Primary School
Pre-Ballet classes are for 3- 5 year olds. These classes enhance a child’s imagination, expression, musicality, spatial awareness together with socialising and performance skills. These are especially fun classes that are structured to build confidence in the young person. The carefully designed program has been highly successful for many years and has proven to be an excellent grounding for entry into Ballet 1.
Ballet 1 – 4 are classes for 5–9 year olds in the classical ballet style. Children commence in either Ballet 1 or 3 depending on age. They will be assessed to do additional classes in Ballet 2 or 4 if the Principal feels they would benefit from participating in the RAD Presentation Award or Exams.
Primary Jazz are classes for 5–7 year olds. These Jazz classes aim to enable students to relax through movement and develop co-ordination & strength in modern dance. Following the APDA Jazz syllabus, students learn Musical Theatre, Classical Technique, and modern dance steps.
Acro Dance 1 is style of dance that combines classical technique with precise acrobatic elements such as rolls, tumbles, handstands and flips. Students will learn skills to increase flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration. with precise acrobatic elements such as rolls, tumbles, handstands and flips. Students will learn skills to increase flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration.
Junior School
Grades 1 – 3 are classes for students 8 years old and over in which they study ballet, character and free movement in the RAD syllabus. All students at this level are required to attend the standard class (1.5hr class) for their level of ballet to develop the necessary skills. To be eligible for exams students must also attend the extension class (1hr) that focuses on the more difficult parts of the syllabus including allergo and dances. The Principal will assess the students on the set criteria to determine eligibility for either an exam, presentation or class award.
Level 1 Contemporary is for students 6-8 years old wanting to learn basic contemporary technique, floorwork, turns & leaps while building strength and confidence. The contemporary genre is very broad allowing students to learn a range of styles, with a focus on feeling and lyrical movement at this level.Students follow the APDA Lucidity Syllabus and are given the opportunity to participate in examinations in August each year.
Junior Jazz 1 – 3 are classes for students aged 8 – 10 years to expand on their Jazz style and develop performance, strength, flexibility, technique and confidence. Following the APDA Syllabus, students learn different styles of modern dance including Musical Theatre, Commercial, and Lyrical. Examinations are optional and usually take place at the beginning of Term 3.
Level 2&3 Contemporary is for students 9 – 11 years old wanting to learn contemporary technique, floorwork, tasking, turns & leaps while building strength and confidence. The contemporary genre is very broad allowing students to learn a range of styles within the contemporary dance genre. Students follow the APDA Lucidity Syllabus and are given the opportunity to participate in examinations in August each year.
Acro Dance 2 is style of dance that combines classical technique with precise acrobatic elements such as rolls, tumbles, handstands and flips. Students will learn skills to increase flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration.
Intermediate School
Grades 4-5 are classes for students 11- 14 years which they study ballet, character and free movement in the RAD syllabus. All students at this level are required to attend the standard class (1.5hr class) for their level of ballet to develop the necessary skills. To be eligible for exams students must also attend the extension class (1hr) that focuses on the more difficult parts of the syllabus including allergo and dances. The Principal will assess the students on the set criteria to determine eligibility for either an exam, presentation or class award.
Intermediate Foundation is thefirst of the Vocational levels designed for students 12yrs + that are wanting a career in dance and/or dance teaching. These levels can be done in conjunctions with the RAD Grades and include pointe work as well as learning advance ballet techniques. It is recommended that students work towards an exam over 18 months.
Elementary Jazz 1, 2 & 3 are classes for students 10-14 years and over to extend their jumps, turns and leaps, improve their flexibility, strength, performance and acting skills. Following the APDA Syllabus, students will learn various modern styles throughout the year including Musical Theatre, Commercial, & Lyrical/Contemporary. Students at this level are given the opportunity to choreograph their own dance in preparation for examinations in Term 3. Exams are not compulsory but at this level are encouraged.
Elementary Jazz 1, 2 & 3 are classes for students 10-14 years and over to extend their jumps, turns and leaps, improve their flexibility, strength, performance and acting skills. Following the APDA Syllabus, students will learn various modern styles throughout the year including Musical Theatre, Commercial, & Lyrical/Contemporary. Students at this level are given the opportunity to choreograph their own dance in preparation for examinations in Term 3. Exams are not compulsory but at this level are encouraged.
Level 4 & 5 Contemporary is for students 11-13 years wanting to learn contemporary technique, floorwork, tasking, turns & leaps while building strength and confidence. The contemporary genre is very broad allowing students to learn a range of styles within the contemporary dance genre. Students follow the APDA Lucidity Syllabus and are given the opportunity to participate in examinations in August each year.
Acro Dance 3 is style of dance that combines classical technique with precise acrobatic elements such as rolls, tumbles, handstands and flips. Students will learn skills to increase flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration.with precise acrobatic elements such as rolls, tumbles, handstands and flips. Students will learn skills to increase flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration.
Senior School
Grades 6-8 classes for students 13 years old and over in which the students study ballet, character and free movement in the RAD syllabus. Students are required to undertake conditioning classes (included within any 1.5hour class) and should study these levels in conjunction with Vocational Graded classes, Open Ballet and Pointe if they wish to pursue a career in dance.
Vocational Graded classes include Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2. All these vocational levels can require pointe work depending on the syllabus. Students should be doing at least 3 ballet classes per week to be considered for an examination at this level.
Repertoire Level 2 is a class for intermediate to advance ballet students 13yrs and up. Following the RAD Discovering Repertoire Program, students will learn dances from famous ballets from professional companies including Coppelia, Gisele, Sleeping Beauty, Piquita, Swan Lake and Nutcracker. This Class can be done on demi-pointe or pointe following teachers recommendations.
Intermediate Jazz 1-3 is for older students, 13 years and older, who want to extend their dance training and train in a modern style of dance. Included in the APDA Syllabus students learn different leaps, turns and floor work as well as lyrical, musical theatre, commercial and jazz techniques. Students are given the opportunity to choreograph their own solo dances in preparation for examinations in Term 3.
Level 6 Contemporary classes will be offered to senior students, 13 years old and over, to develop modern and contemporary dance skills including floorwork, improvisation, tasking, tumbling and contemporary technique. The contemporary genre is very broad allowing students to learn different styles and repertoire as well as supporting them to develop their own style & choreography.Students follow the APDA Lucidity Syllabus and are given the opportunity to participate in examinations in August each year.
Acro Dance 3 is style of dance that combines classical technique with precise acrobatic elements such as rolls, tumbles, handstands and flips. Students will learn skills to increase flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration.
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT)
At Swan River Ballet all 1.5 hour Ballet classes will commence with PBT.
Adult Classes
Adults with experience are welcome to join our Intermediate or Advance Foundations Classes. Our two adult classes below are suited to people of all ages and abilities:
Tuesday Adult Ballet (1 hour)