Bella Ballet School

Policies and Expectations

Southern’s Children’s Department programs are limited to Southern affiliates. Although we have enjoyed serving those in the Louisville area, as our numbers grow we must hold fast to our mission of serving the seminary community as they prepare for ministry. By instituting this new policy we will be able to use our resources to more effectively reach this goal.

If you have questions or concerns please contact Ashley Akesson at aakesson@sbts.edu or you may contact the Health and Rec. Center by phone at 502-897-4720.

By submitting registration forms, you grant permission for your child (as listed in the form), to attend the children’s program as registered for at the SBTS Health and Recreation Center. You agree to hold blameless all caregivers, assistants, and all affiliates to the Health and Recreation Center from any and all injuries that may result from this program. In the event that you cannot be contacted, you authorize the HRC to obtain emergency medical care for your child.

 

Approved Affiliates:

Students

 Registered students enrolled in classes either at Boyce or Southern for the current semester (this does not include students with a disrupted status).

Employees

 Individuals employed at either Southern or Boyce (this includes Sodexo & Pioneer workers).

Alumni

 Graduates of either Southern Seminary or Boyce College.

Trustee

 Current Trustees of Southern.

Board Member

 Currently a member of the Southern Seminary Foundation Board.

You can view all of the Bella Ballet School's policies and expectations by clicking the document on the registration page for your specific class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are boys allowed in the Ballet program?

  • Bella Ballet is designed as an all girls program. At this time, there are no exceptions to this.

My daughter has previous Ballet experience, what level should I register her for?

  • Your daughter should register for whatever class is within her age range. The required age minimums are in accordance with our child protection policy to keep children of the same age range together. Any suspected exception to the policy must be approved by our Coordinator of Childcare, Ashley Akesson.

Can I watch my child’s class?

  • In accordance with our child protection policy, we do not allow parents to watch their child’s class unless during the Ballet Watch Week. While this may sound confusing, this is to discourage other patrons of the HRC from observing your child while they are in their class as our facility is within an open gym.

Can I walk my child to their class?

  • In accordance with our child protection policy, we only allow our staff to escort your child to their class as the way in which they go to their class requires walking through our childcare room with other children in it. According to our policy, anyone who walks through that room requires extensive background checks, child protection training, and CPR/AED/First Aid training. This is a policy that we take very seriously and there are no exceptions to it.

The class I wanted my child to attend is full, Can you open the class up more so my child can attend?

  • Unfortunately, once a class is full there will be no more open spots added unless a child who was registered for that particular class disenrolls.This is to remain within our child safety ratios according to our child protection policy. In the event a child disenrolls, the next child on the waitlist will be contacted. There will be no adjustments to the waitlist for a child to be moved higher up.

 

Fall 2023 Important Dates

August 2023

5th – Registration Opens

12th – Registration Closes

21st – Ballet Classes Start

September 2023

4th – No Ballet Classes (Labor Day)

8th – No Ballet Classes Once HRC is closed for Fall Festival

October 2023

2nd-6th – No Ballet Classes (Fall Reading Days)

6th – Recital Fees Due

9th-13th – Ballet Watch Week

30th-Nov. 5th – Last Week of Ballet Classes

November 2023

3rd – Rehearsal

4th – Recital

Class Descriptions, Dress Code, & Cost

Class Descriptions

Creative Movement

Ages: 2.5-3

Must be Fully Potty Trained

This 45 minute class will introduce our youngest ballerinas to the world of dance in a fun and stress-free environment.  

Pre-Ballet

Ages: 4-5

Must turn 4 by recital

In this 45 minute class, dancers develop poise, focus, grace, and musicality through imaginative exercises and enjoyable routines. Foundational ballet skills and technique are developed in a joyful environment. Students will be given the opportunity to perform in the end of the semester recital. Our goal to provide a Christ-like ballet environment for preschoolers to enjoy and learn the beginning knowledge of ballet movements and to offer a foundation for a performing for God’s glory and to the best of their ability.

Beginner I

Ages: 5-6

Must have turned 5 by registration

This 45 minute class is a strong foundation that prepares students for a successful transition to a more serious approach to their ballet studies in the intermediate and advanced levels. On completion of this class, students should be able to demonstrate an awareness of line through the body and articulation of limbs through harmonious coordination, dynamic elevation and use of space. They should be able to respond expressively to music and show an appropriate sense of performance in their dancing. Our goal is to provide a classical ballet class that offers strong technique and vocabulary while offering a warm, Christ-like atmosphere to teach that ballet is a gift from God and should be used for his glory.

Beginner II

Ages: 7-8

Must have turned 7 by registration

This 45 minute class is a continuation of level 1, and prepares students for a successful transition to a more serious approach to their ballet studies in the intermediate and advanced levels. On completion of this class, students should be able to demonstrate an awareness of line through the body and articulation of limbs through harmonious coordination, dynamic elevation and use of space. They should be able to respond expressively to music and show an appropriate sense of performance in their dancing.Our goal is to provide a classical ballet class that offers strong technique and vocabulary while offering a warm, Christ-like atmosphere to teach that ballet is a gift from God and should be used for his glory.

Intermediate

Ages: 9-12

Must turn 9 by registration

This 50 minute class enables students to show an understanding of basic Ballet technique, which includes being able to demonstrate secure classical posture and weight placement with appropriate use of ‘turn-out’. They should be able to move with ease across the floor while establishing harmonious lines through the body and demonstrate an ability to perform with increasing confidence, awareness of the audience and responsiveness to musical rhythms, phrasing and dynamics. Our goal is to provide a Christ-like ballet experience that teaches strong ballet technique to offer a firm foundation in their walk with Christ as well as a foundation in the ballet career if they choose to go further in their learning in addition to performing in a modest and God-glorifying attire and manner.

Advanced

By Invitation Only

This 90-minute class enables students to demonstrate an increasing consolidation of knowledge and understanding of a systematically developed vocabulary of balletic movements. These include the ability to demonstrate various steps showing confident control of posture, turnout, and line while turning and jumping. Students also further develop an awareness of their own safe dance practice and demonstrate an ability to perform with increasing confidence, awareness of the audience, and responsiveness to musical rhythms, phrasing, and dynamics. 

Dress Code

Creative Movement

  • Pink leotard
  • Footed (or convertible) pink tights
  • Pink ballet shoes (leather or canvas, please do not purchase from Target or Payless)
  • Skirt is optional, but acceptable

Pre-Ballet

  • Pink leotard (NO sequins, attached skirts, designs)
  • Footed (or convertible) pink tights
  • Pink ballet shoes (leather or canvas, please do not purchase from Target or Payless)
  • Skirt is optional, but acceptable

Beginner & Intermediate

  • Black leotard (NO sequins, attached skirts, designs)
  • Footed (or convertible) pink tights
  • Pink ballet shoes (leather or canvas, please do not purchase from Target or Payless)
  • Tight, black dance shorts (purchase here)
  • Skirt is optional, but acceptable

Advanced

Buying Dancewear?

We suggest:

Kinney Dancewear
1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy
Louisville, KY 40220
Get Directions

or www.discountdance.com

Cost

Creative Movement

SBTS Affiliate Families: $65 per semester

(Please see “Policies and Expectations” for a list of approved affiliates)

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Required Recital Fee: $50 per child

Pre Ballet

SBTS Affiliate Families: $65 per semester

(Please see “Policies and Expectations” for a list of approved affiliates)

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Required Recital Fee: $55 per child

Beginner

SBTS Affiliate Families: $80 per semester

(Please see “Policies and Expectations” for a list of approved affiliates)

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Required Recital Fee: $65 per child

Intermediate & Advanced

SBTS Affiliate Families (One Class Per Week): $80 per semester

SBTS Affiliate Families (Both Classes): $120 per semester

(Please see “Policies and Expectations” for a list of approved affiliates)

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Required Recital Fee:

  • (One Class Per Week): $65
  • (Both Classes): $100

Registration

Important Registration Information

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. Recital fees will be due at a later date.

Registration will open at midnight when the date changes to August 5, 2023. This is set by our scheduling system and cannot be changed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

If upon clicking the register link on August 5th you receive the message saying “registration is closed or class is full” this class is currently full. Classes will not be opened up for more children as our class sizes are set by our child safety ratios. In the event the class you desired is full, the waitlist listed at the end of this page is your only option unless a spot opens up that was previously taken.

Classes Offered

Stay Tuned for a listing of our class offerings for the Fall 2023 semester. Information should be posted by mid July in anticipation of our August 5th registration date!

Waitlist & Contact Information

Bella Ballet Waitlist

Parent Name(Required)
Child Name(Required)
Which Levels Would You be Interested In?(Required)

For more information, please contact:

Ashley Akesson at aakesson@sbts.edu