The Cecchetti Method of Ballet, founded by Maestro Enrico Cecchetti, offers “a balanced and analyzed system of theory and execution for the planned development of the student.” Many ballet companies were influenced by Cecchetti’s principles of instruction. Student Grades I through IV introduce Cecchetti’s method. The major syllabus is where the Maestro’s daily work is outlined in Grade V (Elementary,) Grade VI (Intermediate,) Grade VII (Advanced,) and the Professional Diploma. Grades I through VII are offered at Cuppett Performing Arts Center. Cecchetti students are evaluated by National Examiners to advance through the Grade levels, the results of which are invaluable to a student’s technical improvement.
Since Cecchetti is systematic and progressive, students must master the previous material in order to continue through each grade. Everyone is different physically, and many students take longer than one year to master a grade adequately, in order to receive a passing mark.
Cecchetti Exams
We have a few exam sessions during the year, and the teachers evaluate students to present them for these exams when each individual student is ready. Exams early in the school year are held at local dance studios in Virginia, Maryland or Washington, DC. Our largest exam session is the late May session which usually runs between Wednesday to Sunday at Cuppett PAC. Please note that exams may be during the school day. (If a student is scheduled for an exam on a weekday, we have school excuse forms available to take to school if a few hours must be missed.) Time is allotted for the student and family to let the studio know of conflicts with a particular exam date.
There is a fee for exams ranging from $65.00 for Grade I, and up, depending on the Grade level. Once the teacher feels a student is ready to be presented for examination, and the family commits to exam dates, the student may not withdraw except for emergency reasons of illness or injury, as there is no refund or credit once the money has been sent to the Cecchetti Council of America.
Cecchetti Workshops
Each year our local East Coast Committee of the Cecchetti Council of America hosts two Conferences, currently held at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center of the University of Maryland, College Park. The ballet based classes offered at the Conferences offer excellent faculty from surrounding performing arts schools, college dance programs, master teachers in the ballet arts, as well as CCA Examiners. We recommend this experience for our Cecchetti students and send information out prior to each Conference in the Fall and Spring. Information is available on the East Coast Committee website: Cecchetti East Coast Committee web site.
Cecchetti East Coast Committee Information
Detailed information about the Cecchetti method, conferences, workshops, and scholarships is available on the Cecchetti East Coast Committee web site.