Arizona Classical Ballet

by Erika Farrar-Bowen​

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About Our Classes

​We offer a wide variety of classes to suit the needs of all students regardless of age or physical abilities.  Please refer to our class descriptions for more information.  Contact the studio for any further information or questions. ​   

Petite Elegant Danseuse

Ballet Elementaire et Fondamentale

Beginning Ballet Technique

Open to 3-6 yr olds.  This class is a fun and gentle introduction to dance.  Students will explore musicality and beginning acting skills through imagined adventures while learning coordination and fine motor skills using basic ballet and tap dance.  
Open to 7-10 yr olds.  Ballet 101 establishes a solid foundation of dance technique.  Students in this class will begin to master ballet fundamentals including foot and arm positions.  
Open to all ages.  Beginning Ballet Technique is an introductory class to classical ballet designed to establish a solid foundation of ballet technique.  No previous dance experience is required.  

Level 1 Ballet

Int./Advanced Ballet

Beginning Pointe

Open to 10-12 year olds.  Level 1 ballet class is for our more serious young dancers.  This class aims to helps students master ballet fundamentals. Students in Level 1 will begin basic pointe work. Prior approval is required for taking this class.  
Open to 13 yr olds and up.  This class is for our most serious students that show the greatest dance potential.  Intermediate/Advanced Ballet works on mastering the finer points of classical ballet.  A minimum of two years en pointe required.  
Open to 9 years old and up.  This class introduces pointe work both at barre and center.  Students in this class must have a minimum of two years ballet experience and be currently taking two or more ballet classes per week.  Prior approval is required for this class.

Advanced Pointe

Intermediate Contempory Dance

Ballet 'en Pointe

Open to 12 years old and up.  Advanced pointe is an intense ballet pointe class that emphasizes the finer points and technique of ballet pointe work. Students must have a minimum of 2 years of pointe class experience and prior approval before taking this class.  
Open to 9-14 year olds.  This contemporary dance class introduces tricks, rolls and jumps to the contemporary dancer.  Intermediate Contemporary requires two years of dance experience or prior approval before taking this class.    
Open to Apprentice and Senior Company Dancers.  This challenging class is an intermediate/advanced classical ballet class customized to do entirely en pointe.  A minimum of two years pointe work is required for this class.    

Beginning Adult Ballet

Special Needs Ballet

Sunset Yoga

This class is designed for adults with no prior dance experience. Beginning Adult Ballet is individualized and tailored to the specific needs and desires of each student. The adults in this class are hightly encouraged to listen to their bodies and adjust exercises accordingly.  Ballet for adults has been proven to sharpen cognitive function, including memory, and relieve stress while improving core strength and flexibility.  Adults in this class will enjoy a relaxed, social atmosphere while learning beginning ballet technique.  
This unique class is open to all individuals that are differently abled including those that are wheelchair bound.  Special Needs Ballet works on establishing strength and flexibility through balletic movement. The benefits of ballet include increased cognitive function, stress relief, social interaction, creative expression and gains in confidence.  This class includes matt work and, for those that are able, basic barre work is encouraged.  For more information please call the studio.  
Open to highschool and up.  Sunset yoga is a beginner's level yoga class.  This class is a wonderful way to finish up the day while finding strength, flexibility and stress relief through basic yoga technique.  

MEET OUR TEACHERS

Erika Farrar- Bowen

Bradley Bowen

Erika Farrar–Bowen received her training in Yuma, Arizona under the direction of Jon Christifori, Kathleen Sinclair, and her aunt, Linda Farrar, at The Dancer's Workshop and Yuma Ballet Theatre. At the age of 18, she became the youngest member of Ballet Magnificat, joining the company in its tours across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. She also performed as a member of both Nashville Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. During her professional career, Erika performed such works as Serenade, The Four Temperments, Coppelia, Giselle, Paquita, Square Dance, and was featured in soloist and principal roles in The Nutcracker, Valse Fantasie, Swan Lake, Hallberg Suite and various works by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Paul Vasterling. Following her years with Nashville Ballet and Atlanta Ballet, Erika toured throughout the United States with Hosanna Sacred Arts, where director Kenn Tolle created many new works specifically for Erika, and featured her in principal roles in existing choreography. Following her time with Hosanna Sacred Arts, Erika performed as a soloist for Ephiphany Dancers, a modern dance company in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Erika began teaching at the age of 18 at Ballet Magnificat, and continued teaching throughout her performing career as an instructor at The School of Nashville Ballet and Hosanna Sacred Arts. She created a dance program at Charles Harding School of Gymnastics and Dance and directed a professional company called Ballet Liseaux in Nashville, Tennessee. Following many years of successfully performing and teaching around the United States, Erika returned to her hometown of Yuma, Arizona, where she has passed her knowledge and love of dance on to students since 2003. She is excited to continue challenging and educating every dancer to his or her fullest potential.

Erika has a beautiful daughter, Bethany, and is blessed by the support of her family and friends. She is honored to be a part of the Yuma community.
Bradley Bowen is a Yuma, Arizona native. After high school he attended Arizona Western College. He went on to serve in the United States Air Force. He discovered his love of ballet and dance later in life, after his time spent in the military. He immediately recognized the many benefits of dance. He has been studying under Erika Farrar-Bowen since 2012. Bradley has attended numerous intensives and classes to better hone his craft and teaching ability.  

Bradley resides in Yuma, Arizona with his wife, Erika, and daughter Bethany. He enjoys teaching all levels of ballet including a Special Needs Ballet Class inspired by his daughter.  His goal is to inspire each student to reach their fullest potential and develop a life-long love of dance.  Together with his wife, he aims to bring the joy of dance to the Yuma community.  

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Jessica Weisner was born and raised in Maryland where she began her dance training at a young age in the styles of ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. When she was 11 years old, she began attending ballet summer intensive programs on partial and full scholarships at the Houston Ballet Academy, San Francisco Ballet School, and The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet. During her final year of high school, she attended The Rock School’s year-round Conservatory Program on full scholarship and had the opportunity to perform in several productions with the Pennsylvania Ballet. These productions included The Nutcracker, Taming of the Shrew, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 


Following high school, she began performing with Jean Ann Ryan Productions aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines and Silver Seas Cruise Lines and traveled to countries all over the world. During her 7-year career with Jean Ann Ryan Productions, she also trained and performed aerial arts on silks, ropes, and hoops on a weekly basis. Other opportunities during her time with the company included serving as Dance Captain and Company Manager for several of her contracts. In addition to dancing, during her time on the cruise ships, she performed as a magician’s assistant for world famous magicians Ed Alonzo and Greg Gleason who can now be seen performing on the televised live shows of The Masters of Illusion. As well, between contracts for the production company, Ms. Weisner became a certified ballroom instructor and taught both Latin and Smooth ballroom techniques for Arthur Murray Dance Studios. 


After many years of continuous performing, Ms. Weisner then dedicated five years to the United States Marine Corps. While serving, she was stationed in Yuma, Arizona and was deployed overseas to Japan, Thailand, and Afghanistan. Her awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Certificates of Commendation, a Meritorious Mast, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Ms. Weisner also received two Meritorious promotions while serving during her 5 years. Following her honorable discharge as a Sergeant in 2014, she remained in Yuma to begin college and simultaneously earned her Associates and Bachelor’s degree. She is currently working on her capstone to earn her Masters Degree in Administration and Justice Studies and will graduate in December of this year from Northern Arizona University. In Yuma, she works for the Human Resources Office for Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and she has taught ballet, tap, and jazz at Arizona Classical Ballet and Dancemakers. Last summer, she taught ballet and theater jazz for the Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania during their summer intensive. Her love for dance continues and she looks forward to the opportunity to teach and perform for Arizona Classical Ballet.

Jessica Weisner​