The Academy

Philosophy:

The Academy starts in the heart of a child. It begins with a boy or girl who just can't stop moving or spinning

in circles in the family room. Dance becomes the activity parents put them in to direct all that movement. It continues as the child continuously pushes himself to keep his leg straight and body aligned. It jumps forward the first time a young person feels the smoothness of her first pair of pointe shoes. It culminates in a student who spends up to 20 hours a week in the studio - who strives everyday for the balance between strength and grace with taciturn determination and commitment in order to reach his or her goals and dreams.

The Academy of Fort Wayne Ballet's goal is to provide students a firm foundation of quality dance regardless of their aspirations for dance in their future. Students range from young children exploring movement to pre-professional students looking to dance as their career. We also have adult students and many who do not choose a vocational education, but take ballet because of their love of this artistic experience. A safe yet aggressive syllabus, created with the physical, cognitive, and social development of children at its heart, guides educational efforts.

Photographer: Margaret Distler

Facilities:

Our current main studio space is located at 324 Penn Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. We have been in this location since 1969. Fort Wayne Ballet is fortunate to have facilities which promote students' growth and safety. The four spacious studios all have sprung floors with a marley surface in addition to mirrored walls and observation windows. These safety features are important to students' bodies whose joints take a great amount of impact as dance is a physical activity.

Live accompaniment:

Academy classes offer students the ability to dance to live accompaniment during their classwork. This element is rare at the regional level, yet we know students benefit by learning how to dance to varying music syntax and rhythms and not just pre-recorded music.

Class Sizes:

We believe it is important for the student to teacher ratio to be small. More individual attention to student needs translates into safer and better dance training. Pre-Ballet classes are naturally smaller then the more graded levels, however we limit class size to ensure necessary attention to detail and development.

To receive more information about the Academy's educational opportunities, contact info@fortwayneballet.org

Lindsay Katherine Hatch Scholarship:

In the fall of 2003, the Academy lost a promising young dancer named Lindsay Hatch. It was a tragic loss to the entire Fort Wayne Ballet family, and we are excited to say that as a family, there has been a Scholarship established in her name. This could not have been done without the tireless efforts of the Hatch family, Academy families, and the students themselves who all pitched in to honor their loved one. This annual award is given to a student who has exhibited the same passion Lindsay had for her art and the recipient is chosen by a member of the Hatch family, the Artistic Director, and a member of the Board of Directors. The scholarship pays for tuition for the Academic Year, dance wear, and any academic materials required. We congratulate Laura Schlatter, the second recipient of the Lindsay Katherine Hatch Scholarship.