Children’s Program

Ages 2 to 7 years

North State Ballet’s Children’s Program is thoughtfully designed to introduce young dancers to movement, music, and the joy of dance in a nurturing, age-appropriate environment.

Classes are tailored to the developmental, physical, and emotional needs of children ages 2 through 7, giving students the opportunity to build coordination, musicality, confidence, creativity, and classroom independence as they grow. Through movement, imaginative play, music, props, and guided instruction, young dancers begin developing the foundational skills that support future ballet training while discovering the excitement of artistic expression.

Our Creative Movement classes are designed for both the child and a parent or caregiver to participate together, creating a supportive and engaging first introduction to dance.

As students progress through the Children’s Program, classes gradually become more structured while continuing to emphasize creativity, musicality, coordination, and a positive relationship with movement. This progression helps prepare dancers for a smooth and confident transition into North State Ballet’s Classical Program.

Placement for the school year is determined by the student’s age as of October 1.

Our goals for the Children’s Program are to:

Introduce children to the joy and artistry of dance.
Support physical, social, emotional, and creative development.
Build coordination, musicality, body awareness, and confidence.
Encourage imagination and creativity within a structured learning environment.
Establish strong foundational movement and classroom skills.
Prepare students for a successful transition into the Classical Program.
Create a positive, engaging, and joyful dance experience.

Class Dress Codes:

At North State Ballet, our dress code is designed to support professionalism, consistency, safety, and equality in the classroom. Proper dance attire allows instructors to clearly observe alignment and technique while helping students develop strong studio habits from an early age.

Ballet

Each successive ballet level at NSB is assigned a designated leotard color for girls. Required leotards must be ordered through Dance Away for students ages 18 months and older. While waiting for an order to arrive, students may wear a plain black leotard.

Girls should also wear white ankle socks (no tights), pink ballet shoes, and hair securely pulled away from the face.

Creative Movement: Light blue tank-style skirted leotard
Pre-Primary: Light pink cap-sleeve skirted leotard for age 3; light purple cap-sleeve skirted leotard for age 4
Primary A: Raspberry tank leotard with matching waistband and black dance shorts
Primary B: Eggplant tank leotard with matching waistband and black dance shorts

Boys should wear black fitted dance shorts or leggings, a fitted white shirt or leotard, white socks, and black ballet shoes.

Lyrical

Students may wear a leotard or fitted tank top in any color, paired with black dance shorts and lyrical shoes.

Jazz

Students may wear a leotard or fitted tank top in any color with black dance shorts and/or black leggings. Caramel/tan jazz shoes are required.

Hip Hop

Students may wear a tank top or leotard with dance shorts, leggings, or loose-fitting dance pants. Light-colored, supportive sneakers are required and must be clean and reserved for studio use only. Black shoes and street-worn shoes are not permitted.

Tap

Students may wear a leotard or fitted tank top with black dance shorts or leggings. Black lace-up tap shoes are required.

Acro

Students should wear a leotard or fitted tank top with black dance shorts or leggings. Clothing should be fitted for safety and ease of movement; loose clothing is not permitted. Acro classes are taken barefoot.