Welcome

We love showing the studio to new potential students and their parents. This gives us time to personally discuss what you are looking for and what FBC offers. It works out great but there is no way to replicate that on a website. Here is some information to last until you can visit us.

The Fredericksburg Ballet Centre’s objective is to provide a carefully planned environment where students can pursue their personal dance goals under the guidance of professional instruction. The studio offers instruction to children and adults in classical ballet, Pas de Deux, Variations, pointe, preballet for the 5 and 6 year old, creative movement for the 3 and 4 year old, jazz, tap, musical theatre, modern, irish step, adult and teen beginner classes. The FBC programs are structured to meet a wide variety of student needs and interests extending from beginning classes in dance to full participation as a performer in the Fredericksburg Ballet Company. As the student’s needs and interests change, so can the program. The student’s enjoyment and fulfillment underline the objectives and purpose of FBC. The FBC teaching staff offers the finest professional instruction. The Centre is also the home of the Fredericksburg Ballet Company which provides an opportunity for interested students to apply their skills in performing activity. The Company performs the Nutcracker Ballet and a Spring Ballet every year.

Class descriptions & Dress Code

Dress Code for Ballet, PreBallet & Creative Movement: Black leotard, pink footed tights and pink leather ballet slippers. Hair in bun for PreIntermediate through Advanced Ballet. Hair in ponytail, bangs secured back for Creative Movement, Preballet & Beginner Ballet classes. NO SKIRTS ALLOWED.

Classical Ballet: Combines the best elements of Russian, French, English and American techniques. A program for children ages seven through adults and experience level from beginning through professional.

Pointe: A program for students eleven years old and up who have been approved by the faculty. A minimum of two regular ballet classes per week are required to participate in pointe. Exercises include barre and center to build strength.

Pas de Deux: is French for "Step of Two" and is what partnering is called in ballet. By dancing with a partner the lady can jump higher, take positions she would never be able to on her own, and "float" about the stage as she is carried by her partner. A partner allows a man to extend his line and show off his strength.

PreBallet: Designed for children between the age of 5 & 6. This class provides an introduction to ballet terms, music, rhythms and initiates simple barre and center floor work.

Creative Movement: Designed for children 3 & 4 years old to help in the development of motor skills. Children will learn basic ballet movements and terminology. This positive experience employs music and props. Each child is encouraged to cultivate natural creative expression, developing his or her full potential through dance.

Dress Code for Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre & Modern: Any color leotard & tights, bike unitard or tight jazz pants. Black tap shoes for tap, black jazz shoes for Jazz and Musical Theater. Barefoot for Modern. Hair must be off neck.

Jazz: Includes training in broadway style jazz and hip-hop vocabulary using upbeat popular music. Classes offered to students five through advanced.

Tap: Students will be trained to both Broadway and Rhythm tap styles. Beginner programs for ages 5 through teen & adult, as wells as intermediate through advanced.

Musical Theatre: A class for the intermediate through advanced dancer working on and developing stage presence. Includes drama, improvisation and character development. In addition, a minimum of one regular jazz class or one ballet class per week is required.

Modern: Class focuses on the study and training in principles of modern dance technique. Modern dance is said to be based on four principles: 1) Substance (movement,) 2) Dynamism, 3) Metakinesis, 4) Form (not dependent on music.)

Dress Code for Irish Step: dance shorts (no pants) or skirt & T-shirt or Leotard, white Poodle socks (or Tan tights with Poodle socks), black Ghillies & black tap shoes or jig shoes. Hair needs to be pulled back away from face. NOTE: poodle socks must be worn over tights. Students may only wear pants during class warm-ups.

Irish Step: FBC's Irish program is an affiliate with Danny Tighe School of Irish Dance, which is a registered Irish school based in North Carolina. All classes will combine soft & hard shoe instruction. Students will learn and become familiar with all different rhythms and steps of Irish dance (i.e. Reel, Jig, Slip-Jig, and Hornpipe). Classes range from Beginner to Advance allowing students to learn and develop basic to advance steps and skills. Advance students are given opportunities to perform out in the community. Students will also learn a variety of traditional figure, or Ceili dances in class.

We also offer a Feis program (Irish Dance Competition) for those students looking to enhance their knowledge of Irish dance and advance in their technical and performance skills. Students will have the opportunity to compete in different dances judged by certified judges and dance with other Irish dancers from all of the United States.

About FBC's Instructors

JENNIFER “Jen” CLEATON - JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATER & TAP - This is my nineteeth season as a teacher at FBC and I am celebrating my 11 year anniversary on November 1st as owner and Director. I received my B.A. Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University. I performed at Paramounts’ Kings Dominion for four years and choreographed two shows which were performed in conjunction with the USO. I taught dance at the West End Academy of Dance in Richmond and taught creative movement and dance to local Richmond children through the YMCA. I have continued my educational training by attending various workshops with such teachers as Tremaine, Doug Varone, Doug Nielsen, Gus Solomen Jr., Dianne McIntyre, Ron Brown, Susan Kicuchi (Martha Graham Company), Richmond Ballet and more. I have two daughters of my own, a rising 3rd grader and a rising 1st grader whom share my love of dance.

ANNE PAYNE BULLOCK - TAP - Ms Bullock, a former student of FBC for 15 years, is returning for her third year of teaching after graduating from James Madison University. Ms Bullock is a former assistant, subsitute teacher and full staff member of FBC. Her training is in Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Musical Theater. Ms Bullock also volunteers for Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue as an EMT.

ALLISON ESPOSITO - JAZZ, TAP & MUSICAL THEATER- Ms Esposito graduated from the University of Mary Washington in the Spring where she was a member of both the Performing Arts Club and the Dance Team. She plans on continuing being involved in PAC over at UMW. She received her training in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical at Power Explosion Studio of Dance in Maryland. Ms Esposito has been competing in regional and national dance competitions for about ten years. She has been teaching summer dance classes at Power Explosion for the past three years. This will be Ms Esposito’s third year with FBC.

KRISTIN GAUTA - BALLET & TAP - We welcome Ms Guata back to the FBC staff for her 2nd year. She currently is attending the University of Mary Washington pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with a Major in Psychology. She is on the UMW Dance Team as well as a member of the Performing Arts Club. Ms Guata has been dancing for 14 years with training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Hip-Hop, Pilates and Flamenco. She was a substitute teacher at her studio in New Jersey, the Jazz Rock Ballet Studio.

AMY HABEL (STALLINGS) - IRISH STEP & COMPETITION - Mrs Habel is a former student of 16 years and has been an instructor at FBC for the past 8 years. Amy is also the Irish instructor at Jessica Morgan School of Dance in Richmond. She has had the opportunity to train with instructors such as Arnott Mader, Susan Massey, & Melanie Richards from Richmond Ballet as well as, attended Dance Educators of America & Dance Masters conventions. Ms. Stallings graduated from VCU with a BS in Business Administration & Management.  For 4 years, Amy danced on the VCU Dance Team & attended National Dance Association & University Dance Association dance camps. For the past 7 years, Amy has been the Artistic Director for Crossroads Irish Dance Troupe, an Irish step troupe that performs all over the Richmond area. She has trained & attended workshops with former “Riverdance” members & highly certified Irish instructors. Currently, she trains under the instructor of Danny Tighe from Danny Tighe School of Irish Dance. Amy is studying and preparing for the T.C.R.G. exam in order to obtain her certification for Irish Dance. Throughout the year Amy competes at Irish Dance Competitions along the East Coast. When she is not teaching, she works as a Human Resources Specialist for the VA Department of ABC in Richmond.

CHERISH HORTON - TAP, JAZZ & COMPETITION - Ms Horton started her career in dance as a toddler at Fredericksburg Ballet Center. Since then she has been a featured performer and choreographer on numerous stages across the globe including those in New York City, Vermont, and at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Highlights in her training include studying with the Richmond Ballet, Virginia School of the Arts, The Royal Danish Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theater and Robert Battle's Battleworks. She works full time for "Minds in Motion," a Richmond Ballet award winning outreach program that teaches dance to 4th Graders in the Richmond public school system. A proud graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University's department of Dance and Choreography, Ms Cherish is thrilled to be returning to the Fredericksburg Ballet Center for her 2nd year to share her passion and talent with her students.

TERESA “Terry” MAYER - BALLET -  Ms. Mayer has taught at FBC for 12 years. Previously she taught at the Roanoke Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts where she directed the Magnet School Dance Company. Ms. Mayer received her B.S. in dance, Summa Cum Laude, from Radford University. Her training includes Point Park College, Washington School of Ballet, Boston School of Ballet and Chautauqua Institution. Ms. Mayer danced professionally with Southern Ballet Theater in Orlando, FL. She and her husband John have performed as professional guest artists for FBC, Southwest Virginia Ballet, Rockbridge Ballet, Lynchburg Rigional Ballet Theatre, Southwest Virginia Opera and Dance Matrix. 

BEVERLY MENDEZ - BALLET MISTRESS & MODERN - Ms Mendez has 30 years of experience in all aspects of dance and theater production. She just celebrated her 10 year Anniversary with FBC. She is a Magna cum Laude graduate with a double major in Dance and Theater from St. Leo College in Florida with additional training in N.Y at Martha Graham School, Alvin Ailey School and Eric Hawkins School. Her accomplishments include Theatrical Choreographer for the Embassy Theater in S.F. California, Artistic Director & Choreographer for Licensed Movers Dance Company, N.Y.C., Dancer, Instructor & Choreographer for Phyllis Rose Dance Company, N.Y.C.,and more. She currently is the Co-Artistic Director of Dance Matrix and teaches dance at the University of Mary Washington.

SUSANNE MIRABELLO - BALLET - Ms Mirabello is returning to the FBC staff after taking a year off in order to begin her teaching career as an Elementary School teacher in Fairfax County. She was a teacher for 4 years with FBC. Ms Mirabello trained with Virginia Ballet Company as well as performed with Virginia Ballet Company in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Alice and Wonderland and more. Additional training in summer intensive programs with Joffrey Ballet, Briansky Ballet and winner of the Winny Hogskins award with regards to Virginina's Governors School of Performing Arts. She is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington with a degree in Elementary Education where she was a member of the Performing Arts Clu