Ballet Austin

“Anyone can be a part of Ballet Austin.” –Vicki Parsons, Director of The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness

Ballet Austin is busy doing much more than you might be aware of. It has long since grown beyond the performing arts studio and ballet academy for children and young adults. Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness has allowed the non-profit organization to expand its mission of encouraging health and well-being through movement to a much wider community in the city. The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness offers adult dance and fitness classes. Regardless of skill level or experience, they have a class for you.

In 2007, Ballet Austin moved to its current location in downtown Austin. Shortly after settling in, The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness was created and began offering adult classes. Wanting to meet the needs and interests of the community, they introduced a variety of classes including Barre and Pilates. In its first year, The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness jumped from 40 attendees to 400. Now around 10,000 adults come through to participate in a class each year.

For five dollars and zero strings attached, you can try any dance or fitness class, including Barre and Pilates. Every Barre class at The Butler Center for Dance & Fitness is taught by Emily McLaughlin, who was just voted Best Barre Instructor in Austin this year! When instructing a class, McLaughlin makes full use of the barre; all of her workouts have a strong emphasis on leg work! In addition, she often introduces mat work and resistance bands into her classes to strengthen and tone every muscle group.

Barre and Pilates share some similarities, however, the core disciplines are quite different. Many adults hesitate to try Pilates due to their lack of understanding or experience. (Or simply out of fear of the reformer equipment.) Newcomers frequently ask if they’re too out of shape or too old to participate in a Pilates class. However, Pilates was designed to be a low-impact workout that can be modified to suit any skill level, physical condition, or preexisting injury.

Get Fit! is a great way to explore all the different classes offered at The Butler Center for Dance and Fitness. Get Fit! is an open invite event that welcomes all members of the community to experience fitness and Pilates programs at no cost. In the next few weeks, registration for Get Fit! 2025 (on January 19th) will be available online along with a detailed class schedule.

80 percent of the adults who attend Get Fit! have never taken a class before, making it the perfect opportunity for newcomers (and those struggling with New Year’s resolutions) to experience movement in a supportive community. Why not join in, and invite your friends?

Ballet Austin is much more than just a dance and fitness facility. It’s a mission-driven non-profit, striving to bring health and well-being through dance and movement to all those in Austin. It has something for everyone and everybody.