Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Premier Destination for Ballet Training in Fullerton
Lois Ellyn Studio, established in 1956, is Orange County's oldest and most respected ballet school. Founded by renowned ballerina Lois Ellyn, our institution has trained generations of dancers while maintaining a dual mission: delivering world-class dance instruction and providing professional performance opportunities. Under Artistic Director Sheree King, we continue to nurture technical excellence, discipline, and artistic expression in students of all ages. Our affiliated non-profit organization, Nouveau Chamber Ballet, enriches the community through diverse performances and educational programs, collaborating with orchestras and cultural institutions since 1988.With decades of collective teaching experience, our faculty combines classical traditions with innovative approaches to dance education. We offer specialized programs for children, teens, and adults, including pre-professional training and community outreach initiatives like our annual Nutcracker production. Our commitment to quality instruction, cultural enrichment, and personalized attention has made us a trusted institution in the dance community.
Services
Ballet Classes
Adult Ballet
Pre-Ballet
Pointe Classes
Jazz Dance
Stretch & Conditioning
Pilates Mat Class
Youth Ballet
Pre-Professional Training
Community Performances
Details
- Year established: 1956
Highlights and features
- We offer over 60 years of continuous ballet instruction experience in Orange County
- Our faculty includes certified Pilates instructors and GYROKINESIS practitioners
- We provide community outreach programs serving over 100 local schools annually
- Our graduates have performed with major ballet companies nationwide
- We maintain small class sizes with a 5-student minimum requirement
What people say
World-class instruction
Experienced faculty
Community outreach programs
Professional performances
Legacy institution
Services
Ballet Classes
We offer comprehensive ballet training from pre-ballet to advanced levels for ages 3 through adult. Our curriculum develops technical proficiency, artistic expression, and musicality through structured barre and center work. Classes emphasize proper technique, progressive skill development, and performance preparation for students at all levels.
Pointe Classes
Our pointe program prepares dancers for en pointe work through pre-pointe conditioning and gradual progression. Students develop ankle strength, proper alignment, and technical precision under expert supervision. Advanced classes focus on complex combinations, transitions, and artistic expression while maintaining strict safety protocols and instructor approval requirements.
Adult Ballet
We provide beginner through intermediate ballet classes specifically designed for adult learners. Our welcoming environment accommodates both returning dancers and complete beginners, focusing on fundamental technique, body awareness, and physical fitness. Classes emphasize proper form while fostering personal growth and artistic expression in a supportive setting.
Community Performances
Nouveau Chamber Ballet presents professional dance performances that enrich Orange County's cultural landscape. Our repertoire includes classical ballets, contemporary works, and original productions featuring collaborations with local musicians and artists. Annual highlights include our Nutcracker production and educational performances for school children through our Sponsor a School program.
Stretch & Conditioning
Our specialized conditioning classes enhance dancers' strength, flexibility, and endurance using targeted floor exercises. Incorporating props like therabands and foam rollers, these sessions improve core stability, muscle balance, and injury prevention. Designed specifically for advanced dancers, the program complements technical training while promoting overall physical wellness and performance readiness.
People
Sheree King
Artistic Director
Sheree King holds an MA in Dance from UCLA and has directed Long Beach City College's Dance Program. A certified GYROKINESIS practitioner and Pilates instructor, she has performed with major dance companies and presented choreography internationally. She continues Lois Ellyn's legacy of excellence in ballet training.
Janaina Faustino-Watkins
Guest Teacher
Brazilian-trained dancer Janaina Faustino-Watkins studied with renowned instructors in Brazil and the US. A former member of Corpo Companhia, she teaches and choreographs nationally and internationally. She brings extensive performance experience and a global perspective to her instruction at Lois Ellyn Studio.
Teresa Dietrich
Instructor
Teresa Dietrich trained at Lois Ellyn Studio for 15 years before joining Pittsburgh Ballet's Graduate Program. Returning to her foundational studio, she teaches youth ballet classes while sharing her professional performance experience. She specializes in developing young dancers' technical proficiency and artistic expression.
Janice Gilmore
Instructor
Janice Gilmore brings decades of performance experience from companies like Pacific Ballet Theatre and Disneyland productions. A veteran instructor at Lois Ellyn Studio, she teaches technique while drawing from her extensive stage experience in classical and contemporary ballet repertoires.
Laura Berbaum
Instructor
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Laura Berbaum trained at Dieman and Bennett School and UC Irvine. A former Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company soloist, she combines academic knowledge with professional performance expertise to develop well-rounded dancers at Lois Ellyn Studio.
Questions
What dance classes do you offer for children?
We offer pre-ballet classes for ages 3-5, Ballet I for ages 6-9, and progressive levels through Ballet IV. Classes focus on technique, musicality, and creative expression while preparing students for performance opportunities.
Do you have adult ballet classes available?
Yes, we offer beginner through advanced ballet classes for adults. Our beginner classes accommodate those with no experience, while advanced classes challenge experienced dancers with complex combinations and technical refinement.
What performance opportunities exist?
Nouveau Chamber Ballet presents multiple annual productions including our Nutcracker. Students participate in staged performances, and the company collaborates with local orchestras and artists for cultural enrichment programs.
Are there community outreach programs?
Yes, we partner with Orange County schools for dance presentations and educational performances. Our Sponsor a School program provides free Nutcracker tickets to underserved students through community donations.
What are the dress code requirements?
Standard ballet attire includes leotards, tights, and ballet slippers. Hair must be secured in buns. Specific requirements vary by class level, with exceptions for adult beginner classes allowing fitness wear.
Reviews (1)
Beth Sevey
Aug 10, 2018
Report
I have taken ballet from Lois for over 30 years! She is the most creative,musical and positive ballet teacher you could wish to study from. She has a wealth of experience from which she shares with her students. I can't say enough good things about Lois Ellyn!
