| About Us Welcome to one of the top ballet studios in the Twin Cities metropolis – where we’re training excellent dancers and having fun doing it! We understand that even though very few people will become professional dancers, all of us have the potential to become very good dancers, have a great time learning the art, and receive the many benefits studying ballet can bestow.
Because of the many hours of training that ballet requires, we make an effort to be very efficient with a dancer’s time. We’re trying to give dancers the time to “have a life” while putting in the required hours of hard work. We do this by working with a syllabus which has been carefully developed to build strength incrementally, rather than with a more hit and miss approach common to many studies. Another thing that is hugely beneficial is working with material repetitively until a body of work is mastered, which builds a careful foundation for more advanced work.
Ballet benefits everything – other types of dance such as modern, jazz, tap, Irish, and sports such as soccer, horseback riding, gymnastics, and dance lines. It also benefits general work habits because the study of ballet develops self-discipline, concentration, the awareness of how to better a skill, and confidence for other performing arts. I cannot tell you the number of mothers who have told me how well their son or daughter did in some other area of life because of his/her ballet training. Thinking of combo classes with competitions? You might want to consider this first.
Students come to us who have decided they want to become better dancers and realize they need more ballet training to accomplish that. Often they have had many years of combo classes and are dismayed to find that they must start at the beginning in ballet. It is a much better investment of time and resources to study dance the other way around. Begin with ballet, which is by far and away the best training for almost any other movement discipline. The years of study will have better prepared dancers who decide to try another type of dance or theater. So after you explore our web site, you might want to consider a visit to the studio. You’d be most welcome. Call ahead if you’d like: 651.439-2820.
Testimonials E is loving ballet! I have only accolades for your studio when people ask for a comparison between your studio and (where E danced for many years). R.B.
Eleven years ago I visited the dance studio for the first time to check it out. I found a dancer that looked to be around 16 or 17 years old and I asked her what she thought of the atmosphere of the ballet studio. She simply told me that she considered the dancers to be her family. That was what really hooked me. I wanted that for my daughter. During the past year, I have really felt that A's class, as well as the class below them, have become that "family" to each other. When they have had sleepovers occasionally, it doesn't seem to matter if you're 17 or 12! They all get along. A said they all really like each other and support each other. I once remarked that E seemed a lot younger than Anna and Rachael when they all were at a sleepover together andAnna's comment was that she loved E. I was commenting to the nurses today that the girls at the studio (at least the older girls), really seem to respect the talent of each girl and are happy for each other and the parts they receive. I know first hand the joys of performing together as a group having been in bands, orchestras, worship teams, and various other performing groups. I also know that sometimes it can get catty. But when you can combine the performing aspect with love and respect for each other, it's a special thing. P. I doubt you remember me at all but I used to take classes at your studio way way back in the day. I believe I started at age 7 in 1995. Even writing this to you right now is making me emotional when I think back to the amazingly happy memories that I have from doing The Nutcracker. As a 7 year old girl there is nothing better in the world than dancing along with sugar plum fairies and snow queens on stage. The magic that your production brought to me as a child involved is something that has stayed and will stay with me /forever/. I continued to dance there until I was about 15 yrs old. I didn't leave by choice; rather, my family moved up north and Christmas time was never the same. You see, all I could remember about the Holidays was The Nutcracker. It wasn't a tradition, it was a way of life. I didn't have a typical ballerina body, and I definitely didn't have "ballerina feet" so I never danced any of the big parts..ie. snow, waltz, spanish ect. ect but I never minded. Just being able to be involved in something so spectacular is something I have cherished ever since the first show I was in. I guess I just really want to express my thanks. My entire family, including my two brothers, still look back fondly and miss the Stillwater Nutcracker every single year. I am 21 now and out of college. I am an actress ( in fact I did a production last year with SB and she remembered me! I was an angel the year she was Clara) and when people ask me what made me fall in love with the stage I always always always reply " Doing the Stillwater Nutcracker as a child." Anyways, thank you thank you. For everything. From the bottom of my heart. I owe so many happy memories to you. "Amazing." At the close of the curtain, my little 4 l/2 yr old granddaughter turned in her seat & said "grandma, that was amazing!" Even our usually very busy little almost 2 yr old sat mesmerized throughout the peformance. Thank you all so very much for offering this wonderful ballet to people right here in Stillwater. We plan to make it an annual holiday event! C. My daughter K. is really enjoying ballet and wishes everyday was Tuesday so she could go to ballet. There is no better endorsement than that! J. Thank you so much for all your work on the Nutcracker and for allowing M. K. to be part of this experience. You have no idea how much this has meant to her, and how much she has loved being in the production. Our family appreciates all your hard work with all the members of St. Croix Ballet!I feel so very fortunate to have found St.Croix Ballet and am always amazed at the level of talent in both the dancers as well as the staff. I am a most grateful parent to have such a beautiful, wholesome environment in which my daughter is learning and loving ballet! Thanks, B.
I feel so very fortunate to have found St.Croix Ballet and am always amazed at the level of talent in both the dancers as well as the staff. I am a most grateful parent to have such a beautiful, wholesome environment in wich my daughter is learning and loving ballet! B.C.
Good Morning. I just want to say how sad it is for me right now to not be around for Nutcracker week and being part of such a wonderful production. I watched my girls for so many years be part of this great event. I have so many wonderful memories of this time in my life, with my girls and even my son and I together on stage. Thank you so much for all you have done, you are truly LOVED by a lot of us Dads. God Bless You!
Nine or ten years ago, I brought A. to watch her first Nutcracker. During the waltz dance, she turned to me and said that one day she wanted to dance the waltz. It was an emotional day for me to watch her dance the waltz last night. She had realized one of her goals. I thought she danced it well and I thought she looked beautiful. I want to thank you for all you have done for A. Ballet has taught her so much as far as grace and discipline and strengthened her "ligamentously loose" joints but it has also provided her with friends that I'm sure will be lifelong. She's learned lessons of moving ahead with joy even if she didn't get exactly the part she wanted, which is such an important life lesson. Being a part of such a well done performance is a rare opportunity that our whole family cherishes. My son D. is at college but wanted to be sure I got him a ticket. He said watching the Nutcracker was a tradition that he didn't want to miss. P.B. | |
