Ballet studio opens in Penn Yan; classes for all ages

A new ballet studio is in town and classes will start in mid-September. Leap of Faith Studios, opened by Emily Thompson, is a traditional, classical ballet training facility located in Penn Yan next to the Pinwheel Market on Main Street. Classes are held on the third floor of the Oddfellows building in two studios.

Thompson has been teaching ballet in the area since 2006 and says she is excited about opening her own studio.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says.

Thompson is currently studying under a variety of teachers at the Ithaca Ballet Guild. She has been teaching at a Dundee ballet studio and because she’s opening her own studio, she will have to leave the Dundee studio to care for the Leap of Faith Studios. The studio got its name because taking on the responsibility of owning a ballet studio is a leap of faith for Thompson.

“Back in Dundee, I could count on a paycheck regularly. Opening this studio was a leap of faith. It requires trusting people and it’s opened so many doors for me,” she explains.

Thompson anticipates about 30 students this upcoming season if everyone who has expressed interest in taking classes follows through. As for ages, Thompson says it’s available to almost everyone.

“We say ages four to adult,” she says. “Though, if there’s a child who is three-and-a-half and mature, we will accept him or her.”
Although Thompson enjoys working with all age groups, she finds special rewards from younger students.

“The most rewarding ages to teach are nine and 10,” she says. “They absorb so much and they learn so quickly, and they’re just a lot of fun.”
Experience is not necessary to register for a class, which is good news for parents who may want to expose their children to dance at a young age.

There is a variety of different classes, all depending on age and level of experience. Tiny Tots is for children ages four and five, where students are exposed to classical music, creative movement, and basic body placement, with no experience needed. Pre-Ballet is for ages five and six, where their knowledge of ballet is built on what they learned in Tiny Tots if they took the class, but again, no experience is needed. Classes with no-experience-needed continue with Ballet 3 for ages 11 and up and leads to the Intermediate class for ages 13 and up. In this class, students must have two consecutive years experience to enroll. All classes can be viewed on the Leap of Faith Studios website.

Ballet may not seem to be a popular activity among boys and men, but

Thompson says that male students are always welcome in her studio.
“I would encourage boys and men to come to this studio,” she says. “Football players often take ballet on the side. It’s a great way to learn teamwork as well,” she says.

Very often, football players take ballet to improve their balance, agility, and flexibility, as well as staying in shape during the off-season. Classical ballet is very physically demanding, and male ballet dancers must be strong in order to lift female dancers, so strength is built upon in ballet classes.

Thompson is the lone instructor at Leap of Faith Studios, but she hopes to hire others in the future. In the meantime, older students can help with the younger-student classes. These older students must pay for their class, but in return for helping Thompson with younger-student classes, they can take any other class free of charge. The spaces are full for this season, 2010-2011, but she encourages students to look for spaces next year.

Classes start Sept. 13 and range from $45 to $220 per quarter, with a $25 costume fee and discounts for those who apply. It may seem expensive, but

Thompson says the rent she pays goes towards Milly’s Pantry and the backpack program.

“Twenty percent goes to Milly’s Pantry,” she says. “All tuition payments that parents make help Milly’s Pantry.”

Thompson encourages children and adults to contact her and sign up for one of her classes. She says that there are four quarters, with the first quarter starting Sept. 5, classes starting Sept 13, and the last quarter ending June 11. Also on June 11 is the End-of-Year Performance, and more information on that event will be announced closer to the date.

Dancing is a great way for children and adults to stay active, have fun, learn new things, and make new friends says Thompson.
“Nobody is too big, small, young, or old to dance,” Thompson says.

For more information on Leap of Faith Studios, visit www.LeapOfFaithStudios.webs.com. Brochures and registration forms can be acquired by calling Emily Thompson at 585-880-8357, or by emailing her at Emilybthompson@yahoo.com.