West Coast Conservatory of Ballet is now a part of CAAST School of Dance. Our school of dance offers professional classical ballet training to all students regardless of their ability or their intentions in studying. We believe that careful and disciplined training with individual attention on technique, expression, musicality, and approach gives each student the greatest opportunity to fulfill his or her potential.

The benefits of good ballet training are seen not only in the students' physical development, but in their mental as well, making the benefits visible in the respect that one learns for oneself, one's art and the discipline. Emphasis is placed upon nurturing well-rounded dancers and giving them a large vocabulary. It is important to inspire students to consciously collaborate in their learning process. We believe that when they learn through self-discovery they learn in a deeper and more integrated way.

Curriculum

The school is graded; advancement from one level to the next is usual but not automatic. Each student is expected to maintain the standard of his or her level that includes, in addition to physical proficiency, good attendance and a positive attitude in class.

Beginning students over 12 years of age and intermediate students over 18 will not be accepted into the children's classes, but are welcome to study in the teen and adult divisions. Advanced students who are over 18 will be considered for acceptance into the children's division by audition.

After the pre-ballet for children 3-6 years old, the curriculum for children over 7 years old includes basic ballet technique for the first three years, pointe work is added in the fourth year for students at least 10 years old, and in fifth and advanced levels, Variations classes are added. We also have special workshops in Mime, Music Theory for dancers, Dance History, Movement Dynamics, Mask, Musical Theater, Pilates, Yoga, Feldenkrais, Improvisational dance and choreography.

In addition, we have open classes and workshops for Jazz, Acting for Dancers, Tap, Modern, Character, Flamenco and Hip-Hop taught by professionals in their fields.

Academic Scholarship Auditions

We believe in strong academics as an important part of a well-balanced development for our gifted young artists. Not only it will give them the depth as artists, but also the broader choices when they make their decisions for colleges. In other words, we cultivate the "scholar" as much as we train the "artist". Each year, we set aside a small number of full and partial academic scholarships for gifted dancers, Grade 4-8, to attend our selective private day school. Qualifications are purely merit-based and measured through tests, auditions and interviews in academic excellence, artistic talent and deligent commitment. Please contact our school of dance or Admissions Office for more information.

2010-2011 Enrollment Begins Monday, July 19

Annual enrollment for CAAST School of Dance begins on July 19, 2010. Annaully enrolled students are given discounted tuitions, sibling discounts and many more benefits throughout the academic year.

Nutcracker 2010 Auditions - Sat, July 24, 2010

Students of CAAST School of Dance are trained and encouraged to participate in the many excellent full-length productions presented by MontageArts.org, including dance theatre, musical theatre and full orchestral concerts.

Nutcracker 2010 auditions will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at our Collins studios. Save the day. It will be another wonderful experience.

4:30-5:30pm Ballet-Beginning/Intermediate (ages 6-12)
5:30-6:30pm Ballet-Beginning/Inter (teens & adults)
6:30-8:00pm Ballet-Advanced (all ages, females bring pointe shoes)