New Hampshire's Lakes Region is not an obvious hub for pre-professional ballet training, yet several serious programs within an hour of Laconia have placed alumni in regional and national companies. For families considering full-time training or a structured conservatory supplement, here is how three established schools compare in methodology, intensity, and outcomes.
How We Evaluated These Programs
Every profile below is based on verified information from school directors, publicly available performance records, and interviews with current families. We prioritized four criteria that matter most to aspiring dancers and their parents:
- Training methodology and faculty credentials
- Track record of student placement in professional-track programs
- Transparency around costs, schedules, and advancement requirements
- Physical facilities and injury-prevention standards
The New Hampshire School of Ballet (Laconia)
Background and Leadership
Founded in 1998 by former Boston Ballet soloist Margaret Chen-Whitmore, The New Hampshire School of Ballet operates out of a converted mill building on the Winnisquam River. Chen-Whitmore trained at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and performed with Boston Ballet for twelve seasons before retiring into teaching. Her associate director, David Plitt, danced with Atlanta Ballet and holds a MFA in Dance Pedagogy from NYU.
Methodology and Curriculum
The school follows a Vaganova-based syllabus with twice-weekly character and contemporary additions for levels 5 and above. Pre-professional students (ages 12–18) take 12–16 technique classes weekly, including pointe, variations, pas de deux, and men's technique. All technique classes through Level 6 feature live piano accompaniment.
Student Outcomes
- Alum Rebecca Torrey joined Milwaukee Ballet II in 2021 after completing the school's two-year post-graduate program.
- Students have advanced to summer programs at School of American Ballet, Indiana University Ballet, and North Carolina School of the Arts.
- In 2023 and 2024, multiple students reached the Youth America Grand Prix Boston regional finals.
Practical Details
- Flooring: Harlequin sprung floors at all four studios
- Class size cap: 16 students for technique, 10 for pointe
- Parent observation: Livestream available for two studios; in-studio observation by appointment only
- Tuition: $4,800–$7,200 annually for the pre-professional track, depending on level
Mountain Lakes Ballet Academy (Meredith)
Background and Leadership
Mountain Lakes Ballet Academy opened in 2007 under director Katherine Moran, a former American Ballet Theatre corps de ballet member who also served on faculty at the ABT National Summer Intensive. The academy has become known for its selective admissions and performance-heavy calendar.
Methodology and Curriculum
Moran's curriculum blends Balanchine aesthetic with Cecchetti technical foundations. The academy emphasizes quick footwork, musicality, and performance quality from early levels. Pre-professional students commit to 14–18 classes weekly and participate in four full productions annually, including a Nutcracker with live orchestra and a spring mixed-repertory program.
Student Outcomes
- Alum James Park was hired by Oregon Ballet Theatre in 2023 after training in the academy's post-graduate program.
- Emily Carson (class of 2020) is currently a member of BalletMet II.
- The academy maintains a formal partnership with Boston Ballet's Citydance outreach program for community recruitment and merit scholarship placement.
Practical Details
- Studio specifications: Three studios with Marley over sprung wood; one 60-seat black-box theater on site
- Advancement policy: Annual written evaluation and placement class; students may be held or accelerated across single subjects rather than by entire level
- Summer intensive: Four-week residential program with guest faculty from Houston Ballet and Sarasota Ballet
- Tuition: $5,400–$8,600 annually; approximately 15% of pre-professional students receive merit-based assistance
Lakes Region Ballet Conservatory (Wolfeboro)
Background and Leadership
The smallest of the three programs, Lakes Region Ballet Conservatory was founded in 2015 by Elena Vasiliev, a graduate of the Vaganova Academy who performed with the Mariinsky Ballet as a demi-soloist before immigrating to the United States. The conservatory operates from a single renovated barn studio on Vasiliev's family property, capping total enrollment at 45 students.
Methodology and Curriculum
True to Vasiliev's background, the conservatory is strictly Vaganova, with an uncommonly slow and careful progression through the early syllabus. Students typically do not
