Asheville Academy of Ballet

The week was full of jazz, ballet, modern, and choreography classes, each culminating in a short piece of choreography. The only goal was your own advancement in your personal level of dance.

Hip Hop dance began in the Bronx, NYC in the 1970s as an inevitable accompaniment to the beats of Rap music, and has evolved into a theatrical art form incorporating an inner-city vibe with body isolations, attitude, funk, and above all strength, flexibility, and rhythm.

Contemporary Dance is a post-modern theatrical dance form that builds on, but breaks free from, the traditions of Modern Dance and Classical Ballet. Instructors, choreographers, and students can explore individual interests in movement expression and communication.

Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap is widely performed in musical theater. Rhythm tap focuses on musicality, and practitioners consider themselves to be a part of the Jazz tradition. At Asheville Academy of Ballet, we utilize our knowledge of ballet and jazz dance techniques, the musicality, and technical precision of the rhythm tap tradition, and Broadway tap dance terminology in our classes.

In ballet, a variation (sometimes called a pas de seul) is a solo dance. At the Asheville Ballet, we offer classes in instructing well-known classical and contemporary variations, both for the experienced pointe dancer, and for demi-pointe as well. A pas de deux (a dance of two), is a dance duet in which two dancers, typically male and female, perform ballet steps together. Concepts of weight sharing, center alignment, and partnered musicality are explored in this class.

Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. Jazz dance was an integral part of jazz until the end of the swing era in the late 1940s. In the 1950s, a new genre of modern jazz dance emerged and combined with balletic and modern styles found its way onto the concert dance stage as well as the Broadway musical dance stage. Jazz dance promotes focus, conditioning, alignment, strength, and cardiovascular health for the well-rounded dancer.

In the early 20th century, dance artists such as Isadora Duncan, Maud Allen, and Loie Fuller paved the way for aesthetic dance or free dance in a theatrical concert dance setting. Later throughout the 20th century, artists such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Lester Horton, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor among others carried the tradition of what we now know as "modern dance" into the forefront of concert dance, each developing their unique perspective on movement, kinesiology, and musicality.

Ballet is a type of performance dance that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread, highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary based on French terminology. The Asheville Academy of Ballet and Contemporary Dance offers classes in Creative Ballet for 3-4 year olds, 5-6 year olds, and levels of Ballet I - III for 7 year olds through adults. Creative Ballet will incorporate the basics of ballet terminology, body coordination, and musicality.

Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by the Greek German-born Joseph Pilates. It is especially practiced in the United States and the United Kingdom. This physical practice focuses on concentration, control, centering, flow and efficiency of movement, core strength, precision, and breathing, and is a current main staple of any dancer's training.

We provide excellent training for both pre-professional and recreational dancers in a variety of disciplines, including Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Pointe, PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique), Conditioning, and Pilates, and we encourage students of all ages to begin their exploration of dance or to further their technical training with our wonderful faculty.

Asheville Ballet Rehearsals, held on Fridays from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Pilates class for ages 11 to adult, held on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:00 pm with instructor Fleming Lomax.

Ballet III class for students, held on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 pm with instructor Fleming Lomax.

Pointe II class, held on Mondays from 7:30 to 8:15 pm with instructor Fleming Lomax.

Ballet I class for Third to Fourth Grade, held on Saturdays from 10:15 to 11:00 am with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Ballet I B / Ballet II A with Pre-Pointe / Pointe by invitation class for Fifth to Eighth Grade, held on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Ballet II B class for Ninth Grade to adult, or by invitation, held on Saturdays from 12:30 to 2:00 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Pointe I class, held on Saturdays from 2:00 to 2:45 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Asheville Ballet Rehearsals, held on Saturdays at 2:45 pm.

Creative Ballet class for ages 3-5 (pre-school), held on Saturdays from 9:00 to 9:30 am with instructor Zoe D'Astolfo.

Creative Ballet / Ballet I A class for Kindergarten to Second Grade, held on Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:15 am with instructor Zoe D'Astolfo.

Modern/Contemporary I class for Third to Sixth Grade, held on Thursdays from 4:45 to 5:45 pm with instructor Alisha Ear.

Modern/Contemporary II / III class for Seventh Grade to adult, or by invitation, held on Thursdays from 5:45 to 6:45 pm with instructor Alisha Ear.

Adult Ballet class for ages 18+, held on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:15 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Creative Ballet class for ages 3-6, held on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:15 am with instructor Alisha Ear.

Creative Ballet class for ages 3-5 (pre-school), held on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:00 pm with instructor Zoe D'Astolfo.

Creative Ballet / Ballet I A class for Kindergarten to Second Grade, held on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 4:45 pm with instructor Zoe D'Astolfo.

Ballet I B / Ballet II A class for Fifth to Eighth Grade, held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Ballet II B with Teen/Adult Ballet class for Ninth Grade to adult, or by invitation, held on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

Pointe I class (with Pre-Pointe by invitation), held on Tuesdays from 8:00 to 8:30 pm with instructor Allison Hertzberg.

PBT / Conditioning / Modern class for Fifth Grade to adult, held on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:15 pm with instructor Rachel Taylor.

Ballet III class, held on Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:45 pm with instructor Rachel Taylor.

Pointe II class, held on Wednesdays from 7:45 to 8:30 pm with instructor Rachel Taylor.

The summer intensive offers daily classes in ballet, pointe, repertoire, partnering, contemporary, and choreography for serious students ages 11-18 in a supportive, fun, personal environment with professional staff ensuring proper instruction at appropriate levels. Boys are especially encouraged to participate.