Instructor

Instruction and Mission

Instructor

Ms. Arlene Larson, RAD RTS, is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London, England. With this certification, you can be assured of quality and safe dance instruction for your child. Ms. Larson is one of only four registered teachers in the state of Michigan and the only registered RAD instructor in all of western Michigan. Nationwide RAD instructors are all listed on the RAD USA site.

Ms. Larson began her dance training in Chicago and has studied at the Ellis-Duboulay School of Ballet, Joel Hall Dance Center and Moming in Chicago, Dupreé Dance Academy in Los Angeles and Western Michigan University. She has performed in Chicago and Kalamazoo. She has also taught at the School of the Grand Rapids Ballet and most recently was principal teacher at Ballet Idaho Academy in Boise, Idaho. Ms. Larson is the director of the Ballet Academy and artistic director of Michigan Dance Theatre.

Ms. Larson has successfully entered 85 students for RAD examinations since 1996, and 21 received the highest score of “Distinction.” She has a 100% success rate for Primary through Ballet 7 exams. See our FAQ to find out more about RAD examinations.

Ms. Larson’s success in teaching can be seen in the accomplishments of her students:

Houston Ballet Academy

Fort Worth Texas Ballet

Interlochen Arts Academy

Joffrey Ballet School, New York (on scholarship)

Pittsburgh Youth Ballet

American Repertory Ballet, New Brunswick, NJ

SUNY Purchase, New York

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (on scholarship)

Idaho Dance Theater, Boise, ID

Interlochen Arts Academy Summer Dance Program (on scholarship)

Blue Lake Fine Arts Summer Camp (on scholarship)

Ms. Larson has also helped train ice skaters including winners of 2002 U.S. Champion Juvenile Ice Dance and 2003 U.S. National Bronze Medalist Novice Dance. She helped train the WMU Syncronized Skating Teams (Varsity & Collegiate) during their successful seasons when they won the U.S. Figure Skating Collegiate Syncronized National 2003 Gold Medal and 2004 Silver Medal.

Ms. Larson teaches all children’s ballet classes. She brings to Kalamazoo professional quality dance instruction of the caliber one would generally have to go to a major city to obtain.

Mission

The purpose and goal of The Ballet Academy is to educate and expand the knowledge of dance in the community that it serves, adhering to the highest standards of instruction as set forth by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). The Ballet Academy’s instructors will always maintain their professional certification from the RAD with the sole purpose of advancing within The Ballet Academy the highest standards of training for all students through group and individualized instruction. The Ballet Academy will work actively in the community to give all students, regardless of age, ability, background, gender and ethnicity, the opportunity to experience the enjoyment of dance by developing coordination, fitness, rhythm, artistic self-expression, discipline and confidence.