About Ballet Training System & Ballet Competitive Level 1
Introduction to the Yoyo School of Dancing's Ballet training system
Yoyo School of Dancing's Ballet training system is divided into three major levels: Ballet Standard Level, Ballet Pre-competitive Level (originally advanced level), and Ballet Competitive Level. Each level has 10-12 sub-levels. We provide students with a complete Ballet teaching system. Please click the button below to check more information.
* Starting from September 2025, all Ballet advanced level will be changed to Ballet Pre-competitive level.
What is Ballet competitive level 1?
Ballet competitive level 1 is a new training level added by the dance school in the 2025-26 school year. The competitive level is one level higher than the previous advanced level, with higher professionalism, richer course content, and higher training difficulty. This level is only open to students from Ballet pre-competitive junior/senior levels and pre-competitive level 1. It will provide students with a space for further learning and progress, and better cultivate students' dance ability and dance literacy.
What is the capacity for development in Ballet pre-competitive level 1?
- Students in Ballet competitive level 1 will be raised to Ballet competitive level 2 after one academic year of training.
- Students at Ballet competitive level 1 will have three classes every week, each class lasting 2 hours and 50 minutes. In addition to Ballet, the training content also includes include: Physical fitness and techniques, Progressing ballet technique (PBT), Ballet character dance, Jazz, Hip Hop or KPOP, small group dance (4 or 5 students), Solo/Duet/Trio, etc.
- Except for the group dance, students in level 3 and 4 will participate in competitions as a small group dance (4 or 5 students). Students in level 5 will participate in competitions as duet or trio dances. Students in level 6 and up will participate in competitions as solo/duet/trio dances.
- Students in Ballet competitive level 1 will have more opportunities for competitions and formal performances. The extra opportunities will allow students to accumulate stage experience and improve their dance abilities.
What will happen if students do not join Ballet competitive level 1?
Students who do not join Ballet pre-competitive level 1 will enter next sub-level at Ballet pre-competitive level in the 2025-26 school year. The Yoyo School of Dancing curriculum is carefully designed based on the foundation and skill level of the students. Training students of a similar skill level in the same class allows the instructor to better attend to each student by eliminating conflicting student needs. Additionally, the instructors will carefully monitor each student. If at any point we notice that a student is ready for more advanced training, we will communicate with the parents to find a more suitable class for the student.
Ballet Competitive Level 1 Examination
Please pay attention to the following information before registering
- Registration is only open to students who are currently in BPA02 and BA104.
- Students must be flexible with regards to scheduling so that they can attend competitions and must be able to bear the cost of registration, costumes, and other fees for competitions. We attend two to three competitions each school year and all the competitions we attend are held in Edmonton so far.
- Students are required to attend three classes a week in the 2025-26 school year. Below are the class times and locations starting from September 2025:
- Class code: BC104 (Ballet Competitive Level 1, age 8-12).
- Class time and location from September 2025 to June 2026:
- Thursday, 5:30-8:20pm, Chappelle Studio A，8993 Carson Way.
- Saturday, 12:10-3pm, Chappelle Studio A，8993 Carson Way
- Sunday, 3:50-6:40pm, Ambleside Studio，#211 6271 Andrews Loop
- Teachers:
- Teacher Polina will teach Ballet.
- Teacher Polina will teach PBT.
- Teacher Wayne will teach Hip Hop.
- Teacher Tongtong will teach physical fitness and techniques.
Examination contents
- Part 1: Flexibility, strength, and techniques (55 points)：
- Shoulder stretching 10 times (2 point)
- Flex and point feet (2 point)
- Hip stretching (4 point)
- Middle split with blocks for one minute (2 points)
- Side splits with two blocks: right/left, one minute for each side (2 points)
- Standing half bridges 10 times at centre (2 point)
- Standing bridges (2 points)
- Leg holding: forward/side/backward (12 points)
- The first and the fifth standing positions by barre (2 points)
- Plie: the first position (2 points)
- Tendu: forward/side/backward (3 points)
- Releve by barre (2 points)
- Passe (2 points)
- Saute 30 times (2 points)
- The first position saute 10 times (2 points)
- Preparation for jump by barre (2 points)
- Leg drops 20 times with certain speed (3 points)
- Seesaw 20 times (3 points)
- Techniques (optional, extra 4 points): handstands, back rollover, cheststands, cartwheels, shoulder stands, etc.
- Part 2: Dance (35 points):
- Hands positions (3 points)
- Solo dance portion (24 points)：Please prepare a 1-1.5 minute long choreography. You may create your own or select one that was taught in class.
- Mimicry ability (8 points): A teacher will do a demo choreography for 4X8 counts a total of 3 times. The examinee must mimic the demo dance.
- Please note：
- The full score for the exam is 100 points. Students with 75 points and above will enter the Ballet competitive level 1 in September 2025. The maximum students we are taking is 12.
- An email notification will be sent out one week before the exam with the exam groupings and the exam time for each grouping. All examinees must arrive 15 minutes prior to the exam time to warm up.
- Please bring your own music for the solo dance portion. It should not exceed 1.5 minutes and there are no limitations with regards to style. Please prepare any required props in advance. If you need any music from a class, please contact your instructor in advance.
- Exam results will be announced through email before April 20th, 2025.
Time, location, and registration procedures of the examination
- Time and location of the examination:
- 7:30-8:30pm, Tuesday, Mar. 18th, Chappelle Studio B，8993 Carson Way.
- 2-3pm, Monday, Mar. 24th (during the spring break), Ambleside Studio，#211 6271 Andrews Loop.
- Each student only needs to take the exam once. Please choose one of the above times to take it.
- Registration procedures:
- The registration fee is $36.75 (GST included). Please make an e-transfer to payment@yoyodance.ca. Please clearly state the student's name and current class code in the note.
- Fill out the registration form at the following link.
- The registration deadline is March 16th, 2025. Registration will be completed when both of the registration form and the fee is received.
