2026/2027
Pre‑Professional Program

2026/2027
Pre‑Professional Program

Program Overview

Designed for dedicated students preparing for a professional dance career, our program offers rigorous, comprehensive training emphasizing discipline, technique, artistry, and resilience. Open to ages 8–18.

Curriculum Highlights

Advanced Technical Training: Intensive daily classes in classical ballet technique, pointe work (by assessment; see requirements below), and variations training.

Artistic Development: Performance opportunities in The Nutcracker excerpts and our Spring Performance at Montclair State University.

Holistic Growth: A supportive atmosphere stressing strength, grace, discipline, and grit needed for the modern professional landscape.

Placement & Class Requirements

Minimum ballet study to qualify for Horton placement: 2 ballet classes per week.  Often introduced around age 10-12.

Pointe Eligibility: All students interested in pointe must complete a pointe assessment. Students taking pointe must be enrolled in a minimum of 3 ballet classes per week.

Jazz/Contemporary Enrollment: Students may take jazz/contemporary classes only if they are enrolled in all required ballet and Horton classes.

Make-up Policy

No prorates for registrations. Students may make up missed classes in the level below their regularly scheduled class.

Enrollment Details

Trial classes are available for all levels at $25. Schedule is subject to change. For booking and pricing, email ac@acdancenj.com

Commitment

We are committed to providing the training, tools, and guidance necessary to help dancers transition into professional companies or college programs.

How to Register
Contact ac@acdancenj.com for audition class into our Pre-Professional program.

Our Pre-Professional Program Schedule

Three young girls in blue ballet leotards and tights, wearing ballet shoes, standing against a white background with their hands on their hips.
Five young girls in pink leotards and white tights are posing for a ballet photo, with one girl doing a split on the floor and another girl dancing on her toes with arms raised.

2 Ballet and 1 Horton

Monday, Horton 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
Tuesday 5:00 pm -6:00 pm
Wednesday 5:00 pm 6:00 pm

Leotard Color - French Blue

Level 1

2 Ballet

Tuesday 4:00 pm -5:00 pm
Wednesday 4:00 pm -5:00 pm

1st Year: Fuchsia Leotard
2nd Year: Sky Blue Leotard

Level 2

Additional Classes

Five women in ballet practice poses on a white background, using pink exercise balls and wearing purple and pink leotards and tights.

Progressing Ballet Technique
an innovative body conditioning and strength-
building program that prioritises muscle
memory development through ballet-specific exercises.

ages 10+

Saturday -Juniors 8:00 am -8:55 am
Friday -Seniors 6:00 pm -7:00 pm
(students must be approved to take this level)

Dress code-leotard color and black tights

Two young female gymnasts in blue leotards practicing on a balance beam against a white background.
A young female ballet dancer in a purple leotard performing an arabesque pose against a plain white background.

4 Ballet, 2 Pre-Pointe/Pointe and 1 Horton

Monday, Horton 5:15 pm-6:45 pm
Wednesday, Ballet 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Thursday, Ballet 4:00 pm-5:30 pm
Thursday, Pointe 5:30pm -6:00 pm
Friday, Ballet 4:00 pm -5:30 pm
Friday, 4Pointe 5:30 pm-6:00 pm
Saturday, Ballet 9:00 am -10:30 am

Leotard Color: Lilac

3 Ballet, 1 Pre-Pointe and 1 Horton

Monday, Horton 4:00 pm-5:15 pm
Wednesday, Ballet 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Friday, Ballet 4:00-5:30 pm
Friday, 4Pre-Pointe 5:30 pm -6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am -10:30 am

Leotard Color: Pacific

Level 4

Level 3

A young woman in a purple tank top and black leggings is performing a jump or leap in mid-air with a joyful expression.

Contemporary 1

Saturday -2:30-3:30 pm
(students must be approved to take this level)

Contemporary 2

Saturday -1:00 pm -2:30 pm
(students must be approved to take this level)

Dress code-any leotard color, socks and AC Dance joggers coming soon

Three female ballet dancers in blue leotards and black tights posing with one leg raised and arms extended, ballet studio with white background.

Jazz 1
(age 8+)
Saturday 4:30 pm-5:30 pm

Jazz 2
(must be approved to take this level)
Thursday 6:00 pm-7:30 pm

Jazz 3
(must be approved to take this level)
Thursday 7:30 pm-9:00 pm

Dress code- level color and black tights

Contact us for more information regarding auditions for our Pre-Professional program.

You can reach us directly at ac@acdancenj.com

Upper Levels

4 Ballet, 3 Pointe, 1 Variations or Jazz and 1 Horton

Mon, Horton 5:15-6:45 pm
Tues, Ballet 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Tues, Variations 7:15-8:15 pm(Oct. &Nov)
Wed, Ballet 7:00 -8:30 pm
Wed, Pointe 8:30 pm -9:00 pm
Thur, Ballet 4:00 pm-5:30
Thur, 4Pointe 5:30-6:00 pm
Fri, Ballet 7:00 pm -8:30 pm
Fri, Pointe 8:30 pm-9:00 pm

Leotard Color: Dark Purple

Level 5

Level 6

4 Ballet, 4 Pointe, 1 Variations or Jazz and 1 Horton

Mon, Horton 6:45 pm-8:15 pm
Tues, Ballet 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Tues, Variations on pointe 7:15-8:15 pm(Oct. & Nov)
Wed, Ballet 7:00 -8:30 pm
Wed, Pointe 8:30 pm -9:00 pm
Thur, Ballet 4:00 pm-5:30
Thur, 4Pointe 5:30-6:00 pm
Fri, Ballet 7:00 pm -8:30 pm
Fri,Pointe 8:30 pm-9:00 pm

Leotard Color: Hunter Green

Two ballet dancers in matching maroon leotards and tights performing a mirror pose with arms touching and one leg raised high behind them against a plain white background.
Two ballerinas in black leotards and pink tights practicing arabesque poses at a ballet barre against a pink background.

5 Ballet, 5 Pointe, 1 Variations or Jazz, 1 PBT, and 1 Horton

Mon, Horton 6:45 pm-8:15 pm
Tues, Ballet 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Tues, Variations on pointe 7:15-8:15 pm(Oct. & Nov)
Wed, Ballet on pointe 7:00 -8:30 pm
Wed, Pointe 8:30 pm -9:00 pm
Thur, Ballet 4:00 pm-5:30
Thur, 4Pointe 5:30-6:00 pm
Fri, Ballet on pointe 7:00 pm -8:30 pm
Fri, Pointe 8:30 pm-9:00 pm
Sat, Ballet on pointe 10:45 am -12:15- pm

Leotard Color: Black & Red Belt

Level 7

Level 8

5 Ballet, 4 Pointe, 1 Variations or Jazz, 1 PBT and 1 Horton

Mon, Horton 6:45 pm-8:15 pm
Tues, Ballet 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Tues, Variations on pointe 7:15-8:15 pm(Oct. & Nov)
Wed, Ballet on pointe 7:00 -8:30 pm
Wed, Pointe 8:30 pm -9:00 pm
Thur, Ballet 4:00 pm-5:30
Thur, 4Pointe 5:30-6:00 pm
Fri, Ballet on pointe 7:00 pm -8:30 pm
Fri, Pointe 8:30 pm-9:00 pm
Sat, Ballet 10:45 am -12:15- pm

Leotard Color: Burgundy & Black Belt

A ballerina performing an arabesque pose against a plain white background.
A woman in a purple ballet outfit and white tights is sitting in a cross-legged yoga pose with her hands on her hips, smiling and looking to the side, against a plain white background.