We hope you enjoyed your summer and are thrilled to be a part of our 14th year. Summer Intensive was an excellent start and our dancers worked hard to prepare for our upcoming Nutcracker auditions on September 6th. If you haven’t already, please sign up below and encourage any aspiring dancers to do the same.
This issue showcases our upcoming events and also explores why we study ISTD Imperial Classical ballet and participate in graded and vocational exams. We also feature one of our recent graduates, Alicia Hinojosa, and her continued studies. Please enjoy the issue and share with us any suggestions for future editions.
ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet
The ISTD’s Imperial Classical Ballet (ICB) methodology was based on the teaching of the French School at the Paris Opéra.
The syllabus, first written in 1913, then evolved to promote an English classical ballet style while keeping the essence of the French Style especially apparent in the footwork. It has been, and is, continually updated to address the changing needs of international ballet dancers today. Focusing on encouraging a sound foundational technique and an understanding of musical interpretation it provides the essentials of a pure classical training. Students trained in this method are often complimented on their lyrical flow of port de bras and musical quality of allegro and adagio.
The Graded Examinations and Vocational Levels both provide a clearly defined structure that allows learning to take place in the context of safe dance practice. They build progressively, ensuring that steps and skills learned at lower levels prepare for more complex movements as the student progresses. This focus on building a student’s technical ability and understanding of the technique is done in tandem with developing an innate sense of poise, grace, musicality and, most importantly, a joy of dance.
The ISTD is a recognized leading dance examination board in the UK offering a portfolio of examinations and assessments designed to encourage, motivate and reward all students of all ages, outlining a progressive structure for learning and achievement in dance. ISTD Examinations are regulated on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and, as such, are recognized by schools, colleges and universities in the UK and some EU countries. This framework places dance examinations within the context of other qualifications and recognizes equivalence in levels of knowledge, skills and understanding required for their attainment. This means ISTD dance exams have a parity with other education qualifications such as GCSE’s and A-levels.
Spotlight
Photo: James Kondrosky, 2025
Alicia Hinojosa started training at Ballet Bloch in 2015 as a tiny little 8yr old. She graduated, after 10yrs of training, under the direction of Tracy-Lea Bloch (Artistic Director) and faculty teachers: Muriel Teague, Thomas Teague and Monica Proenca.
Alicia achieved many accolades: completing, with Distinction, all her vocational ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet examinations including her Advanced 2 level; selected as Ballet Provincial Representative for BC Arts Provincials; and awarded top three in various years at YAGP Semis & Finals. Alicia worked her way up in Ballet Bloch’s Youth Company, performing lead roles: Nurse in Romeo & Juliet, Sugarplum Fairy in Nutcracker, Stepsister in Cinderella, and most recently, Giselle in Giselle.
We are incredibly proud of our recent graduate, Alicia Hinojosa, who is off to study a post-secondary Diploma in Classical Dance Performance at École Supérieure De Ballet du Québec. This school has a long-standing affiliation with Les Grandes Ballets Canadiens in Montreal Quebec and offers opportunities to perform with the company. We wish her many “ballet shoes of love” in her continued journey as a ballerina.
