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Adult Ballet

Class Information

Instructor: Brendan P. Behan, MFA

Ballet instructor Brendan Behan demonstrates a cambré arch at the ballet bar inside the dance studio at the Robert Crown Community Center.

Spring & Summer 2026

Wednesdays

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Spring Session: April 8 to May 27 (meets 8 times)
Summer Session I: June 3 to July 8 (meets 5 times)
Summer Session II: July 22 to Aug 26 (meets 6 times)

Ages: 18 and up

Robert Crown Community Center, Evanston, Illinois

Adult Ballet is a friendly, welcoming class for adults who are new to ballet or who have prior experience. The class is taught by a professional dancer with over a decade of dance teaching experience working with adults of all experience levels.

This class introduces basic ballet concepts and includes a barre warm-up, center-floor exercises, and a short dance combination that builds on the technique principles introduced in each class session.

Who is Adult Ballet Intended for?

This is a great class for adults who are interested in improving their balance, coordination, and muscle development as well as for those who wish to develop their dancing skills. If you have no prior ballet experience or if you took ballet as a child, perhaps in a private studio environment, and have thought about returning to your ballet practice, this is the class for you.

Ages: 18 and up.

What Makes Adult Ballet Different

What makes this ballet class different is the welcoming atmosphere that emphasizes individually-appropriate learning goals to suit students of various dance backgrounds including those who are entirely new to the form.

Rather than emphasizing perfection, Adult Ballet puts the focus on commitment to individual improvement in order to build confidence in support of technique development. We approach ballet with the curiosity and openness of researchers who are interested in understanding movement and balance rather than centering an idealized version of the form.

The philosophy of this class is "serious fun": that is, we take our physicality seriously enough to respect our bodies and our commitment to improving ourselves while also emphasizing that dance can and should support a joyful and embracing relationship to movement.

Class Length & Attire

This class meets weekly for one hour. Clothing should be comfortable, non-obstructive, and support dynamic movement in all spatial planes. Traditional ballet attire is not required.

Footwear requirement: ballet slippers are strongly recommended but not required. High-tread shoes like running shoes impede movement execution and are therefore not recommended.

Accessibility & Inclusivity

The City of Evanston is committed to promoting a city-wide culture of accessibility and inclusivity. To request an accomodation for a program, service, or activity, please call 847-866-2919 to make an ADA service request or fill out a request form online at evanstonil.qscend.com/311.

Class Registration

Register for Adult Ballet through the City of Evanston Parks & Recreation online system: