FAQ

It is never too late to start. Our dancers range in age from their twenties to nearly seventy.

This is a safe space where we welcome ALL – all ages, sizes, shapes, all genders, all abilities.

Meet our students for a little inspiration – many of which began here as absolute beginners.

Before your first class:

• Let us know about any injuries, chronic illness, or allergies;
• Eat a snack before class;
• Stay hydrated before class;
• Bring a water bottle;
• Wear any form fitting clothes that make you feel comfortable (yoga pants, tank top, leotard, tights);
• You don’t need to buy any ballet slippers beforehand, you can be barefoot or in socks.

For more information, read this blog post: What to Expect in Your First Ballet Class.

Wear any form fitting clothes that make you feel comfortable (yoga pants, tank top, leotard, tights). Many beginners join in yoga pants and a t-shirt that they continue to wear going forward or shop for ballet clothes. It is an individual choice, there are no requirements other than what makes you feel best. While many choose to wear form fitting clothes to allow the teacher to visualize body placement, it is not mandatory.

We begin our first couple of classes barefoot or in socks, then recommend students purchase ballet slippers (soft shoes). Dansbutiken will help you find the best fit (our students get 10% off in the store). We recommend going for a fitting at the end of the day after you have been on your feet and trying several pairs before buying. Keep in mind your shoes should fit like a sock, but not so tight that the toes are not able to relax.

There are many wonderful online shops that we love including Dansbutiken and 24Ballet (owned by an adult ballet dancer in Gothenburg). In addition, you can visit Dansbutiken in person right here in Gothenburg located in Vasastaden and get 10% off as a student at Ballet Gothenburg.

The teacher and the founder of Baller Gothenburg is Lori Boggan. Read more about Lori on the About School page.

Lori teaches out of her home studio. The studio accommodates a maximum of 8 students per class which allows for a more relaxed and welcoming environment and individual attention.

We offer 5 levels of ballet – Intro to Ballet, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and our Intermediate/Advanced Level 4.

Read levels below to help find the best class for you. You are welcome to try different levels to decide what feels best for you. If you are still unsure, reach out to us.

In Intro to Ballet, learn the fundamentals of ballet from the ground up. In this class we learn positions of the arms and feet as well as principles of placement, turnout, and posture.

This class is perfect for the absolute beginner with no ballet experience.

After one to two terms of Intro to Ballet, students graduate to Level 1. In Level 1 (Beginner Ballet), we begin exploring a classical ballet barre and basic center work and its variations with focus on musicality and principles of placement, turnout, and épaulement (shouldering), port de bras (carriage of the arms), adagio (slow movement), as well as breakdowns of basic turns, small, medium, and big jumps.

This class is for absolute beginners.

Level 2 (Advanced Beginner) takes what was learned in Level 1 and begins exploring turns more deeply as well as syncing small simple jumps (Petit Allegro) and larger jumps (Grand Allegro).

This is a great place to start for those coming back after several years of previous training or for those having 1-2 years of ballet training.

Level 3 (Intermediate) builds and layers more on what we have already learned in Levels 1 & 2. We begin to link longer adagios, allegros, and pirouette combinations.

This class is for those that have at least 3 years of ballet training.

Level 4 (Intermediate/Advanced) builds and layers more on what we have already learned in Level 3. Longer, more intricate adagios, pirouette, and allegro combinations with more advanced footwork and use of port de bras are introduced. Speed and intensity of exercises increase at this level.

This class is for those that have at least 4-5 years of ballet training.

Unlimited Online Classes is an unlimited access to all live classes as well as all recordings for the whole term.

It is great for every level.

At Ballet Gothenburg, we teach the 4 Pointe Method, a systematic method founded by master ballet teacher, Lynne Charles. Pre-Pointe is a class for students interested in dancing on pointe one day. Begin your pointe journey here through gentle stretches and strengthening exercises to prepare the feet and body for pointe work. All levels are welcome, even absolute beginners!! The whole body needs to be strong for pointe work so come ready to work.  

Beginner Pointe is a class for students learning the fundamentals of pointe work using the 4 Pointe method. 4 Pointe, founded by master teacher and former ballerina, Lynne Charles, is a method that “focuses on alignment of the foot and leg, strengthening of the muscles in the foot and leg, articulation of the foot and ankle, and repetition of the exercises at different tempos and intensity.” Nearly all exercises focus on pointe work on two feet and with two hands on the barre. In general, students are required to take a minimum one and a half to two years of technique class 2-3 times per week as well as 6 months of Pre-Pointe class before joining, but this is determined on an individual basis. The first entire year is focused on barre work with two hands on the barre. This class is by invitation.

Intermediate Pointe Class takes what we learned in Beginner Pointe Class and begins to explore exercises with one hand on the barre as well as exercises on one foot and simple combinations in the center.

You will need a towel, a small pilates ball, a small firm ball (raquet ball), and a theraband.

All are welcome to Pre-Pointe class, even if students never plans to dance on point. Pre-Pointe helps all students in their ballet journey through refining technique and targeting the turnout muscles.

Pointe class is by invitation. Please contact us to see which class would be best for you. In general, a student is required to have danced 1-2 years consistently taking at least 2 ballet technique classes and one pre-pointe class per week before going on pointe. They should have a strong technical foundation in ballet and are given a pre pointe assessment to determine areas that need more flexibility or strength before going up on pointe. This is a universal requirement for all dancers including adult ballet dancers to safely approach pointe work.

Winter & Summer School are 4 week seasonal online classes via Zoom with Lori. It is a time for students of all levels to go back to basics and refine their technique. We work slowly and methodically to clean areas of challenge, dive into technique questions. Each class spends time at the ballet barre, a weekly focus area (turns, jumps, adagio) followed by strength and stretching.

Winter & Summer School is for all levels, from beginners to advanced.

Winter school takes place every January and July.

Winter & Summer school takes place online via Zoom.

Booking is up two weeks before classes start. Welcome!

Terms are divided in 6-8 week increments to accommodate teacher and student schedules.

Space permitting, absolutely! Contact us to join if we are already in the middle of a new term. Price will be adjusted based on number of classes the student signs up for.

Yes, if there is space you are very welcome! Contact us before to ensure there is space. Drop in fee is 250 kr.

You have 24 hours after you have booked to cancel, after that booking is binding.

You are welcome to pop in to try one class for free if there is space. Contact us for more details.

Before the term starts and during the first week, booking is done through our secure booking site called Bokadirekt. After that, please contact us directly to see if there is space in the class you are interested in.

Friskvårdsbidrag or healthcare allowance is an allotted amount of money by most employers during a calendar year. Ballet classes do fall under friskvårdsbidrag. We issue receipts to students that can then be submitted for friskvårdsbidrag. In addition we take epassi, a company that handles many major companies’ friskvårdsbidrag.

Each term we help pay for part or all of a student’s tuition through an ongoing scholarship fund that we each contribute to. Contributions are made by way of donations during Bridge Ballet, Performances, and through a dance wear donation program. Contributions to our scholarship fund are done by free will and not mandatory of any student. Each term a different student is awarded scholarship money. Contact us if you would like to be on our scholarship list.

You can pay in instalments through Qliro (option on Bokadirekt booking site) or directly with us. Contact us for more details.

A typical ballet class begins at the ballet barre where we systematically move through specific exercises – one building on the next. At the end of barre, we move to the center where we begin to explore slow (adagio) movement followed by turns (pirouettes), and then ending with the more dynamic allegro (jumps) movements. We end with relaxing breath and stretching.

For more information about the structure of a ballet class, read this blog post: What to Expect in Your First Ballet Class.

We have students living around Sweden that join us online and are able to learn and grow in the same way any student in class can. Our online classes are live via Zoom as well as recorded in our private FB group. Please note the times of our virtual classes reflect the times of each class above.

All classes are taught in English but Lori is fluent in Swedish as well.

Classes are taught in Central European (Summer) Time.

Absolutely, we accommodate all. Lori is a registered nurse that prides herself on seeing the whole student in front of her. Many of our students who show up with old injuries or have chronic health issues. It is important to let us know so we can help you modify anything as needed.

Please note, any classes missed during a term do not carry over to the next, but can be made up in another class within the same term either in person or by joining via Zoom. 

In the event that Lori needs to cancel, students are offered to join any class of their choice during that time or be refunded for the cancelled class.

You can find some of the most common ballet terminology in our blog post: Ballet Terminology.

Ballet Gothenburg is home to Sweden’s first adult amateur ballet troupe. It is comprised of current beginner to advanced students of Ballet Gothenburg. We perform throughout the year around our beautiful city. Find us at the train station, at the pier, or perhaps you would like us to perform for your private party? We ask for donations to those joining. All donations go toward a student scholarship and/or costume fund. 

We perform twice a year, once in the winter and once in the spring.

Not at all. Performing is an option, not a must. Performing gives students the opportunity to show what they have been learning in their classes as well as give them individual technique tips. Performing is an excellent confidence building tool. You never know unless you try!

Rehearsals typically take place after a class with the exception of a couple of groups.

Rehearsals are free for all students of Ballet Gothenburg. The only cost is cost of the costumes. The average costume cost is around 500 kr per year and we reuse our costumes more than once to make it cost effective. We also have a costume fund for those wanting to perform but not able to buy a costume.

Bridge Ballet is an outdoor, donation based ballet class for all students as well as the general public. We meet at the end of each term to highlight what we have learned in class. It is an excellent way for students to get a feel for performing.

Bridge Ballet takes place two to three times a year, usually toward the end of an ongoing term.

Bridge Ballet is a donation based class. A suggested donation of 200 kr is recommended. All donations go toward a student scholarship and costume fund. Friends and family are welcome to join or watch. Can’t attend but want to donate? Swish 070 544 1742 and write “Scholarship fund”.

Bridge Ballet is a chance for all students to show friends, the family, and public what they have been learning all term. It is also a chance for anyone wanting to try ballet with us.

All are welcome!

We decide collectively if we want to dance on days where the weather is questionable. If the weather is bad, we either reschedule or cancel.

Absolutely! We divide participants into two groups – a beginner group and an intermediate/advanced group.

Absolutely! Contact us for details!

2025 is our very first retreat. We hope to plan one retreat per year around Europe and perhaps a winter retreat in Florida in future.

Booking is done through our secure booking site called Bokadirekt.