Ballet Classes for Kids Near Me (you)
Ballet classes for kids near me (you): Children's ballet I & II. American Dance Institute is well known for excellence in dance instruction.
Class Schedules
Summer Session
Winter/Spring
All of our Ballet Lessons for Kids ages 8-10 include barre, center, stretching, adagio, and allegro work. We focus on the physical and intellectual understanding of how and why each movement is executed. With our structured teaching methods, your child will progress further, quickly and safely. Whether you are experimenting to see where your child's interests lie are or have an aspiring dancer, our ballet classes will satisfy you.
Most of our Ballet classes for kids are offered twice a week. It truly expedites the muscle memory allowing dancers to progress much more quickly when they attend class multiple times per week. If you can only attend once a week, we would still love to have you. Just expect that there will be a difference in technical ability from some of the other students by the end of the session.
The Importance Of Teaching Via Ballet Syllabus
Ballet is a journey. As ballet students progress in their training, their bodies grow stronger, muscle memory improves, and their confidence grows. This combination of benefits allows them to continuously build on the skills and choreography learned in earlier classes. It is critical that they not be taught new positions and steps before their bodies are ready for the challenges those steps demand.
As your child progresses, they may be assigned a new teacher. You will want that teacher to continue with the same syllabus and not change with every new teacher. That results in inconsistent, haphazard student progression and it can be risky if they don't have the proper foundation to build on.
This is why a carefully developed syllabus is so important. Your child's physical health, safety, and progress is consistent, safe and seamless over many years. Their confidence and self image grows as well and who doesn't want a confident child with a healthy self image? :)
Girls wear short sleeve cotton leotard (Bloch style #CL5402) in pastel blue, pink tights and pink Ballet slippers. No skirts/tutus please except for special skirt days.
Boys wear dance belt, black tights, white t-shirt and black or white Ballet slippers. All long hair should be secured in a bun. Shorter hair should be pulled back off the face and in a ponytail if it fits.
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Why Our Classes Are Non-Competitive
"Young children have yet to develop a healthy perspective with which to frame ballet's competitiveness. Bad experiences can damage a child's self image and dampen their enthusiasm for ballet. To protect fragile self-images, we encourage young students to first discover their 'own best self', not to compare themselves to others who may have more or less natural ability."
Elizabeth Chayer - Founder, Director of The American Dance Institute
Meet Your Ballet Teachers
Elizabeth Chayer
Dakota Crist teaches dance and serves as the Shoreline Office Manager for American Dance Institute.
Dakota relocated to Seattle in 2013 and holds a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts. She received her early dance education at the Creative Dance Center in Helena, MT.
As a young dancer, she attended Joffrey South, American Academy of Ballet, and Ballet West's summer intensives. Her love of dance drove her train pre-professionally with Ballet Montana and as a company trainee with Sacramento Ballet.
After graduating from Cornish, Dakota shifted her focus to dance education. She has been teaching dance since 2009 and has taught for ADI since 2018.
In 1991, at the age of 4 began dancing with American Dance Institute. She participated in and taught dance classes while she attended the University of Portland. She is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching.
9 student reviews.
Classes Amy Teaches
Ballet
Parent Toddler
Pre-Ballet
Children's Ballet
Testimonials /Comments
I like how she works with the girls, firm but not mean. She has a fun way of showing of correcting them by using examples of the difference.
Heather B.
ADI Parent
Amy is consistently awesome and she has boosted my daughters confidence and love for ballet!! She has a would quiet teaching style that is fun and enjoyable!!!
Xanasha R.
ADI Parent
Consistently awesome!
Johnna E.
ADI Parent
6 additional students rated Amy 'Consistently Awesome -5 stars'.
Amy's Bio
In 1991, 4 year old Amy boldly announced to her mother that she was ready to be a dancer. Her mother obliged and Amy has been dancing with American Dance Institute ever since progressing through our Creative Dance, Pre-Ballet, Children’s Ballet, Junior Ballet and Teen/Adult Ballet programs.
She participated in and taught dance classes while she attended the University of Portland, but she pursued her passion for language, majoring in English and German. She is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching.
She has always loved the welcoming atmosphere at ADI, and was thrilled to join the teaching staff at ADI in 2011. Amy teaches Parent/Toddler, Creative Dance, Pre-Ballet and Children’s Ballet.
Amy executing an attitude derriere position with the Pacific ocean as her backdrop.
Amy playing at the beach and showing off her attitude devant ballet position.
Amy executing a grand plie in the first position.
In 2007 she moved to Seattle where she continued her training with the International Ballet Academy.
Victoria has performed for various dance companies such as International Ballet Theater, Evergreen City Ballet, ARC Dance, City Opera Ballet, Olympic Ballet Theater and Katy Hagelin Dance Project.As a choreographer she has collaborated with the Seattle International Dance Festival, Katy Hagelin Dance Project, Bohemia, Drybones Artist Collective and Le Faux.
Victoria truly enjoys teaching and has been doing it since 2009 for numerous schools in Seattle.
Ainsleigh Orwin
Mommy Daddy & Me, Pre-Ballet, Creative Dance, Jazz, Ballet, Jazz, Modern
Currently finishing up her last year at UW, she has expanded her love for dance by exploring improvisation and choreography.
Ainsleigh has performed in 3 UW Dance Concerts and recently choreographed, filmed, and edited a dance film for the 2021 Dance Majors Concert.
She has taught summer classes and camps in her hometown and with Metropolis Dance in the Seattle area. Ainsleigh graduates this June from the University of Washington with two degrees - one in Dance and one in Biology.
Aside from dancing and teaching, Ainsleigh loves to go on hikes and nature walks, travel (pre- COVID), sing, and play with her roommate’s puppy!
Elana Skeers, Teacher
Elana Skeers served as admin assistant and instructor at the American Dance Institute last year but took some time off to focus on her college studies. She returns this fall. Welcome back, Elana!
She is a dancer from Southern California who is currently a student at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Since she started dancing at 2 years old, Elana has had many opportunities to follow her passion and grow as a dancer through her home studio and the Joffrey Ballet School.
She has attended many dance intensives, conventions, and competitions over the years to expand her dance training.
She loves sharing her education and passion for dance with young dancers. Elana is continuing her dance education as a dance major at the UW; taking classes and participating in many performance opportunities.
On top of dancing, Elana enjoys camping with friends, family, and her dog, spending time at the beach, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Emma Rubbert, Teacher, Shoreline
Emma Rubbert, originally from Olympia, Washington, started training in ballet at Studio West Dance Academy. She has danced in many classical ballet productions, including the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, and more.
Emma spent her summers training at ballet summer intensives around the country, such as Oregon Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, and Ballet Austin.
In March 2020, Emma began training with former Pacific Northwest Ballet...
principal dancers Lindsi Dec and Karel Cruz.
Emma has shifted her focus from pursuing professional ballet after being offered a ballet contract to teaching and attending school.
Emma attended the University of Washington, where she pursued a B.A. in political science and international security and a minor in international affairs in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
She is excited to teach for the American Dance Institute.
Emma enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends, attending football games, and chilling nights in front of a cozy fireplace.
Mariia Coombes, Teacher,
Mariia Coombes is a professional ballroom dancer from Russia.
She was a finalist of 25+ Russian DanceSport competitions, such as Grand Prix Dynamo WDSF 2015 in Moscow, Saint Petersburg Championship 2015 and Saint Petersburg Ball WDSF 2015. Mariia took part in International Competitions as well - in 2014 she flew to Helsinki to participate in the Finland Open, then, in 2015, to Stuttgart to perform at the German Open Championship.
From age 5 to 10 she also studied ballet along with team dance classes.
Professional dancer Maria Coombes teaches ballroom dance classes at the American Dance Institute Wedgwood, starting in January 2023.
Mariia has taken part in famous DanceSport camps and worked with dozens of ballroom legends such as 5-time U.S. Nation Champion Karina Smirnoff from Dancing with the Stars, 5-time U.S. Nation Champion Slavik Kryklyvyy from Shall We Dance, 16-time Professional World Latin Dance Champion Gaynor Fairweather, and many others.
Mariia moved to the U.S. in August of 2022. She has taught ballroom dance to beginners, kids, solo, Pro-Am and Professional dancers in her home country and is very excited to now share her experience and passion for ballroom dancing with ADI students.
She teaches Latin-American program (Samba, Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive) as well as Standard (Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Viennese waltz, Tango).
Mariia enjoys many other forms of art such as drawing, crafts, and singing.
She is also a huge dog lover.
Olivia Fink, Teacher,
Olivia Fink has 15 years of dance experience in the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She will teach Ballet and Tap at our Magnolia locations.
"Hi all! My name is Olivia, and I am so excited to be joining the American Dance Institute in the Fall.
I am originally from Denver, Colorado and moved to Seattle to pursue my undergraduate degree. I graduated this last Spring, and now I'm looking forward to this new adventure of teaching. I have 15 years of dance experience within the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. My two favorite styles of dance are jazz and tap. Other than dancing, I enjoy rock climbing, reading, and hanging out with friends and family."
Where Are The American Dance Institute Dance Studios Near Me?
Six spacious dance studios in four locations including Greenwood, Wedgwood, Magnolia, and Shoreline.
Videos From Our 33rd Annual Spring Recital 2022
Filmed Stage Left
Filmed Stage Right
These little ballerinas will touch your heart...
This video is a performance from the May 2018 Greenwood-Phinney ArtWalk event. These little ballerinas, ages 9-12, performed beautifully and touched every heart in the audience.
Children's Ballet I class dance performance at our 29th annual dance recital in June 2018.
Testimonial
My 9 year old daughter took dance classes at American Dance Institute. She loved her class and teacher, Miss Kara. They learned technique, musicality, rhythm, as well as teamwork. I find the atmosphere supportive and non-competitive. The philosophy is to nurture a love of dance and movement. The teaching is upbeat, fun, and encouraging. I highly recommend ADI! -Susan F. (Former ADI Parent)
What Parents Think About The American Dance Institute?
Where Do Children Learn Confidence, Self Expression, Discipline & Passion?
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