Ballet For Kids Ages 5-7
A Ballet for kids ages 5-7 class in studio one of American Dance Institute's Greenwood Studio
About Our Ballet For Kids Program
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? :)
Where Are The American Dance Institute Dance Studios Near Me?
Six spacious dance studios in four locations including Greenwood, Wedgwood, Magnolia, and Shoreline.
Scholarship qualification begins in a dance studio.
Pre-Ballet Class Schedule
Fall 2022 Class Schedule
Click For Fall 2022 Class Schedule
Winter Session 2023 Class Schedule
Click For Winter Session 2023 Class Schedule
Winter/Spring Session 2023 Class Schedule
Click For Winter/Spring 2023 Class Schedule
Dress Code: Pre-Ballet Class Attire
Testimonial
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"Enroll your children in the American Dance Institute and relax. "
"It was here, at the American Dance Institute, that we, as parents, realized that we could relax and enjoy watching the growth of my daughter's dance skills. She was never made to feel that she wasn't good enough. She was always excited to come, every time. I think it is partially due to the culture here which is welcoming, comfortable and has an inviting atmosphere for children of all ages, genders, for adults and parents, everybody. It is like a neighborhood community school."
Ebba Lucander- Entrepreneur, Activist, ADI Parent for 5 years
Kid's Ballet: Meet Your Teachers
Dakota Crist, Assistant School Director, Teacher/ Office Manager
Shoreline/Wedgwood
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.
Ainsleigh Orwin, Teacher/ Office Manager
Greenwood/Magnolia
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!
Victoria Gutierrez, Teacher
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.
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.
Alyssa Bruce Teacher, Wedgwood
Alyssa Bruce has been dancing for 14 years and teaching for 4+ years. Alyssa will teach Mommy/Daddy & Me, Creative Dance, and Pre-Ballet at our Magnolia location.
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.
Olivia Fink teaches for the American Dance Institute
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."
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.
What Parents Think About The American Dance Institute?
Where Do Children Learn Confidence, Self Expression, Discipline & Passion?
How to Recognize An Excellent Kid's Ballet Class
- Children should not start formal ballet training until they are nearing eight years of age. Little 5-7 year old bodies are not ready for the strenuous demands of formal ballet training. Your child can start building a ballet foundation in our pre-ballet classes.
- Look for a non-competitive ballet school. Competitive ballet schools have their place, but not with very young children. At our non-competitive school students, staff, and parents are friendly, less stressed, and more relaxed.
- Find a class where the teacher understands that the pace of the class has to be good for your child. Look for a dance studio with 'sprung' floors that give to protect little feet and ankles.
- Seek out ballet dance schools with accommodating customer policies like a guaranteed credit if you don't like your class for any reason.
- And look for a school that has expert ballet teachers who will give your child personalized attention so they will progress quickly and safely.
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