Berkeley City Ballet’s Pre-Ballet classes start at age 2.5. Our youngest ballet students students learn about music, movement, and ballet through exercises and activities that are designed to cultivate student coordination, as well as rhythmic and creative abilities. Dancers explore movement, develop gross motor skills, coordination, and learn preliminary ballet technique.
2026 Summer Classes – Session 5A & 5B
5A June 15-July 12 (4 weeks)
5B July 13-August 9 (4 weeks)
This summer, we are excited to offer drop-in Pre-Ballet classes!
We know that summer is a busy time for families, so we wanted to offer the flexibility of drop-in classes.
Sign-up now, as drop-ins will only be offered if there’s space available.
To sign up for an drop-in class, go to “Classes” then “Lesson Trials” then “Apply to New Lesson Trials” Next, select the class, student who is enrolling, and then the class you would like to take.
| Class | Tuition | Class Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Dance with Me Ages 2.5-4 with a Parent/Guardian | $75 per session $15 registration fee or $25 drop-in | Saturday 11:15am-12:00pm |
| Pre-Ballet 4-5 Ages 4-5 | $75 per session $15 registration fee or $25 drop-in | Saturday 9:30-10:15am |
| Pre-Ballet 6-7 Ages 6-7 | $95 per session $15 registration fee or $30 drop-in | Saturday 10:15-11:15am |
Session Dates 2026-27
Fall Mini Session – August 17-September 6 (3 classes)
Fall Session – September 7-December 6 (12 classes, no classes week of Thanksgiving)
Winter Session – January 4-March 14 (10 classes)
Spring Session – March 15-May 30 (10 classes, no classes for Spring Break)
Summer Session – June 7-August 1 (8 classes)
Fall Mini Session
August 17-September 6 (3 classes)
Drop-in classes available for Fall Mini Session only!
Sign-up now, as drop-ins will only be offered if there’s space available.
To sign up for an drop-in class, go to “Classes” then “Lesson Trials” then “Apply to New Lesson Trials” Next, select the class, student who is enrolling, and then the class you would like to take.
| Class | Tuition | Class Schedule |
| Dance with Me Ages 2.5-4 with a Parent/Guardian (Preschool) | $60 per session $15 registration fee or $25 drop-in | Tuesday 3:30-4:15pm Saturday 12:00-12:45pm |
| Pre-Ballet 1 Age 4 (TK) | $60 per session $15 registration fee or $25 drop-in | Thursday 3:30-4:15pm Saturday 9:15-10:00am |
| Pre-Ballet 2 Age 5 (Kindergarten) | $60 per session $15 registration fee or $25 drop-in | Thursday 4:15-5:00pm Saturday 10:00-10:45am |
| Ballet Basics Age 6 (1st grade) | $75 per session $15 registration fee or $30 drop-in | Thursday 5:00-6:00pm Saturday 10:45-11:45am |
Fall Session
September 7-December 6 (12 classes)
No classes the week of Thanksgiving
| Class | Tuition | Class Schedule |
| Dance with Me Ages 2.5-3 with a Parent/Guardian (Preschool) | $240 per session $15 registration fee | Tuesday 3:30-4:15pm Saturday 12:00-12:45pm |
| Pre-Ballet 1 Age 4 (TK) | $240 per session $15 registration fee | Thursday 3:30-4:15pm Saturday 9:15-10:00am |
| Pre-Ballet 2 Age 5 (Kindergarten) | $240 per session $15 registration fee | Thursday 4:15-5:00pm Saturday 10:00-10:45am |
| Ballet Basics Age 6 (1st grade) | $300 per session $15 registration fee | Thursday 5:00-6:00pm Saturday 10:45-11:45am |
LEVELS
Dancers attend one class per week. Dancers should register for the level that matches their age and academic grade. If you have any questions about which class to enroll in, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Dance with Me (2.5-4 years olds; pre-school) is a young dancer’s first exposure to ballet and classical music! For ages 2.5-4, this class explores music and movement with fun and familiar phrases and songs for our littlest dancers. This class requires that a parent or guardian participates in the class alongside their dancer. The adult in class will help to guide their dancer through the class, so be ready to dance! Adults may wear whatever they feel comfortable in, ballet shoes are not required.
Pre-Ballet 1 (4 years old; TK) continues the introduction to ballet with warming up our bodies with stretches, moving onto ballet exercises like plies and tendus, going across the floor with marches and skips, and ending with free dance! In this class, dancers begin to learn ballet class etiquette, how to move across the floor in the class, and the begin building the foundations of ballet technique. There’s still lots of fun imagery incorporated, like hopping like a bunny, flying like a butterfly, and leaping across ponds.
Pre-Ballet 2 (5 years old; Kindergarten) introduces more complex movements and directional changes while building on the basics of ballet. Dancers will begin to explore moving forwards versus sideways, dancing slowly and quickly, and moving along with the music.
Ballet Basics (6 years old; 1st grade) is the final step before entering Ballet 1. In this class, dancers prepare to join Ballet 1 in the Pre-Professional Program by continuing to learn ballet class etiquette and building coordination with more complicated steps. We also begin to focus on holding ballet posture and using our arms and legs together while dancing.
MAKE-UP CLASSES
BCB offers unlimited make-up classes with a session. Dancers may make-up any missed classes in the same level or a level below. To schedule a make-up class, please email us at info@berkeleycityballet.org.
VISITORS DAY
On the final class of each session, except the fall mini session and summer sessions, families are invited into the studio for the final 15 minutes of the class to observe their little dancers in action! This gives our youngest dancers an opportunity to perform for their families before going on the big stage.
UNIFORM
Students are expected to wear their uniform for every ballet class. If a student forgets their ballet shoes, BCB has a basket of hand-me-down shoes that students are welcome to borrow from.
Uniform items can be purchased at Bay Area Dancewear in Berkeley. Mention that your dancer is a student at BCB at checkout to support BCB in their studio partnership program!
All long hair should be pulled back neatly into a ponytail or bun. Shorter hair should be pulled back out of your face with a headband or hair clips.
Dance with Me
Any dancewear and ballet shoes that your dancer feels comfortable in!
Pre-Ballet and Ballet Basics
Girls
Any light pink leotard (no attached skirts), pink or flesh colored tights, and pink or flesh colored ballet shoes. Ballet warm-ups, such as a wrap sweater and leg warmers are optional.
Boys
Any white form fitting t-shirt, black leggings/mens’ tights, and black ballet shoes.