Ballet Academy Ventura

Level 7 (16 yrs & older) Most advanced level for serious and pre-professional students who take at least 6 ballet classes a week and who have reached a high degree of technical proficiency. At this level, classes are 1 ½ hours long, with 2 ½ hours of pointe. Pre-professional students should attend 5 days a week and should include Contemporary and PBT. Students who have achieved the previous level goals in ballet technique and performance with good attendance are eligible for this level.

Level 6 (14 yrs & older) Advanced Vaganova Curriculum is introduced. There is more emphasis on the classic line and performance. Pointe work is part of the weekly schedule for 1-2 hours per week. Classes are 1- 1 ½ hours long. Students remain at this level until they attain a level of proficiency necessary to pass to the next level. Private Conservatory and Pas de Deux are additionally offered at this level. All students should attend classes 5 days a week with optional Contemporary and PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique).

Level 5 (13 yrs & older) Students continue to strengthen their ballet technique and develop a greater awareness of body movement. Pointe is integrated into class and complexity, and difficulty continues to increase. Students attend 6 ballet/pointe classes a week and have reached a high degree of technical proficiency. Classes are 1 ½ hours long. It is recommended that Contemporary and PBT are attended.

Level 4 B (12 yrs & older) More advanced Vaganova Curriculum is introduced. There is more emphasis on the classic line and performing. Pointe work is part of the weekly schedule for 1-2 hours per week. Classes are 1 ½ hours long. Class complexity and difficulty increases as students’ progress. Students remain at this level until they attain a level of proficiency necessary to pass to Advanced Division. Students should attend 5 classes a week and attend recommended Contemporary class and PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique)

Level 3 B & Level 4 A (10 yrs & older) Vaganova Curriculum continues at a higher level, and students can demonstrate good lines, strength and stamina as the complexity and difficulty of the class increases. Students may begin dancing on pointe, and they are strongly advised to attend classes a minimum of 4 classes a week to maintain and increase their speed, strength and stamina. Classes are 1 ½ hours long. Contemporary and PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) are highly recommended. (Students will be notified in writing when they are ready for pointe shoes).

Level 3 A (9 yrs & older) Intermediate Vaganova curriculum is emphasized during barre, center and floor. Coordination, strength and development are maturing. The class continues to build on the repetition and reinforcement of new and previously learned exercises. Beginning preparation for future pointe work is begun, stressing the development of strength in the legs and feet through exercises on half-toe. Classes are 1 to 1 ½ hours. Students are encouraged to attend two 1 ½ hour technique classes and one Prepointe class each week with the recommendation to add PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) and Contemporary class. Students must attend 3 classes per week to begin pointe work.

Level 2 A & Level 2 B (8 - 10 yrs & older) Children at this level begin a more structured class environment. They are introduced to more formal training of barre and center work. The focus is on building strength, technique and expression. Classes are one hour long, and students attend class twice a week, adding youth contemporary as a recommended addition.

Level 1 (6 - 7 yrs & older) Students experience the beginning level of the Vaganova (Russian) curriculum with measurable milestones. Correct body placement, execution of dance material and retention of material and ability execute and participate in class. Classes emphasize development of ballet technique, vocabulary, flexibility, coordination and confidence. Students build on dance fundamentals, including body alignment and basic positions. Classes are 1 hour long. Teenage beginners may start at this level with a recommendation to take both level 1 classes or supplement with private or semi-private lessons to help them catch up with their age group.

Preparatory Level 1 (5-6 yrs old) 5 - 6 year old boys and girls move from the imaginative explorations of preballet to the world of a standard ballet class. Students begin to learn basic ballet positions and exercises gaining strength and working towards proper placement, which allows for greater freedom in movement in the center of the room. Class time is increased for the kindergarten age child. Ballet primary curriculum and French terminology is presented. This class serves as a transition between the free spirit and creativity of preballet to the formally structured ballet class. Classes are 1 hour long.

Preballet 1 & Preballet 2 (3 ½ – 5 yrs old) Boys and girls explore primary level ballet curriculum and terminology. Dance movement is practiced in groups, pantomime is learned, and steps are begun across the floor. Creative dance with crowns, tutus, streamers and fairy wand remain an essential part of this class. Preballet can be an excellent transition to the school classroom. Stretching exercises on the floor, skipping, hopping, and galloping steps are combined with creative dance to encourage musicality, spatial awareness and the pure joy of movement. French terminology is translated so the student knows the meanings. Group skill like following in lines and taking turns in an orderly fashion are class goals. Class is 45 minutes

Creative Movement (2 – 3 ½ yrs old) 2 - 3 ½ year old boys and girls explore the world of dance. This class is a great first stepping stone towards independence. The class encourages movement in an atmosphere of magical fairies, princesses and princes and animal friends. French ballet terminology, musicality and proper classroom etiquette is begun in a gentle loving environment. Class is 30 minutes. Emphasis is on learning to follow simple directions, taking turns, working right and left limbs and enjoying freedom of movement encouraging group interaction and teamwork.

Hailley Goleta, PT, DPT, PCS, PAM-Mc received her pre-professional ballet training at Ballet Academy Ventura, performing many featured roles with Ventura County Ballet. Hailley graduated cum laude with high honors from Butler University in Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy. She performed leading roles with The Butler Ballet in productions of Flower Festival, The Nutcracker and neoclassical works of Cynthia Pratt. During a tour of Eastern Europe led by Marek Cholewa, Hailley was selected to perform in the final round of a choreographic competition in St. Petersburg, Russia with choreography by Rachel Pike. Hailley received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA, where she was awarded the John R. and Mary B. Wilkins Physical Therapy Award and scholarship for her academic and professional accomplishments. Recently, she became a Board-certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist (PCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association. Hailley was able to combine her passion for both physical rehabilitation and the performing arts by completing the Performing Arts Medicine Master’s Certificate (PAM-Mc) at Shenandoah University to further focus on the treatment and screening for injury prevention in dancers, musicians and other performing artists. She currently works as an orthopedic and pediatric physical therapist in Ventura County.

She is now pursuing a PhD in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies at UCSB. Ventura has produced full evening-length performances and presented works throughout the US and abroad, most recently in France, Estonia, Norway, Finland, and Italy. She is currently on faculty at dance studios throughout Southern California, and travels nationally and internationally as a dance educator and advocate for the arts.

Jasmine Duncan started dancing at Ballet Academy Ventura at 4 years old. During her 14 year enrollment at BAV, she attended several summer intensives including Joffrey Academy of Dance (Chicago), San Francisco Ballet School, and State Street Ballet. Jasmine danced a variety of soloist roles for the Ventura County Ballet including Clara, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, and Rat Queen in the Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and Kitri’s Friend in Don Quixote. She later attended the University of Southern California, earning her bachelor’s degree in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change.

He is on faculty at a variety of studios in Southern California.

Ms. Pool has been on staff with Ballet Academy Ventura since 2012.

Ms Laubacher performed in Ventura County with the Plexus Dance Theatre. Ms. Laubacher has been teaching and choreographing students in Ventura County for over 35 years. She enjoys Salsa and Latin dancing. She lives in Ventura, and is married and has two children and her 1st granddaughter, who dances at Ballet Academy Ventura.

She has also been a lead instructor and rehearsal director at Northwest Studio of Ballet and Valley Performing Arts Council in Fresno.

Ms. Chudinova is a graduate from the Kyiv Choreographic College in Kyiv, Ukraine where she studied ballet performance and pedagogy. She has toured throughout Europe and the United States with Youth Kyiv Ballet, St. Petersburg Ballet, Ukrainian Ballet Theater, Russian Grand Ballet and Moscow Ballet. Ms. Chudinova has danced featured roles in La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and many others. She has recently danced starring roles with Ventura County Ballet’s The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Domrachev has been a guest artist with Ventura County Ballet for several seasons in staring roles.

Mr. Martins ‘ teaching resume’ include Armitage Gone Dance, BalletMet, Baltimore School for the Arts, Goucher College, Harvard University, Indiana University, Joffrey Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, National Ballet of China, NBA Ballet (Japan), New York City Ballet, Novosibirsk Ballet (Russia), NYSSA Summer Intensive, Princeton University, Royal Ballet, School of American Ballet and Washington Ballet. Since 1996, Mr. Martins has been a Repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust and stages ballets for companies and schools domestically as well as internationally.

Ms. Fliagina brings her vast store of ballet knowledge to the students at BAV where she instructs classes and choreographs ballet productions.

We at Ballet Academy Ventura pride ourselves on creating a warm and loving environment created for our students. Instructors are readily available to parents and students for information about class progress. All students feel free to visit with their teachers before class begins. Students are important! We are here to educate the whole child. Their experience with us must lift their spirit, we strive to build self-confidence, love of ballet as an art form, and to prepare the students for learning throughout their lives. We want to develop the student in a healthy and loving way. Discipline is part of ballet, but it should only be used to help a child develop his “own self-discipline.” This must come from within the student through gentle and constructive correction. When discipline is used in this way, healthy development takes place.

Hailley received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA, where she was awarded the John R. and Mary B. Wilkins Physical Therapy Award and scholarship for her academic and professional accomplishments. Recently, she became a Board-certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist (PCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association.

She is now pursuing a PhD in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies at UCSB. Ventura has produced full evening-length performances and presented works throughout the US and abroad, most recently in France, Estonia, Norway, Finland, and Italy.

Jasmine Duncan started dancing at Ballet Academy Ventura at 4 years old. During her 14 year enrollment at BAV, she attended several summer intensives including Joffrey Academy of Dance (Chicago), San Francisco Ballet School, and State Street Ballet. Jasmine danced a variety of soloist roles for the Ventura County Ballet including Clara, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, and Rat Queen in the Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and Kitri’s Friend in Don Quixote.

She enjoys Salsa and Latin dancing. She lives in Ventura, and is married and has two children and her 1st granddaughter, who dances at Ballet Academy Ventura.

She has toured throughout Europe and the United States with Youth Kyiv Ballet, St. Petersburg Ballet, Ukrainian Ballet Theater, Russian Grand Ballet and Moscow Ballet. Ms. Chudinova has danced featured roles in La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and many others.

Domrachev has been a guest artist with Ventura County Ballet for several seasons in staring roles.

We at Ballet Academy Ventura pride ourselves on creating a warm and loving environment created for our students. Instructors are readily available to parents and students for information about class progress. All students feel free to visit with their teachers before class begins. Students are important! We are here to educate the whole child. Their experience with us must lift their spirit, we strive to build self-confidence, love of ballet as an art form, and to prepare the students for learning throughout their lives. We want to develop the student in a healthy and loving way.

Ballet Academy Ventura provides a complete dance program from the earliest Creative Movement and Pre-ballet level- through Pre-Professional.

Ballet Academy Ventura provides a complete dance program from the earliest Creative Movement and Pre-ballet level- through Pre-Professional.

Ballet Academy Ventura provides a complete dance program from the earliest Creative Movement and Pre-ballet level- through Pre-Professional.

Level 4A, Level 4B, Levels 5-7. Intensives are a great opportunity to improve technique, learn dance history, experience new choreography, and make new friends.

Level 2B, Level 3A, Level 3B. Intensives are a great opportunity to improve technique, learn dance history, experience new choreography, and make new friends.

Mr. Martins ‘ teaching resume’ include Armitage Gone Dance, BalletMet, Baltimore School for the Arts, Goucher College, Harvard University, Indiana University, Joffrey Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, National Ballet of China, NBA Ballet (Japan), New York City Ballet, Novosibirsk Ballet (Russia), NYSSA Summer Intensive, Princeton University, Royal Danish Ballet, School of American Ballet and Washington Ballet.

Prep Level 1, Level 1, Level 2A. This camp offers students a chance to elevate their ballet technique and learn new dance styles.