The School of Ballet Theatre Company in West Hartford will be holding a mixture of virtual and in-person classes for fall 2020.

Creative Movement dancers smile during ballet class. Courtesy photo

Submitted

The School of Ballet Theatre Company (BTC), located off New Park Avenue in West Hartford, has announced its fall 2020 class schedule including virtual and in-studio classes in classical ballet, pointe, dance conditioning, and jazz. Registration is now open for ages 3 and up.

Classes begin Monday, Sept. 14.

BTC’s top priority is to ensure the health and safety of its students, faculty, and administrators. The company has and continues to work diligently to prepare and enforce appropriate health and safety protocols for all students who train in-studio. Students who wish to participate will be required to complete a medical questionnaire, participation waiver, and strictly adhere to BTC’s in-studio protocols.

Widely regarded as the standard for classical ballet training throughout the Greater Hartford area, BTC is driven to offer the best local dance training experience this fall with class offerings both virtual and in-studio. Due to social distancing requirements to ensure student safety, BTC will offer Ballet, Pointe, Dance Conditioning, and Jazz.

The hope is that Spring 2021 will allow more class offerings in the weekly schedule should guidelines provided by the CDC and Federal Government allow.

Ballet levels offered include Creative Movement, Primary Ballet I & II, and Ballet I-VI levels, Pointe classes including Pre-Pointe and Pointe I-IV levels, and four levels of Jazz.

Registration is now open for fall classes at BTC in West Hartford. Courtesy photo

Creative Movement is designed for young movers ages 3-5 who have an interest in learning basic ballet vocabulary, developing fine motor skills, and enjoy using movement as a fun creative outlet. Primary Ballet levels focus on defining motor skills and broadening young students’ ballet vocabulary and technique. Ballet I-IV levels offer a nurturing training experience for dancers to not only learn good ballet technique, but to grow in their own artistry and develop skills that will support them in any chosen field of endeavor.

Pointe classes focus on proper alignment and strength training coupled with Dance Conditioning classes to better prepare dancers’ bodies for the demands of the art and to avoid injury.

Jazz classes range from primary level to advanced levels and are offered once a week.

To accommodate all families and their personal decisions about in-person instruction, BTC’s fall schedule includes virtual and in-studio offerings for all Ballet and Jazz levels. Dancers who choose to train in-studio will be required to adhere to BTC’s strict health and safety protocols and precautions including temperature checks, maintaining social distancing during classes, and wearing masks while inside the studio.

BTC student Hailey Wankier of Avon practices in her home studio. Courtesy photo

BTC has also created virtual training policies to better prepare students for optimal success while training at home. Dancers placed en pointe will be provided with a 4-by-4-foot portable sprung marley floor piece to ensure their safety. This special flooring will aid dancers in their at-home training providing their bodies with the support it needs in order to train effectively and avoid injury. Pick-up times for portable flooring will be scheduled upon dancer registration in their appropriate pointe class.

BTC’s goal is to provide each student with a solid dance foundation that allows for individual success and accomplishment. Students are placed in classes according to age and ability at the discretion of BTC’s Artistic Director and faculty. Dancers are encouraged to follow BTC’s schedule recommendations to best support success in designated levels.

Those interested in registering in The School of BTC’s classes and programs, please email [email protected] to determine dancer’s placement.

BTC student Sophia Pirrotta of Wethersfield practices in her at-home studio. Courtesy photo

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