A welcoming environment for adult dancers of all levels. My journey began ambitiously with a Level 2 Beginner Ballet class, which proved to be quite challenging for someone who hasn't seriously done ballet since high school. Recognizing the need to build a solid foundation, I transitioned to Basic Level and Beginner 1 classes. After about six months of dedicated practice, I experienced significant improvement, making each session more enjoyable and rewarding. While I still aspire to join the Beginner Level 2 class, I plan to continue refining my skills, possibly through private lessons, before taking that step. I tried hip-hop for the first time with friends, in a month-long series culminating in a showcase. but I've also done drop in beginner, hip-hop and cardio hip-hop classes. I made some friends here, it is often the same faces that are loyal to certain types of classes and teachers. I love the Austin Dance scene. During International Dance Week, they offered $10 classes in various styles, including West African dance accompanied by live drumming--a vibrant and immersive experience. Additionally, their annual Memorial Day sale provides excellent opportunities for discounted classes and workshops. I think if it is your first time coming, you can do a class for five dollars or get two classes for $28. they have a small parking lot, but they also do offer to our parking in the Google building next-door for three dollars. It's more convenient if you have cash. read more

Unless you live downtown, getting there and parking for a class is a bit annoying. There are workarounds, though. I don't care. The Pilates (reformer and mat) options here are worth any kind of trouble. I've studied reformer Pilates with three other instructors over the years and Vlada Sheber, master instructor and Pilates Program Director for Ballet Austin, made aching parts of me feel invigorated and ready to move. She gets what happens when you have a tinge of arthritis here, there or osteoporosis. I'm addicted already. I didn't need help in these ways, but she is also trained in teaching people after surgery, breast cancer patients, and more. Private or group classes? Check. Pilates for physical therapy? Check. There are several instructors with different areas of specialties, and they are beginning a new-to- reformer group class this week. read more

See all

I love ballet Austin they give amazing training and we build amazing bonds with all of the teachers and students making friends that will last a lifetime. read more

Ballet Austin Academy - AVST - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

A friend recommend a night out in town and suggested we watch a dance performance. And I'm so glad that I said yes. The performances were sooo awesome, it left my heart wanting more. The dancers were beautiful, the routines were well thought out and the venue is amazing! It can get crowded really fast though. If you get an opportunity to visit this place, watch out for the next performances and sign yourself up - you won't be disappointed! read more

Every year, Ballet Austin has free classes in January called Get Fit to introduce people to their classes and also inspire physical activity. I love and appreciate it so much, especially because you can sign up for more than one class and really test the waters. I've done it every year, trying different classes and I've never regretted it. Intro to Pilates is hard but in a good way, Ballet is certainly not my jam, Bollywood is a super fun class that will leave you sweating with a smile on your face but my absolute favorites are the Weights & Resistance and Strengthen & Stretch classes because of the intentionality with mind and body work. Anyway, I love Ballet Austin and definitely recommend taking classes there. read more

Ballet Austin Academy - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I recently started taking Pilates, reformer classes from Ballet Austin. Each instructor that I've had has been very knowledgeable and helpful. They have also been fun! When I first moved to Austin, many people suggested I take classes from Ballet Austin because their reputation was excellent. I'm so glad I found them. read more

Pros: *The very beginner ballet classes were fantastic. The instructor was very kind and patient. The instruction was meditative. Working out to classical music was awesome. *The new Dell Jewish Community Center is fantastic. *I love the variety of classes. *I love the free day of dance where we can try new things and parking at the garage across the street being provided for free is awesome. *I love the video dance classes. I have tried 2 different ones, and they were taught slow enough so that I could actually learn it. They allow students to take videos of the instructors doing the dance so we can practice at home. That was super helpful. *Parking on site is great! Cons: *Sometimes the girls working at the front desk are not very welcoming. *I don't take THAT many classes, yet a significant part of the time, there is someone in there to take photos and videos of us. I HATE THAT. I am taking classes to do something fun and try something new on my personal time. When I am being video'd and photographed looking like a fool it takes all the fun oUT of the class for me. If the class was FREE it would be fine, but I feel like my privacy is being violated when I am involuntarily being used for social media platforms without my consent. *Classes seem to get canceled a significant part of the time. I was about to leave my house to attend a class, and I saw they had just canceled it on the website. Other regular classes get canceled. One time I was in a class with others, and the instructor never showed up. *Parking situation - almost no spots. I don't want to pay a ton of money to park in a garage for just an hour class, and it is very hard to find a meter. This makes each class cost even more. *Class prices are costly *Having to buy 2 classes at minimum is a lot to ask *The 2 class package having an expiration sucks, especially since so many classes get canceled. It could take weeks to use just one class, as I do not have the skills to do most of the classes. *One of the instructors was disrespectful to the class. It was a male and the class was mostly female, and he kept yelling at us to smile and look like we are having fun. The minute a man tells me to smile I have lost all inclination to do so. *There are almost no classes for people who want to get in shape. One must have some fitness and skill level to do almost all of the classes read more

Upon meeting Joan, I instantly knew she was something special. Even after 25 years of teaching dance, she still has that sparkle in her eye and passion when she speaks about her love for dance education. She is a wealth of knowledge, and connecting with her on a professional level was such a joy. Joan's approach is rooted in the belief of teaching the whole child from a conceptual standpoint, and is one that has been carefully crafted and put together to create something magical. Our young dancers, ages 3-7, were fortunate to attend a master class with Joan at our studio. Joan's imaginative and playful approach had the children absolutely enamored and engaged the entire time! The parents who viewed the class were in awe of how she was able to relate to the children, and the teachers who viewed the class were in awe of the way the class seemed to flow so effortlessly and while keeping a calm and loving demeanor. read more

Ballet Austin Academy - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

I came here with a friend because she was taking a hip hop class on Sunday and it was the only time we could get together. She told me that they offer dance classes and that the first one was free. It was great because since I was in town visiting, I didn't have to pay to take an amazing class. The sign up process was kind of tedious. After waiting in line to check in, I had to go on a computer to sign up and then I could be checked in. That made me miss the first 5 minutes of class. All in all, everyone was really nice. The class was great. It was challenging but not overwhelming for every level. The next time I'm in Austin I plan on attending. read more

For the kids (preschoolers) holiday events only: We did the Valentine's Day Family Story & Music in Motion today. It was okay. I guess I was expecting more ballet since it is a ballet studio. The instructor was good. She brought a lot of props: a ball for the kids to introduce themselves; colorful scarves, sacks, and mats to make an obstacle course; a book to tell a story; and duck figurines to sing 5 little ducks. She also had all the proper music. I guess I just thought I'd here a song from a ballet musical. I heard the Nutcracker class had more dancing. We started off introducing ourselves with the ball, songs a couple songs (5 Little Ducks & maybe another); marched around the room to "Down on grandpa's farm" acting like the animals in the songs, skipped to my lou, and did the obstacle course. Then we made a Valentine's Day card with construction paper, crayons and stickers. It was fun. But kind of far for us to go all the way downtown for a 45 min class we could maybe do somewhere locally. And $15. The library has free story times. And yoga classes usually have a mixture of yoga and kids songs/games. Also, we had a much younger audience, so not sure if dance moves would even work. But it was at a time that normal preschoolers would be in school. **Parking Validation: Their parking lot is very small. They validate up to 2 hours at the CITY HALL Parking Garage (not the one across the street); it's located between Cesar Chavez and 2nd on Guadalupe. They also have $3 prepays for another garage (probably the one across the street). I'd like to check this out for a ballet in the future. I'll update my review if I try anything else :) Thanks for the fun today; I just saw the picture and had something different in my mind. read more

I signed up my 3 year old and a week later (2nd class) the instructor (Joan Wolfe) said to another student "thanks for your help with Olivia she is so bad" Olivia is my daughter. She must of noticed that I was listening because she came right up to me and said "your daughter is not ready for ballet, is she in school?" From what I saw of the class, my daughter acted about the same as other students except she was violently jerked off the metal bars on the sides of the room and put in her place which caused minor bruising of the skin. After she physically assaulted my daughter Joan Wolfe saw me looking and patted her on the head but my daughter is very upset at the way she was treated and the awful things that were said about her right in front of her and the rest of the students and parents. I can't believe Joan Wolfe has so many years of experience doing her present job. She must hate her job. read more

Ballet Austin Academy - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Miss Wolf is a spectacular Ballet teacher! My 4 year daughter Brooke enjoys her class so much! Miss Wolf is so creative with her use of scarves and glitter flash lights! She has a true gift with children. She is professional and extremely poised. I highly recommend this class. Miss Wolf honors each of the tiny dancers individual spirit. Miss wolf is an excellent teacher! read more

See all

Gorgeous. Intricate. Enthralling. I can get totally consumed in Stephen Mills' more contemporary ballets with a sultry spin. I was not as impressed with Dell Hall as I hoped to be (it was very parallel to Bass Concert Hall in my opinion), but that is certainly not a reflection on Ballet Austin. read more

At some point between striking a 'sexy pose' for the start of a musical routine and fanning my fingers for basic Flamenco, I realized: I should have majored Dance & Performing Arts. What good will Human Development do me when I need to plié for a Pointe Pirouette? The Austin Ballet's Butler Academy is a facility where anyone who has interest in dance, regardless of their experience (or lack thereof), is encouraged to enroll in classes ranging from Adult Ballet to Theatre Dance to Hula & Hatha Yoga to Hip Hop & Flamenco. I attended the school's 'Come Dance' Bi-Annual Open House last Sunday, where a myriad of classes were held in eight different studios in the course of four hours. The instructors were enthusiastic yet focused, and encouraged new students to defy their inhibitions and establish themselves as someone worthy of the dancefloor. A great mantra for those who are shy, and an empowering one for those who are already comfortable moving. Instructors also briefed us on their respective terminology & approaches to their form of dance, ending each section with an applaud resonating through the studio. This is probably what recovering addicts feel when passing a milestone in support groups. Yeh-es! Taking everything into account (complimentary smoothies from Froots, too) I HIGHLY recommend attending their next Open House. It's bound to get you out of a funk if you're in one, and make you feel you're on Cloud 9 if you're not. Hell, I'm streaming Andalusian Flamenco and doing Floreos right now. ¡Olé! read more

Ballet Austin Academy - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

Broadway Fit class at Ballet Austin was definitely humbling but I had fun with my friends and the music was really good. The best part was the two teachers, two men, sorry that I can't remember their names but I'm pretty sure they are the only ones that teach together. Even the man at the front when we checked in was warm and welcoming, and I wasn't expecting it, as I was completely intimidated at first. They made me feel welcome and even though most of the class knew the routine and I felt like a horse, they were the reason it was fun. I bought a pass for four classes for $60, which might seem like a lot but since I never use my gym membership it's more interesting- read more

Facility: beautiful and huge Staff: courteous and helpful Adult drop-in classes: impressive First fee drop-in class: nice Pricing: reasonable I love taking dance classes at Ballet Austin: anything from hip/hop & salsa to ballet & broadway. No matter what your motivation for taking a class is: better athleticism, losing weight, love for dance or other. Ballet Austin has it ! I personally really like Tara Alperin Barre Fit classes and Jenny Alperin Pop Jazz. The best thing is that if I get out of work early, I have options of a dance class to take. Or if I have to stay in the office late, I can always take an 8:30 pm class. I also truly appreciate the fact that Ballet Austin offers Saturday AND Sunday classes. Way to go! read more

Pilates. That's what I'm review here - the pilates classes. I have zero opinion on their dance performances or ballet classes. The pilates classes here are great! Brittany is a wonderful instructor and changes the routine enough that I don't get bored but not so much that I don't know what is going on. I have been coming here for six months and these classes have really helped me get in shape -much more and faster than the yoga I had been doing elsewhere. It's a nice facility, complete with dressing room and shower. read more

This review is for the company and the Long Center specifically, NOT the academy/drop in classes. My boyfriend and I went to the Saturday night performance of Agon and The Firebird. I've been to ballets in San Francisco and Philadelphia and was looking forward to seeing what Austin had to offer. Our disappointment began at the ticket center. I ordered online and decided to pick my tickets up at will call instead of paying to have them mailed. When I arrived at will call there was a huge line... okay, no problem, I'll wait. When I finally got to the front of the line I was told that my tickets never got printed and I would need to wait in the box office line, which was about the same length as the line I'd just stood in. Allll the way to the back I went. Wait. Wait. Angry people in front of me who were also missing tickets. Wait. Wait. FINALLY-- TICKETS! We dashed up to our seats with just enough time to sit down. We encountered a surprising number of people wearing jeans-- who wears jeans to the ballet?! Okay, on to the dancing! I wasn't at all impressed with Agon. The dancers seemed uninspired; perhaps they too were bored with the annoyingly repetitive choreography. Could be that I'm just not a Balanchine person, but I don't think they pulled it off. The Firebird was better and significantly more passionate. My only criticism is that some elements of the set were unclear, making the story difficult to follow. I'm lookin' at you, glowing green gates stage left that looked more like garden gates than castle gates. Another note-- I don't know what kind of floor the Long Center has or what kind of pointe shoes the dancers were wearing but gosh, every time they landed after a jump I could hear it all the way up in the balcony. I don't think I'll be returning. We had a nice night once the ticket snafus got cleared up, but I didn't leave feeling my usual sense of post-ballet euphoria. read more

I went to the Nutcracker show organized by Ballet Austin at the Paramount theatre and it was rather alright. The set was small and so was the scale of the performance. I was anticipating to see more performers than just 20 or so young dancers on the stage. I have never watched any live ballet before but when I can hear the distinct stumping on the stage I couldn't help but asked my friend, 'is it supposed to be this noisy? I thought ballet steps are supposed to be quiet and graceful.' My friend who used to be a professional ballet dancer for 16 years told me that she has seen better Nutcracker show. Somehow we think that maybe it wasn't that good of a show because the stage is small and there wasn't a live orchestra playing for the show. read more

Purely rating this from a drop-in ballet class standpoint. Great experience and absolutely fantastic facility. I am so impressed and proud that Austin has the Butler Community School. The incredible variety of drop-in classes offered here are absolutely stellar. The pricing (the larger the package, the cheaper the class) can't be beat and the quality of instruction available to the public is phenomenal. Of the many cities that I've lived in and lived around, Ballet Austin's community school is treasure. The adorable young lady manning the check-in desk was warm and welcoming. For my first time at the facility, she was more than happy to provide me with a schedule and to talk me through a map of the building. I took an Intermediate/Advanced Teen/Adult Ballet Class taught by Arletta. I was terrified considering how it's been 15 years since I've left professional ballet schooling as a teen. In all the locations I've subsequently lived in, I've always pursued adult ballet classes as recreational fitness and of course for love of the art. The class absolutely broke me off and I couldn't walk for a week, but I was thrilled to be dancing again and I was floating on the endorphins for the rest of the week. Fast-paced but absolutely non-judgemental of my Disney-Fantasia-Hippo-Ballerina rendition, I was greatly appreciative of Arletta's non-biased instruction of every individual in the classroom regardless of skill or quality of technique. You could tell that there were dancers of varying skill level from current to previous experience. I fell in the "previous experience" category and lacked the flexibility and skill of the younger dancers, but Arletta was still gracious and impartial - paying attention to every individual and giving articulate corrections and advice. Even though I knew I was the worst one in the class, it was really refreshing to know I was still welcome in the class. I loved walking through the bright open facility and enjoyed watching the other ongoing classes through the windows. My muscles would twitch with muscle memory as I watched the other classes. I was thrilled. Check out the variety of drop-in classes that are available - this place is a gem! read more

I love the opportunity to take dance classes at Ballet Austin! Hatha Yoga is a great way to end a day of work. Michelle's class is soothing and I felt great after the hour. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. I would recommend you to check out their site for classes that interest you. read more

I am so grateful for creative dance for young learners in Austin! Joan Wolfe is a master teacher and a joy. In her approach to creative movement, students explore the movement concepts that are fundamental to all forms of dance. Through playful and age-appropriate stories, learners enjoy creative inquiry and collaboration as they build skills and movement vocabulary in and through dance. Her teaching is nurturing, holistic and reinforces a growth mindset to foster children's social/emotional, physical, and cognitive development. With expressive music, visual images and tactile props, dancers have fun creating, expressing and learning in a constructive and encouraging environment. read more

I absolutely love everything about Ballet Austin. As a former/current/lifelong student of dance, I jumped at the chance to start taking classes here again a few months ago. The Butler Community School offers great drop-in classes (hip-hop, african dance and even Broadway tap!) So, there is something for everyone! After a few trial classes (which were a great deal through the promotional section of their website!) I was able to get a nice discount on signing up for a multiple class card; which means classes that are good for an entire year! This also means I can go to any class, anytime I want to at the School; SCORE! I would say if there are any negatives, it would be the lack of parking (well, we are downtown), and the small dressing room/shower. Honestly though, even in peak usage time, there is still plenty of room for me to shower and change. Wish every city had as cool of a drop-in program as Ballet Austin! read more

Was not happy with the summer intensive. Bill Piner was not accommodating at all. Heart breaking the sacrifices I had to make to bring my daughter from Ohio to Austin for this all to have plans changed on us. read more

I have been to three performances: Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, and all were disappointing. The dancers appear to have technique, but the dancing and the choreography are uninspiring and uninspired. Giselle was by far the worst, because they "dumbed down" the choreography, and I know the ballet well enough to see what they did. The funniest (also saddest) moment was when the Willis' veils were pulled off and the audience started laughing. Giselle is not supposed to be a comedy. The Nutcracker put me to sleep, and I don't know why there was so much excitement about the "World Premiere of New Sets and Costumes" because there was nothing to get excited about. For me, the sets looked like big cardboard cutouts of tree ornaments with glitter glued on them. One thing that I noticed was that the children didn't do any real dancing at all, and I'm not sure why. I know that the Academy will only allow their own students to audition for The Nutcracker (we moved here last year, and my younger daughter was already enrolled in another school before I realized that this was the rule). That actually made me feel better, because I saw that my daughter hadn't really missed out on anything from a dance point of view, though I'm sure it's fun to be on that stage. Sleeping Beauty was boring. Everyone did what they were supposed to do (which, again, was a simplified version of what I'm familiar with), and that's it. I've heard that Ballet Austin is good at Contemporary and Modern dance, but since I'm not as interested in those, I haven't been to see any performances and can't provide an opinion. I do feel comfortable saying that compared to other "city" ballets I've seen - in my home state of Massachusetts, where Boston Ballet is my reference, and in NYC, where I've seen ABT and NYC Ballet on multiple occasions - Ballet Austin is definitely not in the same category. I don't know why, but it's too bad, since they're the only game in town. Honestly, I get more enjoyment watching YouTube videos of great companies than seeing mediocre performances live. read more

Great bollywood class . Have taken previous classes and not been impressed. All i can say is wow they are so energetic it makes you feel energetic. Then you get a good worl out with lots of other people. I watched about a third of the time because i did not have their energy. This was mostly during the freedance. Man the instructors are fit and young. You can tell they love whAt they are doing. read more

Ballet Austin Academy - The instructor energy - Performing Arts Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

surprised by my husband who suggested that we do the drop in community dance classes as fitness, I said sure. I've been away from ballet 15 years and was happy to jump into the beginner ballet class with him. It is challenging for him, not at all for me - but since I have no turn out and can arabesque at only 45 degrees I love the class because I can take my time to reaquaint my body to postures that it has not performed in almost 2 decades. All levels are welcome and the teachers are encouraging. I love the fat burn, chance to hang with my spouse among mellow enthusiasts and the facility is great!!! I'm glad he suggested it. My only complaint is the lack of instruction by the teachers and their nitpicking of wanting the participants to hit a closed 5th or tight first position (instead of noting the obvious such as people like me who have absolutely no turnout and prefer to hit first or third position instead, especially since I have hyperextended knees). They demand high level postures in a beginner class, regardless of the physiological shape of the participant. Just ignore the stupidity of these ocd comments by the teachers and do your most comfortable position to get through the exercises safely and you will be good to go. Men and women attend the classes, all levels. I even had a teen on pointe participate int he beg. ballet class with us this sat. They don't mind basic workout clothes in class and don't sweat the small stuff like hair down or hot pink tshirts. Great time every class and we were quick to take advantage of the new client 20% off promo code they emailed us after our first free class. Parking in the evening is not free, but sometimes they do arrange for free garage parking if we can't find a spot in the parking lot they have, which is always full. Going to try out some modern classes - wish they had more evening modern dance time slots! read more

Two things: their classes are a super fun way to sweat and get fit! Second, I finally got to see my first Nutcracker Ballet his year. Breathtaking! Spring for the good seats, you only live once! read more

I.cant.wait.for.this weekend. Having only ever seen the nutcracker, I didn't know what any other ballet was like. When I saw midsummer night's dream, I became a huge fan. How they showed the comedy of the play, into their dance was extraordinary. I caught myself, sharing laughter with the audience and enjoying every second of it. I'm attending the choreography competition this weekend and I'm so stoked, my finance as well. The sets, costumes, execution, superb. read more

I love Ballet Austin! I have tried a range of their drop-in classes, and all have been great. Good workouts, super fun. My all-time favorite is Cardio Hip Hop with Lauren. I also really like Tara, Jenny, and Alex's classes. I knocked off a star because of parking - they have a great deal where you can park in a nearby lot and get it validated which is awesome...before I realized that, I was getting there 30 minutes early to hopefully park in their lot and sometimes paying for parking which is a waste when the classes are already pricey. Once I learned about the City Hall lot, that solved this issue, but it's still a few blocks to walk which can be annoying in bad weather. Also, some of the rooms can get really hot and stuffy. But for me, the classes are worth those challenges! read more

I've got nothing but good things to say about Ballet Austin, their classes & workshops, their instructors and their staff. But I must put a little plug in for the instructor I've had for a while now: Sara Paul. She is so knowledgeable and patient! I'm very grateful to have a place like Ballet Austin in my life! Also have been to several Ballet Austin performances and they were quite lovely! read more

We went the other night for a performance. It was spectacular. WE really enjoyed the artists , music and the lovely long center .. Truely a great place. read more

Ballet Austin has a beautiful facility and has a great variety of classes. Our daughter attended the academy there for 7 years. She had a combination of lovely, knowledgeable teachers (like Ms.Bravo and Mr.Bethany) and she also had some cranky and discouraging teachers (who have since retired, thank goodness). The registration can be a bit frustrating because the woman answering the phone and emails has repeatedly given us erroneous information (incorrect dates for auditions, future class times, requirements...etc.). Bill Piner is the Academy Director and will gladly clarify the wrong information given by the registration office, but, although he is absolutely lovely, I didn't want to have to continually run to him to verify information. Ballet Austin is affordable and fairly priced, especially considering that they are very generous with their scholarships for the kids that need financial assistance. The ballet dancers have Recitals only once a year and dance in leotards so you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars for a silly taffetta recital dress that your child will only wear once. Stephen Mills is the Director there and he is hysterical! He can take the old mundane traditional dances and add a simple joke in the middle that many may miss, but if you catch it, you will laugh out loud! Parking, however is a big pain. No parking there and if you can't pay the meter, the city people are standing by waiting to write a ticket. Because parking is so difficult there and the registration dept. can be a bit frustrating, we finally decided it was not worth it to continue at BA but we do have wonderful beautiful memories there of our daughter's first experiences with ballet. read more

This review is for the adult drop-in classes. I absolutely love Ballet Austin and what they have to offer. I have taken a lot of classes and enjoyed all of them. The teachers aren't scary and the people are nice. It's a very welcoming atmosphere! I docked off one star for two reasons: 1. Parking is a headache if you come during the evening. During the day time, you can get your parking validated at the City Hall parking garage, but after 5pm, it can be difficult to find something free, especially with all the construction. 2. It's my opinion that the classes are way over-priced. I attended multiple dance studios in San Francisco last year, where I could dance for much cheaper, which really shocks me. Everything else about that city is much more expensive. In San Francisco, I could dance at a very similar studio (ODC) for $14 drop-n and as low as $8 per class with their biggest class pass. At Ballet Austin, the absolute cheapest you can get is $12.50, and drop-ins go for $18. Unfortunately, they are way outside my budget to dance very often, which stinks! :( Luckily, they do have specials every once in a while, which helps. I just wish they had a cheaper option all the time. read more

Poor customer experience. Too strict of policy, would never choose to purchase classes with Ballet Austin again.

I sent both of my daughters to ballet austin to participate in the Creative Movement program. Joan Wolfe is an incredibly kind and thoughtful teacher. Joan is patient and fun and notices how your child learns best. She was understanding of my child's reluctance to participate and allowed her to join the group in her own way. My kids learned more than just dance, they learned about their bodies, and concepts of space and movement. I would highly recommend the creative movement program. read more

I'm not a huge fan of traditional ballet, but Ballet Austin's artistic director, Stephen Mills, has my number. This ain't your grandma's ballet. While they do perform more traditional pieces, like the Nutcracker, much of their work is incredibly cool, avant-garde stuff that is vibrant, modern, visually compelling, and totally engrossing. Where else can you see ballet performed to the music of David Byrne, Twyla Tharp, and the Squirrel Nut Zippers? Nowhere but Austin. If you haven't been, go see a performance - you won't be disappointed. read more

Years in the waiting. I have been waiting years for Ballet Austin to perform Swan Lake. I have watched countless other companies perform it. Finally, last year, my patience was rewarded as it was announced that they would be staging a production this May. I ordered my tickets almost as soon as they became available and finally, this past Sunday, the moment had arrived. Mothers' Day was here and my daughter and I were so excited to see what is our favorite ballet. There is something so special about live performance. I get a giddy feeling in the pit of my stomach as I hear the orchestra tuning up and an instrument or two playing a familiar piece of what they will be performing in its entirety, soon. The lights dim, there is electricity in the air as the conductor quiets the pit with his appearance on the podium and then with a lift of the baton, the music starts. The familiar strains begin and I am transfixed. The curtain rises and I see an enchanted lake. Wait, what! Okay, calm down, perhaps they are choosing to start with Odette's enchantment into the swan a la American Ballet Theatre's version. Okay...nope. There are the hunters and Siegfried holding his crossbow. Where is the celebration from Act I? Where's Siegfried's mother chastising him about growing up and getting married? They completely skipped that part! Not just a part, but the whole first act! Why? Is it just because this is a matinee performance? Why not call it excerpts from Swan Lake? My daughter and I were totally disappointed. After our shock and dismay abated, we focused on the performance and the spectacular set. The forest set was magical and with the fog lifting off the lake, lit by a luminous full harvest moon, the swans appeared and enchanted us with their graceful movements. The ballerinas moving in unison, lithe arms extending out to forever, pointe shoes fluttering across the stage (which, unfortunately amplifies every touch of the foot to the stage). I got tingles during the infamous pas de quatre of dancing cygnets. The music was divine, the performances spectacular and in Act II, the series of fouettes by Odile was amazing! I even became teary eyed every time Von Rothbart enchants Odette and she "flies" to him. My daughter and I had conflicting opinions on the ending. I prefer the tragic ending of Siegfried losing Odette after pledging his love to her and then getting tricked into falling for Odile. My daughter prefers the more romantic, traditional ending of them both committing suicide and living eternally together. Overall, I absolutely loved the performance, I just wished it had been performed in its entirety. read more

Carmina Barona was really good. Music and dance were entertaining and moving. Kai was the worst performance I have ever seen (especially heard). Dancers did ok, but the choreography was terrible. The music I can only describe as a 25 minute migraine headache. I have heard better sounds from a blender. Terrible. read more

I've been taking some classes here since this summer and I always have fun. The instructors are true professionals and put together excellent classes. Even though I have zero dance background or training, everyone is very patient with me and treats me like I know exactly what I am doing. The only problem I have is that classes are $17 a pop. Which means that on a teacher's salary, I really have to budget which classes I can go to, but it's totally worth it. read more