Updated 2026–2027 Class Schedule
Last updated August 28, 2026
We’re excited to share our updated class schedule, including the teachers for each class this season! Teacher bios will be added to the website soon so you can get to know our incredible RDC teaching team.
A few classes are already nearing capacity or have started waitlists, so we encourage families to register as soon as possible to secure their spot.
Please note that the schedule is subject to change, and adjustments may be made throughout the season as needed.
Our Class Structure
Designed for Growth. Built for Community.
As we prepared for the inaugural season of Richmond Dance Collective, we thoughtfully evaluated our class offerings with one goal in mind: creating a class structure that provides clear progression for every dancer while welcoming new families into our community.
Our simplified class structure was intentionally designed to provide a natural pathway from one level to the next, while honoring the experience of returning dancers and creating welcoming entry points for new students joining Richmond Dance Collective for the very first time.
Placement Levels
To help every dancer grow with confidence, Richmond Dance Collective organizes classes by developmental level. Grade and age ranges are intended as general guidelines. Placement may be adjusted based on a dancer's experience, technical ability, and overall readiness to ensure every student is appropriately challenged and supported. Please note, dancers should expect to dance at a level for approximately two years before moving up to the next level.
Elem I: Grades K-2 (5-8 yrs old)
Elem II: Grades 3-4 (8-10 yrs old)
Mid I: Grades 5-6 (10-12 yrs old)
Mid II: Grades 6-8 (11-14 yrs old)
Advanced (A/B): Grades 8-12 (13-18 yrs old)
Advanced levels are by instructor recommendation or permission only.
Tiny Tots
Ages 3–5
The perfect first independent dance class! Tiny Tots introduces preschool dancers to creative movement in an engaging, age-appropriate environment. Dancers build confidence while developing listening skills, coordination, musicality, and classroom independence.
Students will learn:
Basic ballet positions
Creative movement
Rhythm and musicality
Coordination and balance
Classroom etiquette
Ballet
Ballet Training at RDC
At RDC, our ballet curriculum is built around four essential areas of dancer development: Conditioning, Technique, Combinations, and Choreography. Together, these areas help dancers build strong bodies, solid technical foundations, confidence in movement, and artistry in performance.
As dancers progress through our program, the way these four areas are taught evolves to match their age, level, and training schedule.
The Four Areas of Ballet Training
CONDITIONING — Build the strength behind the movement
Developing strength, flexibility, stability, balance, body awareness, and the physical foundation needed to support healthy ballet technique.
TECHNIQUE — Build the foundation
Developing and refining classical ballet fundamentals including alignment, placement, turnout, balance, control, coordination, and clean execution through structured barre and center work.
COMBINATIONS — Put technique into motion
Applying technique through center work, across-the-floor progressions, turns, jumps, adagio, and traveling combinations while developing musicality, coordination, spatial awareness, and the ability to quickly learn movement.
CHOREOGRAPHY — Turn technique into performance
Bringing technical training and artistry together through choreography, musicality, expression, formations, transitions, ensemble work, and performance preparation.
How Ballet Training Evolves by Level
Elem Level Ballet
One class. All four areas.
At the Elementary levels, dancers experience Conditioning, Technique, Combinations, and Choreography within one well-rounded ballet class. This allows younger dancers to build a strong foundation while experiencing the variety, movement, creativity, and performance elements that keep ballet engaging and fun.
Mid-Level Ballet
Two classes. More focused training.
As dancers progress into our Mid levels, ballet training begins to become more specialized.
Ballet Technique provides dedicated time for barre, center work, and the continued development and refinement of classical ballet technique.
Ballet CCC — Conditioning, Combinations & Choreography brings together the other three areas of training. Dancers strengthen and condition their bodies, apply their technique through center and traveling combinations, and develop artistry through choreography and performance preparation.
Together, the two classes provide a balanced approach to ballet training while introducing dancers to the more focused structure they will experience at the Advanced levels.
Advanced Ballet
More training. More depth. More intentional focus.
Our Advanced dancers train multiple times each week and often for longer blocks, allowing all four areas to be explored with greater depth.
Throughout the week, instructors intentionally incorporate Conditioning, Technique, Combinations, and Choreography, with the focus of individual classes or training blocks shifting throughout the season based on what dancers need most.
Whenever possible, we will identify the primary focus of each Advanced ballet class or training block so dancers understand the purpose behind their training — while maintaining the flexibility our instructors need to prepare dancers technically and artistically throughout the season.
Teen Ballet Lab
For New & Recreational Teen Ballet Dancers
It's never too late to start ballet.
Teen Ballet Lab is designed specifically for teenagers who are new to ballet, returning after time away, or simply looking to enjoy ballet without the intensity of a competitive training track. This welcoming and supportive class focuses on building confidence, strength, flexibility, coordination, and proper ballet technique at a comfortable pace.
Whether you're exploring ballet for the first time, adding it to your training in another dance style, or dancing simply because you love it, Teen Ballet Lab provides a fun, encouraging environment where every dancer can grow.
Students will develop:
Ballet fundamentals and terminology
Strength, flexibility, and posture
Balance and coordination
Musicality and artistry
Confidence in a welcoming, supportive environment
Supplemental Class Option:
This is an excellent supplemental class for intermediate ballet dancers looking to improve strength, flexibility, turnout, balance, and technique through focused exercises and individualized corrections.
Contemporary
Contemporary combines ballet technique with modern movement, creativity, and emotional storytelling. Dancers develop strength, flexibility, fluid movement, floor work, improvisation, and artistic expression.
Contemporary Mid I & II
Students continue building technical skills while exploring movement quality, musical interpretation, and choreography.
Contemporary Advanced A & B - Instructor Placement
Advanced dancers refine technique while developing expressive performance skills through challenging choreography and advanced movement vocabulary.
Hip Hop
High-energy and fun, Hip Hop teaches rhythm, coordination, musicality, and confidence through age-appropriate choreography inspired by today's music and styles. Classes focus on performance, freestyle skills, and teamwork in an encouraging environment.
Hip Hop Elem I & II
Perfect for dancers learning basic grooves, footwork, rhythm, and coordination.
Hip Hop Mid I & II
Introduces more challenging combinations, musicality, freestyle concepts, and performance skills.
Hip Hop Advanced A & B - Instructor Placement
Fast-paced classes designed for experienced dancers focusing on precision, performance quality, advanced choreography, and versatility.
Jazz
Jazz is energetic, expressive, and athletic. Dancers build strong technical foundations while learning turns, jumps, flexibility, musicality, and dynamic choreography.
Jazz Mid I & II
Students strengthen jazz technique while increasing confidence and performance quality.
Jazz Advanced A & B
Designed for experienced dancers ready for advanced turns, leaps, conditioning, and performance-focused choreography.
Combination Classes
Storyteller Combo Class (Available in two Elementary level breakouts: Elem I and Elem II)
This unique class encourages dancers to tell stories through movement. Students explore lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre styles while developing emotional expression, musical interpretation, acting skills, and performance confidence.
Perfect for dancers who love creativity, storytelling, and performing.
Dance Mix! Combo Class (Available in two age groups: Elementary and Middle School)
The perfect way to wrap up the week and kick off the weekend! This high-energy Friday class mixes Jazz, Hip Hop, and more for a fun, upbeat class where dancers can move, explore different styles, and just have fun.
Built with Flexibility in Mind
While we've simplified our overall class structure, we've also built flexibility into our schedule to accommodate enrollment as our studio grows.
For classes where we anticipate stronger participation, we have intentionally reserved both studio spaces. This allows us to divide a class into A and B sections, if needed, to maintain ideal class sizes and provide the best possible learning environment.
This approach allows us to:
Maintain appropriate student-to-teacher ratios
Provide more individualized instruction
Create balanced class sizes
Group dancers with similar experience and skill levels
Support continued growth for every student
Our priority is always creating an environment where every dancer receives the attention, encouragement, and instruction they deserve.
We're Happy to Help
Not sure which class is the best fit?
Choosing the right class is an important part of ensuring a positive and successful dance experience. Whether your dancer is brand new to dance, transitioning from another studio, or returning from Arabesque Etc., we're happy to help guide you through the placement process.
If you have questions about class levels, previous experience, or where your dancer will be most successful, please don't hesitate to contact us.
📧 hello@rdcstudio.org
We're always happy to answer questions and provide personalized recommendations so every dancer begins the season feeling confident, challenged, and excited to dance.