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9120 Staples Mill Road, Suite B, Glen Allen, VA 23060Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. · Sunday: 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. · Monday to Friday: ClosedSaturday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Woman ownedFall registration opens in August(804) 555-0105
Tendu Ballet School
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Ballet 4 and 5

Pointe, when the teacher says

Pointe is not an age and it is not a prize. The teacher watches each dancer's work at the barre and in the center, and tells the family when the dancer is ready. Some dancers begin sooner and some later, and every dancer is doing real ballet either way.

  • The teacher's call

  • Made with the family

  • Strengthening at the barre first

  • Classes of up to 12

A teacher's hand guiding a student's hand on a ballet barre

A class, in order

How the decision is made

There is no test and no deadline. This is the order of the conversation.

  1. 01

    Step 1: The teacher watches

    Barre work, balances and turns in the dancer's usual classes.

  2. 02

    Step 2: Strengthening first

    Ballet 4 and 5 include conditioning at the barre, so the work is in place before shoes are.

  3. 03

    Step 3: A talk with the family

    The teacher says what she sees and what the dancer works on next.

  4. 04

    Step 4: A first fitting

    Only when the teacher says so, and with the teacher there.

Before you come

What to wear, where to start and who teaches

  • What to wear and bring

    A leotard and tights, and the ballet slippers a dancer already wears. Pointe shoes are bought after the fitting, never before.

  • Level and moving up

    Pointe work begins inside Ballet 4 or 5, when the teacher says a dancer is ready.

    See the levels

  • The teacher

    Gwyneth Pendleton teaches the upper levels and makes the pointe decision with each family.

Ask us about pointe

Come to a placement visit or write to the school. The teacher is glad to talk it through.

Book a placement visitSee the schedule