Pre-Professional Program

Ages 9-young adult

The Pre-Professional Program, for ages 9-young adult, ranges from first intermediate Level 3 to advanced Level 6. This program, for students in Ballet and Contemporary Dance, is the backbone of Peabody Dance's curriculum and continues to build on the basic foundation begun in the Young Children's and especially the Primary Ballet Programs. Its intensive, graded course of study is designed to help motivated, possibly career-minded students meet the dance arena's highest standards. The path to that goal is based on the Dance Department’s collective belief in the proven results of sound, concentrated training: the more classes, diligently applied, the faster the student’s growth and progress. Therefore, students with special potential and commitment are urged to take as many classes as they can, and artistic as well as financial incentives are in place to enable that possibility. Most importantly, the mode of procedure for the entire Pre-Professional Program is designed to encourage and enable students to advance at a pace that matches their abilities, interests, and time commitments.

In the Pre-Professional Program, the training intensifies over time while students continue to hone their skills, broaden their required curriculum, increase their number of classes per week, and enlarge their schedule of rehearsals, performances, and special events. Contemporary Dance is introduced in Level 3; pointe work, which is considered an integral part of ballet class for the female dancer and not scheduled separately, begins in Level 4 (however, the student's technical and physical readiness for pointe work, which may prohibit progress, first must be assessed by the ballet faculty). Also in the upper levels, classes may start to address the special technique requirements of the male dancer.

Ballet & Contemporary Dance Focus

By Level 4X, a Pre-Professional Program student may opt to retain a curriculum focus in Ballet or choose a Contemporary Dance Focus, which provides carefully graded classes compatible with the Ballet program but at the same time adding principles of major modern techniques to develop the dancer's strength, versatility, command of the floor, and spatial dynamics. Improvisation, Composition, and Repertory classes are built into upper-level schedules, and continued training in ballet is required. Whether the focus is Ballet or Contemporary Dance, following this dedicated, often difficult path to advanced fulfillment is the way students can become articulate, expressive, mature performers.

Big savings with Package Registration!

The Pre-Professional Program is organized in “packages” which provide the recommended minimum number of classes per week for each level: in Ballet from the first intermediate Level 3 through 3X, 4, 4X, 5, 5X, to the most advanced Level 6; and in Comtemporary Dance from Level 4X through 6.

In keeping with its philosophy, all Peabody Dance students enrolled in a Pre-Professional Program package and who attend all their required classes may take additional classes—at or below their own level—at no additional cost. Some students who attend all required classes and are doing exceptional work may be invited by a faculty panel to take additional classes in a higher level than their own—at no additional cost.

Enrollment in Pre-Professional Program packages offers financial savings compared to registering for each class individually. The more intensive the program, the greater the savings!

It is important to note that a level, as outlined in the following class schedules, is merely an indication of a student's current stage of accomplishing the required skills. Placement in a particular level is not based entirely on age, years of study, or innate talent; rather, placement in a particular level is guided more by a student's physical facility and quickness in digesting information than by the demands of a pre-ordered syllabus. A student will be placed where the artistic director and faculty feel he or she will profit most and where gaps in training can be addressed. At the same time, students will be allowed and encouraged to advance through the level system according to their own talent, hard work, and dedicated attendance.

When registering, the course number under the appropriate level should be chosen in ISIS or written on the registration form. Tuition fees are listed per semester. All classes are a minimum of eight students.

Class and Tuition Schedule

When registering, the course number under the appropriate level should be chosen in ISIS or written on the registration form.

• Peabody (downtown) classes are in red;
• Towson classes are in green.
• Click for more information on Peabody's Dance Facilities.
• Tuition fees are listed per semester.
• All classes are a minimum of eight students.

Level 3

($548 savings per semester)
Minimum requirements: Three 90-minute ballet classes
One 75-minute contemporary dance class

Ballet

Contemporary Dance

Level 3X*

($570 savings per semester)
Minimum requirements: Three 90-minute ballet classes
One 90-minute contemporary dance class

Ballet

Contemporary Dance

Level 4**

($1270 savings per semester)
Minimum requirements: Four 90-minute ballet/pointe classes
Two 90-minute contemporary dance class

Ballet/Pointe

Contemporary Dance

Level 4X*

($1390 savings per semester)

Ballet Focus

Minimum requirements: One 120-minute ballet/pointe class
Three 90-minute ballet/pointe classes
Two 90-minute contemporary dance class

Ballet/Pointe

Contemporary Dance

Contemporary Focus

Minimum requirements: Three 90-minute contemporary dance classes
One 90-minute improvisation/composition class
One 120-minute ballet/pointe classe (individual placement)
One 90-minute ballet/pointe class (individual placement)

Contemporary Dance

Improv/Composition

 
One 120-minute ballet class, one 90-minute ballet class (both by individual placement)

Level 5/5X*/6

($1,985 savings per semester)

Ballet Focus

Minimum requirements: One 120-minute ballet/pointe class
Four 90-minute ballet/pointe classes
One 60-minute variations class (biweekly)
Two 90-minute contemporary dance class

Ballet/Pointe

Variations (biweekly)

Contemporary Dance

Contemporary Focus

Minimum requirements: Three 90-minute contemporary dance classes
One 90-minute improvisation/composition class
One 90-minute repertory class
Two 120-minute ballet/pointe classes (individual placement)

Contemporary Dance

Repertory

Improv/Composition

 
Two 120-minute ballet classes (both by individual placement)

* "X" denotes the next higher class in that same level.

** Pointe work is introduced at Level 4. Students may begin pointe when the teacher has determined they are ready.

How to Register