Fifteen miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Covina has quietly cultivated a dance community that punches above its weight. For serious ballet students—and parents navigating their child's first plié—the city offers three distinct training environments, each with its own philosophy, methodology, and pathway forward. This guide examines what actually differentiates them.
How to Evaluate a Ballet School
Before comparing institutions, understand what separates recreational dance from serious training:
Training Methodology Russian (Vaganova), Italian (Cecchetti), and American (Balanchine) syllabi each produce different physical results. Vaganova emphasizes gradual technical development with extensive floor work. Cecchetti builds precision through set exercises. Balanchine prioritizes speed, musicality, and athleticism. Many American schools now blend approaches—know what you're getting.
Floor Hours vs. Marketing A "comprehensive program" means little. Calculate actual weekly contact hours with instructors, not rehearsal time or unsupervised practice. Pre-professional track students typically need 15+ hours weekly by age 14.
Live Accompaniment Piano accompaniment develops musicality that recorded music cannot replicate. This feature often indicates institutional commitment and budget priorities.
Performance Philosophy Three shows annually with full production values differ substantially from a single studio recital. Consider whether performance opportunities build toward professional readiness or simply mark calendar milestones.
The School of Ballet Covina
Founded: 1987
Artistic Director: Elena Vostrikov (former Bolshoi Ballet soloist)
Methodology: Vaganova-based with Russian character dance
Distinctive Offering: Boys' scholarship program covering full tuition through age 18
The School of Ballet Covina operates from a converted 1920s church on Citrus Avenue, its sprung floors installed in 2019 after a community fundraising campaign. Vostrikov's faculty includes four former professional dancers, all certified in the Vaganova syllabus through the Bolshoi Academy's teacher training program.
The curriculum follows the eight-year Vaganova progression precisely—unusual for Southern California, where many schools compress levels. Students begin pointe preparation in Level 4 (typically age 11-12) only after passing strength and alignment assessments administered by visiting physical therapists.
Character dance classes meet twice weekly from Level 3 onward, training students in the stylized folk dances that appear in classical repertoire. Partnering instruction begins at age 14, with male students recruited from the scholarship program and local high schools.
Performance Schedule:
- December: Full Nutcracker with 40-piece community orchestra at Covina Center for the Performing Arts
- June: Spring showcase featuring student choreography
- Biennial: Full-length classical production (Giselle, Coppélia, La Fille Mal Gardée)
Notable alumni include two current Pacific Northwest Ballet corps members and one San Francisco Ballet apprentice (2023).
Covina City Ballet Academy
Founded: 2001
Directors: Marcus and Jennifer Chen (former American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet)
Methodology: Balanchine-influenced with contemporary integration
Distinctive Offering: Pre-professional intensive track with academic flexibility
The Chens established their academy after retiring from performance, bringing ABT's National Training Curriculum and Balanchine's speed and musicality to their teaching. The facility—three studios on Badillo Street—features Marley flooring, Pilates equipment, and a dedicated conditioning room.
Their pre-professional track accepts students by audition at age 10, with graduated training schedules designed around academic needs. By Level 7, students attend academic classes 8:00 AM–12:30 PM through a charter school partnership, then train 1:30–6:30 PM daily. This schedule has placed graduates into Houston Ballet II, Boston Ballet II, and university BFA programs at Indiana University and USC.
Contemporary and modern technique classes are mandatory from Level 5, recognizing that 21st-century ballet careers require movement versatility. Summer intensives bring guest faculty from Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Alonzo King LINES Ballet.
Performance Schedule:
- November: Choreographic workshop (student-created pieces)
- March: Spring repertory program with professional guest artists
- June: Graduation showcase with commissioned works
The academy maintains no Nutcracker production, considering it a distraction from technical development—a controversial position that prospective families should weigh against their priorities.
The Dance Center of Covina
Founded: 1995
Owner/Director: Patricia Morales (former dancer, National Ballet of Cuba)
Methodology: Cuban school foundation with recreational accessibility
Distinctive Offering: Adult beginner program with dedicated evening faculty
Morales built her center on the principle that serious training and inclusive access need not conflict. The Cuban school methodology—known for producing explosive jumpers and precise turners
