Student Division –
Levels 1 thru 5

The Student Division provides our students with superior quality training. With a focus on classical ballet, this division is grounded in technique with an emphasis on creating a well rounded dancer.

Individual Attention

Dance classes in the student division are carefully graded by age, physical strength, and understanding of each level’s curriculum. Students in this division have the opportunity to explore different forms of dance including Modern, Contemporary, & Jazz.

Ballet and dance classes student division - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Encouragement & Exploration

Dancers are encouraged to take advantage of all dance classes including cross training for dance opportunities which include Stretch & Conditioning, Pilates, & Yoga. Students are introduced to progressive levels of ballet and dance technique. They are promoted according to individual progress.

Ballet and dance classes student division - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Quality Training for well‑rounded dancers

To ensure the correct level of study and curriculum, a placement class is required for all dance classes in the Student Division. Below you will find the recommended class requirements for each level.

LEVEL 1/ 1A

One ballet class per week. Jazz is optional but strongly recommended.

LEVEL 1B

Two ballet classes per week. Jazz is optional but strongly recommended.

LEVEL 2AB

Two ballet classes per week. Jazz and stretch & strength are optional but strongly recommended.

LEVEL 3AB

Three ballet classes, pre-pointe, jazz/ contemporary, and stretch & strength each week.

LEVEL 4AB

Four ballet classes, pointe, modern, jazz/ contemporary, and stretch & strength each week.

LEVEL 5AB

Five ballet classes, pointe, modern, jazz/ contemporary, and stretch & strength each week.

Instructors

Jamey Leverett - Draper Center ballet school, Rochester, NY

Jamey Leverett
Artistic Director

Ms. Leverett received her principal training with Timothy M. Draper at the Draper Center, the affiliated school of the Rochester City Ballet. As a former dancer with RCB, she performed major roles in Mr. Draper’s Nutcracker, and danced the lead role in his Firebird, choreographed specifically for her. During her performance career with RCB she was given opportunities to choreograph for the company. Her gift as a talented choreographer emerged, with several of her earlier works still performed by Rochester City Ballet today, such as Inner Voices and Gershwin in the Park.

Ballet and dance instructor - Beth Bartholomew - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Beth Bartholomew

Beth Bartholomew is a native of Rochester, NY, where she studied at the former Enid Knapp Botsford School of Dance and later with the Pennsylvania Ballet School in Philadelphia, PA. At age 18, she received a contract with the Joffrey II dancers and went on to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in NYC.

Ballet and dance instructor - Billie Jean Kandravi - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Stefanie Cheshire

Stefanie Cheshire has been on faculty with Draper Center since 1997 acting as choreographer for dance competitions and teacher of various dance styles including jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and contemporary.

Ballet and dance instructor - Billie Jean Kandravi - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Fawn Doran

Fawn Doran received her training at Draper Center for Dance Education, the official school of the Rochester City Ballet. While dancing at Draper she had several opportunities to dance with RCB in their productions of The Nutcracker and Cinderella. She danced roles such as Snow Corps, Spanish Corps, Waltz of the Flowers and lead Arabian princess. In Cinderella she was a Ball Guest as well as a Midnight Fairy.

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Jillian Peschken

Jillian Peschken received her formal training at the Draper Center for Dance Education, while also performing as a company member with the Rochester City Ballet. After high school she joined Ballet Austin as a company trainee for one season before attending Indiana University’s Ballet Theater, where she received a B.S. in Ballet and Kinesiology

Ballet and dance instructor - Breena Keefe - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Breena Keefe

Born in Rochester, New York, Breena Keefe began her dance training at Pittsford Dance Studio before joining The Draper Center for Dance Education at age 13. She was a gold medalist in both the contemporary and classical categories at the Indianapolis City Ballet Competition and traveled to Peru with the Draper Center Youth Ensemble in 2016 and 2018 to perform with professionals from across the Americas.

Ballet and dance instructor - Stephanie Mellinger-Reese - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Stephanie Mellinger-Reese

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and also known as StephMel, she received her B.F.A in Modern Dance & Choreography from the State University of New York – College at Brockport. Throughout her college career, she had the opportunity to train with Doug Varone, Robert Battle, & The Jose Limon Dance Company.

Ballet and dance instructor - Fidel E. Orrillo Puga - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Fidel E. Orrillo Puga

Fidel Orrillo, born in Lima, Peru, and studied with his Aunt Stella Puga in Trujillo, Peru. At age 13 he received a scholarship to the renowned “National School of Ballet” in Havana, Cuba, directed by Alicia Alonso where he graduated and performed with National Ballet of Cuba.

Ballet and dance instructor - Jessica Tretter - Ballet School, Monroe County, Rochester NY

Florrie Geller

Florrie Sésé Geller began her pre-professional training with the legendary Marcia Dale Weary and the faculty of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She continued her ballet education at Next Generation Ballet with Ivonne Lemus and directors Peter Stark and Philip Neal, as well as at summer programs at the School of American Ballet and San Francisco Ballet school.

2022-2023 School Calendar and Schedule

Registration Begins: July 15, 2022
First Day of Classes: September 10, 2022
Visitor’s Week #1: TBD
Thanksgiving Break: November 21-27, 2022
Holiday Break: December 19, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Visitor’s Week #2: TBD
February Break: February 20-26, 2023
Spring Break: April 3-9, 2023
Visitor’s Week #3: TBD
Memorial Day Break: May 27-29, 2023
Last Day of Classes: June 4, 2023

CLASS OBSERVATION POLICY
All Draper Center classes rehearsals are closed for observation except during scheduled Visitor’s Weeks. Each level will have one week of observation, three times throughout the school year. Exact dates will be announced in advance.

Class/Level Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Creative Movement - 4:30-5:30/E 4:30-5:30/ E - - 10:30-11:30/ C 11:00-12:00/ E
Pre-Ballet 4:30-5:30/ D - - - - 9:00-10:00/ E
Pre-Ballet Jazz 5:45-6:30/ D - - - - 10:15-11:00/ E
Pre-Ballet Boys Class - - - - - -
Ballet 1 - - - - - 9:00-10:15/ D
Jazz 1 - - - - - 10:30-11:30/ D
Boys Class 1 - - - - - -
Ballet 1B - - - - - -
Jazz 1B - - - - - -
Stretch & Strength 1B - - - - - -
Boys Class 1B - - - - - -
Ballet 2AB - 4:30-6:00/ C - 4:30-6:00/ D - -
Jazz 2AB - - - 6:15-7:15/ D - -
Stretch & Strength 2AB - 6:00-6:30/ E - - - -
Boy's Class 2AB - - - - 6:25-7:00/ C -
Ballet 3AB - - 4:30-6:00/ D - 4:30-6:15/ D 12:00-1:45/ C
Pre-Pointe 3AB - - - - 6:30-7:00/ D -
Jazz 3AB - - 6:15-7:30/ D - - -
Stretch & Strength 3AB - - - - - 11:30-12:00/ C
Boys Class 3AB - - - - 6:25-7:00/ C -
Ballet 4AB 4:30-6:00/ C - 4:30-6:00/ C 4:30-6:00/ C - 10:00-11:45/ B
Pointe 4AB 6:15-7:00/ C - 6:15-7:00/ C - - -
Jazz 4AB - - - 6:15-7:30/ C - -
Modern 4AB - - - - - 12:00-1:30/ D
Stretch & Strength 4AB - - - - - 9:30-10:00/ B
Boy's Class 4AB - - - - 6:25-7:00/ C -
Ballet 5B 4:00-6:00/ B 4:00-6:00/ D 4:00-5:45/ B - 4:00-5:45/ C 10:00-11:45/ A
Pointe 5B 6:00-7:00/ B 6:00-7:00/ D - - - 12:00-1:00/ B
Jazz 5B - - 5:45-7:15/ B - - -
Modern 5A - - - - 6:00-7:30/ B -
Stretch & Strength 5B - - - - - 9:30-10:00/ A
Boy's Class 5B - 6:00-7:00/ C - - 7:00-7:45/ C -
PTP A Ballet 4:00-6:00/ B 4:00-6:00/ B 4:00-5:45/ B 4:00-6:00/ B 4:00-5:45/ B 10:00-11:45/ A
PTP A Pointe 6:00-7:00/ B 6:00-7:00/ B - 6:00-7:00/ B - 12-:00-1:00/ B
PTP A Jazz - - 5:45-7:15/ B - - -
PTP A Modern - - - - 6:00-7:30/ B -
PTP A Stretch & Strength - - - - - 9:30-10:00/ A
PTP A Boy's Class - 6:00-7:00/ C - - 7:00-7:45/ C -
PTP B Ballet 4:00-6:00/ A 4:00-6:00/ A - 4:00-6:00/ A 4:00-6:00/ A 12:00-2:00/ A
PTP B Variations - - - - - 2:00-3:00/ CD
PTP B Pointe 6:00-7:00/ A 6:00-7:00/ A - 6:00-7:00/ A 6:00-7:00/ A -
PTP B Jazz - - 4:00-5:30/ A - - -
PTP B Modern - - 5:30-7:00/ A - - -
PTP B Stretch & Strength - - - - - -
PTP B Boy's Class - 6:00-7:00/ C - - 7:00-7:45/ C -
Open Int/Adv Ballet - 7:00-8:30/ D - - 12:00-1:30/ D -
Draper Center for Dance Education