Classical Ballet School
The Classical Ballet School offers training in classical ballet, pointe, variations, national dance, conditioning, lyrical and contemporary dance, as well as ISTD Modern Theatre Dance. Students perform in The Nutcracker and the Annual Performances.
Pre-School Dance Classes (ages 3-5 yrs)
Our Pre-School Dance classes provide fun-filled and structured lessons in musicality, spacial awareness, creative movement, and coordination exercises, and culminates in costumed performances for friends and family.
While our school year classes normally require a commitment from September to June, we understand that 10 months can be a long duration for our very young students. We offer flexibility in enrolment so that students can change to another activity, and return to attend more classes in a later month.
The November and March Observation classes offer families a chance to enjoy their child’s progress, while the June performance is part of our Annual School Performance at the Clarke Theatre. (View Schedules)
Ballet Pre-Primary and Primary Classes (ages 5-7 yrs)
Students are introduced to the basics of dance in the Ballet Pre-Primary, Primary and Ballet 1 Foundation levels, developing musicality and creative movement. Children learn the basics of the balance, posture, flexibility, strength and discipline required for all dance forms. Classes are based on a combination of Vaganova, Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. (View Schedules)
Ballet Levels 1-12
After Ballet Primary, students progress through the FVAD syllabus starting with Ballet 1, at age 6-7, and continuing to Ballet 12 at age 16+.
FVAD ballet classes combine the basic RAD syllabus with more advanced open technique of the Russian Vaganova Academy, Italian Cecchetti and British Royal Ballet styles.
Students are introduced to Lyrical as well as National Dance training (European folk dances) at Ballet 2, continuing this essential aspect of classical ballet training in special classes to Ballet 4. Conditioning class (including floor barre, stretch-strength and PBT training) is introduced from level 3 at this level to enhance students’ flexibility and strength required for classical ballet.
Students are required to train in a minimum of two ballet classes per week from Ballet 1 and beyond. Students in levels 1-5 are encouraged to take ISTD Modern and National Dance, and students in levels 6-10 add Contemporary and Pointe for complete training. (View Schedules)
National Dance 2-4
In National Dance, students learn the exciting styles of International Folk Dances used in so many classical ballets, and a core part of Vaganova Academy and Royal Ballet School training. (View Schedules)
Conditioning + Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)
Conditioning allows students to increase their flexibility and strength specifically for dance to improve both their quality and technical ability. While flexibility is an extremely important aspect of dance training, it is essential that students also develop the strength to manage this flexibility in order to help prevent injuries.
Students learn age-appropriate elements of floor barre, stretch-strength and PBT training.
Pointe Preparation 5
Pointe preparation is done for one year at the Ballet 5 level to strengthen feet, legs and alignment, and to determine which students are capable of pointe work. Students learn the techniques of pointe work in this class while in ballet slippers.
Assessments occur twice each year to determine whether or not students have the strength and alignment required for pointe. Due to the severe risk of injury if not properly prepared, and understanding that a student’s entire weight is placed on their toes, our students only progress to full pointe work if physically and emotionally capable. Some students may receive initial approval for pointe work at the barre only. (View Schedules)
Major company schools, such as the Royal Ballet School, can put entire classes on pointe at the same time as the students have already been selected by audition to the school to have the correct alignment, strength, posture and ability. However, local ballet schools must consider each individual student and be aware that not every student can safely go on pointe. Students not safely approved to be on pointe continue in their ballet training may still continue all classes in soft shoe.
Pointe 6-12
Pointe work is an essential aspect of professional classical ballet for girls which, due to risk of serious injury, must always be approached with care. However, it is not a required part of ballet training for the recreational student, and all students may continue in Pointe+Variations class whether on pointe or in soft shoes. (View Schedules)
Boys’ Ballet
Boys’ Ballet classes with Mr. Carney provide a nurturing environment which encourage boys in their ballet training. The boys work on strength, agility, and flexibility, and learn the techniques and steps specific to the male dancer.
As boys mature, the Boys’ Ballet classes provide the advanced training required for boys to become successful ballet dancers. The boys enhance their strength, agility and flexibility, further developing the virtuosity specific to the male ballet dancer. (View Schedules)
ISTD Modern (Theatre Dance)
Modern Theatre Dance prepares students for the demanding and varied dance styles required in musical theatre productions such as those found on Broadway and in the West End.
- The ISTD curriculum adapts, develops and evolves with the changing fashion of dance styles in theatre productions.
- Through a carefully planned and well-tried examination syllabus, which combines modern dance, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and other dance styles, students are trained to become disciplined and versatile dancers who have a professional attitude towards dance.
- By maintaining close ties with the profession the ISTD Faculty ensures that the syllabi reflect the trends in the theatre.
- Due to its reliance on classical ballet technique and vocabulary, students enrolling in ISTD Modern Theatre Dance require ballet.
- Students will perform a Modern Theatre Dance number in our Annual School Performance in June.
Students may begin training in Modern Theatre Dance from the Ballet 2 level.
Contemporary 6-12
Students may train in Contemporary Ballet (Carney Technique) and Rambert Grades Contemporary syllabus classes.
Contemporary Ballet is a genre of dance that incorporates elements of both classical ballet and modern dance. Contemporary, by definition, means happening or existing at the same time, and is often used to describe works that are created in the present or recent past.
Carney Technique Contemporary Ballet merges classical ballet with modern dance influenced by Mr. Carney’s work with Merce Cunningham. Mr. Carney developed this technique as a bridge between classical ballet and contemporary dance while teaching at the Royal Ballet School and Rambert School in London, England. The elements of Carney Technique involve variations on the techniques and movements of classical ballet, and therefore require a solid base in ballet.
Contemporary Dance combines the strong, controlled legwork of classical ballet, with elements of modern dance, focusing on the contract and release of the body, and the unpreditable changes in rhythm, speed and direction. It also employs floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristics of modern dance.
Rambert Grades Contemporary Dance is a pioneering syllabus born from the partnership between two of the world’s leading contemporary dance organisations: Rambert Dance Company and Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in London, England.
Mr. Carney, FVAD’s Artistic Director, was a dancer with Rambert Dance Company from 1985 to 1989, and was later a teacher at the Rambert School in London. He is incredibly proud to be bringing his past into his present by introducing this wonderful new syllabus to his students here in Mission from 2023.
Students may begin training in Contemporary at the Ballet 6 level. (View Schedules)
Academy Programs
The Academy Programs begin at Ballet 2 to provide pre-professional training for students with potential for Canada’s National Ballet School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and other company-affiliated professional training schools. Students are invited into the Academy Program by Mr. Carney, and enrolled in special Academy Class to monitor their progress and advise on training.
Please visit the Pre-Professional Academy page for more information.
Private Coaching
A limited amount of studio time is available for private coaching for students who wish to advance their training in a one-to-one setting. Each request will be evaluated based on the student’s current performance, their dedication and commitment to their training, and their motivation to improve their current level. Please contact the office with any request for private coaching.
Students must be approved for Private Coaching by Mr. Carney.
Syllabi and Assessments
FVAD Syllabus
Fraser Valley Academy of Dance has developed its own syllabus which incorporates the RAD syllabus, but expands greatly on that book-based syllabus training to include the more advanced techniques taught by former professional dancers at the Vaganova Academy and Royal Ballet Schools.
Learn more about the FVAD Syllabus
Internal Assessments & Report Cards
Our students are assessed internally twice each year, receiving formal report cards. As our teachers are primarily former professional dancers who have been trained by former professional dancers, FVAD is able to train students beyond a basic ballet syllabus, allowing them to cover more advanced technique at each level.
Placements for the following year are based on the assessment of this syllabus.
View our Resources page for additional information including payment forms, schedules and rates & fees
View our About us page to learn more about our Studio, Teachers, School Policies, and Philosophies on Training.