Pre-Professional Ballet Classes

Pre-Professional Ballet Classes provide ongoing training at Essence Studios’ Poolesville location for students pursuing dance at a serious or pre-professional level. The program welcomes participants with or without previous dance experience and serves a broad range of students, from young dancers and teenage athletes developing strength and flexibility to adults interested in movement and aspiring professional dancers.

Students who are not currently enrolled in ballet must first complete a placement class. Instructors use that assessment to determine the appropriate level, considering motor skills, curriculum requirements, American Ballet Theatre level standards, individual aptitude, age, and the social-development levels of fellow students. Essence Studios states that it welcomes all students and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, national origin, or sexual orientation.

When: August 31–December 18, 2026, during the Fall 2026 semester.

Showtimes: The event page lists individual class dates as all-day entries rather than providing specific class hours. The first week of the semester runs Monday, August 31, through Saturday, September 5. The page’s date listings continue across the semester, with classes generally scheduled on recurring weekdays and Saturdays.

Schedule notes: The studio is closed on September 19 for Poolesville Day and November 26–27 for Thanksgiving/Fall Break. Youth and adult classes are canceled on December 3, and all youth classes are canceled on December 7. December 15 is the final day of fall adult classes, while December 18 is the final day of fall youth classes. The studio then closes for winter break from December 19 through January 3.

Tickets: Price not available.

Ages: Open to all students; the page does not specify an age restriction.

Placement: Students without current ballet enrollment must take a preliminary placement class before being assigned a level.

Venue: Essence Studios, 19710-E Fisher Ave., Poolesville, MD 20837.

Location details: The studio is in the Poolesville Village Center on Fisher Avenue, in the center of Poolesville. The area offers nearby restaurants, shopping, and ample parking.

Facilities: Studio A has a 56-by-25-foot sprung floor with a Harlequin Cascade professional dance surface. Studio B measures 35 by 19 feet and has the same flooring. Both studios have full-length mirrors, and the waiting area includes seating for families and windows through which dancers can be observed. Designated study areas are also available.

Accessibility: No accessibility information is currently available for this event.

Contact: (240) 489-3021; ssencestudios@riverworksart.org.

Website: https://essencestudiosdance.com/?page_id=950