Ballet Magnificat! Dance Department is a ministry that puts the Lord Jesus Christ first in our artistic and dance training. Our students have the opportunity to use their gifts and talents to glorify the Lord while receiving training of excellence. Our teachers have been called by the Lord to train and develop each student to the best of their potential in their individual gifts.

After sharing graciously donated space for an office and practice studio at Belhaven College, Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts, opened in 1989, in their own studio. Ballet Magnificat! studios currently reside in a conveniently located, 12,000 square foot, air-conditioned facility housing four dance studios with sprung marley floors and administrative offices. More than 300 students are currently in dance and music classes, including Trainees from many states and nations.

We offer ballet classes for students ages 3 through adult. Jazz is offered to students 8 and up. Praise &Worship Classes are offered for Youth (ages 12-17) and Adults (ages 18+). Each class begins with prayer.

Our school year runs September through May.

Lower School (ages 3 - 7):  Tiny Tots, Cherub, Creative Movement, Intro to Ballet and Pre-Ballet Classes.

Upper School (ages 8+):  Ballet I - V, Jazz, Praise & Worship, and Adults.

A Christmas Dream
Our annual Christmas production held at Thali Mara Hall, featuring both our Alpha and Omega touring companies and our two Trainee Companies, also features students from the School of the Arts. Cherub, Creative Movement and Intro to Ballet students participate in special "Dream Classes" where they learn and rehearse their Christmas Dream choreography in addition to their regular class work. Students in Pre-Ballet - Ballet III audition for roles in the production, and Ballet IV-V students are required to participate.

Year-End Performances:  Each school year is ended with performances by both the Upper School and the Lower School.

During one week in the first semester, we hold Lower School Parent Observation Week where parents can sit in on their child’s class and observe the students as they train. A week in the Spring semester is scheduled for Upper School Parent Observation Week.

Students in Ballet I – V are invited to participate in The Upper School Experience. A few days are set aside for this once a year when the professional tour company is home for students to observe a Company class. At the conclusion of the class, Company members make themselves available for a question-and-answer time. This is an educational opportunity for the serious ballet student to view the Company and be inspired by what they do in a technique class. The students will see the relationship between what they do and what the Company does.

Student Evaluations:
Students in the Upper School are evaluated twice each year.
1.Each student's progress is evaluated by their individual instructors throughout the fall semester and a progress report is mailed home to the student/parents by January.  2. A placement evaluation is conducted by instructors and the Ballet Mistress/ School Principal in March to determine each student's level placement for the next year. An evaluation and placement information are mailed home to the student/parents.