Taking Class with Ballet Vermont
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There is a strong and growing community of adult ballet dancers in Vermont. If you are interested in getting back into ballet, or you have always wanted to start: it is not too late!
Ballet Vermont is currently offering in-person classes in Waterbury, VT and virtual barre classes. |
Class Descriptions
Intro TO Ballet
If you aren’t sure where to start and have never been to ballet before, this is the class for you! This class will go over all of the basics of taking ballet class to help you feel prepared to step into a Beginner Drop In Ballet class. Learn the rituals, etiquette, basic terms and movements. If there is not an Intro class available at any given time or a time that works for you, please email us and we will set one up with you! Katie@balletvermont.org
Beginner ballet
This class is intended to be for those who are at the beginning of their ballet journey, are returning to ballet after a break or for those interested in a slower ballet class focused on technique. This one hour class will take place mostly at the Barre and will focus on moving through the basics of ballet. Regular attendance is encouraged to help build confidence in head, arm and leg movements. For beginner students ready to spend more time at center, check out our longer beginner class on Saturdays. Technique classes will focus more on teaching you how to do ballet from the beginning. Dance classes will focus more on movement and getting your heart rate up at center and across the floor.
If you have never taken any ballet classes before, you will feel more comfortable starting out in our 3-4 week Intro to Ballet series before jumping into Beginner Drop In Ballet.
If you have never taken any ballet classes before, you will feel more comfortable starting out in our 3-4 week Intro to Ballet series before jumping into Beginner Drop In Ballet.
INTERMEDIATE ballet
This class is for dancers who are competent in the basic foundations of ballet terminology and movement. Technique classes will focus on furthering their understanding of more complex ballet positions and movements. It is likely to include a long barre with plenty of exercises, center combinations that continue developing the same specifics of technique in adagio and across the floor, and some jumps. Dance classes will focus on creating opportunities to apply knowledge in a faster paced class designed to increase heart rate while dancing!
advANCED ballet
This class is designed for dancers who have consistently trained in all areas of ballet class. Class will be fast paced with long complex combinations at barre and center. Technique class will focus on a conceptual theme for exploration while dance class will focus on increasing your heart rate.
Open level ballet
This class will be a mix of technical development with corrections and posture work and moving through combinations. Class will adjust to participants' skill level in class that day.
Barre class
This class will take place entirely at barre. It is a great technique and exercise class for dancers and non-dancers alike to move and stretch your body.
Contemporary- Basics and FLow
Contemporary encourages dancers to expand on classical ballet, creating more versatility in their expressions. It focuses on spacial and body awareness, use of body weight, floor work, leaps, turns, efficiency of muscle usage, and safe body alignment. Dancers need to be able to move from the floor and back up again easily in order to take this class.
If you are just starting out, Contemporary Basics is the class for you. Contemporary Flow is a class designed for dancers who have experience with Contemporary and are ready for more complex movements.
If you are just starting out, Contemporary Basics is the class for you. Contemporary Flow is a class designed for dancers who have experience with Contemporary and are ready for more complex movements.
Stretch & Strengthen
This class is for those who want to maximize mobility through balanced flexibility & strength. Exercises are incorporated from ballet, pilates, general fitness, yoga with a bit of resourceful fun to support efficient ballet technique. Increase flexibility while building strength. This is a great class for anyone, not just ballet dancers!
Pre-PointE
This class is great for dancers who want to work toward getting onto pointe or returning to pointe. This class is also great for dancers looking to increase their foot strength and stability. We will focus on exercises to strengthen muscle structure for pointe work - focus on toes, arches, ankles, calves, hips, & core. This class will include in-studio work with a variety of props & exercises to be done outside of class time.
Classic Jazz Choreography
Begin class with an aerobic warmup based off of vernacular Jazz movements and work on isolations. Each class will focus on a different Jazz phrase that is based in classic Jazz movement. This is an open level class.
All That Jazz
Jazz is so-multifaceted and has a wide range of style and expression. Brea's experience as a commercial dancer, a musical theater performer, and a choreographer for competitive teams has made her a bit of a jazz renaissance woman. From week to week you will taste these different flavors in a dance sampler featuring commercial, contemporary, musical theater, and more! After the guided warm-up and stretch, the class will focus on increasing flexibility and core strength, applying technique and utilizing it in locomotor movement across the floor, and end with a challenging but FUN jazz combo.
Lyrical
Lyrical dance is a style that combines ballet and jazz dancing techniques. It is performed to music with lyrics so that it inspires expression of strong emotions the choreographer feels from the lyrics of the song. This style concentrates on an individual approach and expressiveness of such emotions as love, joy, hurt, or anger. It does not concentrate on the dancer’s precision of movement. Excellent for dancers who are inspired to move to music.
Meet the Instructors
Chatch Pregger
Chatch Pregger is the founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Vermont and creator of the Farm to Ballet Project. He also choreographed the Ballet Vermont show Bees & Friends. Chatch loves making ballets that support Vermont communities and provide opportunities for Vermont dancers. Chatch started his ballet education at the Adams School of Dance in Rutland VT and then moved on to The Nutmeg Conservatory in CT. He joined Boston Ballet II in 1999 and was promoted to Boston Ballet the following year. Since then he has been a member of the Washington Ballet and the Houston Ballet, as well as a guest artist with the Arizona Ballet, Hartford Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theatre. He has performed works by Mark Morris, Ben Stevenson, Kirk Peterson, Nacho Duato, Trey MacIntyre, Twyla Tharp, Christopher Weeldon, Antony Tudor, Michael Pink, Stanton Welch, Septime Webre, and George Balanchine, as well as many ballets from the classical repertoire including Giselle, La Bayadere and Don Quixote. Locally, Chatch took part in Burlington’s Quadricentennial festival playing Samuel de Champlain in From The New World by Heddy Maalem. He also joined the Portland Ballet in 2010 and Safe Haven Ballet in 2019 to dance the role of Cavalier in The Nutcracker.
Avi waring
Avi is from and still lives in Wolcott, Vermont. She started dancing at the Wolcott Children’s Ballet in second grade where she “fell in love with the rigor and ritual and music and work of ballet.” She trained seriously in ballet throughout high school then attended college in New Orleans where she explored different forms of dance. She then hitchhiked around the county, reconnecting with dance and learning sketch comedy. After the birth of her son, she returned to Vermont and now teaches ballet and contemporary dance at Ballet Vermont and Northern Vermont University. She serves as Ballet Vermont's Dance Mistress, and has performed the parts of Farmer, Cucumber, and more in the Farm to Ballet Project and Firefly and Cardinal in Bees & Friends. She also dances with Double Vision Intermedia Performance and has worked with Vermont-based dance artists including Polly Motley, Hannah Dennison, Clare Byrne, and Paul Besaw. Avi operates a small farm in Wolcott where she raises goats and chickens and produces a garden every summer.
Marica Porter
Marica Porter received her primary training with Liz Dimmel and Tobin James at Dramatic Truth School of Ballet in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She studied on scholarship at the State Ballet School of Missouri (now the School of Kansas City Ballet), Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Stephens College Summer Dance Program. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance, a BA in Business Administration, and a Minor in Mathematics from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Marica danced with Dramatic Truth Touring Company, Stephens College Repertory Dance Theatre, Collin County Ballet Theatre, Western Oklahoma Ballet Theatre, Western Arkansas Ballet, and the Northwest Arkansas Arts Foundation. She performed lead and featured roles in Peter & The Wolf, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and many original works. Her choreography includes excerpts from The Nutcracker, South Pacific, and original work, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, chosen for performance in the Emerging Concert of Regional Dance America/Southwest Festival 2013. Ms. Porter is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in Pre-¬Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum and has taught dancers in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois.
ISADORA SNAPP
Isadora Snapp is a passionate teacher, choreographer, and mover located in Central Vermont. She grew up dancing at Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio in Montpelier, Vermont under the direction of Lorraine Neal. Beyond Vermont, she has studied at the Bates Dance Festival and various intensives in New York City. After attending NYU for 3 semesters she returned home to Vermont.
Currently, Snapp teaches a hefty class schedule at her home studio - CD&FS - and guest teaches at other local dance studios. Over the past ten years, her teaching style has evolved and developed to support the various genres of classes she teaches. In addition to teaching, Snapp is co-director of Teen Jazz, the studio's audition-only teen performing group, and director of the studio’s Junior Company. She resides in Barre with her husband, 3 kids, and 2 fluffy cats.
Currently, Snapp teaches a hefty class schedule at her home studio - CD&FS - and guest teaches at other local dance studios. Over the past ten years, her teaching style has evolved and developed to support the various genres of classes she teaches. In addition to teaching, Snapp is co-director of Teen Jazz, the studio's audition-only teen performing group, and director of the studio’s Junior Company. She resides in Barre with her husband, 3 kids, and 2 fluffy cats.
Guest Instructors
Brea McBride
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Brea McBride began her training in her hometown of Ironton, Ohio at Yvonne Dekay's School of Dance. She has also lived and studied in New Orleans, San Francisco, and New York City. After graduating from the San Francisco School of the Arts and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, she was hired as a Mainstage Performer for Disney Cruise Lines. Brea began her career as a dance educator at the Cynthia King Dance Studio in Brooklyn, NY. She has taught and choreographed for several local studios since moving to VT in 2004. Proud moments include restaging a children's play for the Shelburne Players, choreographing a piece for the Haunted Forest, and working with the children at Camp Dream and Camp Kiniya. Brea is the Owner and Creative Director of Infinity Dance Studio, in Essex Junction. The program focuses on creating well-rounded dancers to maximize the prospect of professional opportunities. She credits much of the success in opening her own studio to the completion of the Start-Up Course offered through the Women's Small Business Program. After dropping into a class with Chatch a few years ago, Brea discovered the vibrant adult ballet community here in VT, along with the Farm to Ballet Project. She experienced the joy of dancing the role of butterfly in Bees and Friends, and is incredibly excited and honored to be a part of another Ballet VT production.
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Stephanie Stevens
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Raised in California, Stephanie danced her way to Philadelphia and received her BFA in
Jazz Performance at the University of the Arts. Stephanie is a movement enthusiast, dance performer and teaching artist who especially loves Modern, Jazz, Creative Movement, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Theater, Yoga and Ballroom. Some of her performance highlights include an Off-Broadway production in New York City, The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, The Philadelphia Fringe Festival and the oldest theater in the world in Athens,Greece. |
Stephanie has over fourteen years of experience in dance education, teaching a wide
range of age groups, from toddlers to seniors. Most recently she was lead teaching artist for
Dance Exchange, Ballet X’s in school outreach program. Through Dance Exchange she utilized
the world renowned methodology from the National Dance Institute. Stephanie is also a certified
yoga instructor specializing in Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. Previously, she taught at a ballroom dance
studio and loves many styles of smooth and latin dance. She has also choreographed many
wedding dances including first dances, father-daughter dances and even flash mobs. Stephanie
is overjoyed to share her love of movement at Ballet Vermont!
range of age groups, from toddlers to seniors. Most recently she was lead teaching artist for
Dance Exchange, Ballet X’s in school outreach program. Through Dance Exchange she utilized
the world renowned methodology from the National Dance Institute. Stephanie is also a certified
yoga instructor specializing in Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. Previously, she taught at a ballroom dance
studio and loves many styles of smooth and latin dance. She has also choreographed many
wedding dances including first dances, father-daughter dances and even flash mobs. Stephanie
is overjoyed to share her love of movement at Ballet Vermont!
RYEN HERRMANN
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Ryan Herrmann is a BARRE and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Teacher. Her extensive education is recognized by ACE, NASM, and AFAA. She is an active teacher (spanning LA to NHYC) leading group fitness classes and developing specialized programs for at-risk youth, teen athletics, youth and adults in outdoor wilderness and one-on-one private programs. Ryan strives to maintain the highest level of education and training that focuses on overall fitness, methodology, injury prevention, and alignment/posture adjustments.
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Bonnie Watson
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Bonnie Watson grew up training at The Milwaukee Ballet Academy, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Point Park University International summer dance. In 2014 she received her bachelor of fine arts in contemporary dance and composition from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, during which her choreography was chosen to represent UWM at the American College Dance Festival. Bonnie has performed with Wildspace Dance Milwaukee and Danceworks Inc. From 2014 to 2020 she worked with and choreographed for the Lake Arts Project in both Milwaukee WI and Treadwell, New York. In 2018 she discovered Ballet Vermont while pursuing a degree in wilderness and outdoor therapy from Green Mountain College, and she played the role of the pig. She is thrilled to be returning for her second season this summer. Bonnie teaches yoga and meditation, ballet, contemporary, and modern dance. She also choreographs and curates performances. She is currently living in Austin Texas.
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Lucy D'Aponte
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Physical Therapist, Certified Yoga Therapist, Ayurvedic Educator
Lucy began her passion for movement and the human body as a dancer in her native New York City. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College with a major in dance and then performing with The Angela Caponigro Dance Ensemble, she returned to school and received her Master of Science in Physical therapy from Long Island University. |
Lucy has over 20 years of experience and has worked in multiple healthcare settings practicing physical therapy with infants in the NICU, children in schools, geriatrics in subacute facilities and athletes, dancers and healthcare providers in outpatient settings.
Lucy is a certified yoga teacher, a Phoenix Rising yoga therapist, and is currently studying at the Ayurvedic Center of Vermont. Lucy participated in a mentorship program through the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in NY and continues her dance rehab training with current online courses. She is a student of life. Lucy has immense appreciation for her teachers -past and present.
Lucy loves to spend time with her family and friends, dance in her kitchen, be outside whenever possible, garden and eat good food.
Lucy is a certified yoga teacher, a Phoenix Rising yoga therapist, and is currently studying at the Ayurvedic Center of Vermont. Lucy participated in a mentorship program through the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in NY and continues her dance rehab training with current online courses. She is a student of life. Lucy has immense appreciation for her teachers -past and present.
Lucy loves to spend time with her family and friends, dance in her kitchen, be outside whenever possible, garden and eat good food.
Do you have questions about what to expect in class?
Community classes at Ballet Vermont are designed to be inviting and supportive for everyone. If you have a specific question about what to expect, feel free to check out our FAQ or contact us.
Community classes at Ballet Vermont are designed to be inviting and supportive for everyone. If you have a specific question about what to expect, feel free to check out our FAQ or contact us.
Buy a gift card for ballet class here, and check out Ballet Vermont branded gear in our merch store.
