The Benedict Manniegel Easter Workshop 2026 offers an intensive five-day course program focusing on classical ballet for different ages and skill levels. From an introduction to classical ballet to professional intensive training, children, teenagers, and young adults will find age-appropriate courses that promote technique and dance development as well as comprehensive knowledge of ballet.
This year’s workshop will take place from April 7 to 11, 2026.
Subjects offered: Classical ballet (for all levels) / pointe (from Level II) / character dance (Levels II & III) / dance history (theory, from Level II)
Levels:
PreBallet – trail course for 5-7 year olds
Level I – for 8-10 year olds with age-appropriate basic ballet skills & at least 1x/week training routine
Level II – for 10-12 year olds with age-appropriate ballet skills & at least 2x/week training routine
Level III – for 13-15 year olds with good ballet skills & at least 3x/week training routine
Level IV – for advanced dancers at training level with at least 5x/week training routine
Level I
Ages 8-10
Children with age-appropriate basic ballet skills and a training routine of at least 1-2 times per week can learn the basics of classical ballet intensively in this five-day workshop, developing their technique, body awareness, and enjoyment of dance in an age-appropriate setting.
Program: Daily (Tue-Sat) Classical ballet 90 min
Fee: €90 / BM and TSJ members: €70
Level II
Ages 10-12
Children with age-appropriate, good ballet skills and a training routine of at least twice a week will train intensively for five days in ballet with pointe technique and character dance and receive an initial introduction to dance history in order to gain theoretical knowledge about the development of ballet and different styles using illustrative examples.
Program: Daily (Tue-Sat) Classical ballet incl. pointe 105 min / Character dance 60 min / Dance history 60 min
Fee: €260 / BM members: €210
Level III
Ages 13-15
Young people with age-appropriate, very good ballet skills and a training routine of at least 3-4 times per week receive five days of intensive training in classical ballet, pointe work, and character dance, which deepens their understanding of dance and enables them to develop further at a demanding level. The program is complemented by exciting insights into dance history.
Program: Daily (Tue-Sat) Classical ballet 90 min / Pointe 60 min / Character dance 60 min / Dance history 60 min
Fee: €290 / BM members: €230
Level IV
Ages 16+
For advanced dancers at a professional training level, Level IV offers a challenging program of classical ballet and pointe masterclasses that further develops dance technique at the highest level and specifically prepares students for further training or stage work.
Program: Daily (Tue-Sat) Classical ballet 90 min / pointe 60 min / dance history (EN) 60 min
Fee: €230 / BM members: €170
PreBallet
Ages 5-7 (trial course)
Children aged 5–7 who would like to learn about ballet receive a playful introduction to classical ballet on two days (Thursday and Saturday). In an age-appropriate manner and with a focus on enjoying movement, they learn basic ballet positions, simple step sequences, and a sense of rhythm and body awareness.
Program: Thu & Sat, 45 min each
Fee: €30
Pedagogues
Christine Becker
PreBallet
Dance teacher with completed Vaganova Method basic training, graduating class at the BM Academy and dancer with the BM Dance Company.
Laurel Benedict-Manniegel
Level III: Classical Ballet and Pointe
Former principal dancer with the National Ballet Amsterdam and the Hamburg Ballet, with international guest performances. Founder and director of BM.
Cosima Borrer
Level I: Classical Ballet
Level II: Classical Ballet, Pointe, and Dance History
Level III: Dance History
Level IV: Dance History (EN)
Prix de Lausanne scholarship holder and former dancer at the Semperoper Dresden, Vienna State Ballet, and the Russian State Ballet Moscow. M.A. in ballet education in St. Petersburg. International teaching and professorship, including in the USA and Canada. Coach and jury member.
Natalia Hoffmann-Sitnikova
Level IV: Classical Ballet and Pointe
Trained at the Perm Ballet Academy. Principal dancer at the Perm Ballet Theater, Bonn Opera & Ballet Theater; soloist with the Dutch National Ballet (1997–2012). International guest performances; teaches at the HMTM (professor) and as an international guest lecturer worldwide.
Vladimir Stadnik
Level II: Character dance
Level III: Character dance
Trained at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg. Former director of Tulsa Ballet USA, former assistant director of NDI (New Mexico). Professor at Ball State University. International teaching experience, including at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Specialist in character dance.
Registration and Participation Conditions
The registration deadline is March 17, 2026 (extended until March 24!)
Payment is due in full by March 20, 2026.
The bank transfer details will be sent with the registration confirmation.
Cancellation policy
(also applies in case of illness)
Cancellations from March 21, 2026: 50% refund of the workshop fee
Cancellations from March 28, 2026: 25% refund of the workshop fee
Cancellations from March 31, 2026: 0%, i.e. no refund
There is no entitlement to a refund if the workshop is aborted.
If there are fewer than 5 registrations per level, the organizer reserves the right to cancel the workshop for this level. Participation fees already paid will be refunded 100%.
Photos and video recordings made by the team during the workshop may be published on the Benedict Manniegel Ballet channels for promotional purposes.
