The Grand Academy of Ballet’s Summer Intensive is a comprehensive ballet training program rooted in the Vaganova Method — a classical Russian ballet syllabus that develops strength, precision, artistry, and musicality. Offered at both the Encino and Pasadena, CA campuses, the curriculum is designed to challenge and elevate dancers of varying skill levels.

Program Locations & Structure

• Encino Campus | 16422 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91436: Main intensive sessions serve beginner through advanced levels with structured daily training Monday through Friday.

• Pasadena Campus | 2812 E. Walnut St. Pasadena, CA 91007: Selected intermediate intensive sessions are held at the Pasadena studio, extending access to students in the Pasadena area with the same high-quality training.

Curriculum Highlights

Daily Classical Ballet Technique (Vaganova Method)
Students train daily in structured classical technique classes rooted in the Vaganova Method, emphasizing proper placement, épaulement, turnout, strength, coordination, musicality, and refinement of movement quality. Each level progresses in complexity, ensuring strong technical development and artistic growth.

Pointe Work & Men’s Technique
Eligible students receive dedicated pointe training focused on strength, stability, articulation, turns, and traveling combinations. Male dancers train in elevation, turns, batterie, and strength-building exercises specific to men’s classical technique.

Variations & Classical Repertoire
Intermediate and advanced dancers study classical variations and repertoire, refining performance quality, musical interpretation, stylistic authenticity, and stage presence. Coaching emphasizes both technical clarity and storytelling.

Contemporary Training
To develop versatility and artistic range, intermediate and advanced students participate in contemporary classes that encourage fluidity, grounded movement, dynamic contrast, and expressive freedom while maintaining strong classical alignment.

Pas de Deux (Partnering)
Upper-intermediate and advanced dancers receive Pas de Deux training focused on partnering fundamentals, lifts, supported pirouettes, coordination, musical timing, and trust between partners. Emphasis is placed on technique, safety, presentation, and professional stage etiquette.

Conditioning, Flexibility & Body Maintenance
Daily conditioning sessions improve core strength, stamina, flexibility, and injury prevention. Training supports turnout, extension, and overall physical readiness for the demands of intensive ballet study.

Performance & Evaluation
Throughout the intensive, dancers receive detailed corrections and ongoing evaluations. Sessions culminate in in-studio showings or performance demonstrations, allowing students to apply their training in a professional setting and receive faculty feedback for continued advancement.

Level-Based Progression

The Grand Academy of Ballet Summer Intensive follows a carefully structured, level-based progression to ensure each dancer is placed appropriately and challenged according to age, experience, and technical readiness. Younger dancers focus on building strong Vaganova foundations — proper posture, alignment, turnout, coordination, musicality, and basic jumps and turns — while developing discipline and classroom etiquette. Intermediate students refine technique through adagio control, pirouettes en dehors and en dedans, petit and grand allegro, and pointe work (for eligible dancers), while beginning classical variations and strengthening stamina.

Upper-intermediate and pre-professional dancers train at a more demanding tempo, working on advanced pirouette combinations, grand allegro with elevation and ballon, complex adagio, advanced pointe sequences, repertoire coaching, and performance quality.

Select dancers may participate in an accelerated advanced workshop focused on technical precision, endurance, multiple turns, batterie, and variation refinement. Throughout the intensive, faculty provide ongoing corrections and evaluations to guide each dancer’s growth and recommend appropriate placement for continued year-round training.

Faculty & Instruction

Classes are led by internationally trained instructors with expertise in classical ballet and the Vaganova Method, supported by guest teachers who bring additional depth and perspective to the program.

Summer Intensive – Los Angeles, CA

Summer Intensive – Pasadena, CA