FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Pacific Northwest Youth Ballet focuses solely on ballet, allowing time for the necessary training needed to build a solid foundation in classical ballet technique. With rare exceptions, all classes at Pacific Northwest Youth Ballet include live piano accompaniment, which promotes musicality and a true partnership between music and dance. Students in Primary, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 are encouraged to attend any and all classes at or below their class level at no additional charge.

Pre-Ballet
Pre-Ballet students attend one forty-five minute class per week and have no extra classes available. However, a Pre-Ballet class on an alternative day may be attended as a make-up class.
Primary
There are two forty-five minute Primary classes offered each week. Primary students are required to attend one class per week and are welcome to attend both classes at no additional charge.
Level 1
There are two one-hour Level 1 classes offered each week. Level 1 students are required to attend both of these classes and are welcome to attend any Primary class, at no additional charge.
Level 2

In addition to regularly scheduled Level 2 classes, Level 2 students are welcome to attend any Level 1 or Primary class, at no additional charge.

Level 3

In addition to regularly scheduled Level 3 classes, Level 3 students are welcome to attend any Primary, Level 1, or Level 2 class, at no additional charge.

To become proficient in any skill, one must practice carefully and frequently. Classical ballet technique relies on strength and precision, which can only be gained through muscle memory. With this strength and precision in place, a dancer is free to then pursue grace and artistry. Unlike a musical instrument, which can often be practiced at home between weekly lessons, ballet is most productively practiced in the studio under careful supervision of the instructor. The more classes a dancer attends, the more quickly progress is made. The feeling of accomplishment a dancer feels in this progress is the best reward for attending extra classes.  Extra class attendance may also result in more rapid level advancement and/or special roles in performances.

All students will feel valued and welcomed at Pacific Northwest Youth Ballet, regardless of how many classes they are able to attend each week. Students who attend the minimum number of classes each week may experience a slower progression rate than they would if they attended extra classes, but progress will still be made if a student focuses and works hard in the classes they are able to attend.

Level promotions take place throughout the year. The School Director determines when a student is ready to advance. Please see the school policies for more information on this topic.

Class observation is allowed during the final class of each session of Pre-Ballet, and the final week of each term for Primary through Level 3. Class observation is not allowed at other times. This arrangement allows students to maintain focus during class and also creates a sense of excitement, as students look forward to sharing the progress they have made.

Students in Primary, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 have the opportunity to perform in an annual spring performance. Students must be enrolled at Pacific Northwest Youth Ballet by January 5, 2026 in order to be eligible to participate in this performance. Participation is strongly encouraged, but it is not mandatory. There will be participation fee and a costume fee. Rehearsals will mainly be held on Saturdays, outside of scheduled class times.

When a student is ready to advance beyond the classes available at Pacific Northwest Youth Ballet, a variety of options are available. The School Director will have a conference with the parents of the student to determine the student’s goals. Based on this information, recommendations for continued training will be given. For more advanced students interested in a weekly class, Pacific Northwest Youth Ballet’s adult program is available.