The Ballet Academy

Oct 2015

This is, by far, the best place to learn ballet in Kalamazoo, maybe in all of southwest Michigan! Having a RAD certified instructor makes such a tremendous difference! I started studying privately with Ms. Larson at the Ballet Academy this past summer and now that the school term has begun, I attend a class with mostly children. And I don't mind a bit. I am so grateful for every class that I can take! Here are some reasons for my high opinion of the school and Ms. Larson: 1. Nothing is superfluous! Every little detail that we learn has a purpose! Wearing the uniform has a purpose! And even better, Ms. Larson can explain (with ease and to varying aged students) that purpose! 2. She can clearly explain the most seemingly complex things in a way that anyone can understand. 3. It's safe!! She can spot the tiniest flaw in posture or stance and correct those things for an injury-free experience. Because of her knowledge, I have learned to stand on my feet in a completely different way that has my whole body feeling more aligned. I have changed the way I use my quads to stand in order to "fix" having hyper-extended knees. 4. Consistency! I tried another school before; classes were hit or miss, there was no structure. This school is wonderfully structured! There is something special about having a solid structured environment in which to learn ballet. I don't know why exactly, but it is important. You feel it. 5. This again speaks to Ms. Larson's expertise and experience, but it deserves saying: She is a teacher on an entirely different level than I have experienced before. Though I am new to ballet, I do have experience in other forms of dance. I don't know if it is ballet itself or the way Arlene is able to teach it (most likely it is a combination of the two), but I feel less like I am learning to dance and more like I am learning a new language; a language where instead of speaking with words, we speak with our bodies. We emote through our feet and hands. We speak with the pressure with which our feet meet the floor, how we move through the air. 6. Cost: okay, ballet isn't "cheap" anywhere, however I took classes elsewhere before I found the Ballet Academy and I can attest that I was spending the exact same amount of money for half of the class time at the other place. And not just half the time, teachers were inconsistent and always changing and I was never able to set up any private lessons. So, if the cost is the same no matter where you go, I'd choose the best! These are just the thoughts that came to mind on the fly, here and now. If you want a full understanding of ballet and (most importantly to me) an injury-free way to learn ballet, then Ms. Arlene Larson and the Ballet Academy are for you!! Drop in sometime and check it out! Now at Endurance Fitness in Kalamazoo.