The Fine Arts Center's pre-professional training course is designed to produce a physically and mentally aware dancer with the technical training to do any kind of dancing, and the general knowledge to be an intelligent and well- rounded dance patron or professional.

Our program is rooted in the disciplines of classical ballet and modern dance techniques. Although jazz and tap are not included in our curriculum, succeeding in these "styles" of dance is best accomplished by strong technical training such as we offer.

The combination of training in both classical ballet and modern dance techniques produces a versatile ballet dancer or a student who will have a head start on any college dance program where modern dance will be the emphasis and he/she will likely be the only one with prior modern dance training.

Develop Student Skills

In addition to the training in classical ballet and modern dance techniques, students learn about dance history, get to know the current college/job scene, study anatomy and alignment, master the French ballet terminology, and perhaps even delve into dance notation or exercise physiology.

Advanced students enjoy an after-school class where new dance works are choreographed especially for (or by) them for performances at the Fine Arts Center and at other schools and locations in the community National and Regional High School Dance Festivals have taken us to Miami, Baltimore and Norfolk. Extensive video resources bring other companies and the history of dance to the classroom.

Visiting Artist Program

Our resident faculty is comprised of accomplished professional dancers and college-trained teachers, but many other artists come to teach and perform at the Fine Arts Center. Dan Wagoner Dancers, Tulsa Ballet, and teachers from New York, Texas, Florida, and Russia have been our guests.

Lisa Wheeler is our choreographer in residence at the Fine Arts Center from NYC.  She performs and is the associate artistic director and dancer with Ben Munisteri Dance Projects.