disruption in the facility may be asked to wait elsewhere during class time.
Observing Classes
- Minimal distractions are essential for an optimal classroom experience. Therefore, viewing windows are kept closed during all classes, with the exception of viewing weeks.
- Viewing weeks are the first full week of every month and are listed on our school calendar.
- Parents are welcome to observe through the observation windows during viewing weeks.
- Please "check in" from time to time, rather than standing at the window for the full length of the class to avoid crowding and blocked hallways.
- Do not pull chairs or other furniture up to windows.
- Our walls are not soundproof – please keep conversations quiet while observing.
- Blinds on viewing windows will be closed during non-viewing weeks.
- School Director must give permission to videotape or photograph classes.
Use of Facilities
- Use the dressing rooms for changing – do not change in the restrooms.
- Parents of young dancers, please help your dancers change in the dressing rooms – do not change in the lobby or hallway.
- Dads with daughters and moms with sons who need help dressing – please use the family restroom for changing in order to avoid discomfort and embarrassment of other students.
- Do not enter the office or vacant studios without permission.
- If your teacher is not in the studio, wait quietly in the hallway until he/she arrives.
- Students may use the courtesy phone in the lobby for emergencies or unusual circumstances. Please arrange rides in advance and limit calls to 3 minutes.
Food and Drink
- Please be sure to eat healthy meals and snacks prior to arriving for class.
- You may bring food and drinks into the dressing room as long as you clean up all crumbs, papers and spills and throw away your trash.
- No gum, candy or food inside the studios.
- No drinks, except for water bottles, in the studios.
- Healthy snacks are available for purchase at the front desk.
Personal Belongings
- Keep personal belongings in tidy order and keep the dressing room, lobby and restroom neat.
- Mark all belongings (including shoes and dance bags) with your name.
- Do not use, take, or touch others’ belongings without permission.
- Leave valuable items and large amounts of money at home to avoid any risk of loss or damage.
- Ballet Nouveau Colorado is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property.
Lost and Found
- Unclaimed clothing items are collected nightly and added to the lost and found box, located in the female dressing room.
- Valuable items and pointe shoes are held at the front desk.
- Unclaimed items will be donated to charity periodically throughout the year.
Inclement Weather
- You can learn about school closures on this page after 2:00pm on the day of the storm.
- You can also call 303.466.5685 and listen to our recorded greeting.
- Make sure your email is up to date at the front desk to receive emails about school closings.
- Your student can make up an unexpected school closure within a month of the original class.
Scholarships & Tuition Assistance
At Ballet Nouveau Colorado we believe that everyone should have access to quality dance education regardless of age, ability or aspiration. Our scholarship and tuition assistance programs are designed to ensure that no one is turned away.
Scholarships
Full and partial scholarships are provided to students based on merit, financial need, leadership, passion and commitment to their training. Often scholarship student are discovered through our Title I Elementary School Partnerships. Along with their lessons at BNC, these students may be provided dance wear and shoes to remove any boundaries that could prohibit their participation.
Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance is provided to students on a sliding scale and based on financial need, leadership, passion, commitment to their training and the quality of their application.
To apply for tuition assistance please visit the front desk or call 303.466.5685.
