No Snootiness allowed : )

Ballet For Kids: In addition to the ballet for kids class offerings on this page, American Dance Institute offers a comprehensive selection of adult ballet classes, ballet & tap dance classes for ages 5-7, ballet classes for ages 8-10, ballet classes for for ages 11-14, and Teen ballet classes.

Ballet For Kids Ages 5-7

* Ballet for kids ages 5-7, or Pre-Ballet, continues working on all the elements of our Creative Dance class series, but also introduces the basic ballet positions and preparatory steps.

* Kids ballet classes focus more attention on ballet etiquette, terminology, musicality, and phrasing.

* Progressing levels of our pre-ballet program gradually increase the emphasis on ballet technique, building the grace, poise, and strength required to execute the more demanding technical work in our ballet program.

* Beginning students start in Pre-Ballet I. Promotion to levels II and III is by instructor recommendation.

Ballet For Kids Dance Class Schedules

Summer 2019

Fall 2019

Dress Code: Pre-Ballet Class Attire

*Girls wear short sleeve cotton leotard (Bloch Style #CL5402) in light pink, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers.

* Hair should be pulled back in a bun if it will fit. If short, it should be pulled back off the face.

*Boys wear black dance pants or sweats, white T-shirt, white or black ballet slippers.

* Attire is available at Centerstage Dance Shop, or check our swapbox.

Greenwood

8001 Greenwood Ave North, Seattle, WA 98103

Magnolia

3116 West Smith Street, Seattle WA 98199

Shoreline, WA

1240 NE 175th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155

Kid's Ballet: Meet Your Teachers

"Just as in the best schools, the quality of the dance school teacher makes all the difference to your child's experience." Elizabeth Chayer

Alyssa Brillinger

Adult Modern dance classes, contemporary dance classes

Abby Zimmerman

Margaret Behm

Shoreline Ballet classes, Jazz classes shoreline, shoreline dance classes, Ballet dance classes for beginners

Dakota Crist

Shoreline ballet classes, kid's dance classes shoreline, shoreline dance classes, ballet classes for beginners in lake forest park

Emily Curtis

How to Recognize An Excellent Kid's Ballet Class

Children, ages 5-7, 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. Little kids are not ready for competition. 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.

Join our mailing list to get new class announcements & helpful dance tips here.

Instructor Alyssa Brillinger

Tap, dance classes, dance studios, dance teachers, dance lessons

Allyssa Brillinger teaches tap dance classes for American Dance Institute

6 Student reviews.

Classes Alyssa Teaches

Ballet
Children's Pre-Ballet

Tap Dancing

Parent Toddler
Children's Creative

Alyssa Brillinger's Bio

Alyssa is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and she began her dance training there at the Academy of Dance Arts. She hold a BA in English from Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she minored Dance.

While at Hope, she studied under instructors associated with the Ailey School, Alonzo King LINES training program, the Joffrey Ballet, Lehrer Dance, Rennie Harris Puremovement, Nikolais/Louis, and Pilobolus.

She danced in several faculty and student-choreographed performances, and she choreographed several pieces that were performed on campus and within the community.

Alyssa is trained in the Cecchetti Ballet technique as well as in tap, jazz, modern, and pointe. She teaches creative movement classes within various Seattle schools and day care centers.

Testimonials

Emily H. gave a favorable Yelp review for american dance institute's Tap dance classes, tap dance studios

Emily H. Seattle

We just finished our parent and toddler class with Miss Alyssa. As a former early educator with a little one who is on the tender/sensitive side, I believe we couldn't have had a better experience and teacher. It was a creative, casual environment where our daughter could watch the other children and adults until she was comfortable participating. Additionally, our daughter went from observing most of the time to doing all the movements and songs at home and participating in the entire class. As parents, it was truly rewarding watching our daughter gain confidence and enthusiasm in expressing herself through dance in front of others.

Miss Alyssa is warm, personable, and knows how to involve and engage the toddlers with their different personalities. She keeps things moving along, with enough predictability for the toddlers to anticipate the next part of the class. I had other friends do the parent and toddler class, and when they hear about our class experience, they say they wish they had Miss Alyssa too! I can't say enough positive things about her, especially if you have a slow-to-warm little one as we do.

This was a wonderful experience for our whole family. Our daughter gained so much confidence and excitement for creative movement through this experience. Thanks, ADI and Miss Alyssa! We hope to be back

"Very patient Instructor and teaches at a nice pace. ""Consistently Awesome 5 stars" Trisha Creaven

"Consistently Awesome 5 stars " Annalisa Steinnes

"Consistently Awesome 5 stars " Brenna Steinnes

"Consistently Awesome 5 stars " Erica Crane

'Consistently Awesome - 5 stars' Anonymous

Abby Zimmerman

modern dance, contemporary dance classes, contemporary dance studios

Abigail ("Abby”) Zimmerman grew up in Gray’s River, WA, and received her early training at Maddox Dance Studio, Warrenton, OR where she was also a member of the Little Ballet Theatre.

She holds a B.F.A. from Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA and is a certified pilates mat instructor. Abigail has performed with 127th St. Dance, and has danced at the Astoria Music Festival on multiple occasions. She has performed works by local Seattle choreographers Donald Byrd, Dayna Hanson, Jamie Karlovich, Wade Madsen, Zoe Scofield, and Deborah Wolf.

staff, dance teachers, teaching staff, dance instructors,

Abby, on the right, models a new ADI Hoodie seat shirt with fellow instructor Margret Behm.

Margaret Behm

Margaret's Bio

Originally from Fort Collins, CO, Margaret holds a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Women & Gender Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has been a member of Louder than Words Dancetheatre in Denver, CO and most recently with Keshet Dance Company in Albuquerque, NM.

margaret teaches ballet dance classes, jazz dance classes, modern dance classes for american dance institute

Margaret has directed the pre-professional programs at Mountain Dance in Fort Collins, where she also grew up dancing. At Keshet Dance Company, her teaching experience was diverse and included teaching Adaptive dance, working with dancers with disabilities.

Margaret is a dance and teaching artist with an affinity for improvisation, and a desire to explore the infinite ways her body moves. As a teacher, she takes pride in guiding others’ discoveries of their dancing bodies, and wants everyone to feel empowered to take up space in the world.

Margaret behm's dance promotion poster ballet dance classes, jazz dance classes, modern dance classes for american dance institute

margaret behm's dance performance promotion poster ballet dance classes, jazz dance classes, modern dance classes for american dance institute

a dance poster featuring Margaret behm ballet dance classes, jazz dance classes, modern dance classes for american dance institute

Margaret is new to Seattle and incredibly excited to get involved with the dance community and to be joining the staff at ADI.

margaret-behm-junior-teen-jazz-dance-classes-american-dance-institute-magnolia

ADI instructor Margaret Behm with students Sara, Jessica, Carly, Sophia and Ann at our first Junior/Teen Intermediate Jazz class at our new Magnolia studio. Great work tonight girls. So happy to have you in our ADI family.

Dakota Crist

Dakota Crist had her early training in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Modern Dance at Diane’s Dance Works in Helena, Montana, then went on to study at Creative Arts Center in Helena, Ballet Montana Academy and Sacramento Ballet.

She holds a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts. Dakota is currently a company member of The Three Yells dance company and she has been teaching since 2009.

She joined American Dance Institute in January of 2018.

Emily Curtiss

Emily Curtiss teaches: Ballet Classes, Pre-Ballet Classes, Children's Creative Dance, Modern Dance and Mommy & Me Toddler Dance classes at American Dance Institute Shoreline, WA.

Emily Curtiss had her early training at Studio One and Allegro Dance Studio, both in Sandpoint, Idaho. She studied Ballet, Jazz and Modern and danced for 4 years on the Sandpoint High School Dance Team. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Montana. Emily has extensive choreographic and performance experience and has been teaching since 2012.

Emily joined American Dance Institute in January of 2018.

Ballet For Kids – Ages 5-7

Ballet For Kids Ages 5-7

* Ballet for kids ages 5-7, or Pre-Ballet, continues working on all the elements of our Creative Dance class series, but also introduces the basic ballet positions and preparatory steps.