When the school at the Minnesota Dance Theatre merged with Ballet Arts Minnesota in 2006, they created the Dance Institute, one of the most respected centers for dance education in the state. The institute offers classes for nearly every age and experience level, providing top-notch training for budding ballerinas, professional dancers, the recreational mover, and even those looking for body conditioning through Pilates-based workouts. The faculty members are stellar, and include artistic director Lise Houlton and school director Gloria Govrin (who both enjoyed successful careers with top ballet companies such as American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet), Lirena Branitski (Kiev State Theater of Opera and Ballet), and several current and former MDT members, among others. This is definitely the place to go if you want your turnout to turn out like it's supposed to.