Love going to the ballet but longing to put on your dancing shoes? Whether you’ve never danced a day in your life or haven’t danced since your teens, taking a leap into the new Ballet Bootcamp at the School of the PA Ballet is sure to give you a greater appreciation for the art form as well as build self-esteem.
Head of Adult and Youth Programs, Jessica Kilpatrick, hails from New York, bringing the idea of expanding opportunities for adults to put on their dancing shoes to Philadelphia.
“I saw an enormous difference in people’s lives when they started coming regularly to the ballet classes. They were taking the confidence they were building in class and bringing it into their relationships and their work life,” she says. “There was a community of people gaining happiness and the adult program became very important to me.”
From Aug. 3 through Aug. 6, three classes will be offered daily for beginner adult students: Ballet, Contemporary and Stretch & Strengthening.
“I encourage people to come to all three days, all three classes. It’s extremely rewarding,” Kilpatrick says. “Of course people can come and go as they please.”
To attend all nine classes, the cost is only $140. For a day pass of three classes, the cost is $50.
When it comes on deciding what to wear for your first ballet class, Kilpatrick says not to stress over it too much.
“Wear what you’re comfortable in. Ballet shoes are recommended but for the first class or two you can wear socks,” she advises. “The important thing is to be able to move freely.”
If you go:
Ballet Boot Camp
August 3 through August 6
Various times
The School of PA Ballet
323 N. Broad St.
$15 to $140
paballet.org
