Main Division
Where Futures Take Flight
The Main Division program is designed to enrich students’ lives through dance while developing grace, poise, mental and physical discipline as well as an appreciation and awareness of the arts. Main Division curriculum is focused on building technically strong and versatile dancers and cultivating pre-professional potential. All classes are taught by the Otto M. Budig’s distinguished faculty including Cincinnati Ballet dancers and artistic staff.
Academy Registration
Registration is now closed. Enrollment for the 2020-2021 Academy Year will open in late spring.
Registration is for the full school-year program which is comprised of 36 weeks of instruction beginning in late August 2019 and concluding in May 2020. In addition to tuition, students are required to pay a $30 Registration Fee and a $120 Spring Production Fee. Please reference the class listings below when registering your student.
Did you know eight Main Division faculty members are current or former Cincinnati Ballet company dancers?
Main Division Levels
Seven levels to fit your student
The Main Division is structured on the foundation of seven successive levels of classical training with each level building upon the next. Versatility is encouraged by incorporating other dance genres through elective classes including modern, jazz, contemporary, musical theater and conditioning, among others. Performance is valued as an essential element of artistic and technical training and the Academy year culminates for all students with performance in the annual Spring Production.
Students are placed by technical level and are evaluated at the end of each school year for potential advancement into the next level. New students, age 8, will be placed in Level 1. All other new students should fill out the placement class request form below and a member of the Academy staff will contact you to schedule a placement class.
Level Requirements
Level 1
Level 1 students take a minimum of two 75-minute ballet classes per week: one technique class and one performance class.
Level 2
Level 2 students take a minimum of two 90-minute ballet classes per week: one technique class and one performance class.
Level 3
Level 3 students take a minimum of three 2-hour ballet classes per week: two technique classes and one performance class. Level 3 ladies also take a dedicated half-hour pointe class each week.
Level 3 Advanced
Level 3 Advanced students take a minimum of three 2-hour ballet classes per week: two technique classes and one performance class. Level 3 Advanced ladies also take a dedicated half-hour pointe class each week. All Level 3 Advanced students are required to take a conditioning class.
Level 4
Level 4 students take a minimum of four 2-hour ballet classes per week: three technique classes and one performance class.
Level 5
Level 5 students take a minimum of five 2.5-hour ballet classes per week: four technique classes and one performance class.
Level 6
Level 6 students take a minimum of six 2.5-hour ballet classes per week: five technique classes and one performance class.
Level 7
Level 7 students take a minimum of six 2.5-hour ballet classes per week: five technique classes and one performance class. Additionally, one elective class is required.
Main Division Class Listings
Tuition prices are indicated in the printable guide at the bottom of each tab
Level 1 students should enroll in one of the tracks designated below. Each track is equal in merit and consists of a technique class and a performance class, thus fulfilling the Level 1 requirements.
Track A
Monday 4:00 – 5:15 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Thursday 4:00 – 5:15 pm with Donna Anderle ◊
Track B
Tuesday 4:45 – 6:00 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Thursday 4:45 – 6:00 pm with Kara Louis ◊
Track C
Tuesday 4:00 – 5:15 pm with Kara Louis ◊
Saturday 11:00 am – 12:15 pm with Rosa Compostella
Track D
Saturday 12:15 – 1:30 pm with Rosa Compostella ◊
Sunday 12:15 – 1:30 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Musical Theater Dance ∆
Sunday 1:30 – 2:45 pm with Kara Louis
Level 2 students should enroll in one of the tracks designated below. Each track is equal in merit and consists of a technique class and a performance class, thus fulfilling the Level 2 requirements.
Track A
Monday 5:00 – 6:30 pm with Donna Grisez ◊
Wednesday 5:00 – 6:30 pm with Kara Louis
Track B
Wednesday 4:00 – 5:30 pm with Donna Grisez ◊
Friday 4:00 – 5:30 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Track C
Thursday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Lauren Lassila ◊
Sunday 12:00 – 1:30 pm with Kara Louis
Pre Pointe Class ∆
Monday 4:30 – 5:00 pm with Donna Grisez
Wednesday 5:30 – 6:00 pm with Donna Grisez
Sunday 11:30 – 12:00 with Kara Louis
Musical Theater Dance ∆
Sunday 1:30 – 2:45 pm with Kara Louis
The Level 3 course schedule consists of two technique classes, a performance class and an additional half-hour pointe class for ladies, thus fulfilling the Level 3 requirements.
Monday 6:30 – 8:30 pm with Sasha Hart ◊
Wednesday 6:30 – 8:30 pm with Kara Louis
Saturday 12:15 – 2:15 pm with Sarah Hairston & Zack Grubbs
Saturday (Pointe) 2:15 – 2:45 pm with Sarah Hairston & Zack Grubbs
Beginning Modern ∆
Saturday 11:00 am – 12:15 pm with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman
Conditioning ∆
Monday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Flexistretcher ∆
Wednesday 5:45 – 6:15 pm with Florrie Geller
The Level 3 Advanced course schedule consists of two technique classes, a performance class and an additional half-hour pointe class for ladies, thus fulfilling the Level 3 Advanced curriculum requirements. Level 3 Advanced is also required to enroll in Conditioning.
Tuesday 6:00 – 8:00 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Tuesday (Pointe) 8:00 – 8:30 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Thursday 6:15 – 8:30 pm with Isabele Elefson
Saturday 9:00 – 10:30 am with Sarah Hairston & Zack Grubbs ◊
Saturday (Pointe & Partnering) 10:30 – 11:00 am with Sarah Hairston & Zack Grubbs
Conditioning ‡
Monday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Beginning Modern ∆
Saturday 11:00 am – 12:15 pm with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman
Flexistretcher ∆
Wednesday 5:45 – 6:15 pm with Florrie Geller
Thursday 5:45 – 6:15 pm with Florrie Geller
The Level 4 course schedule consists of three technique classes and a performance class, thus fulfilling the Level 4 curriculum requirements.
Tuesday 5:45 – 8:15 pm with Zack Grubbs
Wednesday 6:00 – 7:30 pm with Christina LaForgia Morse
Wednesday (Pointe) 7:30 – 8:30 pm with Christina LaForgia Morse
Thursday 6:00 – 8:30 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck ◊
Friday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Dawn Kelly
Intermediate Modern ∆
Saturday 9:00 – 10:15 am with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman
Jazz & Musical Theater ∆
Saturday 1:30 – 2:45 pm with Patty Pille & Kate Stark
Conditioning ∆
Monday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
The Level 5 course schedule consists of four technique classes, a multi-genre rotating class and a rehearsal and performance class, thus fulfilling the Level 5 curriculum requirements.
Monday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Dawn Kelly
Monday (Pointe & Repertoire) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Sarah Hairston
Tuesday (Rotation*) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Rotating Instructors
Thursday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Sarah Hairston
Thursday (Performance) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Sarah Hairston, Zack Grubbs & Dawn Kelly ◊
Friday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Sasha Hart
Saturday 10:15 – 11:45 am with Sarah Hairston & Zack Grubbs
Saturday (Pointe & Partnering) 11:45 am – 12:15 pm with Sarah Hairston & Zack Grubbs
*Features a multi-disciplinary course rotation
Intermediate Modern ∆
Saturday 9:00 – 10:15 am with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman
Jazz & Musical Theater ∆
Saturday 1:30 – 2:45 pm with Patty Pille & Kate Stark
Variations & Repertoire ∆
Friday 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Dawn Kelly
Conditioning ∆
Monday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Flexistretcher∆
Wednesday 5:45 – 6:15 pm with Florrie Geller
The Level 6 course schedule consists of five technique classes, a multi-genre rotating class and a rehearsal and performance class, thus fulfilling the Level 6 curriculum requirements.
Monday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Zack Grubbs
Monday (Partnering) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Zack Grubbs
Tuesday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday (Rotation*) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Rotating Instructors
Wednesday 6:15 – 8:30 pm with David Morse
Thursday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Sarah Hairston
Thursday (Performance) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Sarah Hairston, Zack Grubbs & Dawn Kelly ◊
Friday 5:30 – 7:15 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Saturday 12:15 – 2:15 pm with Dawn Kelly
*Features a multi-disciplinary course rotation
Advanced Modern ∆
Friday 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman
Variations & Repertoire ∆
Friday 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Dawn Kelly
Conditioning ∆
Monday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Flexistretcher ∆
Wednesday 5:45 – 6:15 pm with Florrie Geller
The Level 7 course schedule consists of five technique classes, a multi-genre rotating class and a rehearsal and performance class, thus fulfilling the Level 7 curriculum requirements. Level 7 is also required to enroll in Advanced Modern.
Monday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Zack Grubbs
Monday (Partnering) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Zack Grubbs
Tuesday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday (Rotation*) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Rotating Instructors
Wednesday 6:15 – 8:30 pm with David Morse
Thursday 5:45 – 7:15 pm with Sarah Hairston
Thursday (Performance) 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Sarah Hairston, Zack Grubbs & Dawn Kelly ◊
Friday 5:30 – 7:15 pm with Courtney Hellebuyck
Saturday 12:15 – 2:15 pm with Dawn Kelly
*Features a multi-disciplinary course rotation
Advanced Modern ‡
Friday 7:15 – 8:30 pm with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman
Conditioning ∆
Monday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Tuesday 5:15 – 5:45 pm with Dawn Kelly
Flexistretcher ∆
Wednesday 5:45 – 6:15 pm with Florrie Geller
Level 1 Boys Class ∆
Tuesday 4:00 – 4:45 pm with Zack Grubbs
Boys Conditioning Class ‡
Required for all male dancers Level 2 and above
Friday 5:00 – 5:45 pm wtih Zack Grubbs
Intermediate Boys Class ∆◊
For male dancers in Levels 2 – 4
Friday 5:45 – 6:45 pm with Zack Grubbs
Advanced Men’s Class ‡◊
Required for male dancers in Levels 5 – 7
Friday 4:00 – 5:00 pm with Zack Grubbs
∆ – Elective Class
◊ – Performance Class
‡ – Required class
Program Registration
Registration for the 2019-2020 Academy Year is now closed. Enrollment for the 2020-2021 Academy Year will open in late spring. If you’re a prospective student, we’d love to know more about you and which programs you may be interested in. Please fill out the interest form below so we can best support you and notify you of upcoming opportunities.
