Dance

The Washington Ballet

BalletPointeMen's TechniqueAdult Ballet

Adult classes at DC's professional ballet company, structured technique in a serious training environment.

Editor's note

The Washington Ballet is one of DC's major performing arts organizations. Its school offers adult classes for recreational dancers alongside more structured study.

New to this?

This studio welcomes beginners. No prior experience required.

What to expect your first visit

Arrive early to navigate the campus, check in, and find the correct studio, classes are split between the NW campus and the Southeast campus at THEARC
Choose a class explicitly labeled 'Beginner I' or 'Beginner II' if you are new, since intermediate and advanced levels require 5–6+ years of prior ballet training
Wear typical ballet or movement attire, leggings or tights, fitted top, and ballet slippers; close-fitting athletic wear is generally acceptable if you don't yet own traditional dancewear
Popular beginner and weekend classes can fill quickly, pre-register online rather than counting on same-day walk-in availability

Best for

Adults with little to significant prior dance experience who want structured ballet and related technique classes in a formal school setting.

What to expect

Adult classes follow a traditional dance-class format: a warm-up (often at the barre for ballet), center work, and across-the-floor combinations appropriate to the listed level. Beginner sections introduce fundamentals more slowly, while intermediate and advanced levels move at a brisk pace and assume substantial prior training.

Structured and technique-focused. The studio maintains clear level expectations, and the environment reflects that.

What to bring

Comfortable, form-fitting dancewear and ballet shoes, plus a water bottle; the specific dress code for adults is not clearly stated on the open-class page.