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Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater
4.8 ★★★★★ 61 Google reviews · Ballet school in Bedford, New Hampshire
Plan your first class
- Free trial / first class new students can usually try a class free or at a discount — call ahead or check their schedule to book your first one
- Ages classes for ages 3–19 — check the schedule for the right level for your dancer
- Adult classes classes for grown-ups, including absolute beginners — it's never too late to start at the barre
- Pre-professional a serious, conservatory-style track for committed students aiming high
- Recitals end-of-year performances and shows — ask about costume and performance fees when you enroll
- Summer intensive holiday and summer intensive programs — these fill early, so ask about dates and auditions
- Today see hours ·
- Phone +1 603-625-9272
- Website & schedule snhdt.org — enroll and see the live class schedule
Hours
| Monday | 4–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 4–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 4–8 pm |
| Thursday | 4–8 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9 am–12:30 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The programs they offer
“I have also taken some ballet classes as an adult, and it was a positive experience.”
“I am retired and have young children of my own now, but my life as a successful dancer would have never been possible if it were not for Patricia Lavoie.”
“My daughter feels not only is she at the best preprofessional dance program available to her, but she also feels she is at her second home when she is at the studio.”
How they train
What families & students say
“As a former ballet dancer myself, finding a studio with very strong ballet technique and training was very important to me.”
“There are role models at every turn—kind, talented, and dedicated older students who are so welcoming to the younger ones.”
“She had been my ballet teacher at another dance studio and when she decided to open SNHDT, my family (along with many others) followed her.”
“We started here because the classes worked for our schedule but we have stayed here because of the teachers, community, and performance opportunities.”
“My daughter feels not only is she at the best preprofessional dance program available to her, but she also feels she is at her second home when she is at the studio.”
“I have also taken some ballet classes as an adult, and it was a positive experience.”
From the reviews
SNHDT holds a very special part of my heart and always will. I started with Southern NH Dance Theater when Miss Trish first opened the studio way back in the 1990’s! She had been my ballet teacher at another dance studio and when she decided to open SNHDT, my family (along with many others) followed her.
When my daughter became really interested in ballet in 2022, I knew exactly where to take her. My sister and I grew up dancing at Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater, where we received ballet training of exceptional caliber, and I wanted the same for my daughter.
We LOVE SNHDT!! Our family moved to NH in 2019 and our daughter was in need of a school of ballet to continue her study. Ms. Trisha’s school of dance is a well respected and known pre-professional ballet studio and rightly so. The teachers are professional and experienced in a variety of styles.
Miss Trish and SNHDT will forever have a place in my heart. I am beyond grateful for the love, guidance, and lifelong lessons I gained dancing at SNHDT. The friendships I made have lasted decades, something I appreciate more and more as I get older.
Adult ballet at Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater
Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater runs classes for grown-ups — confirmed on their own site. 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 Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater
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.
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