Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet
Welcome to PAB!
Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet is as committed to the experience of its youngest dancers as it is to its most advanced. PAB wants to be a part of your child’s journey through dance; let us help your child discover confidence, creativity, and joy through movement.
Our studio is small by design to foster warm and personal teacher-student relationships that form the cornerstone of a lifelong love of dance. With 50 years of experience teaching students from their very first ballet steps in the classroom to performing on stage, we are deeply committed to helping each student reach their potential.
PAB is conveniently located in Narberth – 20 minutes from Philadelphia and 15 minutes or less from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Havertown, Ardmore, Bala Cynwyd, and more. Easily accessible by car, by public transportation … and on foot! We are your neighborhood ballet studio.
Below you will find everything that PAB has to offer our littlest movers ages 3.5-7, all designed to engage the young mind as well as the young body. In addition to a broad range of dance and creative movement classes, PAB also offers camps and community events, such as story times and free performances.
There’s something for every child with art in their heart at PAB. Come join our family and see!
All our teachers follow the Vaganova method which is based on an eight-year teaching syllabus created by Russian ballerina Agrippina Vaganova. This method has influenced ballet pedagogy throughout the world and is regarded as a standard of ballet instruction. Since all PAB teachers work from the same method, students are ensured continuity as they progress from one level to another. PAB offers classes for ages 3.5 to 80+ y/o — ballet truly is a life-long pursuit!
Student Program
Academic ballet lessons begin at age 8. The studio’s Regular Division is comprised of 6 levels. Level determination is based on age, former ballet experience and a placement class.
Levels 1-4 emphasize the fundamentals of classical dance. Focusing on correct placement and execution of ballet steps paves the way for progressive ballet technique. Pointe work is introduced at Level 4 at the discretion of the teacher and director. By this time most students have the physical awareness and strength required for this milestone in ballet training.
Levels 5-6 challenges students with advancing technique combined with artistic demands. As students advance and grow stronger they begin to take lessons more frequently establishing a mental and physical confidence through the art of ballet. Variations and Partnering classes along with performance opportunities are introduced allowing students to grow as dancer and emerging artist.
From Beginner to Advanced, our Adult program is an especially popular option for adults and teens who wish to learn the art of classical dance. Students enjoy challenging and progressive classes (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced) specifically designed for more mature students.
Adult Program
Adult Beginner classes are for those who are just starting out and have never taken ballet before. Beginner classes are also great for dancers who may have taken ballet classes when they were young and are coming back to it after a number of years. Beginner classes focus on the foundations of ballet as well as introducing students to a core set of steps and terminology. Classes are comfortably paced and offer plenty of verbal and visual explanation as dancers progress through the curriculum.
Adult Intermediate classes work well for dancers who have completed at least one full year of our Beginner classes or have prior experience. Dancers will enjoy a somewhat accelerated class with more complicated combinations and a wider variety of steps.
Adult Advanced classes are faster-paced with longer, more complex combinations, and more advanced steps. Dancers in our Advanced classes have a very firm grasp of ballet basics and are ready to challenge themselves athletically, artistically, and mentally.