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The foundation of all great dance. Our ballet program develops technique, posture, discipline, and artistry in students from age 3 through adult — taught by professionally trained faculty in state-of-the-art studios.
Ballet is the technical foundation of virtually every other dance style. Whether your child dreams of performing on stage, competing, or simply learning to move with confidence and grace — ballet gives them the tools to get there. Posture, alignment, balance, coordination, and musicality are all developed through consistent ballet training from an early age.
At Steps Dance Center in Aurora, IL, our ballet program follows classical technique while keeping classes engaging, age-appropriate, and fun. We welcome complete beginners as young as 3 years old, and our program scales all the way to pre-professional training for our competitive company dancers.
Ages 3 – 5 · 30 or 45 min
A gentle, playful introduction to ballet for the youngest dancers. Students explore movement, rhythm, and basic positions through imaginative games and music. No prior experience needed — just a love of dancing.
Ages 5 – 8 · 45 or 60 min
Students begin learning foundational ballet vocabulary — pliés, tendus, relevés, and port de bras — at the barre and in the center. French terminology introduced. First recital experience included.
Ages 8 – 11 · 60 min
Students build on their foundational technique with more complex combinations, jumps, and turns. Emphasis on proper alignment, musicality, and artistic expression. Progress tracked across levels.
Ages 11 – 14 · 45 or 60 min
Intermediate students develop greater technical precision, stronger jumps and turns, and begin working on the physical conditioning required for advanced training. Introduction to pointe evaluation.
Ages 12+ · 75 or 90 min
Advanced training for serious students, including pointe work for qualified dancers. This level is the pathway to Steps Dance Company auditions. Faculty evaluate readiness for pointe individually — never by age alone.
Adults · 45 or 60 min
A welcoming, non-competitive class for adults at any level — from complete beginners to former dancers returning to the barre. A wonderful way to improve posture, flexibility, and mindfulness.

Rebecca has been teaching and training dancers for over 20 years. A University of Illinois graduate who served as choreographer for the nationally ranked Illini Dance Team and Artistic Director of international hip hop company Dance2XS, Rebecca is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) — a scientifically developed system tha
Rebecca has been teaching and training dancers for over 20 years. A University of Illinois graduate who served as choreographer for the nationally ranked Illini Dance Team and Artistic Director of international hip hop company Dance2XS, Rebecca is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) — a scientifically developed system that targets the muscles dancers need for proper ballet technique. She brings both classical rigor and contemporary energy to every class at Steps.

Braeden trained at Faubourg Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School before being accepted into the Joffrey Ballet training program under Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik. He has danced professionally with Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Balletmet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Billy Elliot the Musical, and Visceral Dance Chicago — performing both nationall
Braeden trained at Faubourg Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School before being accepted into the Joffrey Ballet training program under Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik. He has danced professionally with Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Balletmet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Billy Elliot the Musical, and Visceral Dance Chicago — performing both nationally and internationally. An award-winning choreographer whose work has won first place at REVERBDance Festival in New York and first place for best choreography at YAGP, Braeden brings elite professional training to every ballet class at Steps.

Originally from Aurora, IL, Ashley graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Elementary Education. Her classical training was built under Kenneth von Heidecke — a student of Maria Tallchief — at Chicago Festival Ballet, one of Chicago's most respected classical institutions. She has worked with George De la Peñ
Originally from Aurora, IL, Ashley graduated from the University of Iowa with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Elementary Education. Her classical training was built under Kenneth von Heidecke — a student of Maria Tallchief — at Chicago Festival Ballet, one of Chicago's most respected classical institutions. She has worked with George De la Peña and attended the Hubbard Street Summer Intensive, and served as apprentice with Thodos Dance Chicago. Ashley brings a rare combination of classical depth and a teacher's instinct for working with young learners.
Tuition is billed quarterly across our 34-week season (September through May). A $40 non-refundable registration fee is required at enrollment.
Per Quarter Pricing:
30min - $140 (Pre-ballet ages 3-4)
45min - $170 (Pre-ballet & primary ages 4-6)
60min - $205 (Ballet level 1, 2, and adult)
75min - $240 (Intermediate ballet)
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Please reach us at info@stepsdancecenteronline.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We welcome ballet students as young as 3 years old in our Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement classes. At this age, classes focus on imaginative movement, basic positions, and building a love for dance — not formal technique. Starting young is a wonderful advantage, but we also welcome beginners of any age. It is never too late to start ballet.
No. All of our beginner and primary ballet levels welcome students with zero prior experience. Our team will help you find the right class placement based on your child's age and any dance background they may have. We make the process easy for first-time dance families.
Ballet students are required to wear a leotard, ballet tights or leggings, and ballet shoes. Hair must be pulled back neatly — ballet classes require hair in a bun. All attire is available through our online dancewear store at shopnimbly.com/stepsdancecenter. Not sure what to buy? Our front desk team is happy to help you before your first class.
Pointe readiness is evaluated individually by our faculty — never by age alone. We follow professional standards that assess bone development, strength, alignment, and technical proficiency. Most students are not pointe-ready until at least age 11-12, and only after demonstrating the physical and technical prerequisites. Our faculty will discuss readiness with you when the time is right.
Yes — Steps Dance Center produces The Nutcracker annually, and ballet students ages 5 and up are invited to participate. The Nutcracker is one of the most cherished experiences for young ballet students and their families. Participation information is shared each fall at the start of the season.
Absolutely — and this is one of the most important things to understand about ballet. Ballet training builds posture, alignment, musicality, and body control that directly improves a dancer's ability in hip hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and acro. Many of our most accomplished dancers across all styles credit their ballet training as the reason they picked up other styles so quickly.
We are located at 4054 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, IL 60504 — just minutes from Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery, and Lisle. We are conveniently situated at the Fox Valley Center off Route 59. Free parking is available on-site. Call us at (630) 499-5678 with any questions.
4054 Fox Valley Center Dr.
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 499-5678
info@stepsdancecenteronline.com
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