No. ABAA does not attend any competitions. Students who wish to attend competitions such as YAGP may schedule private lessons with ABAA instructors in order to prepare on their own time.

Défilé

All School-Year program students, and Pre-Ballet Session 2 students, are eligible to participate in Défilé, ABAA's annual, semi-formal end-of-the-school-year showcase. "Défilé" is a French word that translates in English to a "procession or show." Although our motif may alter from year to year, we maintain our tradition of hosting Défilé not as a full-length production with extravagant costumes, but rather as an intimate performance where our students can demonstrate the skills and progress they have gained during the school year.

​

The Nutcracker

Dancers who are age 5 and up as of September 1 are eligible to audition for The Nutcracker, a magical holiday tradition for students, families, and audience. Nutcracker Prep classes, offered during the final week of our Summer Programs, are highly recommended, but not required, to audition for The Nutcracker; dancers work on technique, choreography, and audition etiquette to prepare them to audition at their best! Dancers rehearse on Saturday afternoons September-December, and in-theatre on weekday afternoons the week of the performance. Performances are held in mid-December, and tickets are available for purchase to the public.

​

Ballet Arts Youth Ensemble

ABAA's Ballet Arts Youth Ensemble, affectionately known as "BAYE," is a group of dedicated dancers who want to broaden their dance horizons and gain pre-professional and performance experience. These young dancers work together in classes and rehearsals to prepare for multiple performances throughout the year, from their extra roles in The Nutcracker, to the BAYE concert each spring. BAYE dancers also attend festivals throughout the season, including Cathedral Dance Festival and the Dances at the Lakes Festival, and are extended the opportunity to participate in the Student Choreography Program. BAYE admittance is by audition for dancers ages 10-18. Please contact the Director for information about admittance to the Ballet Arts Youth Ensemble.

ABAA is conveniently located near the junction of Highway 55 (Olson Memorial Highway) and Highway 169 in Golden Valley, a northwest suburb of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

​

• From Highway 55: Turn north on Boone Ave N. Turn right to enter the parking lot for Boone Plaza at 1000 Boone Ave N, and turn right to continue to the south side of the building.

• From I-394: Take Exit 3 for General Mills Boulevard S. Turn north on General Mills Boulevard S. Continue onto Boone Avenue. Turn right to enter the parking lot for Boone Plaza at 1000 Boone Ave N, and turn right to continue to the south side of the building.

• From the south on Highway 169: Exit at Plymouth Ave/13th Ave. Continue left onto Mendelssohn Ave N. Turn right onto 10th Ave N. Turn left on Boone Ave N. Turn right to enter the parking lot for Boone Plaza at 1000 Boone Ave N, and turn right to continue to the south side of the building.

• From the north on Highway 169: Exit at Plymouth Ave/13th Ave. Turn left onto Plymouth Ave. Turn right onto Boone Ave N. Turn left to enter the parking lot for Boone Plaza at 1000 Boone Ave N, and turn right to continue to the south side of the building.

​

ABAA's main entrance is marked with our round logo on the door:

​

​

​

Ashley Ballet Arts Academy
1000 Boone Ave N
Golden Valley, MN 55427

Create or manage your account online with ABAA's Akada DanceWorks Parent Portal. The Parent Portal is used to register for classes, update contact information, pay tuition, and more. ABAA recommends online registration for the best class selection and easiest registration process, but we are also happy to assist you in person using our paper registration form (PDF). Once you submit your registration, ABAA staff process registrations in the order in which they are received. We ensure that dancers are enrolling in an appropriate level, and that all requirements are met (e.g. dancers must enroll in a ballet class in order to be eligible for jazz or modern). In order to finalize your registration, you must have a valid card on file and you must agree to ABAA's Studio Policies.

New students, please book a New Student Placement Lesson via Visibook prior to registration, or contact the studio for guidance on the appropriate class(es) for your dancer.

​

Click here for more details on the registration process and our tuition.

Current students receive customized recommendations for each new session. Please check your email, and reach out if you have any questions. New students, please book a New Student Placement Lesson via Visibook prior to registration so that ABAA staff can evaluate you for the correct level, or contact the studio for guidance.

​

Click here for full details about our divisions and class levels.

Dancers wear a leotard (pink for Pre-Ballet dancers, black for Junior and Senior dancers), pink tights, and pink ballet shoes. All dancers must have their hair secured neatly away from their face. Our detailed dress code is available here.

Pre-Ballet dancers' uniforms are included in their School Year Pre-Ballet tuition; dancers receive a uniform for each session in which they enroll. ABAA also maintains a limited stock of dancewear and accessories in our Dancewear Shop, including leotards, tights, shoes in sizes for Pre-Ballet dancers, ballet sweaters in sizes for Pre-Ballet dancers, bun kits, and warm-ups.