All sports · Sport guide
Ballet, for the parent in it.
Every read, drill, calendar, pathway, rule, and recruiting note we have on ballet. Use this as the front door.
13 pieces.
From The Drawer for ballet
Cost
What does ballet actually cost?
Pre-filled annual estimates by tier. Edit any line.
Pathway
Ballet by age
What good looks like at 7, 10, 13, 15.
Calendar
The ballet year
The serious-studio ballet year: level placement in August, Nutcracker from September auditions through December performances, summer intensive auditions in January and February, spring recital or company show in May or June, then the intensive itself. November is the month that eats families.
Reads
Ballet articles
age 8-10 · May 12, 2026
Boys in ballet: bullying, scholarships, and how to keep them going
Boys are still a minority in most ballet studios. The path is different. Here is what makes it harder and what makes it worth it.
age 13-14 · May 12, 2026
The injury pivot at 14: when a serious injury changes the path
A growth plate fracture, a stress reaction, a labral tear. Some injuries at 14 mean six months off. Others mean a career change. Here is how to face the question.
age 11-12 · May 12, 2026
When the studio offers pre-professional placement
Your daughter just got invited to the pre-pro track at the studio. Bigger commitment, bigger fees, bigger expectations. Here is what to weigh.
age 8-10 · May 12, 2026
Choosing between a recital studio and a syllabus school
Two paths. One ends with a glitzy recital. One ends with an exam. Here is how they differ and which is right for your kid.
age 13-14 · May 12, 2026
The summer intensive audition: what an audition video actually needs
Summer intensives at major schools require an audition video. Here is what they look for and how to film one that does not embarrass your kid.
age 8-10 · May 12, 2026
The Nutcracker season: what December actually looks like
Your kid got cast in the studio's Nutcracker. From October to December the family schedule will rearrange itself. Here is the survival guide.
age 13-14 · May 12, 2026
The audition season for year-round ballet programs
Some pre-professional kids transition to a year-round residential program in middle or high school. Here is what the audition season looks like and how to decide if it is the right move.
age 5-7 · May 12, 2026
The first ballet class at age 4: setting reasonable expectations
Pre-ballet at age 4 is not really ballet. Here is what it actually is, what your kid will get out of it, and what to skip.
age 11-12 · May 12, 2026
The pre-pointe year: what is happening and how to know if she is ready
Most studios start considering pointe shoes between age 10 and 12. Here is how the readiness assessment actually works and what you should be doing in the pre-pointe year.
age 11-12 · Apr 27, 2026
Pointe shoes and the year of waiting
They've been dancing for years. Now they want to go on pointe. The teacher says not yet. How to hold the line.