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Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts
4.7 ★★★★★ 27 Google reviews · Ballet school in Durham, North Carolina
Plan your first class
- Adult classes classes for grown-ups, including absolute beginners — it's never too late to start at the barre
- Pointe pointe and pre-pointe work for dancers who are ready — the pre-pointe strengthening comes first
- Pre-professional a serious, conservatory-style track for committed students aiming high
- Summer intensive holiday and summer intensive programs — these fill early, so ask about dates and auditions
- Today see hours ·
- Phone (919) 680-4363
- Website & schedule durhamschoolforballet.com — enroll and see the live class schedule
Hours
| Monday | 3–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 3–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 3–8 PM |
| Thursday | 3–8 PM |
| Friday | 3–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | 6–7 PM |
The programs they offer
“As a new resident in the area, I was thrilled to find several options for adult dance classes and I'm glad I chose to join DSBPA.”
“Teaching children, preteens and teens is not an easy thing and takes a special person.”
“Teaching children, preteens and teens is not an easy thing and takes a special person.”
How they train
What families & students say
“Faith does not ignore mistakes and pushes the students to do their best and to keep working to improve their technique and artistry.”
“No cliques, no snide teachers, no berating the students for anything whatsoever, simply encouraging and pushing everyone to do their very best every day.”
“Not only are the classes excellent, but the performance opportunities are amazing.”
“I also started taking the int/adv adult classes with Boleyn and Tania and feel I have improved so much.”
“The only studio in the Durham area (and those surrounding, let's be real) that not only offers rigorous, professional-quality training but also like.”
From the reviews
This is an email I sent to the studio recently. I thought it important to post it here, as a previous review deals with a teacher being very different. Is every teacher at any school perfect? No.
I'm so happy to have found this studio. I was looking for ballet classes for my daughter and have been thrilled with DSBPA. She had class with Tania and now with Henley. Both are wonderful. I also started taking the int/adv adult classes with Boleyn and Tania and feel I have improved so much.
I have been going to this dance school since I was 3. I started with ballet, switched to modern, and then back to ballet. My sister also has been taking class, since she was 6, as an aerialist. For both of us, this studio has truly become a home away from home.
The only studio in the Durham area (and those surrounding, let's be real) that not only offers rigorous, professional-quality training but also like....aren't jerks about it?
Adult ballet at Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts
Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts runs classes for grown-ups, going by their listing and students’ reviews. If you've never taken ballet, or you're coming back to it after years away, this is for you — and a good studio genuinely welcomes a nervous first-timer. A few things worth asking before you go. First, which class to start in — look for one labeled "absolute beginner" or "adult beginner" rather than an open or "all levels" class, so you learn the fundamentals at the right pace. Second, drop-in or term — many adult programs let you pay per class to try it, then move to a term or monthly package once you're hooked. Third, what to wear — comfortable clothes you can move in, plus socks or bare feet, are plenty for a first class; you won't need a leotard or ballet shoes to walk in the door. It's never too late for first position.
Your first ballet class at Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts
Nervous about walking into your first class? Almost everyone is — and a good studio expects beginners, whether your dancer is five or you're returning at fifty. Here's what to know. What to wear: comfortable clothes you can move in, with socks or bare feet; a leotard and tights are nice if you have them, but not required, and pointe shoes are years down the road — never day one. What to expect: class usually starts at the barre with slow, simple movements to warm up, then moves to the center — follow along, copy the teacher, and don't worry about getting it "right" the first time. Arrive early: come 10–15 minutes ahead to change, find a spot, and let the teacher know it's a first class so they can keep an eye out. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
More ballet studios near Durham
ADF's Samuel H. Scripps Studios
4.9 ★★★★★ 16 reviews
Ninth Street Dance
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Empower School of Movement
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🩰 Free trial class — check their site