Boise Ballet Academy

Boise Ballet Academy is the only American Ballet Theatre Certified School in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2018 by Mads Eriksen and Sarah Stein, the academy has grown from 6 to 120 students in five years, with students receiving 1st place finishes and finals invitations from YAGP.

The school teaches the American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum, a 9-level programme that combines artistic training with dancer health and child development. All classes from Pre-Primary through Level 6 are taught by ABT Certified Teachers who have completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive. The curriculum incorporates elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training, and focuses on kinetics, coordination, anatomy and proper body alignment.

Mads Eriksen trained at The Royal Danish Ballet School under Niels Balle and Adam Luders, and danced as a soloist with The Royal Danish Ballet before joining Ballet San Jose from 2007–2009. He was a founding member of the touring group Made in Denmark and has been a National Training Curriculum Fellow since 2015, presenting students for exams from level 1 to level 7. He serves on the American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum Board of Examiners and is a guest teacher at institutions including ABT's JKO, ABT's Gillespie School, The Royal Danish Ballet School, New York University, The University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Eriksen is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and has choreographed several neoclassical ballets.

Sarah Stein trained with Diane Cypher and Robert Kelley at Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, then joined Silicon Valley Ballet (formerly Ballet San Jose) as a trainee in 2006, advancing to the Corps de Ballet by 2009. She performed in works by choreographers including Twyla Tharp, Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Jorma Elo and Paul Taylor. Stein is an ABT Certified Teacher and is also certified in the GYROTONIC® Method, which she has practised since 2011. She earned her GYROTONIC® certification in 2014 and previously taught the method at Urban Body San Jose. She is certified to teach GYROTONIC® as a Musical Journey.

Classes are offered Pre-Primary (ages 4–7), Level 1 (ages 7.5+), Level 2 (ages 8.5+), Level 3 (ages 10+), Level 4 (ages 11+), Level 5 (ages 12+) and Level 6 (ages 13+). Schedule includes weekday afternoon and evening sessions as well as Saturday morning classes. Students can participate in ABT Student Examinations, which provide graded evaluation, personalised feedback and certificates of achievement at four levels of distinction: Pass, Pass with Merit, Pass with Honors, and Pass with High Honors. The academy offers cross-training through the GYROTONIC® Method and Progressing Ballet Technique, and hosts a Summer Intensive, Young Dancer Intensive and Summer Camp.

You will work with ABT Certified Teachers in age-appropriate classes focused on correct body alignment and classical technique. Students learn ballet principles drawn from French, Italian and Russian schools of training, with an emphasis on healthy, developmentally sound practice.

Mads Eriksen, co-founder and Principal, is a former Royal Danish Ballet soloist, former Principal of The New Ballet School in San Jose, ABT Certified Teacher, National Training Curriculum Fellow, and choreographer of several neoclassical ballets. Sarah Stein, co-founder, is a former Silicon Valley Ballet corps member, ABT Certified Teacher and certified GYROTONIC® instructor.

The academy accepts students of all ages and skill levels, with classes structured by age and placement level starting at Pre-Primary for ages 4–5.