Children's Ballet Program in Houston
Movements In Time Academy (formerly Mitsi Dancing School) teaches classical ballet in the Vaganova method to children from age 3. Classes are small and led by teachers who have danced as principal dancers and soloists with professional companies. Your child can try one class for free before enrolling.
Proven Results: Award-Winning Ballet Training in Houston
Our training works, and the results are public. Our students compete as Movements In Time, our competition and performance company, and every result is listed by name and year on our Awards Timeline.
• Children start at age 3 with a Vaganova foundation.
• From age 6, students may join our pre-professional program by audition or teacher recommendation.
68
YAGP Awards Since 2018
Includes 15 First, Second, and Third Place honors across nine seasons.
20
YAGP Finals Invitations
Soloists and ensembles invited to Youth America Grand Prix Finals.
32
Ballet School Acceptances
Schools and programs that have accepted our students or awarded scholarships since 2021.
2027
YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award
Faculty honor at Youth America Grand Prix Austin, alongside 2025 UBC Outstanding Studio Award, 2024 & 2025 YAGP Hope Awards, and 2025 ADC|IBC Final Silver Medal.
Major Competition Honors
• 2027 YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award
• 2025 UBC Outstanding Studio & Best Choreographer
• 2024 & 2025 YAGP Hope Award
• 2024 YAGP New York Finals Top 12
• 2025 ADC|IBC Final Silver Medal
Featured School Acceptances
• John Cranko School Summer Intensive (three dancers in 2027)
• Houston Ballet
• The Washington School of Ballet
• UNCSA
• San Francisco Ballet
• Boston Ballet
Ballet Classes by Age
Classes for the 2026–27 school year are capped at 10 to 16 students. New students are placed by age, and experienced dancers may be placed by level.
Ages 3–4: Creative Dance and First Ballet
Children explore music, rhythm and movement while learning their first ballet positions and how to follow a teacher in class.
- Saturday, 9:00 am: Ballet (ages 3–4) (45 minutes)
- Sunday, 4:30 pm: Ballet / Creative Dance (ages 3–4) (1 hour)
Ages 5–6: Pre-Ballet
A first structured ballet class: posture, basic barre and center work, flexibility, and simple jazz or across-the-floor combinations.
- Saturday, 9:00 am: Ballet / Jazz (ages 5–6) (1 hour)
- Sunday, 1:15 pm: Ballet / Flexibility (ages 5–6) (1.5 hours)
Ages 6–9: Children's Ballet
Classical ballet technique at the barre and in the center, with flexibility training and an introduction to jazz and lyrical dance.
- Wednesday, 5:30 pm: Ballet (ages 6+) (2 hours)
- Saturday, 10:00 am: Ballet / Jazz (ages 6–8) (1.5 hours)
- Saturday, 9:45 am: Ballet / Lyrical (ages 7–9) (1.5 hours)
- Sunday, 9:15 am: Ballet / Flexibility (ages 8–9) (1.5 hours)
- Sunday, 3:00 pm: Ballet / Flexibility (ages 6–8) (1.5 hours)
Ages 8 and Up: Ballet for Older Children and Pre-Teens
Longer classes that build stronger classical technique, plus lyrical and contemporary dance for older students.
- Saturday, 10:30 am: Lyrical / Ballet (ages 10–12) (1.5 hours)
- Saturday, 10:30 am: Ballet / Contemporary (ages 12+) (1.75 hours)
- Sunday, 3:30 pm: Ballet / Flexibility (ages 8+) (2 hours)
Also Offered: Chinese Dance (age 7)
- Saturday, 9:00 am: Chinese Dance (age 7)
Pre-Professional Training (by audition or teacher recommendation)
Children who are serious about ballet can continue into the pre-professional program of Movements In Time Dance Artistry, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance company. Dancers age 6 and up join by audition or teacher recommendation. Training runs Monday through Sunday and includes ballet technique, pointe, classical variations, contemporary, conditioning and competition rehearsal, plus guest master classes and Thanksgiving and Winter intensives. Homeschooling dancers age 8–19 can also apply to our daytime pre-professional program. Advanced and pre-professional students also train with Ms. Tina Kay Bohnstedt of our regular faculty, a former Principal Dancer with the Bavarian State Ballet and Diablo Ballet and former Ballet Master at Houston Ballet.
How We Teach Ballet
- The Vaganova method. Young children start with correct posture, placement and musicality, so they build good habits from the first class.
- Small classes. Each class is capped at 10 to 16 students, so the teacher can correct every child.
- A clear path. Children can start at age 3 and move up by age and level. Students who love ballet can audition for pre-professional training, competitions and summer intensives.
Performances
• Every Christmas, our students perform in the Nutcracker with Magic of Christmas Ballet at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land.
• Each spring, our students perform in a spring showcase at Stafford Centre in Stafford, Texas. The 2027 spring showcase is on Sunday, May 16, 2027.
• Original choreography by Movements In Time students has also been performed at MATCH and Miller Outdoor Theatre.
Book a Free Trial Class
We offer one free trial class for prospective students.
1. Create your family account in our registration portal. You only register once. The same account is used if you enroll after your trial.
2. Choose a class for your child's age from the schedule listed above.
3. Schedule your free trial in the portal, then email office@movementsintime.org with the date and time so the teacher can expect your dancer.
Not sure which class fits? Email office@movementsintime.org with your child's age and dance experience, and we'll help you choose.
Location and Contact
Movements In Time Academy, Houston Studio
9889 Bellaire Blvd #251, Houston, TX 77036
Phone: +1 (832) 638-2185
Email: info@movementsintime.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can my child start ballet?
Children can start at age 3. Our youngest classes, for ages 3–4, meet on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons and introduce ballet through creative dance, music and movement.
Do you offer a free trial class?
Yes, one free trial class. The steps are under Book a Free Trial Class above.
What teaching method do you use?
The Vaganova method, from the very first class.
When are classes held?
Children's ballet classes meet on Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sundays at our Houston studio. Current class days and times are listed by age above.
Where are you located?
Our studio is at 9889 Bellaire Blvd #251, Houston, TX 77036.
Do your students win competitions?
Yes. Since 2018 our students have earned 68 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) awards, including 15 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place awards and 20 invitations to the YAGP Finals. Highlights include the YAGP Hope Award in 2024 and 2025, a Top 12 award at the 2024 YAGP New York Finals, a Silver Medal at the 2025 ADC|IBC Final, and the Outstanding Studio Award at the 2025 Universal Ballet Competition in Houston. Our faculty received the YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award in 2027.
Where have your students been accepted?
Since 2021, 32 ballet schools and programs have accepted our students or awarded them scholarships. They include Houston Ballet, the John Cranko School Summer Intensive NY & CT, The Washington School of Ballet, UNCSA, Philadelphia Ballet, Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, The Rock School for Dance Education, Joffrey Ballet School, Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive, Colorado Ballet Academy, Ballet West Academy and The School of Ballet Arizona. In 2021, a student was accepted to Houston Ballet's Professional Program.
Movements In Time Academy is the children's ballet school of Movements In Time Dance Artistry, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018.