Fall Term 2011

Boys’ Program of Study

The Boys’ program is, at present, a work in progress.

It seemed to us, in order to encourage young boys’ participation in ballet training, the optimal route would be to have classes exclusively for boys, rather than, asking a beginning student, to join a predominantly girl population in the childrens’ classes.

With that purpose in mind, we started a ‘boy’s class’ last year with a total enrollment of four students: three 8-year olds and one 10-year old. [Truth in advertising -as well as pride- compels me to disclose that three of them are our own grandchildren, Alexandra’s boys].

Two of the eight-year olds had taken pre-ballet in the ‘girls’ classes at younger ages

At the end of the year, after studying both RAD syllabus exercises and other exercises devised through our notions of what boys need (and like), all four students took the GRADE 1 RAD examination, and all of them passed it successfully. The four students presently continue their enrollment with their second year in the Boys’ Class. All four passed successfully the GRADE 2 RAD examination during the Winter semester, 2010.

It is likely that we would advise a male student (of significantly different age) who comes to the school with previous RAD training, to join the ‘mixed’ class of his technical level. Unless it becomes possible for us to form another boys’ class of a different level from the ongoing Boys’ Class. We look forward to that possibility

A student may begin pre-ballet classes after reaching his fourth birthday.