I started taking ballet lessons when I was five years old and began training in the Cecchetti Method when I was 11. There are seven levels, including the diploma level, required of a dancer to graduate the program. Each level consists of:
1. Barre Work
2. Movements Across the Floor
3. Center Work
4. And Pointe Work beginning at Grade 5
A dancer is required to train as long as it takes to memorize and perfect each grade, about a year per grade is recommended as each level takes 1-2 hours to fully execute. After this they arrange to test out of their current level, generally at Cecchetti Council of America confrences. In the first few levels, four or five can test at one time, at grade four only two are permitted to test at the same time, and for grades 6 and 7 each dancer is required to test alone for 2-3 judges. I am currently in grade six, but will not be able to test into the diploma level until I turn 21. This system is perfectly built to train a dancer (In my opinion) because you can't proceed until you've mastered each grade and the following grade builds on previous exercises.

What to bring to class

• Water
• Appropriate Shoes
• Your respective booklet and a pencil
• A positive Additude!

This isn't me, but there was a time when I could do this... I promise.	The founder of The Cecchetti Method, Enrico Cecchetti working with prima ballerina, Anna Pavlova.

Thank you to lucydate.com and mountviewdanceschool.co.uk for the first two images!

This is me, my foundation in ballet has lead me into many avenues. This picture was taken during a photo shoot for my movement-based theatre company, Da! Theatre Collective.	This picture was taken after my grade five test, so excuse my red face. The girl on the left was my testing partner, her name is Georgianne. The beaustiful woman in the middle is my mentor of nine years. Her name is Renata Sanford... she danced with Bob Fosse back in the day.