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118 Cherry Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711Monday to Thursday: 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Woman ownedFall registration opens in July(828) 555-0109
Releve School of Ballet
Book a placement visit
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Six levels, in order

A level is one step in the order a student learns ballet. Each shows what students work on and how the teacher moves them up. Pointe begins when the teacher says so, and it is not tied to a level or an age.

  1. 01

    Pre-Ballet

    Ages 4 to 5
    Skills

    • Standing tall with a hand on the barre

    • First position and the first arm shapes

    • Walking, skipping and galloping to the music

    • Waiting a turn and watching the teacher

    Moving up

    When the teacher sees the class steps done calmly and in order, a student joins First Position at the start of a session.

  2. 02

    First Position

    Ages 6 to 7
    Skills

    • Pliés and tendus at the barre, in order

    • Counting a phrase of eight with the pianist

    • A small balance and a first jump in the center

    • Port de bras with the head and eyes

    Moving up

    When the barre is clear and a student can repeat a short center combination from memory, the teacher says so at a session break.

  3. 03

    Second Position

    Ages 8 to 9
    Skills

    • Rond de jambe and battement at the barre

    • Small jumps: sauté, changement and echappé

    • Chassé and glissade across the floor

    • A first adagio, slow and held

    Moving up

    When the barre steps are steady without the teacher's hand and the jumps land quietly, the teacher moves a student up.

  4. 04

    Third Position

    Ages 10 to 11
    Skills

    • A longer barre with turns and balances

    • Pirouettes from fifth position

    • Petit allegro: quick, light footwork

    • Dancing a combination with a partner's timing

    Moving up

    When turns and jumps hold together inside a full combination, the teacher invites a student to Fourth Position.

  5. 05

    Fourth Position

    Ages 12 to 13
    Skills

    • A full barre, then adagio and grand allegro

    • Turns on both sides

    • Strengthening at the barre to prepare for pointe

    • Learning a short variation

    Moving up

    When a student dances a whole class with ease and shapes steps of their own, the teacher talks with the family about the top level.

  6. 06

    Fifth Position

    Ages 14 and up
    Skills

    • Classical barre, center and allegro in one class

    • Longer variations, rehearsed for the recital

    • Pointe work, when the teacher says the student is ready

    • Helping the youngest students find the barre

    Moving up

    This is the top level. Students stay as long as they like, and the teacher sets new goals with each of them.

Where to startBook a placement visit

Sample levels.

Ages are where students usually begin each level. A teacher chooses the level, at a placement visit and again at each session break.

Where does my child start?

A placement visit is a short class with a teacher watching. The teacher chooses the level.

Book a placement visitSee the schedule