Adult Ballet Classes at The Hub

The Dance Hub presents the Adult Ballet Studio

At The Dance Hub, we are dedicated to providing ballet technique classes for all, including non-professional and post professional adults, as well as for children and youth. Ballet, when taught carefully, especially with respect to the needs of the adult dancer, is a gateway to a healthy, youthful body and mind, and supports proficiency in other dance forms. The Dance Hub is pleased to offer adult classes that range from the absolute beginner through professional levels. With a rigorous approach, our ballet classes promote the enjoyment of dance, personal expression, and a love for the discipline. Our safe practices ensure the ability to partake in dance throughout one’s entire life.

The Dance Hub remains committed to COVID-19 safety. To attend class in person, you must be fully vaccinated and sign an affirmation before your first class.

Questions or suggestions? Fill out this form and we will be in touch.

Adult Ballet Class Schedule at The Dance Hub: Fall Schedule in effect

The Dance Hub offers the following adult ballet classes and courses from absolute beginning through advanced.

If you are interested in taking a ballet class virtually on Zoom, please contact Carrie Diamond at 805-845-0835.

Ballet Fitness & Fundamentals

IT’S BACK! Tuesdays, 11:30am-12:45pm — Carrie Diamond

Ballet Fitness & Fundamentals is a 75-minute long class open to adults of all ages and body types and is appropriate for those with minimal ballet experience or anyone wanting to resume ballet training after a long hiatus. In addition to learning the fundamentals of barre and center work, you’ll gain strength, flexibility, and improved posture. Exercises are deconstructed and clearly presented to ensure your progress. If you have an interest in exploring classical ballet in a supportive and nurturing environment and have fun doing it, this class is for you!

Slow Beginner Ballet

Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30pm — Carrie Diamond

Slow Beginner Ballet is for adults new to ballet (one year or less of ballet training), or for those who have trained many years ago and wish to take up the practice again. This class carefully breaks down fundamental movements and concepts. Students will gain musical awareness, improved posture, flexibility, and strength while learning the proper execution of basic vocabulary and steps. Our goal is to nurture and support the progress and safety of students with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment! If you are curious about ballet and always wanted to try it, you are welcome to join this class.

Beginner Ballet

Fridays, 8:00-9:15am — Suzi Winson

Beginner Ballet is for adults new to ballet (year one or 2) or for those who have trained many years ago and wish to take up the practice again. This class is very basic and gentle and focuses on vocabulary, placement, transfer of weight, musicality, and layering of technique. Our goal is to nurture and support the progress and safety of students with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment! This class is for anyone with a passion for ballet and for those who want to move well in anything they do.

Fast Beginner Ballet

NEW CLASS! Mondays, 6:00-7:30pm — Carrie Diamond

Fast Beginner Ballet is for students that have had a minimum of two solid years of ballet training, or jazz, modern dance, or contemporary training, even if it was a long time ago! More experienced dancers coming back to ballet will also benefit from this class. Due to the long, forced break we’ve all endured, we will start back slowly. Technical fundamentals at the barre and in center exercises will be developed and refined. New vocabulary, the directions of the body, adagio, port de bras, preparation for pirouettes, and traveling combinations will be introduced. If you would like to get back into ballet, get your body moving again and build your technique back, you are encouraged to join this group.

Intermediate Ballet

Tuesdays, 10:00-1:15am — Suzi Winson
NEW SECTION! Thursdays, 6:00-7:15pm — Suzi Winson

Intermediate Ballet is an Intermediate level class where you will continue to strengthen your fundamentals while developing musical and rhythmic awareness and expression. Body positions, directions in space, port de bras, footwork and legwork are emphasized. Combinations with pirouettes, petite allegro, and traveling combinations make up the center portion of the class. Exercises to develop small and big jumps will push you into new areas of coordination and strength as the experience of movement is emphasized

Hybrid Thursday Morning Intermediate Ballet

Cancelled for Fall. Watch for rescheduling.

Thursday Morning Intermediate Ballet: In this class, students continue to build their technique while also learning to utilize their strengths to enhance their movement abilities and artistry. The unique abilities of each student are nurtured by Ms. Diamond to help them bring out the expression of the movement and music of a given exercise. It is recommended for the adult dancer of any age who has reached at least an intermediate level of proficiency in ballet.

Saturday Morning Intermediate Ballet

Saturdays, 10:00-11:20am — Carrie Diamond

Saturday Morning Intermediate Ballet: Students will continue to strengthen their fundamentals at the barre and will further their technical capabilities to tackle fuller adagios and pirouettes. Students will expand their petite allegro repertoire and learn compound grand allegro combinations. The emphasis on moving and musical and rhythmic awareness is more pronounced in the Saturday class.

Beginning Pointe Barre

NEW CLASS! Saturdays, 11:30am-12:00pm — Carrie Diamond

Beginning Point Barre Class: This half hour class is for dancers that are new to pointe work. Approval from the teacher is required to take this class. Over time, students will learn the three ways of rising to the pointes: spring relevé, pressure relevé and posé. Arch and instep flexability and barre exercises on flat will help strengethen and toughen the feet. Interested students should cantact Carrie Diamond directly at (805) 845-0835.

Note: This class requires a separate purchase, $12 for a single class, $40 for a four-class card.


More Information about Adult Ballet Classes at The Dance Hub

Why should I learn ballet?

As we mentioned above, ballet at The Dance Hub is a gateway to a healthy, youthful body and mind as well as proficiency in other dance forms. We further believe that striving to achieve mastery of a discipline such as ballet is a joy and reward in itself, regardless of one’s aspirations to perform. You can enjoy learning and dancing ballet no matter what your body type or experience.

How is ballet taught at The Dance Hub?

Ballet is taught from the inside out. Rather than trying to emulate shapes, which can put a strain on your body, you’ll learn the fundamentals of placement and posture and the strengthening of core muscles that will prevent injury and help you progress faster. You will feel better in your everyday life, too.

I have never danced before. Can I still study ballet?

Yes! The Dance Hub offers a beginner course called Ballet for the Absolute Adult Beginner which will teach you the fundamentals you need to know to be able to benefit from a regular beginner ballet course. Carrie Diamond will do everything she can to assure your success in that course.

I have injuries/health issues. Will I still be able to study ballet at The Dance Hub?

Providing that you have not been medically advised against strenuous exercise, and you have the desire to work and learn, you should be able to take ballet classes at The Dance Hub. The beginner classes are especially designed to be lower impact to minimize injuries as you build up muscle strength. Carrie Diamond was an avid student in her anatomy classes and has personal experience recovering from injury and working with the physical issues of adult dancers! Moreover, The Dance Hub offers additional movement classes that help you maintain an extra healthy body while taking ballet, including Ruth Alpert‘s Foam Roller Restorative class and Ken Gilbert’s Pilates for Dancers.

How do I sign up for a class?

You can find full instructions on attending classes here.

Is there a connection between ballet and yoga?

Well, no. But, interestingly Carrie Diamond studied with Margaret Craske, a pupil and disciple of Enrico Cecchetti, who went to India to follow Meher Baba. We believe that her spiritual development impacted her method of teaching ballet from the inside out—the technique growing out from the dancer’s core, both physical and metaphysical, emphasizing feeling of ease rather than the imitation of unattainable shapes. Carrie feels that this approach builds technique safely to support each student’s unique physical attributes, limitations, and artistry. Further, it helped her overcome physical issues and misconceptions about ballet technique caused by imitative learning.

What class should I go to?

We can help you find the class that’s right for you. Please give us a call at (805) 450-7535 or fill out this form and we will get back to you.

Do you offer ballet classes for kids?

We have suspended all children’s classes during the COVID-19 lockdown. We look forward to resuming them when it is deemed safe to do so. You can find out more about our offerings here.

Why do I dance? Dance is my medicine. It’s the scream which eases for a while the terrible frustration common to all human beings who because of race, creed, or color, are ‘invisible’. Dance is the fist with which I fight the sickening ignorance of prejudice.
— Pearl Primus