Alameda Ballet Academy / Alameda Civic Ballet

Meet Ms. Anne-Sophie!

We are thrilled to welcome Anne-Sophie Rodriguez to Alameda Ballet Academy as a YAGP Coach!

A former professional dancer and accomplished educator, Anne-Sophie’s performance career includes Boston Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and Ballet Internationale. Born and raised in France, she trained at San Francisco Ballet School and later studied with Madame Tatiana Nicolaevna Legat at Boston Ballet School.

Since beginning her teaching career in 2005, Anne-Sophie has taught at San Francisco Ballet School, Ellison Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, and City Ballet San Francisco, among others.

Her teaching emphasizes musicality, placement, and thoughtful progression, with a deep understanding of the how and why behind movement. She challenges dancers to pursue both technical excellence and artistry while creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment.

Anne-Sophie is a certified teacher through the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Training Program and a 500-hour certified yoga teacher. She also serves as a judge and master teacher for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), California Dance Classics (CDC), and Regional Dance America Pacific (RDA Pacific).

We are so excited for our YAGP dancers to benefit from Anne-Sophie’s experience, expertise, and passion for classical ballet. Welcome to ABA, Anne-Sophie!

TWO SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!

We’re kicking off the new ballet season with not one, but TWO fun events—and we’d love to see you there!

🩰 SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
4:00–5:00 PM | Tutu School Back to Ballet Open House

Come join ABA + Tutu School for a magical afternoon featuring:
🎀 Tiara & string craft
🩰 Live ballet performances by ABA dancers
📖 Fairy Doll storytime with Ms. Karin
💃 Freedance with the kids
📸 Photos with our dancers
🎄 Nutcracker audition information

Bring a friend and come experience a little ballet magic with us! 💕
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🛍️ SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
10:00 AM–2:00 PM | ABA Lobby (1402 Park St.)

It’s our BACK TO BALLET SALE! 🎀

Get your dancer ready for the new season with ballet essentials and dancewear at our sale. Whether you’re stocking up on shoes, tights, leotards, or just getting ready for the first class of the year, come shop with us!

Dear Summer,

It’s been fun but…THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! Fall youth classes begin August 17!

Whether you’re taking your very first ballet steps or ready to level up your training, there’s a place for you at Alameda Ballet Academy.

🎀 Registration is OPEN!
🩰 Ballet • Contemporary • Adult Classes
✨ Inspiring teachers • Strong technique • A welcoming community
📅 Classes begin August 17
🔗 Register today at alamedaballet.com

We can’t wait to see you in the studio!



Student Summer Spotlight | Eleanor P.

This summer, Eleanor spent four inspiring weeks training at New Ballet’s Summer Intensive in San Jose!

“My experience at New Ballet was very beneficial. I learned so much from all the amazing teachers, and I hope I get the chance to train with these dancers again. I really loved meeting new people and studying different styles.”

We’re so proud of Eleanor for embracing every opportunity to learn, grow, and challenge herself. Experiences like these help our dancers build confidence, expand their artistry, and bring fresh inspiration back to the studio.

Way to represent Alameda Ballet Academy, Eleanor! We can’t wait to see all you’ve learned this fall.💜

Meet Ms. Fiona!

We are thrilled to welcome Fiona Hutchens to the Alameda Ballet Academy faculty! 🩰 She’ll be teaching our Ballet 4 and 5/6 levels, Intermediate Tween/Teen, and coaching some of our students for YAGP.

Fiona brings an incredible blend of professional performance experience, artistry, and passion for teaching. She trained at Southold Dance Theater and Colorado Ballet Academy, danced with Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company, and performed with Diablo Ballet here in the Bay Area.

As an educator and choreographer, Fiona loves inspiring dancers to grow in confidence, creativity, and technique. We are so excited for our students to learn from her this year!

Welcome to ABA, Fiona!💜

✨ Meet Alejandra (aka Ms. Ale)!

We are excited to welcome Alejandra Preciado to the Alameda Ballet Academy faculty! She’ll be teaching our Contemporary 5/6 class on Wednesday evenings and choreographing some of our YAGP pieces.

Originally from Panama City, Panama, Alejandra began dancing at age three and has built an inspiring career as a performer, educator, and choreographer. She earned her B.F.A. from Alonzo King LINES Ballet at Dominican University and has performed professionally with NW Dance Project and as a freelance artist.

Alejandra brings creativity, artistry, and a passion for movement into every class. We can’t wait for our dancers to experience her energy and expertise this season!

Welcome to ABA, Alejandra!💜

✨ Student Summer Spotlight ✨

This summer, Claire A. expanded her training at two incredible programs: a two-week American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in Long Beach, followed by a one-week intensive at Osipova Ballet Academy in Mountain View.

“ABT was my first summer intensive away from the Bay Area. I loved experiencing a variety of classes, including jazz, contemporary, modern, and partnering, as well as lectures on nutrition and injury prevention. It was an amazing opportunity to dance alongside students from other states and countries and learn from so many different teachers.

My week at Osipova Ballet Academy focused on the Vaganova method with an emphasis on daily conditioning. I saw a noticeable improvement in my flexibility, which I know will benefit my training this year.”

We’re so proud of Claire for stepping outside her comfort zone, embracing new experiences, and continuing to grow as an artist. Every intensive brings new knowledge, friendships, and inspiration that she carries back to the studio.

Way to represent Alameda Ballet Academy, Claire! We can’t wait to see you shine this fall. 💙

Summer adventures are in full swing!

ABA students Harlowe and Piper recently attended the Young Stars Ballet Intensive | Berlin Intensive in Berlin, Germany, where they spent time training, learning from new instructors, and making memories with dancers from around the world. [Photos by Dance PhotograFilm]

We love seeing our students embrace new opportunities and continue growing as artists!

📸 Did you attend a summer intensive this year? We’d love to celebrate you, too!

Send us:�🩰 High-quality photos or videos�📍 Where you trained�📅 How long you were there�💬 A few sentences about what you learned, what inspired you, or your favorite part of the experience
We’d also love to know if your intensive has an end-of-program observation or showcase so we can cheer you on!

AND DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR FALL CLASSES WHICH BEGIN AUGUST 17!

Meet Our Summer Faculty: Yingru Huang!

We’re so excited to have Miss Yingru at Alameda Ballet Academy!💙

A proud ABA alumna, Yingru returns to where her dance journey began, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a dance educator, performer, and arts administrator. She holds a B.A. in Dance from UCLA, is completing her Master’s in Performing Arts Administration at NYU, and has taught dance and general education in both California and New York. Her teaching is rooted in joy, empathy, and creating a welcoming space where every child can thrive.

This summer, Yingru is teaching:
🩰 All 3 weeks of Summer Camp (WEEK 3 BEGINS TOMORROW—ENROLL NOW!!!)
🌸 Dance With Me
🩰 Pre-Ballet

Whether you’re joining us for camp or weekly classes, your dancer is in wonderful hands. We can’t wait for our students to learn, grow, and be inspired by Yingru this summer!