Brevard Ballet Academy · Melbourne, FL
Ballet Articles & News
Your guide to classical and contemporary ballet on Florida's Space Coast — the Vaganova method, Step Up For Students scholarships, our world-class faculty, Nikolay pointe shoes, and Brevard Ballet Youth Company productions. Search or filter by topic below.
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How to Apply for a Step Up For Students Scholarship for Ballet
Florida families can use Step Up For Students scholarships toward ballet classes. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide to applying — from creating your EMA account to enrolling your dancer at Brevard Ballet Academy.
Elena Shokhina: From the Vaganova Ballet Academy to Brevard County
The founder and artistic director of Brevard Ballet Academy trained at the legendary Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg and danced principal roles for 16 years. Here is how she brought world-class classical ballet to Melbourne, Florida.
How Paying for Ballet with Step Up For Students Works
Once your scholarship is approved, how does the money actually reach the studio? Here is how EMA, the Marketplace, direct provider payments, and reimbursement work when you pay for ballet with Step Up.
What Is the Vaganova Method of Classical Ballet?
The Vaganova method is widely regarded as the world’s most complete system of classical ballet training. Here is what it is, where it came from, and why it produces such extraordinary dancers — including at Brevard Ballet Academy.
Colin Fuller: The Melbourne-Born Juilliard Dancer Leading BBA’s Contemporary Division
Born and raised in Melbourne, Colin Fuller trained at the School of American Ballet, earned a B.F.A. from Juilliard, and danced across Europe before returning home to lead the contemporary division at Brevard Ballet Academy.
Which Step Up Scholarship Is Right for Your Dancer? FTC, FES-EO, FES-UA & PEP Explained
Step Up For Students runs several different scholarships, and only some can fund ballet lessons. Here is a plain-English breakdown of FTC, FES-EO, FES-UA, and PEP — and which one fits your family.
Paquita and the Future of Ballet: The Youth Company’s Classical-to-Contemporary Showcase
The Brevard Ballet Youth Company’s “Paquita and the Future of Ballet” paired the dazzling classical Paquita Grand Pas with new contemporary works — and welcomed guest artists Hitomi Nakamura and Alexey Minkin to the Satellite Beach stage.
Brevard Ballet Academy Is an Official Nikolay Partner School
Brevard Ballet Academy has been named an official Nikolay Partner School — giving Brevard County dancers access to professional-grade pointe shoes and dancewear, and marking a recognition of the academy’s standards.
Luba Gulyaeva: A Kirov Ballet and American Ballet Theatre Legacy in Brevard County
A graduate of the Vaganova Ballet Academy who danced with the Kirov Ballet and was personally invited by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre, Luba Gulyaeva brings a rare pedigree to Melbourne, FL.
Contemporary Dance at Brevard Ballet Academy
Classical ballet is the foundation — but today’s dancers need more. Learn how contemporary dance at Brevard Ballet Academy, led by Juilliard-trained Colin Fuller, builds versatile, expressive artists in Brevard County.
Kathleen Reau: From Hamburg Ballet and BalletMet to Melbourne
Kathleen Reau danced four seasons with Hamburg Ballet in Germany and eleven as a lead company member with BalletMet before bringing her international experience to Brevard Ballet Academy.
Paying for Ballet with Step Up: A Step-by-Step Guide for Brevard Families
From scholarship approval to your dancer’s first plié — here is the complete journey of enrolling at Brevard Ballet Academy using Step Up For Students, written for busy Brevard County parents.
Agrippina Vaganova: The Woman Who Codified Classical Ballet
She was called the “queen of variations,” then became the most influential ballet teacher in history. Meet Agrippina Vaganova, whose system underpins training at Brevard Ballet Academy nearly a century later.
Mimi MacDonald and the Building of the Brevard Ballet Academy Curriculum
A dance educator with a master’s degree from Temple University and years of Vaganova study, Michele “Mimi” MacDonald helped build the detailed curriculum that guides every level at Brevard Ballet Academy.
Pre-Professional Ballet Training in Brevard County: What It Takes
For dancers with professional aspirations, the right training changes everything. Here is what pre-professional ballet looks like at Brevard Ballet Academy — from hours in the studio to competitions, intensives, and company roles.
The Nutcracker Returns: The Brevard Ballet Youth Company’s Beloved Holiday Tradition
Every December, the Brevard Ballet Youth Company brings Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker to life with 100+ dancers and professional guest artists. A look at the company’s signature production — and the holiday tradition Brevard County looks forward to all year.
Why Nikolay Pointe Shoes Matter for Serious Ballet Students
A pointe shoe is a piece of professional equipment, and the right one protects a dancer’s feet for years. Here is why proper pointe fitting matters — and how BBA’s Nikolay partnership helps.
Ariana Colon: From Brevard Ballet Academy Student to Instructor
Ariana Colon grew up dancing at Brevard Ballet Academy, performed in Youth Company productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, and Paquita, and now teaches the next generation of Brevard County dancers.
Using Your Step Up Funds for Ballet Tuition, Dancewear & Supplies
Beyond class tuition, your Step Up education savings account may help with instructional materials and supplies. Here is how the Marketplace works and what to know about dancewear and pointe shoes.
What the Vaganova Syllabus Looks Like, Level by Level
The Vaganova system is famous for its deliberate, year-by-year progression. Here is how classical training builds from a child’s first class to pre-professional pointe work — and how Brevard Ballet Academy structures the journey.
Dasha Bondar: A Vaganova Legacy, from St. Petersburg to the Space Coast
Born in St. Petersburg to two Vaganova Academy graduates and trained on full scholarship at Nevada Ballet Academy, Dasha Bondar brings a lifelong ballet heritage — and a modern creative eye — to Brevard Ballet Academy.
How Step Up For Students Makes Ballet Accessible in Brevard County
Cost should never be the reason a child with the passion to dance can’t. Here is how Step Up For Students — and BBA’s participation in it — is opening classical ballet to more Brevard County families than ever.
Meelis Pakri: A Vaganova Principal and Master Teacher on the Space Coast
A Vaganova Academy graduate, former principal with the Estonian National Ballet and Colorado Ballet, and a Youth America Grand Prix judge — Meelis Pakri is among the world-class guest artists who work with Brevard Ballet Academy students.
The Vaganova Method vs. Other Ballet Training Systems
Cecchetti, RAD, Bournonville, Balanchine, Vaganova — what actually separates the major ballet training methods? A clear, parent-friendly comparison, and why BBA chose the Vaganova approach.
Arcadian Broad: From Titusville and America’s Got Talent to Principal Dancer
A Titusville native, America’s Got Talent finalist, principal dancer, choreographer, and composer, Arcadian Broad is a Space Coast success story — and a guest artist who inspires Brevard Ballet Academy students.
Cinderella Charms Brevard County: The Youth Company’s Prokofiev Fairy Tale
The Brevard Ballet Youth Company has brought Prokofiev’s Cinderella to life more than once — including a 2019 staging featuring a 14-year-old academy student in the title role opposite guest artist Arcadian Broad.
Swan Lake Soars at the King Center: Brevard Ballet Youth Company’s Landmark Production
In its most ambitious production to date, the Brevard Ballet Youth Company staged Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at the Maxwell C. King Center — with more than 150 locally trained dancers and the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra performing live.