Academy
Academy
Every dancer at Soma Arts begins here — assessed, placed, and trained one level at a time.
- Levels
- 1 – 8
- Placement
- Assessed
- Styles
- Every discipline
- Leads to
- 3 pathways
Every dancer at Soma Arts begins their journey in our Academy. Here, students train in the foundations of dance—developing strength, technique, artistry, and confidence in a supportive, structured environment. Dancers are thoughtfully assessed and placed into one of 8 progressive levels in each style, ensuring they are both challenged and set up for success. Academy training is designed for all ages and goals, whether you’re here for the joy of movement or working in one of our 3 pathways.
What it takes
- Placement by skill — assessed in every style
- Level adjustments at the start of each semester
- One to two years in a level on average
- Consistent weekly class time
Levels
Placed by skill, not age.
Pre Jazz & Tumble, 30 min. Must turn 2 before fall and be potty trained. Every class performs at Recital.
Attire · Comfortable movement wear, hair up
Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Tumbling technique, plus Ballet & Tap and Jazz & Tumble combos. 30–45 min classes.
Attire · Hot Pink
Adds Hip Hop, Movement and Kinetics, with 60-min Ballet and Jazz. Required warm-up before the first class.
Attire · Golden Yellow
Ballet 5–8 at 90 min, Kinetics, Tumbling 5–8, and choreography in every style.
Attire · Cobalt Blue
Our most advanced Academy training: the 5–6 class track at a higher standard.
Attire · Black
Mat Pilates, Yoga, Open Ballet, Open Jazz and Open Tap. No placement needed.
Attire · Movement wear
Classes
Train first. Perform second.
Skill-building without routine pressure. Technique classes don’t perform.
Learn and perform the Recital routine. Requires the matching technique class.
Ballet & Tap and Jazz & Tumble for younger dancers, and they perform.
Classes run 30–90 minutes. Many dancers start with one or two a week. Level 3+ includes a required 15-minute warm-up before the first class of the day.
Tuition
Simple, by the hour.
Monthly tuition is based on your family’s total weekly hours, Pathway classes included. Siblings’ hours combine for a lower rate.
Auto-drafted on the 1st. $25 late fee if a payment fails or isn’t paid by the 5th.
Pay in full before each semester begins for a 5% early-payment discount.
Per family, due by your dancer’s first class.
- Fall semesterJul 25 – Dec 18, 2027 · pay in full by Aug 1 for the discount
- Spring semesterJan 9 – May 27, 2028 · pay in full by Jan 7 for the discount
- Summer blockJun 4 – Jul 1, 2028 · due in full by Jun 1
Recital
One stage. No costume chaos.
Optional but encouraged. Academy dancers wear their level color, black style-specific shoes and a small accessory. Only Pre-Level buys a costume.
- Choreography & combo classesPerform
- Technique classesDon’t perform
- CompanyMost routines
- ConservatorySelect pieces
- InstituteApprentice piece
Q&A
Does my child need any prior dance experience to join the Academy?
No. Our Academy is designed for beginners through advanced dancers. We assess each dancer so they start in the level that will challenge them while setting them up for success.
How young can my child start?
Pre-Level classes start at age 2 (dancers must turn 2 before the Fall semester begins). Level 1 starts at age 5. Younger dancers may be placed in Level 1 only with studio approval.
How do you decide which level my child is placed in?
Placement is based on skill, assessed separately in each style. The ages listed for each level are minimums, not a guarantee of placement. A dancer may be in different levels for different styles—for example, Level 3 Ballet and Level 2 Jazz—so they’re always learning at the right pace for each discipline.
Can my child move up levels during the year?
Level adjustments are made at the start of each semester (January and July) to ensure dancers have time to fully develop their skills. Most dancers will remain in a level for 1–2 years before moving up.
Why are technique and choreography separate classes?
Technique classes are for training—building skills without the pressure of preparing a routine. Choreography classes are where dancers learn the routine they perform in the Recital. Every choreography class requires enrollment in the matching technique class, so dancers keep building the skills their routines need.
How much time each week should we expect to commit to Academy classes?
Classes run 30 to 90 minutes, depending on level and style. Many dancers start with 1–2 classes per week and add more as their interest and skills grow. Adding a choreography class also means taking that style’s technique class. Tuition is based on your family’s total hours per week.
What does my dancer wear?
Every dancer wears their assigned class level color in Academy classes, with black, white or class-colored shorts, leggings or skirts. Each style has its own shoe requirements. Colors and attire for each level are on the Academy Levels page, and shoes for each style are on the Academy Classes page.
Can parents watch classes?
We love parent support, but we’ve found that dancers focus best without an audience. To give movers the most productive class time possible, we encourage parents to enjoy our waiting area or return after class and instead join us on scheduled observation days. Pre-Level caregivers may need to stay to help their dancer, and younger siblings can stay with Studio Sitters while you’re at the studio.
Does my child perform in the Recital?
The Recital is our year-end performance. Technique classes don’t perform; dancers perform through choreography classes and combo classes (like Ballet & Tap and Jazz & Tumble). Participation is optional, but we strongly encourage it—it builds stage confidence and creates lasting memories for dancers and their families.
What do recital costumes cost?
Academy recital costuming is intentionally simple: dancers perform in their class level color, black style-specific shoes and a small accessory, so there are no per-dance costumes to buy. Pre-Level classes are the only Academy classes that purchase a costume.
What happens if my child misses class?
While consistent attendance is important, we understand that illness and family commitments happen. Make-ups can be taken in the classes the studio has approved for your dancer’s class, so they can stay on track.
My child is very active—will they get enough movement in a 30-minute class?
Yes! Our shorter classes are structured for younger dancers with shorter attention spans, packing in skill-building, creativity, and energy into every minute.
Book a free trial class.
Pick a class by age, choose a date, and get a confirmation with what to wear. No account needed.
