Back in Ballet at the The City Club, Alphaland
It’s been a month since Pablo and Lukas went back to doing face-to-face classes in Ballet, and they’re nothing short of thrilled at being able to do the lessons with their classmates and teachers IN PERSON!
During weekdays, they still attend their online ballet classes with the CCP Dance Workshop (Now, School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines). The face-to-face ballet classes are optional for those who, like my kids, are eager to do classes…er….face-to-face, but for those who are still uncomfortable about joining F2F sessions, they can still register for online ballet classes, after all, the quality of instructions are the same since the teachers that teach online for CCP Dance Workshop are the same people that teach at The City Club (and Victoria Sports Club in Quezon City).
All of their teachers are professional dancers — Luigie Barrera, EJ Arisola, Katrene San Miguel, Sarah Alejandro, Monica Gana, Julio Laforteza, John Matthew Quiambao, and more — who are all members of the Professional Artist Support Program (PASP), formerly PDSP, whose artistic consultant is no less than National Artist of the Philippines, Ms. Alice Reyes.
If the names are familiar, you’ve probably seen them take part in memorable ballet performances at the CCP many times before. The last we’ve seen them dance LIVE was in December of 2021 when they staged “A Christmas Celebration, which featured excerpts from “Sleeping Beauty” and “Tuloy pa rin ang Pasko” at the CCP Main theater, but they’ve also been doing performances that have been shown online, especially during the Pandemic.
The classes being offered are as follows:
Dance Play (Ages 3-4)
Pre-Ballet (Ages 4-7)
Beginning Ballet (Ages 7-12)
Classical Ballet (Levels 1-4)
Pointes classes
Modern Dance
Repertory
Jazz
Hip Hop
As far as I know, the Adult Ballet classes are also ongoing. Currently, my boys are taking Classical Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz and Hip Hop classes.
Just so you know what my boys are dealing with in terms of space, here’s a short video of my eldest recording for their online recital:
Studio locations, Rates and COVID protocols
Face to face classes are offered in two locations: The City Club, Alphaland in Makati and Victoria Sports Club in Quezon City, so you have the option to register at the studio nearest to you.
COVID protocols are strictly followed in these sessions, so the students are required to wear face masks while in class. They also limit the number of students for each class to 10 to 12 students for lower level classes and 8-10 students for more advanced levels. They will open new classes should the number of registrants exceed the maximum limit.
New enrollees undergo assessment and are advised by the teachers on the best classes to join based on their skill and age levels. Pablo and Lukas were assessed, themselves, when they transferred from another ballet school, and continue to go through assessments for each level.
As for the rates, they are different for online sessions and face-to-face classes.
Online ballet classes are at Php 2,000 for 4 sessions. For face-to-face classes, it’s Php 3,200 (1 hour classes) and Php 4,800 (1 1/2 hours classes) for 4 sessions. CCP Dance Workshop School Registrar, Ms. Anabelle Larotin, will inform you if there are packages and discounts available.
Here’s a video of what’s going on in my kids’ classes at The City Club dance studio:
(READ: Boys don’t wear tutus)
My kids love being back at the studio, even if it’s only once a week. We have very limited room in the apartment for them to practice their turns, leaps, jumps and extensions, so it’s refreshing for them to be able to work on these in an actual studio. They can barely do their arabesques here without hitting a wall.
And they are also enjoying having some human interaction and being able to talk to their friends, and learning from their teachers in person, and not just through inbox chats or Zoom calls. There’s a different kind of energy being around other dancers.
Will there be an in person recital this year? Who knows? Anything is possible to him who believes! (Mark 9:23)
If you’re interested to enroll your child in ballet or any of the dance classes offered, please contact School of Alice Reyes Dance Philippines registrar, Ms. Anabelle Larotin, at (0945) 807 1016.
22 Comments
Stephanie
Oh my gosh, it would be so hard to practice ballet in the small spaces we have at home! But I feel it would also be so hard to be doing that kind of exercise with a mask on, too.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
We’ve been wearing masks for more than two years now, so they boys are used to it. Besides, the air conditioning system helps. The boys can stay at the studio all day and still be happy they’re there, haha.
Maureen
I am so glad to hear that your kids are back in the studio. It’s not only very refreshing for them to see their instructor and friends in person but also to have that sense of normalcy.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Beth
I love watching ballet, but I can’t imagine actually doing it. It takes so much strength and coordination.
Heather
My daughters used to take ballet classes. I miss their dancing around the house, their little outfits and their recitals. They were so cute!
Kelly Bolen
Wow! Two years you have been wearing masks? We have been back to “normal” for a while now! So glad the kids are back in person!
Krystle
Yay so happy they’re able to be back in person. Dance is such an important outlet for kiddos and adults.
Colleen
I’m so much interested in enrolling the kids o ballet classes. Thank you for the details.
Melanie Edjourian
It must be so nice to get back to proper classes. I can imagine it’s much harder to practise in the home with limited space. It’s also nice for them to be able to see their friends in the class too.
Ntensibe Edgar
Aaawwww…I am so glad to hear of the joy they have in them, when it comes to hitting the studio. Let them dance away. Thanks for sharing about this workshop.
Ivan Carlo Jose
Your boys must have been excited to attend the face-to-face class. Getting to see their classmates again was surely a welcome change for them.
Saïda
This is so impressive! Loved seeing their passion!
Marysa
That is so wonderful to be back in person. For something like ballet and the arts, it makes such a big difference!
Fransic verso
This is so cool, I’m going to learn dancing this year as well. But haven’t decided which type of dance. It’s impressive to see dancers with passion.
Blair Villanueva
Ballet lessons are good, especially for children. It helps the art of discipline, poise, and patience. Also learn the proper body gestures and social etiquette.
Tameka H
It must be so freeing for them to finally be able to practice with their mates after two long years of shut down. And they are soooo goood!
Dorry Lyn
this is great, My kid really wants to learn Ballet, so sad that walang Ballet Class in our area, kaya ng follow nalang sya sa youtube videos
May De Jesus-Palacpac
They have online classes. They have students who live as far as Sorsogon!
Nish
So nice to see so many boys participating in ballet class. The class near where I live is girls-only.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Have you tried asking if they will accept boys? Ballet schools usually seem like all-girls only because it’s rare for boys to take up ballet. But in our experience, ballet schools are usually welcoming to boy enrollees.
Wendy
There’s nothing like face to face, especially in classes that need meticulous training on techniques. And baller is one of those. I’m glad for your sons doing face to face already.
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