Our Dance Training Philosophy

The Maple Conservatory staff & faculty have designed their dance training program to support a carefully, thought-out philosophy, which is as follows:

Our Conservatory Program Emphasizes Quality Training And Performance Opportunities

At the Maple Conservatory, our emphasis is on quality ballet training and superb performance opportunities.

Our curriculum consists of a comprehensive set of outcome-based guidelines that combines respected ballet principles with cutting-edge knowledge of biomechanics, kinesiology, and injury prevention. It represents the best elements from the Royal Academy, French school, Cecchetti method, Vaganova, and Danish schools of Ballet and promotes a purely classical ballet technique without affectations. This gives our students the ability to easily adapt to all styles of choreography and techniques of dance. All of our faculty work from one training curriculum and communicate the same terminology and ideas so that the students are not confused in their training.

We believe that ballet is the foundation of all dance. Our class sizes are small enough to facilitate one-on-one attention and help the students clearly understand the training concepts.

The Maple Conservatory faculty & staff also believe that learning how to perform on the stage is an important aspect of a student's longterm training. And the experience of performing in both corps roles (group dances), as well as soloist roles are crucial for a dancer who aspires to go onto a dance career. (Note that costumes for performances are provided by either the Maple Conservatory of Dance or the Maple Youth Ballet without extra charge.)

We Do Not Sacrifice Class Time For Rehearsals

We rarely use class time for rehearsing. Our Maple Conservatory staff & faculty do not believe in sacrificing class time — which is reserved for learning & improving dance technique — for memorizing dance routines and rehearsing for upcoming performances. Rehearsals for upcoming performances are almost always scheduled outside of regular class time.

Private Lessons Are An Option — Not A Requirement

Private lessons are an option at the Maple Conservatory and are not a standard part of our dance training program. Private lessons are usually only arranged for a student's need to work on a specific issue with technique. Private lessons at the Maple Conservatory are outcome-based and are usually short-term. Our feeling is that with our Conservatory's strong dance curriculum and excellent faculty, our students will receive the highest level of training in the classroom, thus, making the expense of ongoing, continuous private lessons unnecessary.

We Are Not A "Competition School"

The Maple Conservatory does not coach competition dance teams. Conservatory students who wish to compete as individuals are not discouraged from doing so. However, the emphasis at our Conservatory is on dance training and performing in a supportive atmosphere, which nurtures confidence as well as individual success, and not on preparing for competitions. For those who are interested in competing, coaching and choreography sessions can be arranged on an individual basis. Our Conservatory students have successfully competed in Youth America Grand Prix, the Los Angeles Music Center's Spotlight Awards and the Orange County Performing Artscenter's Tomorrow's Stars program.

Questions?

Please contact us to learn more about our Conservatory classes & programs and how to enroll. Or you may stop by our location to speak with one of our Conservatory staff.