Vienna · 1st District
A house for classical ballet,in the Vaganova tradition
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About ARTIS
Where the world's stages
come to teach
ARTIS was founded by dancers from the world's great theatres — the Mariinsky, La Scala, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Bayerisches Staatsballett. We came home to Vienna to open the studio we had once hoped to find ourselves: a place of high standards and close attention, where ballet is taught properly from the beginning.
Where every correction has a reason
Vaganova-trained faculty
Every teacher trained at the Vaganova Academy in Saint Petersburg. We do not improvise pedagogy — we pass on what was passed to us, in the order it was given.
Soloists, not just teachers
Active and former soloists of the Mariinsky, the Wiener Staatsoper, and the Bayerisches Staatsballett. The faculty still perform on the world’s stages — and bring that craft to every barre.
Classes kept small
Adults train in groups of at most eight, children of eight to ten — comfortable enough to focus, small enough that every correction is heard.
First the method.Then the art.
What We Offer
Ballet for Everyone
For Adults
Beginners
Foundations of the Vaganova method — the five positions, posture, port de bras. Small groups, taught by faculty who train professional dancers.
For Adults
Experienced
Full barre and centre work in the Vaganova method, with focus on musicality, coordination, and artistry. For dancers with prior training.
For Children
Young Dancers
Age-appropriate Vaganova training, from age three through pre-professional pointe preparation. Classes are built to instil a love of dance from the earliest years, and discipline and musicality grow with it. The first class is credited towards the membership.
Explore memberships and classes
Private Coaching
One-on-one with the faculty
Personal coaching shaped around your goals — preparation for an academy audition, returning to the barre after years away, or simply your own pace
The Artis Team
Founder · Artistic Director
Alexandra Somova
Six seasons with the Mariinsky Ballet formed the first major chapter of Alexandra Somova’s stage career, with performances and tours across the United States, Italy, Germany, Brazil and China. Her training began at the Vaganova Academy in Saint Petersburg under Professor Ludmila Kovaleva. In Munich, at the Bayerisches Staatsballett, her repertoire expanded through works by Balanchine, Wheeldon, Neumeier and McGregor. She later co-founded ARTIS in Vienna and serves as its artistic director.
A few names we’re proud to work with
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The full weekly schedule lives in the app
Voices
Shared by the people
unedited, unpolished, real.
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Before you reserve
Do I need any experience to start?
Not at all. We have a track for absolute beginners that starts from the very basics — the five positions, posture, port de bras — and builds from there. The full list of adult and children’s levels is in the Classes section above.
What makes ARTIS different from other ballet schools in Vienna?
It is a boutique studio rather than a large school: adults train in groups of at most eight, children in groups of eight to ten, and every class — including the three-year-olds’ — is taught by a professionally trained dancer, not by an assistant. The faculty are soloists of the Mariinsky Ballet, the Wiener Staatsoper and the Bayerisches Staatsballett, and the artistic director also teaches one to one. The programme includes classes you will not find in every school: Floor-Barre — ballet done lying on a mat, not a fitness barre class, which ARTIS was the first in Vienna to put on the open timetable of a studio rather than a professional school — a course for adults with no experience at all, adult pointe, and gentle classes for dancers over 50.
What should I wear to my first class?
Comfortable fitted clothing — leggings and a fitted top — with socks. If you decide to continue, soft ballet shoes and a leotard are recommended. We are happy to advise on where to buy them in Vienna.
How is a class structured?
Every class follows the Vaganova method: warm-up, barre, centre, and — depending on level — allegro and pointe. Class durations vary by level and are listed with each class above.
Can I take a trial class?
Adults: yes — start with any single class from the schedule; the membership comes later, if you want one, and that first class is then credited towards the first month. Children: the same rule — the trial class is arranged through the studio and credited towards the first month if your child continues.
What age groups do you teach?
ARTIS is a ballet school for children and adults alike: children from age three to fourteen, in groups by age, and adults of every age — including gentle classes well suited to those over 50. Adults are grouped by experience. Specific groups and times are in the Classes section above.
How do I reserve a class?
Reservations are made through our online system — by single class or by monthly membership. Private coaching is arranged by appointment, as a single lesson or a pack of ten.
Where is the studio?
The ballet studio is at Rockhgasse 1 in Vienna’s 1st district (Innere Stadt), two minutes from U-Bahn Herrengasse and Schottentor. Full addresses, opening hours, and directions for each location are listed at the bottom of the page.
Who teaches at ARTIS?
Our faculty are professional ballet dancers — soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre, the Wiener Staatsoper, and the Bayerisches Staatsballett. They bring world-stage experience into every class.
In which languages are classes taught?
Classes are taught in English, German and Russian. The Vaganova vocabulary is French — and is the same in any room.
Still have questions?