As you may already know, dance training requires repeated years of practice, focus, and hard work in each level before moving up. Moving up to the next level means the student has accomplished the necessary goals set for each level. 

Pre-Level Classes -- In the pre-level classes, students are placed by grade levels. Students are in each level for two years. In year one, the student learns new skills. In year two, the student perfects the skills. They build the confidence, social skills, and technique needed to enter the next level. 

Students registering mid-year may be required to enter the level below to learn the skills so they can move up to the appropriate grade level (at the teacher's discretion). If you are unsure of your child’s level placement, please email us or call/text 773-401-6549 and we will help place your child in the right class.

Upper-Level Classes (ages 8 and older) -- Level placement for upper level classes is based on technique, movement, ability to pick up movements, and focus, alignment, and strength. We require a minimum of two to three years or more in each level before advancing a student to a higher level. This is necessary for the dancer to learn new skills and, in the repeated years, to perfect and gain confidence in the learned skills. Students are expected to know vocabulary and to apply proper technique to the spoken movement. The number of hours that students train in-studio each week significantly impacts their ability to learn and retain dance movement, and to perform it technically correct. 

Level placements are something we take very seriously. We observe our dancers closely throughout the entire year, including the summer session. Please understand that we make each decision very carefully in order to fully enhance and broaden each student’s dance education. Placing students in classes that are too advanced for their technical level can be detrimental to their confidence and motivation. Please know that students who are not placed into higher levels are still fantastic dancers who will progress and advance soon enough. We take all dancers very seriously, we care deeply about their progression, and we make our decisions based on each student’s best interest as both individuals and dancers.

We have a ballet evaluation form to help us review each student’s technique for proper level placement. Individual forms will be given to parents/guardians upon request.