Academy Dance

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the world’s most influential dance education and training organizations. RAD promotes knowledge, understanding, and practice of dance internationally and seeks to accomplish this through the promotion of dance, the educating and training students and teachers, and the annual RAD examinations, which set standards and reward achievement.

All of our Academy ballet teachers are educated in the RAD Method, from our Tiny Tots classes through to our Advanced 2 and Adult classes. Our goal at the Academy is to provide the highest quality ballet training to all of our students, no matter if this is their life passion or their healthy hobby.

For more information on RAD’s history and impact on the world of dance and ballet, please visit the RAD USA website.

Tiny Tots Ballet
Age 3 by Fall of attending academic calendar year
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Introduces students to their first year of dance training. Coordination, rhythm, body awareness, and class discipline are emphasized through guided, creative, age-appropriate activities. Students are introduced to elementary ballet terminology, positions, and movements.

Beginning Ballet
Age 4 by Fall of attending academic calendar year
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Full of age-appropriate movement, songs, games and exercises. Classes consist of activities designed to increase children’s awareness, understanding, and control of their bodies in space and time. Exercises develop basic dance skills such as coordination, balance, spatial awareness and ability to cooperate and dance with others. Classes include practice in all loco motor steps and creative, expressive dancing to music.

Pre-Primary
Age 5 by Fall of attending academic calendar year
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Consists of the Pre-Primary set of dance exercises designed by the Royal Academy of Dance—which prepare children for beginning ballet—and the creative exploration of the four elements of dance: body, space, time, and effort. Children develop coordination, balance, control, and awareness of space, rhythm, and effort qualities. They also develop their abilities to learn movement combinations and cooperate and dance well with others. Classes include practice in all locomotor steps, expressive dancing to music, and the preparation of creative dances for a performance for parents during the last class of each semester.

Primary
Age 6 by Fall of attending academic calendar year
Enrollment is for ‘Full Year’ (Fall through Spring Semesters)
The beginning of classical ballet technique is introduced in this class which includes the study of proper placement, partner and group work, and musicality.

Grade 1 – Grade 5/Pre-Pointe
At least age 7 by Fall of attending academic calendar year, no older than age 15
Enrollment is for ‘Full Year’ (Fall through Spring Semesters)
A progression of ballet technique and performance qualities based upon the Royal Academy of Dance Grades Syllabus. RAD grades are one year off from school grades, so RAD Grade 1 dancers are typically in second (2nd) grade, and RAD Grade 5 dancers are typically in sixth (6th) grade.

Intermediate Foundations, Intermediate, Advanced Foundations, Advanced 1 & 2
Must have passed Grade 5 RAD Exam to enter higher level ballet classes (unless able to prove ability)
At least age 11 by Fall of the attending academic calendar year, through age 18
Enrollment is for “Full Year” (Fall through Spring Semesters)
A more in-depth look and study of ballet technique, these classes may also include the study of Pointe work. For classes after Grade 5, enrollment is based on the completion and passing of the RAD Exams. Please see our online registration for more information on standard age groups and pre-requisites.

Students who take and pass the Advanced 2 RAD Exam may register with RAD and use the examination on college applications or other performing arts based applications. Please see the RAD Tab above and their website for more information on what it means to graduate from RAD.

Don’t forget to check out our Dance Work Scholarship, available to all students in Intermediate Foundations through Advanced 2.

Modern Dance and Choreography
At least age 14 by Fall of attending academic calendar year, through age 18
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Modern dance skills are developed for beginners and students with some experience. Students as a class choreograph a dance that they perform at the Spring Performance with the modern dance skills they learn through the semester. Summer students will perform an in-studio performance for their classes.

Ballet Plus: Intermediate and Advanced
Must be enrolled in an upper level core ballet class (Intermediate Foundations – Advanced 2)
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Ballet Plus is a supplemental ballet class for students enrolled in our upper division courses. This class is meant as additional review for students, and is an opportunity for additional studio time for students who are interested. This class is not required, but is highly recommended.

Progressive Ballet Technique/ Conditioning
Must be enrolled in an upper level core ballet class (Intermediate Foundations – Advanced 2)
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Our Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)/ Conditioning and Fitness classes are specially designed conditioning and strengthening courses based on the PBT Program. The PBT Program was created by professional ballerina and RAD trained teacher, Marie Walton-Mahon. Classes focus on training students using ballet-specific techniques that enforce muscle memory and weight placement to enhance their posture, placement, and alignment.

Open Adult Ballet
Ages 18+
Enrollment is for “Semester” (Fall & Spring Semesters)

Adults can enjoy learning the foundations of ballet while developing confidence, mental concentration, physical coordination, and grace. These Adult ballet classes is are for students who are new to ballet, students who want to dance but never had the opportunity, and those who have danced before and want to begin again.

RAD CDT Teacher-Prep Course
Ages 18+
Enrollment is for Full Year, program is two (2) years total

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) offers a Certification in Dance (Ballet) Teaching (CDT) that can allow any teacher to become certified as a RAD Registered ballet teacher through their institution. For students who do not have a degree in Dance or a background in professional dancing, this certification program is one of the best options for starting your ballet career and becoming a registered teacher.

A pre-requisite for students who are entering into the RAD CDT (Ballet) Programme is to hold the RAD Intermediate Exam, or a recognized equivalent examination in ballet.  

The Academy’s RAD CDT Teacher-Prep Course will strive to present to you the information and movements required to pass the RAD Intermediate Exam and give you the opportunity to attempt the Exam at our Academy location. This course will cover preparation in barre work, center practice, adage, allegro, free enchainments, variations, and pointe work*. Upon completion of the RAD Exam, students may then begin their application with RAD for the Certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet) Programme. Students who take the RAD Exam do so at the recommendation of Mr. Needhammer, the Academy’s RAD Registered Teacher. 

 The RAD CDT (Ballet) Programme is offered through RAD and not through the Academy. Students who are accepted into the RAD CDT (Ballet) Programme may return to our Academy to complete the required Mentoring Hours (see our RAD Teacher Mentoring Program). 

 Students in the Academy’s RAD CDT Teacher-Prep Course must complete two years of the program in order to attempt the RAD Intermediate Exam at our Academy, unless given special permission by Mr. Andrew Needhammer. This exception must be determined prior to December of the Fall Semester, as that is the deadline to register for the RAD Exam of the following Spring. 

 *Female students 

RAD CDT Teacher Mentoring Program
Ages 18+
Enrollment is for Full Year

The Academy’s RAD CDT Teacher Mentoring Program is for Adult Students who are currently completing the Royal Academy of Dance Certification in Dance Teaching (Ballet) Programme, and need to complete their Mentoring Hours. Students must already be accepted into the RAD CDT Programme, and must show that they have completed the necessary pre-requisites within the CDT Programme before beginning their Mentoring Hours as a Student Teacher. 

 The student teacher would attend an average of 3 classes per week under the supervision of the Mentor; Andrew Needhammer, ARAD, RAD RTS; which will include 15 classes of team teaching (partial class) and 28 classes of solo teaching (partial class), all under the supervision of the mentor. During the course of the semester, the mentor will observe the student teacher’s teaching skills, lesson planning and subject knowledge for the teaching of RAD Grades 1-5, Intermediate Foundation and/or Intermediate level classes. The student teacher will attend regular review meetings for an additional hour per week with the mentor to check their progress according to RAD CBTS guidelines.  

 As we have one of the largest RAD programs in the country and we have our RAD certified teacher, Mr. Needhammer, we are prime for offering these mentoring hours to teachers from across the country. We already have three adult students who are interested in working with our Academy to complete their mentoring hours, and we have hopes of turning this into a much larger, RAD encouraged program. If this is the case, NAU could become known as a prime location in the US for RAD certification.  

Tiny Dancers
Ages 3-5 by June of calendar year
June 6-9, June 26-30, July 17-21
Join Ms. Heather this summer for a three day dance week for our tiniest dancers! Classes run on Mon/Wed/Fri from 8:00am-8:45am. Students will focus on creative movement and introductory ballet techniques.

Students should wear a leotard with footless tights (feminine) or black shorts and a white shirt (masculine).

Dance Around the World
Ages 6-11 by June of Calendar year
June 6-9, June 26-30, July 17-21
Ms. Heather is back with Dance Around the World! Each week focuses on a different culture from various countries or regions across the globe, and is perfect for first-time dancers or continuing students. Explore various dances performed around the world, including traditional folk dances! Students also get to do culture-related crafts and put together a mini ballet based on a folktale from the theme of the week to share with family and friends on the final day of class. Past featured areas have included: Polynesian Islands, Scandinavia, France, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, and more!

Summer Ballet Camps
Entering RAD Grades 4 – Advanced 2 in the Fall Semester
June 6-9, June 26-30, July 17-21
Join us for our new week-long Summer Ballet Camps! Divided into Junior and Senior levels, both camps will provide ballet-specific review of materials, while following a general weekly theme (Pirouettes, Jetés, Relevés, etc).

Ballet Throughout History
Ages 6-18
July 10-14, 2023
Join Mr. Needhammer and Ms. Heather for a week-long intensive dive into some of the most influential ballet productions of the 19th century! Each day will focus on a new performance, with explorations into the hair, make-up, stylistic changes, and cultural impacts of each of these exceptional works of art.

This camp will also include ballet classes and is geared for ballet focused students, but is open to all!

Dance Camp
Ages 6-18
June 12-16, 2023
Join Mr. Needhammer, Ms. Heather, and Ms. Whitehurst for a week-long dive into Modern Dance & Choreography, Ballet Choreography, Jazz, and Tap at the Academy! The camp will be divided into Junior and Senior levels, and will include an in-studio performance for guardians and parents on Friday!

Festival of Science
Entering RAD Grades 1 – Advanced 2 in the Fall Semester
August 7th – August 24th, 2023 | Performance September 22nd
Classes are held during the last three weeks August, Monday-Thursday, and work towards a collaborative performance in September at the Flagstaff Festival of Science. Sections are divided by RAD Grade levels: 1) Grade 1 – Grade 3; 2) Grade 4 – Int. Foundation; 3) Intermediate – Adv 2. The final performance will occur as part of the opening ceremony for the annual Flagstaff Festival of Science. Please check their website for updated opening night schedule information and other events.

Dancers should plan to enroll in fall, as weekly classes will start before the final performance.

Enrollment into our Pre-Primary through Advanced 2 Fall classes includes participation in the annual Nutcracker Ballet Performance in conjunction with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra.

Enrollment in Beginning Ballet through Adult Ballet and Modern Choreography Spring classes includes participation in our Spring Performance.

All performances come with a nominal fee to cover possible video recordings, costumes, and booking fees. Students may opt out of end-of-semester performances. Spring Performance recordings will depend on student/parent interest upon registration.

Our Dance Discretionary Fund helps the Academy pay for large ticket items, such as upgrading our set pieces or purchasing costumes for 12-18 students at a time. By donating to this fund, you can help us make sure our students are using modern equipment, and are going on stage with updated and safe set pieces.

Our Dance Scholarship Fund goes towards helping students of the Academy pay for their dance classes. As students get older, class hours increase and with that comes increased costs. In order to make sure more students have access to these classes, the Academy currently offer work-based scholarships, where students come in and help with younger classes for one hour per week. But we would like to expand our scholarship offerings! And with your help, we can try and offer our dance classes to more students in the community through new scholarship programs.