About
CADENZA BALLET
~Ballet Without Barriers~
Cadenza Ballet is a ballet school located in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, offering high-quality ballet training to any adults aged 18 and up.
At Cadenza, we believe EVERYONE can dance, and anyone who wants to learn should! We know how difficult it is to find the courage to try something new, let alone something challenging like ballet, therefore, Cadenza Ballet nurtures a safe, welcoming, friendly, and supportive environment. We want to help our dancers find the joy in movement, the passion for this art form, and CELEBRATE the one-of-a-kind artistry each dancer brings.
We do this by designing our ballet program that puts each adult student first. Our class sizes are small so each student receives the individualized corrections, guidance, and encouragement they deserve.
Lesson plans are created tailored specifically to how adult dancers learn, and focus on concepts widely overlooked in open adult ballet classes.​​​​​
And even. ore importantly, we offer several tuition class passes to choose from to make our classes affordable.
Cadenza Ballet's program offers seven levels of ballet technique. Its curriculum was created by Artistic Director and Teacher Leigh Grant, based upon her 41-years of training and over five years of teaching experience, married with her experiences as both an elite pre-professional student in her youth as well has her 7 years as an adult ballet dancer herself.
CB's seven levels range from absolute beginner through advanced, and we offer many classes from technique, pre-pointe and pointe, variations, and more.
The curriculum is methodical and designed to create pathways to advancement and pointe work, as well as to pace the dancer so that they do not "rush" technique and potentially develop bad habits and mental blocks that preclude them from doing the skills and "tricks" they want to do.​
We offer a private, free placement assessment for all dancers unsure of their level, as well as affordable class rates so each student can train consistently.
TESTIMONIALS
I've taken private ballet lessons from Leigh, and each time she's given me specific, encouraging feedback which helped me to understand the moves more deeply and gradually work toward improved technique with my current level of strength and flexibility. In each lesson, Leigh was respectful of my body and any injuries, which reassured me that we would work safely while helping me to become a better dancer. Leigh's wealth of knowledge about ballet and what adults need to start, continue, or resume ballet is rare. Understanding the hurdles that adult dancers face physically and emotionally has made her a kind, receptive teacher. At the same time, Leigh does not water down technique when teaching adults, and she's supported me to believe in my ability to improve and tackle increasingly difficult moves. I am excited to attend her classes because I know working with Leigh will accelerate my progress as a dancer. I highly recommend Leigh's classes and private lessons to all adult ballet students, no matter where you are in your journey with ballet.
S. Friesen
About
LEIGH
Leigh Grant is a ballet dancer and teacher who is molding a career path for herself outside of the mainstream dance culture. Now identifying as an “adult ballet dancer”, Leigh’s career path has taken her many different journeys. In 2017, she returned to ballet after nearly ten years away due to injuries and her own personal, mental struggles while in the ballet studio as she tried to return after a severe knee injury. During that time, Leigh attended the University of Pennsylvania concentrating in Philosophy and Theatre.
Since returning as an adult ballet dancer, Leigh has had the wonderful opportunity to train with world renowned dancers and teachers including Skylar Brandt, Runqiao Du, Kathryn Morgan, Allison Debona, Rex Tilton and more. She found her new ballet home at Berks Ballet Theatre under the direction of Nathan Bland.
In 2024, Leigh relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is training with National Dance Institute Santa Fe with former San Francisco Ballet dancer Lori Brody, and with Dance Arts Los Alamos with Rachel Zervakos.
As an adult ballet dancer, Leigh has had numerous performance opportunities including Don Quixote with Dance Arts Los Alamos as a member of the corps de ballet, and with Berks Ballet Theatre as a Party Scene parent. At the beginning of 2020, Leigh booked her first professional show as a community dancer supernumerary in a contemporary work by acclaimed choreographer and Kennedy Center Honor Awardee Bill T. Jones. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic hit after one rehearsal, and the production was forced to shut down.
Now, Leigh has founded Cadenza Ballet and its performance company, Zenith Ballet project, as a love letter to her fellow adult ballet dancers. With her deep understanding of the emotional and physical needs of adults, she created CB as home to adult students so she can amplify, support, encourage, and provide them the training they want, need and deserve. She wants her dancers to feel whole and happy, and instill in them the joy ballet has given to her.
