Classes
Academy of Ballet Arts offers many levels of dance classes. We provide instruction in creative movement, pre-ballet, ballet fundamentals, ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop, and character. We also offer acting classes as well as classes for just boys.

Students who attend character classes will be considered for performances with the St. Petersburg Folk Ensemble.

Each ballet movement involves many complicated muscular skills; therefore, certain levels may require multiple classes a week instead of allowing outside practice time without the benefit of an instructor. If a student wishes to take more or less weekly classes than are required, permission must be obtained from one of the Directors. Pointe and Character classes may be waived on an individual basis.

Class Schedule

Monday
Time
Course
Studio
Instructor
3:45p - 4:30p
Creative Movement
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
4:30p - 5:45p
Contemporary III-V
Jacobsen Studio
Brieanna Hynish
4:30p - 6:00p
Ballet II
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
5:45p - 7:00p
Beg. Adult Ballet
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
6:00p - 7:30p
Ballet V
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
7:00p - 8:30p
Int. Adult Ballet
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
7:30p - 8:15p
Pointe V
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
Tuesday
Time
Course
Studio
Instructor
3:45p - 4:30p
Pre-Ballet
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
4:30p - 6:00p
Ballet I
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
6:00p - 7:30p
Ballet V
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
6:00p - 7:30p
Ballet III
Jacobsen Studio
Marsha Wilson
7:30p - 8:30p
Pointe III
Jacobsen Studio
Marsha Wilson
7:30p - 8:30p
Pas de Deux V
Mumaw Studio
Daniel Johnson
Wednesday
Time
Course
Studio
Instructor
4:00p - 5:00p
Ballet Fundamentals
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
5:00p - 6:00p
Character I
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
5:00p - 6:30p
Ballet II
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
6:00p - 7:00p
Adult Pointe II
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
6:30p - 7:15p
Pointe II
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
7:00p - 8:30p
Adv. Adult Ballet
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
Thursday
Time
Course
Studio
Instructor
4:00p - 5:30p
Ballet I
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
4:30p - 6:00p
Jazz II
Jacobsen Studio
Nicole Robinson
5:30p - 7:00p
Ballet III
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
6:00p - 7:00p
Boys Class
Jacobsen Studio
Daniel Johnson
6:00p - 7:00p
Adult Pointe I
Turner Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
7:00p - 8:30p
Beg. Adult Ballet
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
7:00p - 8:30p
Ballet V
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
Friday
Time
Course
Studio
Instructor
4:30p - 5:30p
Character II
Mumaw Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
4:30p - 6:00p
Jazz III
Jacobsen Studio
Nicole Robinson
5:30p - 7:00p
Contemporary II
Mumaw Studio
Brieanna Hynish
6:00p - 7:00p
Character III
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
6:00p - 7:00p
Jazz I
Turner Studio
Nicole Robinson
7:00p - 8:30p
Ensemble III
Jacobsen Studio
Suzanne B. Pomerantzeff
7:00p - 8:30p
Ensemble II
Mumaw Studio
Brieanna Hynish
Saturday
Time
Course
Studio
Instructor
8:30a - 9:15a
Conditioning
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
9:15a - 10:45a
Ballet III
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela
9:15a- 10:45a
Ballet V
Jacobsen Studio
Marsha Wilson
10:45 a- 11:30a
Pointe V
Jacobsen Studio
Marsha Wilson
10:45a - 11:30a
Pointe III
Mumaw Studio
Michelle Kuusela

Attendance Policy

Parents and students are encouraged to avoid making appointments during class time. Students who miss class regularly will be moved into a lower class level in order to maintain the integrity of each class’s curriculum. Parents must notify the Academy if their child is going to be absent. Students are encouraged to make-up all missed classes as quickly as possible.

Girls Dress Code

  • Pre-Ballet and Class I-V: footed pink tights, pink ballet slippers, and leotards of any style in the color assigned to each class level [See Class Descriptions for leotard color.] 
  • At the teachers’ discretion, girls will be permitted to wear ballet skirts during center work. 
  • Creative Movement: any color leotard, tights, and pink ballet slippers. 
  • Character: black circular skirt and black character shoes. 
  • Hair: The discipline of dance requires that long hair for girls in all levels be secured in a bun or pinned up in braids. This permits the teacher to see the correct alignment of the spine and neck. Loose hair can cause eye irritation during turns and is a distraction to both student and teacher. Girls will not be allowed to take class with their hair down or in loose ponytails.
  • Students are never permitted to wear loose-fitting shirts or plastic pants. The use of plastic pants can lead to dehydration and muscles which are artificially warmed up are easily injured. Baggy clothing does not permit the instructor to properly correct the student and can cause serious problems to go undetected. With teacher permission, students may wear tight-fitting wool warm-ups, which have been designed for the serious dancer. 
  • All students are required to wear street clothing over their ballet clothes when entering or leaving the studio. 

Boys Dress Code

  • Class I-V: plain tight-fitting t-shirt or leotard, tights or biketards, dance belt, socks, and white or black ballet slippers. 
  • Ballet Fundamentals, Pre-Ballet, Boys Club, and Creative Movement: wear shorts, shirts, socks, and ballet slippers. 
  • Character: jazz shoes
  • Hair: The discipline of dance requires that long hair for boys in all levels be secured away from the face and neck. This permits the teacher to see the correct alignment of the spine and neck. Loose hair can cause eye irritation during turns and is a distraction to both student and teacher. Boys with long hair will not be allowed to take class with their hair down.