The Progression of a Ballerina

Pre-Ballet girls practice their tendus, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/Erin Kedzie)

A Beginning Ballet student stretches her turnout before center floor work, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/Erin Kedzie)

Elementary I ballerinas perform changement jumps at the barre, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/Erin Kedzie)

An Elementary II student executes her port de bras to finish a combination, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/Erin Kedzie)

Intermediate I students are at the age to dance en pointe, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/Erin Kedzie)

Intermediate II and Advanced/Pre-Professional students practice a petit allegro, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (Photo/Erin Kedzie)

 

At the Slavin Nadal School of Ballet in Austin, students ages three and older embrace the rigors of classical Russian technique.
 

Directors Eugene Slavin and Alexandra Nadal are former principal dancers of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in Monaco, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada. Their teaching reflects the precision with which they themselves were trained.

“To me, Russian technique represents ballet in its purest form,” said Nadal.
 

The company offers eight levels of classes for dancers, who are placed according to age and skill level.
 

The youngest children focus on fundamental body movements. Each dancer delightedly learns to point and flex her ankles to a chorus of “Hello toes! Good-bye toes!”

 In the Junior level (ages seven to 11) dancers are introduced to barre work, and ballerinas gird themselves for pointe shoes once they progress to the Intermediate I class.

Over a span of years, Slavin Nadal students transform from fidgety little girls excited to hop across the floor to expressive young women enamored with their art form.

When asked what ballet means to her personally, Nadal responded, “That’s like asking what my arm means to me; it’s always been there.”

This passion is transmitted from director to student, and the younger generation at the studio dances with the same fervor as its legendary teachers.