What makes the Hirschl Ballet unique?

The HSDA is run as a place of education, rather than a business. Our success is defined by the accomplishments and satisfaction of our students and parents. We provide maximum development of individual potential in a professional, yet enjoyable & low-stress environment. Equal emphasis, attention and respect is given to all- regardless of talent, age, level, potential, physique, or reason for taking. We bring out the best in every student, rather than only highlighting the few with the gift of superior talent.

 REASONS TO DANCE WITH US

  ♦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. We teach to serve the students, not ourselves.

  ♦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? We opened in 1972, and continue to innovate. We’re flattered by the immitators.)

  ♦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 keep all our dancers healthy– good flooring is the first step.

  ♦We find out what your short and long-term goals & obectives are & 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”. We work with students, 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. Pursuing the dance arts is quite beneficial to academics: It increases the ability to think logically and effectively. People that pursue the arts do better in academics.

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   Our resident company, the SUNRISE BALLET was founded in 1987 and became a non-profit 501-C3 organization in 1999.  The SB has free & open-to-the-public auditions. SB rehearsals are separate from lessons at the Hirschl School. It uses local dancers for parts, and does not need to “hire out” and take lead roles away from aspiring & deserving dancers. The SB enriches the community with entertainment and education, and gives back to the community with free lecture/demonstrations and donations to worthy causes. Pick up a Sunrise Ballet brochure for more information.

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   Anyone can advertise anything about their business. “The proof is in the pudding”. We can prove what we say: Come in, observe any class, speak with any teacher, student, or parent. Happy students and parents are the measurement of our success.

       For POINTE WORK, technical ability, age, maturity, dedication to the art, strength & anatomical features are considered. As experts around the world agree, 11 to 12 years old is the youngest a student should ever go “en pointe”, no matter how good they are. Information & free analysis is available to the public with no obligation or cost.

     PLACEMENT & PROGRESSION: Students are moved by individual evaluation and assessment when they have mastered the curriculum of that level according to HSDA standards, rather than by class or age. Younger and newer students will not slow the progress of the rest of the class.

   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 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, spiritually & 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 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 will not vary. Students get a sense of accomplishment from each lesson as well as the long-term of the training process.