School Year Programs

September 4, 2025 - May 1, 2026

Overview

Children are taught creative dance and pre-ballet until age 8. At age 8, they take classical ballet class twice a week. The bones in the feet are too soft to safely withstand turn out before the age of 8.

Dancers go on pointe when they are trained enough to rise on pointe with no shoes and no support while easily keeping their placement, but not before age 11. They are then accompanied by the teacher to the store to make sure the shoes fit properly.

Among the many benefits that our students enjoy are:

  • Large studio with sprung dance floor and soaring ceiling.
  • Live piano accompaniment in classical ballet classes on a Steinway grand piano.
  • Variety of classes including Pointe, Choreography, Partnering, and Stretching and Strengthening
  • Performing opportunities for dancers in the age 6 class and older including 6 performances of The Nutcracker in December, Ballet a la Modern in February, and 6 performances of a full-length classical ballet in June. No cost for costumes, make-up, and rehearsals; and no minimum ticket purchase.
  • SBT dancers have gone on to dance with professional companies including: Boston Ballet, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Chicago City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, Koresh Dance Company, and Laura Dean Dancers.
  • Located in a charming college town with easy parking, train and bus service.

Enrollment

Class sizes are limited.

Registration begins April 15 (current students) & May 1 (new students)

Current Students

Current SBT students may register starting April 15 at 7:00 AM. You are guaranteed a place in class if you register by April 30 11:59 PM.

New Students

New students may register starting May 1 at 7:00 AM.

When new student enrollment begins, class registrations will be accepted on a first-come basis. Most classes are filled by 8:00 AM that day. A minimum of two places are available to new students for each class. Some classes will have more spaces available.

If there is space in your desired class, then you will be enrolled when your tuition payment is received.

Dates & Holidays

  • Classes begin on Thursday, September 4, 2025 (to make up for missing class on Thanksgiving) and end on Friday, May 1, 2026
  • Holidays:
    • There ARE classes on Public Holidays that fall on a Monday (e.g. Presidents day)
    • No classes: November 27 & 28, 2025
    • No classes: December 15, 2025 to January 2, 2026
    • No classes: March 30 to April 3, 2026
  • Parents of enrolled students may observe class from inside studio: April 27 to May 1, 2026

2024-25 School Year Dates

  • Holidays (no classes): April 14-18, 2025
  • Parents of enrolled students may observe class from inside studio: April 28 to May 2, 2025
  • Classes end on Friday, May 2, 2025

Tuition

  • Full 30-week Tuition is paid in 1 payment and is due with registration
  • Tuition paid in 3 payments is due at registration and again on November 10, 2025 and February 10, 2026
  • There is a 5% tuition discount to 2 or more students in one family
  • No deduction or credit for missed classes
  • Tuition is refundable (less $50) only when the Director is informed after their first class and before their second class

Pre-Ballet Program – ages 3-7 * dancer's age on September 1, 2025

Elegant movement, limbering, strengthening, balancing, turning across floor without getting dizzy, and improving stamina. Students learn how to use muscles correctly to achieve the best results.

Class (by Age on 9/1/25) Hours per Week Class Times Tuition in 3 payments
due with registration,
Nov 10, & Feb 10		 Full 30-week Tuition
due with registration
best value
Creative Dance develops child's artistic expression through movement. Creative dance students must be toilet trained
Creative Dance – Age 3 1 hour Fridays 3:30-4:30 PM $180 $500
Creative Dance – Age 4 1 hour Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 PM 180 500
Creative Dance – Age 5 1 hour Fridays 4:30-5:30 PM 180 500
 
Pre-Ballet prepares child for ballet without injuring feet
Pre-Ballet – Age 6 1 hour Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 PM $180 $500
Pre-Ballet – Age 7 1 hour Wednesdays 4:30-5:30 PM 180 500

Dancewear for Pre-Ballet and Creative Classes

  • Female: Hair in a ballet bun or so it doesn't move. Footless tights and short sleeve or no sleeve PLAIN leotard or unitard, any color. No shoes.
  • No leotards with low cut back as it slips off shoulders.
  • No long sleeves
  • No sparkles, puff sleeves, ruffles, skirts, leg warmers or jewelry except stud earrings.
  • Male: Hair neatly controlled. White T-shirt and black footless tights (preferred) or shorts. No shoes.

Classical Ballet Program

Level is determined by Swarthmore Ballet Theatre. Ballet classes are accompanied on a Steinway grand piano.

Class Level Hours per Week Class Times Tuition in 3 payments
due with registration,
Nov 10, & Feb 10		 Full 30-week Tuition
due with registration
best value
The Classical Ballet Program has a 2 class per week MINIMUM
Ballet I/II 2 hours Mon, Thurs 4:30-5:30 PM $355 $1,000
Ballet III 3 hours Mon, Weds 5:30-7:00 PM 525 1,485
Ballet III/IV 4.5 hours Mon, Weds, Thurs 5:30-7:00 PM 765 2,175
Ballet IV 6 hours Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs 5:30-7:00 PM 995 2,830
Ballet V 4.5 hours Mon, Weds 7:00-8:30; Tues 5:30-7:00 PM 765 2,175
Ballet VI 6 hours Mon, Weds 7:00-8:30; Tues, Thurs 5:30-7:00 PM 995 2,830
Ballet VII 7.5 hours Mon, Weds 7:00-8:30; any 3 classes 5:30-7:00 PM 1,215 3,460
Ballet VIII 9 hours Mon, Weds 7:00-8:30; Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs 5:30-7:00 PM 1,420 4,050

Dancewear for Classical Ballet Classes

  • Female: Hair in a ballet bun. Pink or skin color ballet shoes (split soles preferred); students from age 11 to when they go on pointe wear leather ballet shoes.
  • Short sleeve or no sleeve leotard any SINGLE color EXCEPT light pink, and pink or skin color tights. Belt required, can be just a piece of elastic; belt color must contrast with leotard.
  • No puff sleeves, ruffles, sparkles or leg warmers. No skirts until level V and no jewelry except stud earrings.
  • Male: Hair neatly controlled. Dance belt or compression shorts, white T-shirt and black tights (preferred) or shorts, white leather (no black leather) or black or white canvas ballet shoes.
Class Hours per Week Class Times Tuition in 3 payments
due with registration,
Nov 10, & Feb 10		 Full 30-week Tuition
due with registration
best value
Choreography Class 1 hour Thursdays 7:00-8:00 PM $180 * $500 *
Choreography students must be enrolled in a Level III and higher classical ballet program * Free for students taking 6+ hours of ballet classes a week at S.B.T.
 
Stretching and Strengthening Class 1 hour Wednesdays 7:00-8:00 PM 180 500
Stretching and Strengthening students must be enrolled in a Level III and higher classical ballet program
 
Invitation-only Classes:
Pointe Class ½ hour Mondays 7:00 - 7:30 PM 180 500
Partnering Class ½ hour Tuesdays 7:00 - 7:30 PM 180 500

Dancewear for Choreography

  • Short sleeve or no sleeve Leotard any SINGLE color EXCEPT light pink and footless tights.
  • No puff sleeves, ruffles, sparkles or leg warmers. No skirts until level V & no jewelry except stud earrings.
  • Hair may be in a ponytail.
  • Male: Hair neatly controlled. Dance belt or compression shorts, white T-shirt and black footless tights (preferred) or shorts, no shoes.

Dancewear for Stretching and Strengthening Class

  • Female: Hair in a ballet bun. Pink ballet shoes (split soles preferred) and pink tights. Short sleeve or no sleeve leotard any SINGLE color EXCEPT light pink. Belt required, can be just a piece of elastic; belt color must contrast with leotard.
  • No puff sleeves, ruffles, sparkles or leg warmers. No skirts until level V and no jewelry except stud earrings.
  • Male: Hair neatly controlled. Dance belt or compression shorts, white T-shirt and black tights (preferred) or shorts, white leather (no black leather) or black or white canvas ballet shoes.

Classical Ballet Classes for Adults

$18 Single extra class for students whose tuition is paid up.

Class Hours per Week Class Times Tuition in 3 payments
due with registration,
Nov 10, & Feb 10		 Full 30-week Tuition
due with registration
best value
Adult Ballet – Monday Mornings 1 hour Mondays 9:00-10:00 AM $180 500
Adult Ballet – Tuesday Evenings 1 hour Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 PM 180 500
Adult Ballet – 2 classes/week 2 hours Mondays 9:00-10:00 AM, Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 PM 355 1,000

Dancewear for Adult Ballet Classes

  • Female: Pink (no black) leather or canvas ballet shoes any color. Tights (any color, pink preferred) and leotard any color any style. Hair in a ballet bun or so it doesn't move.
  • May wear skirt. No sparkles. No floppy jewelry.
  • Male: Dance belt or compression shorts, T-shirt, and tights or unitard or sweatpants or shorts. White (no black) leather or black or white canvas ballet shoes.

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