Do You Want to Take Ballet Lessons in Upper East Tennessee?

Do you want to take ballet lessons? According to Lori Ann Sparks, director of Central Ballet School & Theatre in Greeneville, Tennessee, you or a loved one will become part of a tradition that dates back to over 350 years ago. Classical ballet began in 1653 under King Louis XIV as a court dance. It has transformed, through the years, to the highly-trained dance form that we see today. Fundamentals of ballet include body placement, technique for leaps, spotting for turns, carriage of the arms, head, and upper body, body strength, muscle memory, teamwork, cooperation, being aware of your dance pace, and musicality.

Do you live in or near some upper East Tennessee cities of either Greeneville, Erwin, Jonesborough, or Morristown? I found four great options for you complete with descriptive websites.

Gay Whitt School of Dance has two studio locations:

206 Headtown Rd. off of Hwy 11-E

The Cradic BuildingsJonesborough, Tennessee

(423) 753-3171

and

106 North Main Avenue

Bradshaw Building

Entrance at 112 Gay StreetErwin, Tennessee

(423) 735-0929

For more information, contact the director, Gay Whitt at (423) 753-3171 or e-mail her at gwhitt@gwsod.com or visit their website: http://www.gaywhittschoolofdance.com

Their dance instructors include:

Gay Evans Whitt - Director. She is a former faculty member of Dansorama Convention and Carolina Dance Masters Convention and a Talent Jude for Little Miss North Carolina. She has 52 years experience as a Dance Educator.

Robin Bailey Beals - Another Director. She has performed and traveled with the "Up with People" group nationally and internationally. She holds an exercise physiology degree from ETSU. She is a certified aerobics instructor. He is the owner of "Tutus, Taps and All That Jazz." She has 31 years experience as a Dance Educator.

They also have 7 other instructors. All adult staff members are curriculum tested to teach and are certified in the Cecchetti Ballet Method.

Ballet classes are available for Ballet, Pointe, and an Encore Ballet Company. The website does not mention what age groups are taught.

As for class schedules, the website indicates that classes begin on the announced date in late August and continue through the May recital.

As for fees, tuition is set according to levels, subjects, performing classes and Cecchetti Ballet Classes. Our schedule is adjusted according to demand for our studio spaces and staff availability. Please call Ms Gay at 423-735-0929 to discuss registration, tuition and class placement for your dancer.

Other types of dance are also taught. This list includes jazz/lyrical, tap, acrobatics, power tumbling, Encore Dance Company, Encore Acrobatics Company, and Weedance for preschool children ages 3 and 4.

The Gay Whitt School of Dance holds memberships in Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators, NADAA, International Tap Association, & Cecchetti Council of America.

This dance studio offers an "organized and conservative approach to dance education with emphasis on technique in a wholesome, non-competitive atmosphere."

Central Ballet School & Theatre has one studio location:

Central Ballet School & Theatre
120 W Summer St
Greeneville, TN 37743-4924

(423) 639-9766‎

For more information, contact the founder & director, Lori Ann Sparks at (423) 620-2036 or e-mail her at loriannsparks@gmail.com or visit her website: http://www.centralballet.com/Director.html

Their dance instructors include:

Lori Ann Sparks - Artistic Director of CBT. She teaches Ballet and Ballroom. Her job titles include artistic director, ballet mistress, choreographer, scriptwriter, and resident professional dancer. She has a BS at University of Tennessee and is a certified teacher. She has 12 years teaching experience.

Amy Durand - She teaches Tap.

Betty Ann Foulks - She teaches Buck-style Clogging.

The Style of training offered is a combination of Royal Academy of Dance and Russian style of classical ballet

The listing of Ballet classes available at this studio is quite extensive:

Preschool (ages 3 & 4) learn Creative Movement: introduction to ballet steps through pretend play and movement

Beginner Ballet (ages 5-7) learn introduction to the ballet barre plus center stretching and across the floor movement

Ballet Level 1 & 2 (ages 7 and up) learn classical barre and center, basic barre techniques, & basic ballet steps in center. They also learn to combine these steps.

Ballet Level 3 & 4 (ages 9 and up) learn intermediate classical ballet both at the barre and in center.

Ballet Level 5 & 6 (ages 11 and up) learn advanced classical ballet technique.

Demi-pointe, Beginner Point, and Advanced Pointe lessons are also available.

Adult Ballet: Beginner & Intermediate Levels learn ballet technique and methods of becoming physically fit.

As for class schedules, the website indicates that all ballet classes take place in the upstairs studio. You can even see a picture of this studio at http://www.centralballet.com/Studio.html

Studio I (Upstairs)

Monday

4:00-5:00 Levels 2 & 3

5:00-6:30 Levels 5 & 6

6:30-? Rehearsal Levels 5 & 6

Tuesday

4:00-4:30 Beginner Ballet (Age 5&6)

4:30-5:30 Levels 1 & 2

5:30-6:00 Preschool 3& 4 year old

6:00-7:00 Levels 5 & 6

7:15-8:15 Adult & Levels 3 & 4

Wednesday

11:30-12:00 Preschool 3&4 year old

12:30-1:30 Beginner Adult

Thursday

4:30-5:00 Beginner Pointe

5:00-6:00 Levels 3 & 4

6:00-7:00 Levels 5 & 6

7:00-7:45 Advanced Pointe

7:45-8:30 Rehearsal Levels 5 & 6

Friday

4:00-6:00 CBT Rehearsals

Saturday

All day rehearsals for CBT members

Price listing for ballet classes:

30 min $38/month

1 hour $45/month

90min $55/month

2^nd additional class $20/month

All additional classes $10 each/month

Other types of dance are also taught. This list includes tap, buck-style clogging, and ballroom dance.

The lessons for these dance types take place in the downstairs studio. Here is the schedule:

studio ii (Downstairs)

Monday

4:00-4:30 Clogging

4:30-5:00 Clogging

Tuesday

3:30-4:00 Tap (5 & 6 year olds)

4:00-4:30 Tap (7 to 11 year olds)

4:30-5:30 Tap (12 to adult)

Wednesday

12:00-12:30 Tap (3 & 4 year olds)

Here are the fees for these classes:

Tap & Clogging:

30 min $25/month

45 min $30/month

The Central Ballet School & Theatre is a member of the Tennessee Association of Dance.

The mission of this school is to "provide excellent technical instruction of classical ballet to all ages in a Christian environment and to instill a love and appreciation for the art."

The MorristownSchool of Dance Arts - home of the Morristown Youth Ballet Company has one studio location:

The Morristown School of Dance Arts
1510 North Liberty Hill Road
Morristown, TN 378148

For more information, contact the founder & director, Roxanne Shepard Breeden at (423) 581-2779 or (423) 748-4938 or e-mail her at morristowndancearts@charter.net or visit her website: http://www.morristownschoolofdancearts.com/

Their dance instructors include:

Roxanne Shepard Breedan - She started dancing at the age of 4 at Gail Noe's School of Dance. When she was 16 she became a student instructor at the studio. In 1999 Roxanne became part owner and an instructor at the studio. Roxanne is also the founder and director of the Morristown Youth Ballet Company. She is a senior member of the Johnson City Ballet Company.

Gail Noe-Kilgore - She started dancing at Bonnie's School of Dance. She also trained in baton from Claudette Riley. In 1973 she graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in education with concentration in dance. While at U.T. she was a majorette and a member of the U.T. Dance Theatre. After she graduated she started the Gail Noe's School of Dance where she taught ballet, tap, jazz, baton and tumbling. She also taught group fitness and was a personal trainer after she graduated. To this day Gail still teaches at the dance studio.

Laura Drinnon - She started dancing at age six. She has been assistant teaching since she was eleven, and started teaching last year at The Morristown School of Dance Arts. She is attending Walters State to work on her Associate of the Arts degree with an emphasis in dance.

Ballet classes are available for ages 2 1/2 and up in Classical Ballet, Pointe, and Pre-Pointe. The Morristown School of Dance Arts students who are ages 8 and up may audition each September for the Morristown Youth Ballet Company. Company members must take ballet and must also participate in the annual Nutcracker performance.

As for class schedules, the website does not indicate specific class times.

As for fees, there is no mention of the tuition costs either.

The Morristown School of Dance Arts does not indicate any of their membership organizations.

The mission of this studio is to "give the highest quality dance instruction to each student in a safe, fun and caring environment."

I hope this review proves to be an excellent resource for you. For further questions, please consult the dance school websites and also contact the studio directors.

Gay Whitt School of Dance in Jonesborough & Erwin, TN

Director: Gay Whitt at (423) 753-3171 or e-mail her at gwhitt@gwsod.com

Website: http://www.gaywhittschoolofdance.com

Central Ballet School & Theatre in Greeneville, TN

Director: Lori Ann Sparks at (423) 620-2036 or e-mail her at loriannsparks@gmail.com

Website: http://www.centralballet.com/Director.html

Morristown School of Dance Arts in Morristown, TN

Director: Roxanne Shepard Breeden at (423) 581-2779 or (423) 748-4938 or e-mail her at morristowndancearts@charter.net

Website: http://www.morristownschoolofdancearts.com/