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One in-class session plus a lunchtime session per week. Additional extension classes can also be taken (email ballet@stac.school.nz to sign up).
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BALLET TIMETABLE >
Our focus for the Years 4–6 ballet classes is to establish the foundational steps of ballet as appropriate to each level, and further the dancers' experience with challenging combinations and small dances. In their weekly technique class, the dancers work to master their ballet syllabi in preparation for the annual ballet exams, held early in Term 3 (all students are entered). At this level, the examiner looks for confidence from each dancer, with an expectation of independent knowledge of their barre, centre and short dances, and to see the exercises performed as best they can.
The dancers also have a weekly lunchtime session which aims to reinforce technique and introduce performance training (including group dances and ballet mime). Dancers are given time to change and eat lunch at the start of the lunch session. Dancers may wear either full ballet uniform or skort and ballet t-shirt option.
The annual exam is our primary focus for the first half of every year and just prior to exam time, extra lessons are held to help the dancers prepare and learn exam etiquette. These extra lessons are held in the last two days of the July School Holidays and is called our ‘Ballet Exam Preparation Camp’, with dancers attending an intensive preparation class per day (approximately 65–90 minutes depending on grade level). Please hold those two days free for this. After the exams each student receives a report, certificate, and medal, with an optional blazer badge. Dancers gaining the top grade of ‘Gold with Excellence’ also receive the school ‘Ballet Honours’ blazer badge at an End of Term school assembly (further information on exam dates is emailed home in Term 1).
Dancers have the opportunity to join our engaging extension classes.
Years 3-4 students may join ‘Junior Jazzers’ which introduces jazz steps and combinations, with stretch and conditioning work too and is held during lunchtime. This class will help build their dance knowledge, musicality and presentation. The cost for this class is $100.00 per term. There is no additional uniform required for this class. Note: this class will not be held during Term 4 due to production.
Years 5–6 may join the ‘Junior Company’ to experience dance across the genres (including lyrical, national, jazz, demi-character and ballet mime), with additional focus on balletic technique closer to exam time. The cost for this class is $100.00 per term. This class is held once every week and there is additional uniform required for this class.
Email ballet@stac.school.nz to sign up.
Our annual production is held near the end of Term 4 (dates assigned by the College) with production work beginning in all ballet sessions once the annual exams are completed. Dancers experience a professionally produced ballet production and perform in four shows. A small number of additional weekend rehearsals are held in Term 4. It is important that it is clearly understood that all rehearsals must be attended. Further detailed information is emailed during the year.
Each week dancers are required to follow our homework programme, using our short videos of their ballet exercises for home review. The homework is simply to practise with the videos– with the goal to learn each exercise and perform the steps correctly. Each student should aim to practice at home for 15–20 minutes, twice a week. This small effort significantly helps student’s ballet progress (further information once classes start). A small logbook is supplied to each student to record their homework effort. A small incentive award is given in Terms 1–2 for the dancer demonstrating the most consistent homework effort.
The ballet uniform is always required for ballet class.
Almost all uniform items are from ‘PW Dancewear’ (corner of Colombo and Stanley Streets). Please ask their staff to assist you in selecting the correct St Andrew's College regulation items – they have our information on file. Take your child to get the uniform and shoes properly fitted. Some items (such as the tracksuit) may need to be ordered in for you, so please visit the shop early.
Every item must be named. Add name tags if necessary and write your child's name inside both shoes.
Dancers change from school uniform into ballet gear at the start of lunch. For lunchtime sessions they may wear either their ballet uniform or the ballet skort with production/navy t-shirt (and school socks are also fine). At the end of the lunch session they pop on their school or ballet tracksuit for the afternoon.
To view our available second-hand stock, please visit the St Andrew's College Second-hand Uniform Shop. The opening hours for the Second-hand Uniform Shop can be found here.
A ballet bun is compulsory on ballet lesson days (unless hair is too short). A commitment to ballet is a commitment to correct uniform and hair. Please consider this to be just as necessary as goggles are to swimmers, or boots to a rugby player. Parents/caregivers will be emailed if dancers do not show up ready to dance on time or in correct uniform. We wish our dancers to use their time in class to the maximum. Tutorials of how to make a ballet bun can be found on YouTube and our own one is on our Moodle site. If anyone would like a demonstration on how to make a correct and secure ballet bun, feel free to email our Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns at ballet@stac.school.nz to arrange a time.
YouTube links (note: we use ballet hair pins, not bobby pins):
Short Hair Bun Tutorial >
Long Hair Bun Tutorial >
Ballet Class Bun Tutorial >
If their Ballet Class is During Period 1 or 2
Come to school in ballet wear with school/ballet tracksuit, change to school uniform at morning tea.
If their Ballet Class is During Period 3 or 4
Come to school in full school uniform, change to ballet wear (with school/ballet tracksuit) at morning tea. Dancers then return to the Preparatory School wearing their school/ballet tracksuit, and then change to their full school uniform during lunchtime.
If their Ballet Class is During Lunchtime – this includes Junior Company and Intermediate Company
Come to school in full school uniform. Dancers change into ballet wear* (with school/ballet tracksuit) at the beginning of lunchtime. Dancers then change into their full school uniform at the end of lunchtime in the Preparatory School changing rooms.
If their Ballet Class is During Period 5 or 6
Come to school in full school uniform. Dancers change into their ballet wear* (with school/ballet tracksuit) during lunchtime. Dancers then return to class or go home in their school/ballet tracksuit.
All students should have a small named ballet bag suitable to hold their ballet uniform items. Dance Pacific sells our St Andrew's College Ballet bag, however this is at your option. Whatever bag you decide on, please put only the student's ballet related gear in it (this helps the tutor to speed up changing) and ensure it has a name tag. Please name everything.
Please do not send a draw-string style of bag – the cords often get wrapped around feet, necks, etc.!
Email is used to communicate all information (please be sure the College has your current email). We endeavour to answer emails as quickly as possible but due to full teaching days this may not always be possible – we ask for your understanding if we are delayed. The College expectation is that a teacher responds to emails within 48 hours. Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, can also be contacted via the College telephone system. Please call reception on +64 940 2000 to be put through.
Ballet tutors private cell phones are not to be used as a means of contact – unless in an emergency, or by prior arrangement.
Parents and caregivers are very welcome to view their child’s technique class on the last weeks of Terms 1–2. A reminder email will be sent closer to the time.
Private lessons are available on a limited basis. You may request private lessons, or a tutor may suggest it if a dancer needs some help in their technique.
Please email Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, at ballet@stac.school.nz if your child will miss a class for any reason.
After a hiatus due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to recommence the Performance Awards. This is a special event held for dancers who wish to extend themselves with a stage performance experience (a minimum of two full years of ballet training is required to enter). It challenges the student to learn, master, and perform, a new dance in just four weeks. It is not a competition but an individual challenge; an opportunity to strive to perform to their personal best. Dancers may take part at any level from Years 3–8 (e.g. there is no requirement for dancers to have begun in Year 3 to enter).
Four Week Program: the student learns a new dance at lessons held over three consecutive Sundays. A short dress rehearsal practise is also included. Then, all dancers perform at the Performance Event before an examiner and a small audience of family members. Following the event, each dancer will receive a short written report and a blazer badge. They will also be awarded a certificate at a school assembly. To complete the experience, dancers perform in costume. No make-up is required for students in Years 3–5.
Year 3: 9.30am–10.10am
Year 4: 10.15am–10.55am
Year 5: 11.00am–11.40am
Please note: these times will be altered in the event of no entries into a particular year group or if another slot is needed for a year group. If only two register in a year group, the time will be reduced to 30 minutes. Times will be set once the registration period closes, with the aim to hold these sessions in the morning. Do not register if this does not suit or if you will be away for a weekend – missed lessons can’t be made up due to the short timeframe and tutor availability.
Years 3–5: dancers attend three Sunday group lessons (40 minutes, max of 6 dancers per class). Please note a parent/caregiver will need to attend the last 5 minutes of each Sunday lesson to video the dance for home practise. On the fourth weekend, a dress rehearsal and Performance Awards will be held. The dance style for each group will be selected by the tutor. At the Performance Awards, Years 3 and 4 dancers will perform on stage in a duo or trio, while Year 5 dancers may elect to perform solo or in a duo.
The fee to enter the Performance Awards is $175–$220*.
This cost includes three private lessons ($15.00–$30.00 per lesson)*, dress rehearsal ($20.00 per person), costume fee ($25.00), admin fee ($25.00) and Performance Award entry fee which includes an individual examiner report, certificate and badge ($60.00).
Lesson fees will be determined once registrations close. The cost will be $30.00 per person if there are two people in a lesson, $20.00 per person if there are three to four people a lesson, and $15.00 per person if there are five to six people in a lesson.
Please note: All entry fees must be paid prior to lessons beginning.
If the event is on-site at the College, there will no audience attendance fee. If held off-site, a small attendance fee will be charged.
Refunds: if withdrawing from the event before lessons commence, a 80% refund is returned. Once lessons have commenced, no refunds are given unless due to illness, with a medical certificate provided (as we have booked studio, tutor times, and badges based on registration numbers).
Please note: Registrations close on Wednesday 1 March.
How to register: Register via email to Dr Cairns at CCA@stac.school.nz. Please state your child’s full name and year group. We are limited to one examiner session so enrolments will be accepted by date of registration until we reach capacity per year group. Once registration has closed, and if places allow, I will send each parent out the confirmed cost and the year group times.
Each dancer is required to practise their dance at home in between their Sunday lessons. This ensure that when they arrive for their next lesson, the prior knowledge has been secured and the tutor can move to finish the dance, and then polish it. Please attend the last 5 minutes of their lesson to video record the final run through. This way, each dancer has both the music and choreography for their home practise.
Another helpful hint: Dancers can use car travel time for self-study by either watching their dance video or just playing the music and ‘dancing it’ in their head (this works great for ballet exam work too!).
After a hiatus due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to recommence the Performance Awards. This is a special event held for dancers who wish to extend themselves with a stage performance experience (a minimum of two full years of ballet training is required to enter). It challenges the student to learn, master, and perform, a new dance in just four weeks. It is not a competition but an individual challenge; an opportunity to strive to perform to their personal best. Dancers may take part at any level from Years 3–8 (e.g. there is no requirement for dancers to have begun in Year 3 to enter).
Four Week Program: the student learns a new dance at lessons held over three consecutive Sundays. A short dress rehearsal practise is also included. Then, all dancers perform at the Performance Event before an examiner and a small audience of family members. Following the event, each dancer will receive a short written report and a blazer badge. They will also be awarded a certificate at a school assembly. To complete the experience, dancers perform in costume (a costume hire fee is included, however you may choose to provide your own). Make-up use for dancers in Years 6–8 is encouraged, but optional (it should be a light application only, no false eyelashes or other embellishments)
Once registration is complete, a calendar will be issued from which you select your weekly timeslot (the same time each Sunday). The expected times will be in the afternoon (please do not register if this does not suit or if you will be away for a weekend – missed lessons cannot be made up due to the short timeframe and tutor availability).
Years 6–8: dancers attend three 30-minute group lessons held on the Sundays listed above. Please note a parent/caregiver will need to attend the last 5 minutes of each Sunday lesson to video the dance for home practise. On the fourth weekend, a dress rehearsal and Performance Awards will be held. The dancer can elect to learn a solo or a duo. Further details, including dance style options are detailed below.
Year 6 Dance Style Options: National or Demi-character
Year 7 Dance Style Options: Classical or Barefoot/Lyrical
Year 8 Dance Style Options: Own Choice (Classical, Lyrical, National, Demi-characters or tutors choice)
National – represents a country, using traditional steps and is typically an upbeat and energetic dance e.g. a Russian Festival, Village Polka, Spanish or Hungarian, etc.
Demi-character – tells a simple story e.g. Clara, a flower seller, Tinkerbelle, The Little Matchgirl, Little Red Riding Hood, Arabian Nights, Cupid, etc.
Lyrical – an expressive dance that aims to interpret the music or lyrics, with fluidity and grace. Does not require a story but rather a poetic feeling.
Barefoot – a traditional style that can be inspired by nature, whimsical beings (fairies, nymphs etc.) or ancient myths and legends e.g. Star Sprite, Winter Wisp, Moonbeam. Barefoot Traditionally danced without shoes to feel a better connection to the ground and thus called ‘barefoot’.
Classical – a balletic dance showing technique, and danced with poise and artistry. Performed in simple dress or classical tutu.
The fee to enter the Performance Awards is $250.
This cost includes three private lessons ($40.00 per person)*, dress rehearsal ($20.00 per person), costume fee ($25.00), admin fee ($25.00) and Performance Award entry fee which includes an individual examiner report, certificate and badge ($60.00).
*The lesson cost will be $25.00 per person if the dancer has opted to perform a duo.
Lesson fees will be invoiced to each participant once registrations are received.
Please note: All entry fees must be paid prior to lessons beginning.
If the event is on-site at the College, there will no audience attendance fee. If held off-site, a small attendance fee will be charged.
Refunds: if withdrawing from the event before lessons commence, a 80% refund is returned. Once lessons have commenced, no refunds are given unless due to illness, with a medical certificate provided (as we have booked studio, tutor times, and badges based on registration numbers).
Please note: Registrations close on Wednesday 1 March.
How to register:
1. Register via email to Dr Cairns at CCA@stac.school.nz. Please state your child’s full name and year group. We are limited to one examiner session so enrolments will be accepted by date of registration until we reach capacity per year group. Once registration has closed, and if places allow, I will send each parent out the confirmed cost and the year group times.
2. Indicate performance preference (solo or duo). Please note: if registering for a duo, you must find your own duo partner and agree to enter as a duo prior to submitting your registration via email. Names of both dancers must be included in the registration email. Once bookings for lesson times open, you must also agree to attend a lesson that suits both dancers.
3. State which dance style you will perform. Please choose from the dance styles listed above to ensure it is applicable to the dancers' year level. Alternatively, request that the tutor choose a style for the dancer.
Each dancer is required to practise their dance at home in between their Sunday lessons. This ensure that when they arrive for their next lesson, the prior knowledge has been secured and the tutor can move to finish the dance, and then polish it. Please attend the last 5 minutes of their lesson to video record the final run through. This way, each dancer has both the music and choreography for their home practise. Those entering in duos must find time to practise together as well.
Helpful hint: We recommend practising for 15–20 minutes on the evening after each of the three lessons to cement that day’s learning, plus two or three more sessions each week. Practise is essential ensure the dance is learnt and technique is worked as best possible. Each home practise session should be approximately 15–20 minutes long, or alternatively, the dancer may like to run through their dance a few times each evening.
Another helpful hint: Dancers can use car travel time for self-study by either watching their dance video or just playing the music and ‘dancing it’ in their head (this works great for ballet exam work too!).
If you have any further questions, please contact Ballet Director, Dr Carolyn Cairns, on ballet@stac.school.nz.
Years 4–6 Girls' Ballet