Ballet Academy
Levels 2 - 7
Children ages 8-18 enter the Student Division by audition. If accepted, the student is placed in one of curriculum levels. Students learn progressive levels of ballet technique following the school syllabus for each age-appropriate level. Classical classes are taught using principles from French, American, and Russian technique and styles. Taught by classically trained instructors, students are instructed in classroom etiquette, attire, vocabulary, wellness, injury prevention, nutrition, ballet history, career paths, and ballet conditioning to fully round out the dancer.
Yearly advancement is based on faculty evaluations of the individual student’s technical ability, physical aptitude, strength, classroom effort and attendance.
Chelsea Howell
Artistic Director
Teaching for 18 yrs has taught Mrs. Howell that her love and passion stems from the classical art and it’s lost definition in a world that is moving so fast.
Having trained in Idaho under the direction of her mother and going on to train under some of the old greats like Barbara Remington (Joffery ballet), Frank Bays (Joffery Ballet), Charles Bennett (San Fransisco Ballet), Paul Sanasardo (Modern), Jim Kolb (Jazz), Idaho Ballet, Ballet West, American Theater Ballet (Boise, ID.), Community Ballet (Huntsville, AL.), and other various masters has led her down her path. She has taught Ballet, Modern and Jazz in Idaho, Washington, Alabama and Tennessee.
Mrs. Howell has performed in the corp de ballet and as a soloist in ballets like The Four Season (Fall), Nutcracker (Sugar Plum, Snow Queen, Dew Drop as well as corp dances), Little Match Girl (The match girl), Coppelia and other choreographer choice roles. Directing Ballets and reaching out to communities has become a place to reach her dream. Since 2008 , Howell has directed ballets such as The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardee, The Little Match Girl and The Carnival of Animals.
Sharing this classic art with the Spring Hill Community and surrounding cities is a love and a passion of Mrs. Howells. Her greatest accomplishment is being the wife of James E. Howell and the mother of 2 heaven sent children.
Awards and Accolades
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Artistic Director Chelsea Howell has been awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award by the Tennessee Governor in 2008.
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Best Choreographer Award in Huntsville, Alabama for Fiddler on the Roof.
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Her current list of alumni dancers have open their own studios, created their own dancer companies, been accepted and have been given scholarships into summer intensives like Next Generation Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey, Nashville Ballet, Alabama Ballet, North Carolina School for the Arts, The Rock School of Dance Education and Governors School of the Arts.
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One student has gone on to train with Peter Stark at Next Generation Ballet.
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She has had 3 students compete in Youth American Grand Prix and one of those was chosen as one of the top 12 ballet dancers in the region.
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Previous students have been awarded scholarships from Tennessee Association of Dance.
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3 students have been Accepted to the Governors School for the Arts, a full ride scholarship.
