Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, PA | Dance Schools | Pennsylvania Catalog

Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley

Miss Fink invited Alexi Ramov, former dancer with the Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo, to serve as the organization's second Artistic Director, succeeding James Fender. Mr. Ramov served in that capacity for over 30 years. He founded the Northeast Regional Association of NARB (National Association of Regional Ballet) now known as Regional Dance America. Alexi Ramov and colleague Barbara Weisberger, founder of the Pennsylvania Ballet, helped organize the very first regional festival, of which The Ballet Guild is a charter member. In 1987, he established the Ballet Guild's first school and was its first Director. Alexi Ramov directed the Lehigh Valley's first "Nutcracker" production in 1968 - a beloved holiday tradition which continues to this day. Among the professional dance luminaries he invited to conduct master classes and to guest teach were internationally respected dance educators Oleg Briansky and Mireille Briane.
Programs:
Pre-Professional
This Pre-Professional dance program is an intense course of study designed for the serious student with previous dance experience. Placement of all students in this division is determined by audition.
Classes are offered for Levels A (age 7) through Advanced and emphasize the development of ballet skills with a focus on knowledge, proper placement, and alignment. Students will learn ballet vocabulary through barre and centre work while building stamina, strength, flexibility, and musicality. In addition to Pointework, classes are also offered in Variations, Repertoire, Jazz and Modern.
Pre-Ballet: (ages 3-4) Classes serve as an introduction to the basics of ballet and include rhythm, dynamics, and terminology. Classes are age-appropriate and structured where young students gain greater knowledge in body-awareness and spatial relationships while enjoying the freedom of expression through movement.
Youth Ballet: (ages 5-12) Classes build on the basic elements of ballet. The teacher will introduce the students to more creative dance vocabulary and concepts as well as prepare them for future participation in more structured ballet classes. Classes are age-appropriate and structured where young students gain greater knowledge in body-awareness and spatial relationships while enjoying the freedom of expression through movement.
Adult Intermediate Ballet: Student should have knowledge of basic ballet terminology. Previous dance experience required.
Adult Beginning Ballet: Classes for the beginning adult or teen student who would like to learn ballet as either a method of exercise or as an addition to their current dance/exercise repertoire.
Boys Ballet: (ages 5 & up) A beginning ballet class for boys only where they will learn the basics of ballet and develop coordination, stamina, and flexibility as well. This class is appropriate for boys who need to improve their performance in all aspects of dance, theatre, and sports. Ballet teaches discipline and perseverance and improves concentration. Discover what the pros know - ballet helps your performance!
Jazz: (ages 5-12) Classes teach basic jazz technique, terminology, and movement with an emphasis on the proper execution of jazz isolations, rhythms and style. Jazz dance is an energetic and expressive dance form, often found in musical theatre and other venues.