northern plains dance
Levels Explained
School Structure:
Northern Plains Dance was founded in 1998 as a ballet training facility for dance students in the Bismarck-Mandan area. As Northern Plains Dance grew, so did the range of styles offered, now expanded to include hip hop, modern/contemporary, jazz, tap, and social dance genres.
As a ballet-focused dance studio, we believe that there’s a place for everyone to explore and enjoy ballet. At Northern Plains Dance, we provide tailored opportunities to suit your goals. Whether you’re looking to pursue a professional career or simply seeking the joy of dance, we offer specialized training tracks and recreational programs throughout the school year. Our programs are designed to accommodate dancers of all ages and levels, ensuring that everyone can thrive and grow in their ballet journey.
*It is important to note that while students in the Preschool Division primarily advance by age, dancers in the Children’s, Youth and Advanced divisions progress according to multiple factors, including but not limited to age, merit, and maturity. Northen Plains Dance’s curriculum is built so that students will spend a minimum of four semesters in each level once they reach the Children’s Division. Advancement through the School is an individualized process.
Here is the snapshot of our Ballet Focused Program:
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Training Track |
Recreational Track |
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Pre Ballet Approximately 5-7 Years Old |
Ballet 1A Approximately 7-9 YEARS OLD |
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Ballet 1A Extended Approximately 7-9 YEARS OLD |
Ballet 1B Approximately 9-11 YEARS OLD |
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Ballet 1B Extended Approximately 9-11 YEARS OLD |
Ballet 2 Approximately 10-13 YEARS OLD (Pre Pointe) |
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Ballet 2 Extended Approximately 10-13 YEARS OLD (Pre Pointe) |
Ballet 2 Extended Approximately 10-13 YEARS OLD (Pre Pointe) |
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Ballet 3 Extended Approximately 11-13 YEARS OLD (Pointe 1) |
Ballet 3 Approximately 11-13 YEARS OLD (Pointe 1) |
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Ballet 4 Extended Approximately 12-14 YEARS OLD (Pointe 2) |
Ballet 3 Extended Approximately 11-13 YEARS OLD (Pointe 1) |
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Ballet 5 Approximately 14-18 YEARS OLD (Pointe 3) (Pointe 4) |
Ballet 4 Approximately 12 + YEARS OLD (Pointe 2) |
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Ballet 6 Approximately 15-18 YEARS OLD (Pointe 4) |
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*Ballet 5 and Ballet 6 are by invitation only. Students need to demonstrate a high level of commitment and technical proficiency in class to be placed in levels 5 and 6.
*For Level 3 and below, Pointe and Pre-Pointe classes are optional. Placement in Pointe classes is based on dancers’ readiness and technical proficiency in ballet class.
Contemporary Dance Styles
Beyond Ballet
In addition to providing rigorous ballet training, we are committed to developing holistic dancers who are versatile and thrive in various dance styles. This well-rounded approach equips our dancers for diverse opportunities in the dance world while nurturing creativity, resilience, and a profound appreciation for the art of dance. Besides ballet, we offer programs focused on contemporary and modern, jazz, and tap. We aim to meet our dancers where they are by providing appropriate level placements and a variety of dance styles to explore.
Here is the snapshot of our Contemporary/Modern Focused Program:
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Pre-Dance Approximately 5-7 Years Old |
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Contemporary/Modern 1 Approximately 7-9 Years Old |
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Modern 2 (Graham Inspired) Approximately 9-13 Years Old |
Contemporary 2 Approximately 9-13 Years Old |
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Modern 3 (Horton Inspired) Approximately 13-15 Years Old |
Contemporary 3 Approximately 13-15 Years Old |
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Contemporary/Modern 4 Approximately 15-18 Years Old |
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*To be enrolled in Contemporary/Modern 4 dancers needs to have prior experience in Modern 2, Modern 3, Contemporary 2 and Contemporary 3.
Here is the snapshot of our Jazz Focused Program:
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Pre-Dance Approximately 5-7 Years Old |
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Jazz 1 Approximately 7-9 Years Old |
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Jazz 2 Approximately 9-13 Years Old |
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Jazz 3 Approximately 13-18 Years Old |
Here is the snapshot of our Tap Focused Program:
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Pre Tap Approximately 5-7 Years Old |
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Tap 1 Approximately 7-9 Years Old |
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Tap 2 Approximately 9-13 Years Old |
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Tap 3 Approximately 13-18 Years Old |