POINTE WORK: Many factors are taken into consideration for this step. Technical ability, age, maturity, dedication to the art, strength & anatomical features are some of the relevant factors. As a rule, 11 years is the youngest a student should ever go “en pointe”, no matter how good are. Information & free analysis is available to the public with no obligation.

PLACEMENT & PROGRESSION: Students are moved by individual evaluation and assessment. They get moved up when they have mastered the curriculum of that level according to HSDA standards, rather than by class or age.

CURRICULUM, EVALUATION & ASSESSMENT (CEA+) for students in ballet. We do an individual technique basics check-up. Students get a written report on the assessment, along with a DVD. We make sure students are learning what they’re supposed to in each level. In addition, we have lectures on different subjects relating to improving your dancing and getting the maximum enjoyment from the process. It’s like getting a 3-hour mini-intensive every 10-12 weeks!

Items noted in the CEA: curriculum requirements, basic corrections for each student, level evaluation, and strong and weak areas. Students are assessed to maximize progress quickly & safely. A strategic plan-of-action (individually & as a group) is laid out, plus many extra thoughts on how to get the most out of dancing.

DANCE RECITALS are an important part of the training process, but are non-mandatory at our studio. Talent is showcased as students are given the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. We spend most of the year teaching students how to become better dancers and performers before teaching a dance routine. STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE in recitals still get value from the lessons. Routines are broken into their constituent parts, then each step is taught. Even the youngest student will know how to do each individual step in the dance properly. (This includes proper French names for the ballet dancers). Recital fees and costumes are kept low and realistic. (HSDA recital fees usually include a T-shirt and full-length DVD of the show.)

COMPETITIONS: We are highly competitive in that we stimulate our students to strive for self-improvement. We believe anyone who loves to dance and has chosen to do so is already a winner! We do not directly participate in competitions, but we do have teachers and students from other schools that take dance with us to enhance their competition abilities. We treat dance as a physically demanding art form rather than a competitive athletic event. We emphasize building students up, physically & emotionally, instead of tearing them down.

Choosing the right school is an IMPORTANT DECISION. It is an investment of time, effort and money. The right teacher and school can produce a physically and emotionally enjoyable (It doesn’t matter how serious you are about the art… it’s still supposed to be fun!) experience, filled with many positive side effects that will be enjoyed for a lifetime.

We understand the SIGNIFICANCE of what we do. What we impart goes far beyond just teaching dance steps: Self-confidence, self-esteem, coordination, and grace are only some of the valuable by-products.

Whether you pursue dance as a career or simply for the joy of the art, HSDA standards to you will not vary. Students get a sense of accomplishment from each lesson as well as the long-term of the training process.

♦Knowledgable teachers with the right purpose. Our staff is carefully selected & trained for their expertise and ability to contribute as caring educators to give all students a well-rounded education in dance.

♦Innovation: Teachers from other studios have been learning from us for decades, and many studios have copied our admistration, philosophies and teaching styles. (Who’s copying whom? The HSDA opened in 1972 with bright new & original ideas, and continue to innovate. We’re flattered by the immitators. Why not get it straight from the source?)

♦Lessons that start & end on time. We respect you, and understand your time is valuable. We will be punctual with lessons and rehearsals.

♦Open for regular lessons year-round. We do not close for the summer months.

♦All lessons are taught on raised, floating dance floors, made for safe and healthy dancing. We endeavor to train and keep all our dancers healthy– good flooring is the first step.

♦We find out what your short and long-term goals & obectives are. We help students figure out where they are (point “A”), where they want to be (point “B”), then how to get there. We find out WHY you dance, so that you are challenged and recieve the best value and enjoyment for your investment of time, effort and money.

♦Smaller average class size, which means more teacher attention to each student.

♦”The other school takes precedence over this one”. At the Hirschl School, the academics (of regular school) will not be effected. We impose guidelines that work with the student, so they will achieve their goals in dance and still have time and energy to do full justice to all their academics– from elementary school to college. We even assist them with effective means of task management, so they will get the most for their time and effort in all their endeavors. We have high expectations of them, but still allow them to “have a life”. Instead of a hinderance, pursuing the dance arts is quite beneficial to academics. It increases the ability to think quickly, logically and effectively. It has been proven that people that stay in shape & pursue the arts do better in academics. The majority of the students in our advanced levels are simultaneously doing great in school– many of them are in advanced placement classes. Very often, when we do lose a student after they graduate from high school, it is because they are going to a prestigious college or university far away. After they finish college, many return and take adult dance lessons!

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Our resident company, the SUNRISE BALLET THEATRE was founded in 1987, and became a state recognized non-profit 502-C organization in 1999. The SBT has free & open-to-the-public auditions. SBT rehearsals are separate from lessons at the Hirschl School. It uses talented local dancers for all parts in productions, and does not need to “hire out” for lead roles. (Why should the best parts be taken away from aspiring & deserving young dancers?) The SBT enriches the community with entertainment, education, and gives back to the community with donations to worthy causes. Pick up a Sunrise Ballet Theatre brochure for more information.

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Anyone can put anything they want in these web sites, or say anything about their business, whether true or not. “The proof is in the pudding”. We can prove what we say– come in, observe any class, speak with any teacher, student, or parent.