Open Enrollment Classes

Welcome to ARB’s Princeton Ballet School! We have a long history and a strong track record of providing high-quality dance instruction to adult students. Many of our adult students have told us that other ballet schools seem to only offer a couple of classes for adults as an after-thought, with teachers who are not really interested in training adults. But ARB’s Princeton Ballet School has over 50 classes weekly specifically for adult students, in seven different types of dance, plus Pilates. These classes are led by knowledgeable, charismatic and caring teachers who are here to help you explore new types of dance safely, improve your technique, and have a great time, too.

Who else will you find in your class? People of all ages from 13 to 70 plus. Most of our dancers are adults from all walks of life, who enjoy dance class as their life sport. Some are retired dancers or local dance teachers from other studios and colleges, who take class to keep up their skills and strength. We also have many dancers who are students at Rider University, as we provide the studio classes for the degree in Fine Arts with a dance specialization offered by Rider. We extend a warm welcome to all, and have many different levels of class to accommodate dancers of all skill levels.

Ballet, modern dance and Spanish dance classes are accompanied by one of our staff of a dozen highly-skilled accompanists.

You can participate in these classes in three different ways, depending on the amount of background you have:


1. BEGINNERS in any given type of dance—must register for an eight week session, to help your body get some traction on this new activity. You can try a single class for $16 before signing up, during the First Weeks, which are scheduled four times a year, right before each session begins.
2. INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED DANCERS—may purchase single classes for any type of dance at any time.
3. INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED DANCERS—may also purchase dance cards to get a reduced rate by buying in bulk. There are also specially priced dance cards for college students, and special rates for professional dancers.

CLICK HERE to download the Spring 2010 Open Enrollment Brochure, which will give you further details regarding payment, registration procedures, and full faculty biographies.

CLICK HERE for the Spring 2010 Open Enrollment Registration Form

CLICK HERE for maps to our three studios, in Cranbury, New Brunswick and Princeton.

CLICK HERE to read biographies of our faculty.

Exercise and Movement Classes:

Pilates PILATES—back when we first started offering it, we had to do a lot of explaining about what Pilates was. Now there are Pilates classes everywhere, but the important thing to bear in mind is that this exercise regimen is only as good as the teacher who is in charge, and the mindfulness which they teach you to bring to the performance of the exercise routine, or mat work, as it is called. The efficacy of Pilates has everything to do with understanding the role of the breathing and the deep layers of abdominal muscles in the control and centering of your body. The class is excellent for developing this core strength, for increasing flexibility, strengthening muscles and improving posture while eliminating tension and strain from the joints. A Pilates work-out is not aerobic, so for a complete work-out, you would want to follow this with a dance class. You will find that your barre work never felt so centered or strong! Since we offer Pilates as an addition to our core mission, we don’t have multiple levels of Pilates classes. We do allow beginners to join in the existing classes. We request that beginners enter only at four times of year, when we have the First Weeks and during the early weeks of the sessions that follow (see calendar in the downloadable Open Enrollment brochure). We suggest patience with your self on the part of new Pilates students, as it takes a while to fully understand the depth and complexity of the work. For on-going Pilates students, we recommend that you take these weeks when newcomers are entering as a good opportunity to continue deepening your understanding and capability in this work by cultivating what is called in zen practice “beginner’s mind”—really listening and hearing the directives as if for the first time, which can frequently lead to new insights. This is the way that professional dancers continue to renew and expand their knowledge of their own bodies as they do the barre exercises daily, year in and year out.

— this class is led by Anthony Rabara, director of the Rabara Studio in Princeton. Anthony, a former professional dancer, has been teaching Pilates for over 25 years. He was one of the earliest teachers of Pilates technique in the U.S., starting his training at the original Pilates Center in Manhattan in 1979. He continues to be involved with the Pilates Center’s certification program, as a Teacher of Teachers. He established his Princeton studio in 1994. Anthony rotates the teaching of this class with two other instructors from his studio, Kim Cryan and Barbara Kibler. Both have been teaching for the Rabara Studio and ARB’s Princeton Ballet School for the past fifteen years. AND — Dr. Kim Vaccaro leads these classes. Dr. Vaccaro, who holds a doctoral degree in dance education, has been teaching for ARB’s Princeton Ballet School for over 15 years. Dr. Vaccaro is the director of the Princeton Ballet School/Rider University joint program in dance, and many of the people who take these classes are majoring in dance at Rider, and using the Pilates class to better understand basic principles of anatomy and muscle usage in order to become better dancers and to train as dance teachers. — this class is taught by Jennifer Cavanaugh. Jennifer is a leading dancer in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet. She has also been a certified Pilates instructor for the past five years, and offers Pilates instruction privately in Highland Park as well. Jennifer’s class is informed by her own high-energy personality. SUGGESTED CLOTHING FOR PILATES CLASS: Wear loose, relaxed clothing. Yoga pants and teeshirts are perfect. Dance wear is also fine. If you plan to take dance class afterward, please don’t put your hair up yet. You will be uncomfortable on the mat for such a long time. Just wear your hair loose. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MAT We don’t have adequate storage space in our facilities for exercise mats. Students are expected to bring their own. You will be more comfortable in a Pilates class with a thick, cushiony mat. Thin yoga mats are made to provide a sticky surface on slippery floors. That is not a problem here—we have non-stick floors. What you want is a mat that will provide cushioning for your spine as you lie on it for an hour. Thick is good.

Zumba Part Latin and international dance, part aerobics…all fun! The Zumba workout mixes body sculpting movements with dance steps derived from salsa, merengue, cha cha, bellydance, cumbia, and more!

Christie Lee Williams has studied many forms of dance for 19 years, and has been teaching dance, drama, and aerobics for the past ten years.

Beginner Dance Classes:

Ballet BALLET: is our middle name, as it were. All of our ballet teachers are passionate advocates of the art form, and love to share its benefits with others. We feel strongly about its health benefits, which include increased balance and flexibility, and improved muscle strength and cardiovascular health. We also love hearing the classics of the piano repertory played for us, and sharing this music with you as we dance together. And we enjoy introducing you to a study that so focuses the brain on the present moment that we come out of class relaxed and energized. Here are descriptions of the different levels and classes available:

BEGINNERS (Ballet 101): this course is for students who are brand new to ballet, or returning after a long absence. We practice “tough love” with these classes, and have you sign up for eight weeks at a time so that you will be encouraged to come to class regularly and keep up with the slow but steady acquisition of new strength and skills. — Amy Megules will lead this group. Amy was a dancer in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet. She taught in the Cincinnati area for several years, and returned last year. She is a very engaging and thorough teacher. — Peggy Petteway Mahoney is one of the leading dancers in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet. She is a dancer of great strength and technical refinement. She has been teaching for ARB’s Princeton Ballet School for the past several years, and teaches a demanding and fun class. (two separate classes. Many people take both, or you can register for one or the other, as you wish) — Douglas Martin, a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and American Repertory Ballet, has been teaching this class for almost 15 years. His wealth of knowledge is overlaid with a great sense of humor and fun, making these sections very popular. — Susan Tenney, a long-time teacher at Princeton Ballet School, has also been a choreographer with the Williamstown Theater Festival, McCarter Theater, and many other professional groups. She has a strong following of students who enjoy the companionable and imaginative atmosphere of her classes. — Erika Mero, a graduate of ARB’s Princeton Ballet School and the recipient of a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase, is currently pursuing an MA in dance pedagogy at NYU. Erika is an active performer, and recently appeared with Opera New Jersey in their productions of “The Merry Widow” and “Die Fledermaus.” This is a small class, and would be great for anyone looking for a very supportive atmosphere and lots of personal help.

Hip-Hop/Jazz: — Angela Cusamano, teaches hiphop, with a beginner class and an intermediate/advanced class afterwards. These classes are best enjoyed by dancers with some prior background and excellent physical conditioning. Angela and has been teaching her high-energy class for ARB’s Princeton Ballet School since summer 08. Click Here to view some sample combinations from recent classes.

Jazz/Theatre Dance — Geoffrey Doig-Marx, offers two levels of theater dance/jazz, beginner and intermediate/advanced. The beginner class is for students who are new to jazz and theater dance work, but who have had several years of dance training. The intermediate/advanced class is for very strong dancers with a fair amount of jazz or theater dance background. Geoff, who also teaches in the dance program at Marymount Manhattan College, is a demanding, high-energy theater professional. Visit his website www.themantisproject.org for more info and to view a video clip of his work. Suggested clothing for theater dance/jazz class: Geoff would like to see everyone in black: leotard and tights for the women, teeshirt, dance belt and tights for the men. Jazz pants are fine instead of tights for either gender. Jazz oxfords are the best type of shoe for this class. Hair shoulgd be pulled back neatly for the females.

SPANISH DANCE: We are very lucky to have as a part of our dance community a highly skilled teacher of this complex and dramatic style of dance. Alma Concepcion (see full bio) has been teaching Spanish dance forms for Princeton Ballet School for over 25 years, and brings a wealth of experience, high expectations, and great material to the classroom. By Spanish dance, we are not referring to the Latin dance forms beloved of ballroom dancers, but to the folk, classical, and flamenco forms of Spain. The classes begin with a study of several traditional folk dances, such as the Jota Aragonesa and the Sevillanas.

Unlike ballet or modern dance classes, where each week has new “combinations,” these classes are learning set dances, which are built on and reviewed from week to week. Many members of the intermediate and advanced classes enjoy performing these works together at studio performances here and at community festivals. These classes teach many elements such as castanet playing, heelwork (or zapateados), and handclapping. For those new to this study and not yet sure whether they want to buy castanets, Ms. Concepcion lends them out each week.

Please try the beginner class first, even if you have had experience in other dance forms—intermediate and advanced classes are only for dancers with prior experience in Spanish dance.

Beginning Spanish Dance will be offered again next fall.

Exploring the music and dances of many cultures. This class is for children and adults; some dance experience preferable. Students under the age of 13 may register in this class, but must enroll for the full year. Check our website under beginning classes, or call for a brochure.

— Dr. Kim Vaccaro leads these classes. Dr. Vaccaro, who holds a doctoral degree in dance education, has been teaching for ARB’s Princeton Ballet School for over 15 years. Dr. Vaccaro is the director of the Princeton Ballet School/Rider University joint program in dance, and many of the people who take these classes are majoring in dance at Rider, and using the Pilates class to better understand basic principles of anatomy and muscle usage in order to become better dancers and to train as dance teachers.

INTERMEDIATES: are divided into 201 and 301 levels. These levels loosely relate to the Russian Vaganova syllabus, Levels 2 and 3, and are useful in providing a framework for our teachers to refer to when ensuring that there is progress over the year. The 201 classes assume a basic knowledge of the ballet barre and center work, and introduce the beginning study of pirouettes and other turns. The 301 classes do a faster barre and center, and assume knowledge of all turns. The combinations given will be more complex. Some of our classes function as a combination of these two levels, in order for us to be able to offer you more time options during the week. Placement within these levels is at your discretion—you might want to confer with the teacher to check whether they feel your choice of level is a good one for you.

Ballet

Ballet 201: This class assumes knowledge of the basics of the ballet barre and some center work. The study of pirouettes will begin. For students with one year or more of recent ballet, or several years of study in childhood.

— Jennifer Cavanaugh, teaches a combination of 201, 301 and 401. Jennifer, who is also a certified Pilates trainer, has been a leading dancer in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet, for the past several years. She teaches Pilates right before this class—try them together—the Pilates prepares your core fabulously for the demands of ballet class.

— Alma Concepcion, leads a 201 level class. Alma, who trained in classical ballet at the School of American Ballet as well as in Spain as a flamenco dancer, is a demanding and supportive teacher. This class is popular with Rider University students.

AND — Susan Tenney a long-time teacher at Princeton Ballet School and director of Susan Tenney Dance Company, teaches a 201 and 301 classes in the mornings, and again Thursday evening, for students with some dance background interested in learning more.

ADVANCED CLASSES (Ballet 401): We offer an advanced/professional level class each weekday morning from 9:30-11:00 a.m., taught by Douglas Martin. Mr. Martin, a former principal dancer with the Joffrey and American Repertory Ballet, brings a wealth of experience and good humor to the class. Dancers in the class are a mix of current and retired professionals from ballet and modern dance companies, students from Rider and Princeton Universities, Princeton Ballet School faculty members, our professional company members during lay-off weeks, and community members with strong ballet experience. Most dancers in this class are taking class multiple days of the week, but drop-ins are welcome as well. After the Monday and Wednesday class sections, there are pointe classes taught by Mary Barton. Friday’s class features a half-hour of partnering class afterwards.

There is also a Saturday morning advanced class with Carol Bellis, also good for dancers with a very strong background and current skill level. This Saturday class is not a good time for female dancers to bring pointe shoes—the combinations are not planned for that.

Advanced dancers also enjoy participating in the Tuesday evening class in Cranbury with Mr. Martin (combined with Ballet 301), and also the Monday and Thursday evening classes in New Brunswick, taught by Jennifer Cavanaugh and Matthew Keefe. These are described above in the Intermediate section, as they are combined with Ballet 301.

— Amy Megules will lead this group. Amy was a dancer in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet. She taught in the Cincinnati area for several years, and returned last year. She is a very engaging and thorough teacher.

— Jennifer Cavanaugh, teaches a combination of 201, 301 and 401. Jennifer, who is also a certified Pilates trainer, has been a leading dancer in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet, for the past several years. She teaches Pilates right before this class—try them together—the Pilates prepares your core fabulously for the demands of ballet class.

— Peggy Petteway Mahoney is one of the leading dancers in our professional company, American Repertory Ballet. She is a dancer of great strength and technical refinement. She has been teaching for ARB’s Princeton Ballet School for the past several years, and teaches a demanding and fun class.

— Douglas Martin, (Ballet) a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and American Repertory Ballet, has been teaching this class for almost 15 years. His wealth of knowledge is overlaid with a great sense of humor and fun, making these sections very popular. Pointe class available with Mary Barton after the Monday and Wednesday classes. Partnering available with Mr. Martin after Friday’s class.

— Stephen Campanella, teaches 301. Stephen, a graduate of our school, dances with our professional company, American Repertory Ballet. He also enjoys dancing in operas, having recently appeared in “The Merry Widow” and “Die Fledermaus” with Opera New Jersey. Stephen’s dry wit and analytical approach make this a very interesting class.

— Carol Bellis added this class to her schedule this year, in response to demand from her many Saturday morning students. Carol is a graduate of School of American Ballet, and has been teaching for ARB’s Princeton Ballet School for 20 years. Her classes are demanding and fun, popular with retired dance professionals, Rider students and the general public.

JAZZ AND HIPHOP CLASSES: ARB’s Princeton Ballet School offers two types of class derived from the jazz dance tradition—theater dance/jazz and hiphop. Each is a fast and lively class, with lots of complicated dancing and, typically, very little personal help given. If you are still fairly new to dance and are looking for lots of personal help and a slow-paced environment, start with the ballet or modern dance classes. The theater dance and hiphop classes are about speed and energy, so the teachers purposely don’t slow down because they need to keep up the pace for the majority of students. In even the beginner classes, it is assumed that this means beginners to this type of dance, not beginners to the study of dance in general.

Here are descriptions of the classes available:

Angela Cusumano started dancing at the age of five in Brooklyn, NY, and has also studied at Broadway Dance Center, ARB’s Princeton Ballet School, Steps on Broadway, and Icon Dance Complex, where she is currently a faculty member

Princeton HipHop classes will return in late January for Winter Session with Angela Cusumano as the instructor.

MODERN DANCE: is, with jazz dance, one of the great American contributions to the art form. Modern dance, sometimes referred to as concert dance, or classic modern dance, is a type of dance centered on personal expression through strength, musicality and coordination. Each different teacher takes the class in different directions, as does each dancer! If you are looking for a class to pop music, you’re thinking of jazz class. If you are looking for a class with both a seated and standing warm-up, followed by combinations done to a variety of musical accompaniment, ranging from Bach to contemporary improvisation, you’re in the right place.

INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED dancers: We offer three options for dancers with some modern dance experience. These teachers, like all good modern dance teachers, will take the class in slightly different directions, based on their personal preference and choreographic interests. You might want to try both to find which suits you better.

— Dr. Kim Vaccaro, teaches an intermediate/advanced class. As “Dr. Kim” is the director of our BA program with Rider University, this class tends to have many Rider students.

— Susan Tenney, teaches intermediate/advanced classes. Susan, a graduate of the acclaimed SUNY Purchase dance department and a professional dancer and teacher for over 25 years, infuses her classes with her own sensibilities in addition to elements of three classic modern dance techniques (Graham, Cunningham and Limon).

Suggested clothing for Modern Dance classes: women should wear leotards and tights with no feet, or dance pants. We would prefer black tights to pink for these classes. Men should wear teeshirts, dance belt, footless tights or dance pants. Additional layers of teeshirts, warmers, etc., are allowed, but too many layers really limits the teacher’s ability to help you.

Modern Dance • Advanced:

SPANISH DANCE: We are very lucky to have as a part of our dance community a highly skilled teacher of this complex and dramatic style of dance. Alma Concepcion (see full bio) has been teaching Spanish dance forms for Princeton Ballet School for over 25 years, and brings a wealth of experience, high expectations, and great material to the classroom. By Spanish dance, we are not referring to the Latin dance forms beloved of ballroom dancers, but to the folk, classical, and flamenco forms of Spain. The classes begin with a study of several traditional folk dances, such as the Jota Aragonesa and the Sevillanas.

Unlike ballet or modern dance classes, where each week has new “combinations,” these classes are learning set dances, which are built on and reviewed from week to week. Many members of the intermediate and advanced classes enjoy performing these works together at studio performances here and at community festivals. These classes teach many elements such as castanet playing, heelwork (or zapateados), and handclapping. For those new to this study and not yet sure whether they want to buy castanets, Ms. Concepcion lends them out each week.

Please try the beginner class first, even if you have had experience in other dance forms—intermediate and advanced classes are only for dancers with prior experience in Spanish dance.

Alma Concepcion (see full bio) has been teaching Spanish dance forms for Princeton Ballet School for over 25 years, and brings a wealth of experience, high expectations, and great material to the classroom.

Spanish Dance Advanced: