New Haven, CT, July 5, 2024—New Haven Ballet has announced that registration for its
2024 Children’s Division Fall Semester has opened. Beginning on August 26, classes
will be offered at studios in New Haven, Hamden, Bethany, and Branford.
The Gentle Syllabus
The Children’s Division is a special segment of the school that caters to young students
ages 3 through 2nd grade. According to Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn, what sets the
program apart is that “[w]e begin training by using our gentle approach syllabus, which
introduces our youngest dancers to the joys of music and movement through a system
that gradually adds structure as students mature.” Sanborn adds, “Classes are filled
with laughter and held in spacious, sunny, state-of-the-art studios by the region's best
instructors. Dancers in Creative Ballet and higher are also invited to audition and
perform in our large productions at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven.”
Sanborn refers to the carefully constructed syllabus she created, which was later
supplemented by Children’s Division Director Timothy Fountain. The syllabus uses age appropriate
exercises and stretches while gently introducing students to classical dance
and musical tenets. For example, in First Steps, students in 3-K pre-kindergarten use
their creativity to learn the fundamentals of musicality, while in 4-K prekindergarten
and Kindergarten, students participate in Creative Ballet, focusing on
motor skill development and musical awareness. Pre-ballet students are in 1st grade,
and Primary students are in 2nd grade. These students begin more formalized
classical ballet training and learn more advanced vocabulary and movement.
Students who successfully complete New Haven Ballet's Children's Division enter the
Student Division ready to join Level 1, where they continue building a clean classical
foundation. As the standard for classical ballet training for over thirty-five years
throughout greater New Haven, the school is known for producing dancers with
excellent technique and beautiful artistry.
But the journey doesn't end with classes. Dancers in Creative Ballet and higher are not
just learning; they perform. Dancers in 4-K pre-kindergarten and older are invited to
audition and showcase their skills in New Haven Ballet’s large productions at the
prestigious Shubert Theatre in New Haven. The next grand performance will be The
Nutcracker, starring guest artists from New York City Ballet.
Parents often enroll children to participate in the arts because they wish to support
better academic achievement and the gain of critical skills for their children. These skills
might include discipline, fine motor skills, physical strength, critical thinking,
coordination, and confidence. However, according to Sanborn, the best reason to join is
because “New Haven Ballet's trained instructors teach using our highly sought-after
gentle approach, allowing children to build these skills without them knowing. Over time,
students acquire the foundation for a beautiful classical technique and embrace
discipline, listening to and following instructions and the rigors ballet presents. And they
make friendships and memories that last a lifetime, too.”
New Haven Ballet is at www.newhavenballet.org. For more information about classes,
call 203-782-9038 or email administrator@newhavenballet.org.
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