At Once Upon a Ballet, children discover the art of classical ballet through beautiful stories, music, and age-appropriate ballet training. Our 5-7 year olds encounter ballet through fairy tale stories. At age 8, our focus shifts to learning about classical ballets, alongside ballet technique.

Classes are taught by former professional dancer, Ashley Hartford. Ashley danced as a soloist and principal dancer for the Appalachian Ballet Company for 8 years. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, having successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive for Pre-Primary through Level 7. She has also completed teacher training with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

Ashley has taught ballet and educated ballet teachers over the past 20 years and is the creator of Little Dancer and Once Upon a Ballet. She is excited to bring her work back to the studio and build a new ballet program here in Castle Rock!

Ballet for Ages 5 to 7

In our younger class, students are introduced to ballet technique through fairy tales stories. Each class takes students through the story, where they learn ballet steps and concepts through the eyes of the characters. Students might pretend to dance at Cinderella's ball, or fairies in The Sleeping Beauty, all while building a foundation in classical ballet technique.

This class incorporates the ABT® National Training Curriculum and floorwork from the Vaganova method.

Class attire: Light pink leotard, pink tights, pink leather ballet shoes, hair pulled back away from the face.

Class schedule: This class meets Monday from 5:00-5:50pm.

Ballet for Ages 8 to 11

In our older beginner class, students build a foundation in classical ballet technique while discovering the ballets that shaped the art form. Along the way, they'll learn about the stories and music of the classical repertoire, as well as the composers, choreographers, and famous dancers associated with them.

But students won't just learn about classical ballets. They'll experience them through movement. Class combinations may incorporate a scene from the ballet, steps inspired by its choreography, or a traditional pantomime sequence.

Training draws from the ABT® National Training Curriculum and the French School of Classical Ballet.

Class attire: Light pink leotard, pink tights, pink leather ballet shoes, hair pulled back away from the face.

Class schedule: This class meets Mondays from 6:00-7:10pm.

Our Future

Once Upon a Ballet will grow alongside our dancers. We plan to expand our class offerings each year as our students advance, eventually offering ballet training and performing opportunities through age 18.