Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What is the Vaganova style?
A: The Vaganova style is one of the six schools of ballet (others being French,
Bournonville, Italian, RAD, and Balanchine). It was developed by Agrippina
Vaganova from her dissatisfaction with the weaknesses of the old Imperial style
and her own technical shortcomings. The syllabus creates dancers with strong and
supple backs, fluid port de bras (arms), high extensions, and strong jumps. It is the
training system used throughout Russia and the former Soviet Republics. Famous
examples of Vaganova trained dancers are Baryshnikov, Nureyev, Makarova,
Vishneva. It is considered one of the strongest and most technically pure
techniques.
Q: Why is your school motto, "Simply the Best"?
A: We consider our school to be "Simply the Best" because we bring together the
highest quality training in the area with individual consideration towards each
student's needs in a positive learning environment. Yuri and Jazmine Nikitenko
are not only Artistic Directors but committed instructors that easily accessible to
parents. Having retired from their professional stage careers, properly training
their students is their sole career focus, not a part time supplement to their stage
performances.
We also provide our students with performing experience-our students dance all
roles in professional level productions, not stand in the background dancing the
same parts year after year. The knowledge that all roles in a production are
available to them gives the students obtainable goals and encourages artistic
growth.
Q: What can my child and I expect from a ballet class?
A: A typical ballet class is divided into two parts: Barre and Centre. Movements
start small at the barre and gradually work up to large movements such as grand
allegro in the centre. Please remember that movements are age and level
appropriate and will vary by class. The constant repetition of steps and movements
is also an important part of ballet training and the only way for the body to
properly acquire muscle memory. Our younger students do not work at the barre
(this is introduced in Ballet II) but learn all movements and positions in centre.
Our Creative Movement, Pre Ballet, Ballet I, and Ballet II classes also follow a
syllabus carefully developed by Yuri and Jazmine Nikitenko that properly teaches
steps, positions, posture, and movements. The youngest students (ages 3-5) use
training props and games to help them remember movements and develop
musicality (it also is a lot of fun!!)
Q:What level of commitment is required?
A: The level of commitment can vary from a student interested in only one or two
classes a week to a serious student taking multiple classes six days per week. Our
younger students typically attend class once or twice a week. Only students in our
Professional Track have attendance minimums. However, parents of advanced
students should understand that a child that takes only one or two classes per week
will not progress as quickly or become as technically proficient as a student that
attends several times per week or more.
Q:What have your students accomplished?
A: Our current and past students have been accepted to prestigious summer
intensives at The Kirov Academy, Washington School of Ballet, Bossov Ballet
Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and American Ballet Theatre.
Our students have also placed in the Top-12 of their divisions at Youth America
Grand Prix, the acclaimed international student ballet scholarship competition.
We also stress the importance of higher education and our students have gone on
to attend universities such as James Madison University, Dickinson College,
Hollins University, and George Mason University-many with scholarships and
placement in Honors Programs.
Q:I noticed you have a strict uniform policy. Why?
A: Uniforms and proper grooming is part of the discipline of ballet and something
we feel no student is too young to learn.
Q:Why do you consider your school positive and a healthy environment?
A: We expect each child to perform to the best of his/her ability, something that
will help them excel in life. We also believe students' and teachers' attitudes in
class should positive overall; unnecessary, unwarranted, and continual negativity
is detrimental to the young dancer's psyche and self esteem as well as not needed.
We also stress nutrition and health; we do not pressure young ballet dancers with
weight issues.
Q:I've heard that Russian training is very harsh. Is this so?
A; Many people see "Russian" and automatically think severe and strict; although
we are serious in our proper teaching of technique, all of our instructors are
friendly, approachable, and have a great rapport with their students. We teach each
child to work to the best of their own individual abilities and physical capabilities
and become the best dancer they can possibly be.
Q: What should I look for in a ballet school?
A: Aside from instructor experience and credentials, one should look at the
physical environment of the school. Is it fairly clean? Are the bathrooms clean? Is
the facility up to date? Are the floors sprung and marley covered to help prevent
injury? Also look at the attitudes of current students. Do they look healthy and
happy inside and outside of class? Do they seem to enjoy their classes and their
instructors? Are the movements age and level appropriate? At ARB, you will find
the answer to all these questions to be "yes".
Q; What is the "Professional Track"?
A: The Professional Track is designed to help serious students in Ballet III, IV, and
V train for a professional stage career and/or university dance major. Each student
has three conferences per year with the Directors where strengths, weaknesses,
progress, etc. are discussed. Each PT student has an individualized training plan to
help facilitate artistic growth and progress. As we also expect our students to
perform well academically, PT students must not receive a grade lower than a "C"
on their report cards. Our YAGP competitors are also chosen from students of the
Professional Track. The program is rigorous yet rewarding, encouraging, and
exciting.
Q: Does ARB have any performances?
A: Yes, we have our annual full length production of "The Nutcracker" and our
end of year Performance. ARB will also produce a Gala Performance in March or
April 2009, giving our students three performing opportunities. All students are
eligible to perform with all roles being performed exclusively by our students. We
are also in the beginning stages of organizing a 501c3 Youth Ballet Company, our
non-profit professional student ballet company.
A: The Vaganova style is one of the six schools of ballet (others being French,
Bournonville, Italian, RAD, and Balanchine). It was developed by Agrippina
Vaganova from her dissatisfaction with the weaknesses of the old Imperial style
and her own technical shortcomings. The syllabus creates dancers with strong and
supple backs, fluid port de bras (arms), high extensions, and strong jumps. It is the
training system used throughout Russia and the former Soviet Republics. Famous
examples of Vaganova trained dancers are Baryshnikov, Nureyev, Makarova,
Vishneva. It is considered one of the strongest and most technically pure
techniques.
Q: Why is your school motto, "Simply the Best"?
A: We consider our school to be "Simply the Best" because we bring together the
highest quality training in the area with individual consideration towards each
student's needs in a positive learning environment. Yuri and Jazmine Nikitenko
are not only Artistic Directors but committed instructors that easily accessible to
parents. Having retired from their professional stage careers, properly training
their students is their sole career focus, not a part time supplement to their stage
performances.
We also provide our students with performing experience-our students dance all
roles in professional level productions, not stand in the background dancing the
same parts year after year. The knowledge that all roles in a production are
available to them gives the students obtainable goals and encourages artistic
growth.
Q: What can my child and I expect from a ballet class?
A: A typical ballet class is divided into two parts: Barre and Centre. Movements
start small at the barre and gradually work up to large movements such as grand
allegro in the centre. Please remember that movements are age and level
appropriate and will vary by class. The constant repetition of steps and movements
is also an important part of ballet training and the only way for the body to
properly acquire muscle memory. Our younger students do not work at the barre
(this is introduced in Ballet II) but learn all movements and positions in centre.
Our Creative Movement, Pre Ballet, Ballet I, and Ballet II classes also follow a
syllabus carefully developed by Yuri and Jazmine Nikitenko that properly teaches
steps, positions, posture, and movements. The youngest students (ages 3-5) use
training props and games to help them remember movements and develop
musicality (it also is a lot of fun!!)
Q:What level of commitment is required?
A: The level of commitment can vary from a student interested in only one or two
classes a week to a serious student taking multiple classes six days per week. Our
younger students typically attend class once or twice a week. Only students in our
Professional Track have attendance minimums. However, parents of advanced
students should understand that a child that takes only one or two classes per week
will not progress as quickly or become as technically proficient as a student that
attends several times per week or more.
Q:What have your students accomplished?
A: Our current and past students have been accepted to prestigious summer
intensives at The Kirov Academy, Washington School of Ballet, Bossov Ballet
Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and American Ballet Theatre.
Our students have also placed in the Top-12 of their divisions at Youth America
Grand Prix, the acclaimed international student ballet scholarship competition.
We also stress the importance of higher education and our students have gone on
to attend universities such as James Madison University, Dickinson College,
Hollins University, and George Mason University-many with scholarships and
placement in Honors Programs.
Q:I noticed you have a strict uniform policy. Why?
A: Uniforms and proper grooming is part of the discipline of ballet and something
we feel no student is too young to learn.
Q:Why do you consider your school positive and a healthy environment?
A: We expect each child to perform to the best of his/her ability, something that
will help them excel in life. We also believe students' and teachers' attitudes in
class should positive overall; unnecessary, unwarranted, and continual negativity
is detrimental to the young dancer's psyche and self esteem as well as not needed.
We also stress nutrition and health; we do not pressure young ballet dancers with
weight issues.
Q:I've heard that Russian training is very harsh. Is this so?
A; Many people see "Russian" and automatically think severe and strict; although
we are serious in our proper teaching of technique, all of our instructors are
friendly, approachable, and have a great rapport with their students. We teach each
child to work to the best of their own individual abilities and physical capabilities
and become the best dancer they can possibly be.
Q: What should I look for in a ballet school?
A: Aside from instructor experience and credentials, one should look at the
physical environment of the school. Is it fairly clean? Are the bathrooms clean? Is
the facility up to date? Are the floors sprung and marley covered to help prevent
injury? Also look at the attitudes of current students. Do they look healthy and
happy inside and outside of class? Do they seem to enjoy their classes and their
instructors? Are the movements age and level appropriate? At ARB, you will find
the answer to all these questions to be "yes".
Q; What is the "Professional Track"?
A: The Professional Track is designed to help serious students in Ballet III, IV, and
V train for a professional stage career and/or university dance major. Each student
has three conferences per year with the Directors where strengths, weaknesses,
progress, etc. are discussed. Each PT student has an individualized training plan to
help facilitate artistic growth and progress. As we also expect our students to
perform well academically, PT students must not receive a grade lower than a "C"
on their report cards. Our YAGP competitors are also chosen from students of the
Professional Track. The program is rigorous yet rewarding, encouraging, and
exciting.
Q: Does ARB have any performances?
A: Yes, we have our annual full length production of "The Nutcracker" and our
end of year Performance. ARB will also produce a Gala Performance in March or
April 2009, giving our students three performing opportunities. All students are
eligible to perform with all roles being performed exclusively by our students. We
are also in the beginning stages of organizing a 501c3 Youth Ballet Company, our
non-profit professional student ballet company.