La Belle Vie Dance School & Company
The artistry and technical proficiency of classical ballet has significantly declined in recent years. Ballet used to be a form of dance that would pull audiences into the story on stage, immersing them in the action, allowing an emotional depth that lasts in their memories for years. As a dance school that focuses mainly on classical ballet technique and artistry, we want to breathe life back into ballet and help students understand that ballet doesn’t have to be boring to be beautiful.
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Our main priority is to put our dancer’s mental and physical health first and foremost. We believe that each student should be mentored with the idea that dance should not become their sole identity in life. As a Christian company, we work to help mentor our students to place their identities in Christ and do our best to model what that looks like.
Beyond that, students will find a place that will challenge them appropriately and individually to build good habits, attitudes, and technique within their ballet training. Our elite training provides functional training principles, biomechanics and ROM training, neuromuscular and structural balance, increased power and endurance, and proper facilitation of joint movement. Teachers will be there to support the dancer so that they can experience a smooth transition to a professional career, if the dancer so chooses, and maintain their bodies in order to ensure a pain and complication-free retirement or continued learning.
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Our focus has and always will be injury prevention. We take these concepts very seriously with our dancers both in our school and our company. La Belle Vie is focused on preparing each and every person who walks through our doors with the tools they need to prevent injury and illness from inhibiting their daily lives.
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Students enrolled in our dance school will study various techniques including Finis Jhung, Balanchine, Vaganova, the Australian Ballet School, and Royal Academy of Dance.
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In addition to our dance school, we offer an opportunity for students to work up to joining our company. La Belle Vie Dance Company is designed to offer our community performances throughout the year as well as any other special events. Dancers throughout Vero Beach and beyond are welcome to audition for these performances. Audition dates will vary but will take place around August and January.
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All enrolled students in our dance school will perform in their end-of-year showcase.
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View our dress codes here and our dance etiquette/policies here.
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"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."
Matthew 5:14
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
Psalm 19:14
Classes
Women's Strength & Fitness
Ages 16+
These workouts stand out amongst other barre-based programs as they focus more on technique & overall strength. Each class focuses on elements of Pilates & traditional ballet technique to provide comprehensive toning workouts. The exercises are low impact, allowing for long, lean muscles, increased balance & flexibility, & better posture. Most of all, this class is meant for injury risk reduction. Perfect for all ages & experience levels!
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There are 8 fitness classes scheduled per month. You have a choice of registering for 4 classes/month ($48) or the full 8 classes/month ($90). If you choose to pay for only 4/month, you can choose from any 4 classes during that month.
45 minutes
1-2 classes/week
monthly punch card
Ballet 2
Ages 12-15
To build overall strength, balance, and coordination, floor barre and center barre will be incorporated more often.
It is required that dancers in this class join our annual Dance Health and Wellness Workshop.
It is recommended but not required that they take 2 extra elective classes (Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Variations/Repertoire, and/or Conditioning/Injury Prevention).
Pre-Pointe and/or Pointe are required for eligibility as soloists and principle roles.
Students enrolled in Ballet 2 have priority access to auditions throughout the year. Ballet 2 students will also be assessed for junior soloist roles.
1 hour
2 classes/week
Pre-Pointe
Grades 5+
This class helps prepare younger students, or students who are not yet strong enough for pointe, for a regular pointe class. Young dancers are more at risk, even at 12 years old, for foot and ankle injuries. Taking a pre-pointe class allows them to become more aware of the movements that will occur during a typical pointe class, how to prevent common injuries, and how to strengthen the areas in which pointe works the most. Students will work to strengthen their ankles, feet, and legs to make the transition to pointe much easier. They will learn proper technique, combinations, choreography, and conditioning exercises that will eventually be performed in a pointe class.
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This class is required for dancers wishing to take our Pointe class. They must take at least 1 year of Pre-Pointe before their pointe assessment. Students who have been through a Pre-Pointe class at another studio must schedule an assessment with La Belle Vie Dance to determine whether they are ready to move forward.
45 minutes
1 class/week
Variations/ Repertoire
Grades 5-adult
This class will allow students to learn famous variations and excerpts from a variety of famous ballets (i.e., Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Serenade, etc.). Students will be turning their technique into art as use their whole bodies to perform and tell a story.
During variations class, dancers will learn how to use basic performance acting techniques, using their hand, feet, arm, and head movements to tell a full story. (limit 6 students to a class)
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Students enrolled in this class will be performing their finalized piece for the end-of-year showcase.
1 hour
2 classes/week
Private Dance Lessons
Grades 5-adult
These private lessons are meant to enhance the dancer’s overall training. Private lessons can be booked separately, or in addition to regular class training. Pricing will vary depending on the number of classes per week as well as the level of the dancer.
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We know that there is often a demand for specialized scheduling, especially for homeschoolers. However, due to the availability of our teachers, we will not be scheduling any private lessons in the mornings or afternoons. We apologize for any inconvenience.
45 minutes
Pricing for this differs from our regular classes and they cannot be registered for online.
Beginner Ballet
Ages 6-7
Students will learn all of the basic ballet terms and how to perform them correctly. We will be focusing on basic technique and center work to encourage both strength and coordination.
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Students enrolled in Beginner Ballet have priority access to auditions throughout the year.
1 hour
1 class/week
Ballet 3
Ages 16-adult
Ballet 3 will continue to work on the student's flexibility, coordination, strength, and technique. Students taking Ballet 3 should already be taking a Pre-Pointe or Pointe class in addition to their ballet training.
It is required that dancers in this class join our annual Dance Health and Wellness Workshop.
It is recommended but not required that they take 2 extra elective classes (Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Variations/Repertoire, and/or Conditioning/Injury Prevention).
Pointe is required for eligibility as principle and soloist roles.
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Students enrolled in Ballet 3 have priority access to auditions through the year. Ballet 3 students will also be assessed for principle dancers and soloists.
1 hour
2 classes/week
Pointe
Ages 11+ (preliminary assessment required)
This class is recommended for dancers in Ballet 2 and 3, however, it is not required. For dancer who wish to be promoted to soloist or principle roles in our company, they are required to take pointe class.
It is required that dancers wishing to take pointe take 1 year of pre-pointe in preparation. The preliminary assessment (by invitation) is also required and can be scheduled with the teacher at not additional cost to currently enrolled students. Non-LBVD students can schedule their assessment for $30.
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Taking everything they learned from their pre-pointe class, students will begin to learn how to properly break in their pointe shoes while encouraging excellent technique. It should be mentioned that dancers who do not choose to take pointe cannot be considered for certain principle and/or soloist positions.
45 minutes
2 classes/week
Junior Pas de Deux
Grades 5-8
Students will learn partnering and how to perform steps in sync with each other at a junior level. This class is open to younger students as well as students who are not yet en pointe as pointe shoes are not required. Students are invited to attend this class as a precursor to our more advanced pas de deux or if they are not sure whether or not they would like to pursue a more advanced level of dance. (limit 6 couples to a class)
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This class is currently not available for the 2024-25 dance season.
45 minutes
1 class/week
Dance Health & Wellness Workshop
Ages 8-adult ($10 for anyone not currently enrolled in LBVD)
This class is required of all of our students 8-adult to maintain healthy physical, mental, and emotional health outlooks throughout the dance year. As a company that focuses their efforts on maintaining the health and stability of the dancer first and foremost, we provide these health and wellness classes annually and address issues such as proper conditioning practices, flexibility "secrets", nutrition guidelines for athletes, common injuries and how to reduce the risk, common health issues and how to reduce the risk, eating disorders, body image, and much more.
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Parents are strongly encouraged to attend alongside their student(s) as they are the driving forces behind what our dancers practice at home. Please bring pencils/pens and paper to take notes.
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View the schedule for this year's date and time.
2 hour workshop
1 class/year
Ballet 1
Ages 8-11
Students will be expected to know all of the basic ballet terms and should be able to perform them correctly. We will be focusing on more challenging technique and center work as well as incorporating floor barre for strength and conditioning.
It is required for our dancers in this class join our annual Dance Health and Wellness Workshop.
It is recommended but not required that they take 1 extra elective class (Pre-Pointe, Variations/Repertoire, and/or Conditioning/Injury Prevention).
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Students enrolled in Ballet 1 have priority access to auditions throughout the year.
1 hour
1 class/week
Company Rehearsal
Audition Dates Coming Soon...
Because we want everyone to have a chance to perform and show off what they have learned at the end of the year, we offer an end-of-year showcase for dancers who are not cast in our annual dance performances.
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Company rehearsal is for dancers who have auditioned and been cast in any of our annual performances. All three rehearsals are mandatory for company castings.
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Please note that this class isn't mandatory for all and you cannot register for it as an official class. Auditions will determine whether a student must attend Company rehearsals. Pricing will include costumes, 2 tickets per dancer, a group photo, and event program.
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Please check back for audition dates and more information.
1 hour
3 classes/week
Conditioning/Injury Prevention
Grades 5-adult
Students will learn proper conditioning exercises that will focus on strengthening muscle groups used in their particular field of dance, increasing aerobic endurance, and increasing flexibility. This class involves free weight exercises, floor work, low-impact cardio, balance training, and exercise ball workouts. Unlike our regular conditioning class through La Belle Vie Fitness, this class is specific to dancers, using movements and techniques that are designed for those involved in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, etc. (limit 10 students to a class)
45 minutes
1 class/week
Pas de Deux
Grades 7-12
Students will learn partnering and how to perform steps in sync with each other en pointe. Partnering classes are important for students who are more serious about pursuing dance as a career, or for those who want to add another level of expertise to their dance training. This class prepares students for performances, and it is recommended that students who are more geared toward pursuing a professional career also sign up for our Variations/Repertoire class. (limit 6 couples to a class)
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This class is currently not available for the 2024-25 dance season.
45 minutes
1 class/week