At École Aotearoa, our classes are all about joy, creativity, and confidence. We provide a relaxed, supportive environment where dancers can explore movement, build foundational skills, and fall in love with dance—without pressure, exams, or big performance expectations.

Pre School - Petite École

(Recommended for ages 3-5)

Our Petite École classes are designed especially for young children taking their very first ballet steps. Through imaginative storytelling, music, movement and creative play, dancers develop coordination, balance, rhythm and confidence while learning the foundations of classical ballet in a fun and nurturing environment.

There are no examinations—just a carefully structured programme that allows every child to develop at their own pace while building a lifelong love of dance.

Saturday 9.00-9.30 am
Saturday 10.45-11.15 am
Saturday 11.30-12.00 pm

Preparatory École

(Recommended for ages 5-7)

Preparatory École bridges the gap between preschool ballet and formal classical training. Dancers begin learning correct ballet technique while continuing to develop musicality, creativity and confidence.

Students are introduced to more structured class work, including basic barre exercises, centre practice and ballet terminology, all within an encouraging environment where enjoyment and quality teaching come first.

Saturday 9.45-10.30 am

École 1

(Recommended for ages 6–8 years)

École 1 marks the beginning of our structured classical ballet pathway. Students build strong technical foundations through age-appropriate barre work, centre practice, travelling steps, jumps and expressive movement.

Our focus is on developing beautiful posture, coordination, musicality and correct technique without the pressure of examinations, allowing each dancer to progress when they are truly ready.

École 2

(Recommended for ages 7–9 years)

École 2 expands upon the foundations established in École 1. Dancers develop greater strength, turnout, balance and coordination while learning more complex ballet vocabulary and combinations.

Classes become increasingly structured, encouraging dancers to develop artistry alongside technical precision while still maintaining a supportive and enjoyable learning environment.

École 3

(Recommended for ages 8–10 years)

École 3 prepares dancers for higher-level classical training by refining technique, improving strength and introducing more advanced allegro, turns and artistic expression.

Students continue developing the discipline and technical understanding required for future pointe preparation while building confidence, performance quality and musical interpretation.

Classique Foundation

(Placement by assessment)

Classique Foundation introduces dancers to the early stages of pre-pointe and pointe preparation where appropriate. The emphasis is on developing the strength, alignment, stability and technical precision required before progressing safely onto pointe.

Each dancer progresses individually based on physical readiness rather than age, ensuring healthy, sustainable development. This class also introduces more advanced classical vocabulary and artistry.

Classique Intermediate

(Placement by assessment)

Classique Intermediate builds upon the technical foundations established in Classique Foundation. Dancers continue to develop pointe work where appropriate, while increasing complexity in turns, allegro, adage, and performance quality.

Classes challenge dancers technically while continuing to prioritise safe progression, correct technique and artistic development.

Open Ballet - Classique Intermediate/Advanced

Classique Advanced is designed for experienced dancers who are ready for the highest level of training offered at École Aotearoa.

Classes focus on refining classical artistry, advanced pointe work, virtuosity, performance skills and individual technical excellence. Dancers are encouraged to develop confidence, musical interpretation and a mature understanding of classical ballet.

Thursday 7.30 - 8.30 pm 

Open Contemporary