Oklahoma Youth Ballet

- 404 Wimbledon Rd, Edmond, OK 73003

For serious dancers and aspiring artists throughout the Oklahoma community, the Oklahoma Youth Ballet (OYB) program, housed within the Oklahoma Dance Center, represents the gold standard for classical ballet instruction in the Edmond area. OYB is recognized for providing a comprehensive and challenging curriculum that adheres to the highest standards of classical ballet pedagogy, ensuring students not only master technique but also develop vital artistic and personal characteristics.

The core philosophy of the Oklahoma Youth Ballet is to develop the individual as a whole, emphasizing the integration of academic, intellectual, and social skills alongside a broad-spectrum arts education. This nurturing, yet rigorous, environment is praised by local families for its top-notch instruction delivered by caring staff and instructors who possess extensive professional backgrounds in dance and teaching methodology. Reviews frequently highlight the commitment of the artistic directors, Joshua Brooksher and Savannah Lee, whose expertise is considered the best in the area, providing students with world-class training without the necessity of relocating to coastal dance hubs.

OYB’s training is dedicated to cultivating self-esteem, creativity, and discipline—transferable skills that benefit students in every aspect of their lives, regardless of their ultimate career path. The program serves as a critical asset to the community, not only by producing technically proficient dancers but also by hosting inclusive, large-scale annual performances that invite broad participation, such as the beloved holiday tradition, “Edmond’s Nutcracker.”

Location and Accessibility

The Oklahoma Youth Ballet is conveniently located in the heart of Edmond, Oklahoma, making it easily reachable for students traveling from Oklahoma City, Guthrie, and other nearby suburbs. The studio’s location at 404 Wimbledon Rd provides a dedicated and focused setting for intensive arts training.

The facility prioritizes accessibility for all members of the community, ensuring a welcoming environment from the moment you arrive. Key accessibility features include:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance, providing easy access to the facilities.
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot, offering convenient and designated parking spaces.
• Free parking lot and general on-site parking, ensuring a hassle-free arrival and departure for parents and adult students.

This central Edmond location, combined with excellent parking and accessibility, removes common logistical barriers, allowing students and families to focus entirely on their dance education. The facility also features a gender-neutral restroom and offers child care amenities, demonstrating a commitment to supporting the needs of modern families and a diverse student body.

Services Offered

Oklahoma Youth Ballet provides a deep, specialized curriculum focused primarily on classical technique while incorporating complementary forms of theatrical dance. The programs are structured to guide a student’s development from the foundational stages to a pre-professional level.

The extensive range of dance services and programs offered includes:

• Ballet Lessons and Classical Dance Training
• Ballet For Kids (Structured classes for younger students)
• Beginner’s Program (Introduction to core concepts and French vocabulary)
• Intermediate Program (Progressive skill building and complexity)
• Advanced Program (High-level technical and artistic refinement)
• Preprofessional Program (Intensive, conservatory-style training for career-focused students)
• Classical Ballet Technique (Daily, foundational class work)
• Pointe Ballet (Advanced work on pointe shoes, offered at appropriate readiness levels)
• Pas de Deux Ballet (Partnering technique, essential for professional ballet)
• Repertory Ballet (Learning and performing excerpts from classical ballets)
• Character (Stylized theatrical folk dance, crucial for classical repertoire)
• Contemporary (Exposure to modern movement and choreographic principles)
• Adult Ballet Classes (Classes for older students or parents seeking fitness and artistic enrichment)
• Summer Intensives (Focused training programs during school breaks)
• Dance Classes (General classes in other performing arts styles)
• Performances and Performing Arts opportunities (Including annual showcases and community events)
• Nutcracker Ballet (Opportunity to audition and participate in the full-scale local holiday production, "Edmond’s Nutcracker")

The studio provides flexibility through Service Options, which include both Onsite Services for traditional in-studio learning and Online Classes, allowing students to maintain their training regimen even when unable to attend in person.

Features / Highlights

The distinctive features of the Oklahoma Youth Ballet are rooted in its dedication to master-level instruction, pedagogical integrity, and deep community engagement, distinguishing it within the Oklahoma performing arts landscape.

Key highlights that make OYB a standout choice for local families include:

• Pedagogical Excellence: The instruction is provided by teachers with actual backgrounds and extensive knowledge in ballet pedagogy, ensuring training is scientifically, anatomically based, and artistically sound.
• Master-Level Instructors: Led by professionals like Joshua Brooksher and Savannah Lee, the faculty brings practical, professional-performing experience, and technical knowledge into the classroom, offering training on par with top national programs.
• Rigorous Pre-Professional Track: The Preprofessional Program is designed for serious dancers, offering intensive training five days a week and a comprehensive curriculum to prepare students for professional careers or high-level collegiate dance programs.
• The Edmond’s Nutcracker: OYB produces the local production of “Edmond’s Nutcracker,” a significant annual holiday tradition that is open to the entire community for participation, serving as a major performance opportunity and a cultural asset.
• Community Focus: The studio is deeply committed to community service, utilizing the arts to foster lifelong bonds and create a lasting impact, as evidenced by its collaboration with the Oklahoma Youth Arts Foundation.
• Supportive Environment: Despite the rigorous training, the studio is consistently described as a safe, nurturing environment with caring staff where dancers have fun while receiving top-notch instruction.
• Convenient Amenities: Offering amenities like Child Care, a Gender-neutral restroom, and accepting Credit Cards for payment demonstrates a focus on supporting the practical needs of parents and modern families.

Contact Information

Prospective students, parents, and community members interested in the Oklahoma Youth Ballet’s programs, class schedules, or community performances like “Edmond’s Nutcracker,” are encouraged to reach out to the studio directly.

• Address: 404 Wimbledon Rd, Edmond, OK 73003, USA
• Phone: (405) 757-7097
• Mobile Phone: +1 405-757-7097

The studio's professional staff can assist with registration for the Beginner’s Program, placement for the Advanced Program, or information on community audition dates for the Nutcracker production.

What is Worth Choosing Oklahoma Youth Ballet

Choosing the Oklahoma Youth Ballet is choosing a nationally competitive, locally accessible, and deeply caring training environment for your child’s dance education. For parents in Oklahoma, the studio solves the common dilemma of seeking world-class classical training without the cost and upheaval of relocating to distant, major dance centers. The fact that the instructors possess “actual backgrounds in pedagogy” and “extensive knowledge about all aspects of ballet” means your dancer is receiving instruction rooted in proven, anatomically-sound methods that prevent injury and build sustainable technique.

The leadership provided by the directors, who are both talented professionals and generous community members, is a cornerstone of the studio’s success. The ability for young dancers to participate in a full-scale, professional-level production like "Edmond's Nutcracker"—an event open to the wider community—provides invaluable performance experience and instills a sense of tradition and artistic contribution. Furthermore, the availability of specialized training such as Pas de Deux Ballet and Pointe Ballet, alongside supportive amenities like Adult Ballet Classes for parents and convenient payment options, demonstrates a commitment to serving the entire family’s needs.

In short, the Oklahoma Youth Ballet is highly recommended for Oklahoma families who seek a safe, nurturing, yet rigorously professional program. It is a gem of a studio where technical excellence and character development are pursued with equal passion, preparing students not just for the stage, but for success in life.

Oklahoma Youth Ballet

404 Wimbledon Rd, Edmond, OK 73003, USA