Adaptive Classes

Adaptive Dance and Diablo Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s Power of Dance Classes

We are very excited to announce that we have received a grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation and we will be able to waive all fees for Parkinson’s patients in thanks to their generous funding! 

Diablo Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s Power of Dance:

This special class for people of any age combines both music and movement to increase coordination, balance, flexibility and strength. The class incorporates exercises that can be done either standing or seated in a chair. Absolutely no dance experience is required and is perfect for people who suffer from physical disabilities, Parkinson’s or limitations or just want to improve their coordination and strength in a joyful and supportive environment. This class will meet every Sunday on a drop in basis. If you are a Parkinson’s patient, the per class fee will be waived from a grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation. If you would like to take the class to increase coordination, strength and balance, the fee will be $15 per class.

Class: 
The class will pause for July and then return on August 27 for our Fall Session.  Classes will take place at Ace Dance Academy – 1825 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek.

Registration
Online registration is available throughout the year.  Please click register now and it will take you through our registration process.  Please note the $25 registration fee will be waived for Parkinson’s patients.  If you have any questions, please email school@diabloballet.org.

Tuition
For Diablo Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s Power of Dance the class will be billed on a drop in basis of $15 per class and we accept cash or credit card payments. If you are a Parkinson’s patient the class fee and registration fee will be waived.

Adaptive Dance

Please email school@diabloballet.org if interested in learning more.
Adaptive dance is a class designed to benefit students of all ages with special needs and/or developmental disabilities. Adaptive dance is a powerful class which provides a welcoming and inclusive learning experience for all types of thinkers. Using the elements of dance movement, strategic games/activities and engaging music, Adaptive Dance will challenge the thinker in an environment that makes them feel safe, fulfilled and happy. Diablo Ballet aims to unify our community by reminding everyone that dance is a family that loves and values everybody and all they have to offer.

Faculty
Danielle Troyano began her training on Long Island, NY at Seiskaya Ballet and with Sara Knight at SLK Ballet, in NYC. She spent her summers at the Rock School, Walnut Hill School and HARID Conservatory on scholarship, and has received training from the Gelsey Kirkland Academy and Ellison Ballet. Ms. Troyano also studied in London at the Central School of Ballet as part of an exchange program with SLK Ballet. Her professional career started at age 19 with Montgomery Ballet. Ms. Troyano joined Ballet Idaho in 2015 under the direction of Peter Anastos performing Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, Spring Fairy in Edward Liang’s Cinderella, and Pas De Trois, and Lead Czardas in Peter Anastos’ Swan Lake. She has had the honor of performing Agon, Concerto Barocco, Valse Fantasie and Allegro Brilliante by George Balanchine. She has also performed works by Penny Saunders and Danielle Rowe. Ms. Troyano remains a permanent guest artist with Albany Berkshire Ballet under Madeline Culpo, where she’s performed A Midsummer Nights Dream, Carmina Burana, and The Nutcracker. In addition to dancing, she is passionate about teaching and helping others. She remains on permanent guest faculty at Hinsdale Dance Academy in Chicago and the School of Ballet Indiana, where she teaches Adaptive Dance, a movement based class tending to children with special needs. She is also a certified Dance for Parkinson’s instructor.

Andrea Gaudet was born in Berkeley California and has been teaching all levels of classical ballet for over thirty years. Her training began with Jane Stamps and continued with Grace Doty’s Berkeley City Ballet. Ms. Gaudet’s danced as a soloist with Ballet Idaho and Sacramento Ballet, where she performed roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote, The Firebird, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cinderella. She had the pleasure of dancing roles in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Rubies, Four Temperaments, Prodigal Son, Theme and Variations, Donizetti Variations and Concerto Barocco. Ms. Gaudet taught the pre-professional students at the Sacramento Ballet and served as Ballet Mistress for the Company. She was the Artistic Director of Berkeley City Ballet, and has taught at the Marin Ballet, Berkeley Ballet Theater, San Francisco School of the Arts, Lines, Ah-Lan Dance Studio and Shawl Anderson Dance Center.  Ms. Gaudet is the incoming Principal for Diablo Ballet School beginning this August.

Karen Lapointe was born in Canada and raised in the Bay Area. She received her training at Berkeley Conservatory Ballet under Grace Doty. She enjoyed a rewarding dance career that spanned 21 years. Known for her principal roles in Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lilac Garden, The Nutcracker and numerous Balanchine Ballets, Ms. Lapointe was also fortunate to have worked with countless groundbreaking choreographers. She had the pleasure of dancing with the Joffrey Ballet, Eglevsky Balley, and as a principal dancer for the Nashville Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Diablo Ballet. Since her retirement from dance Ms. Lapointe is following her other passion, that of a Pilates instructor and dance teacher. She has owned and operated her Pilates studio “Fine Line Fitness” since 1999 and has been an instructor at Forma Gym since 2011. She teaches dance throughout the U.S. to students of all ages including pre professional and professional dancers. Having experienced several severe injuries, her Pilates training focuses on rehabilitation and specific conditioning for dancers and elite athletes. Ms. Lapointe is certified with the Physical Mind Institute and the Ron Fletcher Method. Her unique background has led her to work with Olympic athletes and most recently as the Pilates and dance coach for the US Olympic Artistic Swim team and as a teacher, coach and conditioning specialist for Diablo Ballet. She joined Diablo Ballet’s School faculty in 2022. “My heart is full when I can work with dancers and hopefully be a calm, nurturing space for those in pain.”