LBP SCHOOL OF DANCE - RAVENSWOOD MANOR, CHICAGO
Ballet & Pointe Classes in Chicago
Every Level, Every Age
From first pliés at age 3 to advanced pointe work, our custom curriculum builds strong technique, beautiful artistry, and a genuine love of dance — in the heart of Chicago's north side.
4630 N Francisco Ave, Chicago IL 60625 · Classes 7 days a week · Nonprofit studio since 1954
Le Ballet Petit offers ballet and pointe classes for kids, teens and adults of all ages and levels in Chicago's Ravenswood Manor neighborhood. From Kinder Ballet for 3-year-olds taking their first steps at the barre to Advanced Pointe and Pas de Deux for serious students pursuing classical training, LBP offers a robust program to suit all levels of dancers. As a nonprofit studio on Chicago's North Side, we serve families across Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, Albany Park, and Andersonville in a welcoming, rigorous environment where every dancer is challenged and supported.
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Our structured level system builds classical technique from the ground up, with a strong focus on proper alignment, strength, stamina, and artistry. Whether you are enrolling a curious 3-year-old, a competitive teen, or yourself as an adult beginner, LBP has a class for you.
BALLET CLASSES · CHICAGO
Classical Ballet
Our ballet program follows a careful progression from creative movement to classical technique, with small class sizes and experienced instructors at every step. Our ballet classes for kids are open to dancers starting at age 3 and there is no experience necessary for beginners.
Ballet Dress Code
Hair must be in a bun or secured away from the face. If hair is too short for a bun, pull it back as much as possible. Choose one of the two attire options below:
OPTION A
Leotard (color by level — see below), pink tights, and ballet shoes with drawstrings tucked in. Ballet skirt or fitted shorts optional.
OPTION B
Fitted top (color by level - see below), fitted shorts or pants, and ballet shoes with drawstrings tucked in.
Leotard / Fitted Top color is assigned by ballet level:
KINDER, PRE-BALLET & BEGINNING
Pink
BASIC BALLET
Periwinkle or light blue
INTERMEDIATE BALLET
Burgundy
PRE-POINTE & UP
Black
Not sure which level is right for your dancer? We're happy to help. Contact us and we'll guide you to the best starting point.
Ballet Classes by Level
Kinder Ballet
Where the magic begins. Kinder Ballet introduces our youngest dancers to music, rhythm, and movement through imaginative, play-based activities. Students learn basic ballet positions, spatial awareness, and listening skills in an encouraging, nurturing environment. This is where a lifelong love of dance is born — no prior experience needed.
SCHEDULE
Tue 4:00 pm
Wed 4:00 pm
Pre-Ballet
Pre-Ballet bridges imaginative movement and classical training. Five-year-olds learn their first ballet terminology including pliés, tendus, and relevés, alongside simple barre exercises designed for growing bodies. Students develop coordination, posture, and the foundational discipline that carries them through every level ahead.
SCHEDULE
Wed 5:00 pm
Thur 5:00 pm
Beginning Ballet
Beginning Ballet is the first fully classical ballet class experience. Students learn the five positions of the feet and arms, basic barre sequences, and simple center combinations. Emphasis is placed on proper alignment, musicality, and classroom etiquette.
SCHEDULE
Tue 4:00 pm
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Basic 1 Ballet
Basic 1 is the traditional entry-level ballet class for all youth dancers at LBP. Whether your dancer is brand new to ballet or joining us for the first time from another studio, this is where their LBP journey begins. Students develop structured barre work, center exercises, port de bras, and small jumps working on building the strength, stamina, and musical awareness that every level ahead will build upon.
SCHEDULE
Wed 6:00 pm
Basic 2 Ballet
Building directly on Basic 1, dancers refine their technique, expand their vocabulary, and begin working on more complex combinations. Work on physical conditioning deepens and students continue to master the foundational basics of ballet. This level is the launchpad toward intermediate work.
SCHEDULE
Wed 6:00 pm
Intermediate 1 Ballet
A significant step in technical development. Intermediate 1 dancers tackle more demanding barre sequences, allegro work, and begin developing the strength and control required for prepointe readiness. Artistry and performance quality are introduced alongside technical rigor.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Intermediate 2 Ballet
Advanced barre and center work with a growing emphasis on artistry. Dancers refine pirouettes, develop grand allegro skills, and build the physical conditioning that leads toward pointe work.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Pre-Pointe 1 Ballet
Serious preparation for the transition to pointe shoes. This class focuses intensively on foot and ankle strength, core stability, and alignment precision — the three pillars of safe pointe work. Students who have been recommended by their instructor work through targeted exercises that build the strength required before going en pointe.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Pre-Pointe 2 Ballet
The final bridge before pointe. Students at Pre-Pointe 2 demonstrate the strength, control, and technical precision required before transitioning to pointe shoes. Conditioning work is intensive, and the artistry developed here carries directly into pointe class.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Perfection 1 Ballet
The entry point into LBP's Perfection program. Dancers who have been placed in Perfection 1 are ready to train at a significantly elevated level. Classical variations, demanding barre sequences, and the performance quality that distinguishes perfection-level ballet dancing are the centr focus of this course. This class challenges dancers to bring everything they've built and push it further.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Various Instructors
Perfection 2 Ballet
Building on the foundation of Perfection 1, dancers at this level work on more complex variations, refined artistry, and the physical and musical demands that define advanced classical training. Technique is precise, performance quality is high, and the expectation to bring genuine artistry to every combination is constant.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Various Instructors
Perfection 3 Ballet
Le Ballet Petit's highest ballet class. Perfection 3 is the culmination of years of dedicated training and is where technical mastery and genuine artistic maturity come together. Dancers study classical variations at the highest level in our curriculum, developing the stage presence and expressive depth that defines ballet at its finest.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Various Instructors
Ballet Technique
A rigorous technique-focused class for dancers who want to deepen their classical training beyond a standard level class. Ballet Technique zeroes in on the details — placement, weight transfer, épaulement, and the mechanics that make movement clean, expressive, and powerful. An excellent addition for students in Intermediate and above who want to accelerate their development, and for adult dancers with a strong ballet foundation looking for a serious challenge.
SCHEDULE
Wed 7:00 pm
Various Instructors
POINTE CLASSES · CHICAGO
Pointe: The Next Chapter
Pointe training at Le Ballet Petit follows a careful, safety-first progression. In our Chicago Pointe classes, students are evaluated for readiness based on strength, alignment, and physical maturity, not just age or years of experience. Once cleared, dancers advance through Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Perfection Pointe levels under the guidance of our experienced faculty. Our invite-only Pas de Deux class is available for advanced students ready to begin partnering work.
Basic Pointe
The exciting beginning of a dancer's pointe journey. Students who have been recommended by their instructor lace up their first pointe shoes and begin developing the strength, technique, and confidence to dance en pointe safely. Barre work, careful progressions, and close instructor attention define this class.
SCHEDULE
Thur 6:00 pm
Intermediate Pointe
Building on Basic Pointe, dancers develop greater strength, control, and repertoire. Center combinations, supported turns on pointe, and more complex choreography are introduced as students gain confidence and stamina in their pointe shoes.
SCHEDULE
Thur 6:00 pm
Advanced Pointe
For experienced pointe dancers, Advanced Pointe focuses on stamina, artistry, and technical precision. Complex variations, pirouettes en pointe, and advanced allegro work challenge dancers at a high level.
SCHEDULE
Thur 6:00 pm
Perfection Pointe
Le Ballet Petit's top-level pointe class. Dancers explore classical variations and develop the artistry and endurance of professional-level pointe work. This class is the culmination of years of training and dedication.
SCHEDULE
Thur 6:00 pm
Pas de Deux
The art of classical ballet partnering. This invitation-only class develops the communication, trust, and technical precision required between partners — including supported turns, lifts, and the timing that makes two dancers move as one.
SCHEDULE
COMMON QUESTIONS