Our History
Founded in 1994, BJC was born with the purpose of offering professional dance training that combines technique, discipline, and passion, within a humane, safe, and stimulating environment.
Over more than three decades, our School has established itself as a national benchmark in dance education, training generations of dancers with a holistic vision of the art.
Our educational approach is multidisciplinary, incorporating ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and acrotelas, with the goal of developing versatile, strong, and expressive performers.
Classical ballet is the core of our teaching, based on the Vaganova methodology—a Russian training system that balances strength, musicality, coordination, and expressiveness, promoting technical and artistic mastery through a deep understanding of the body and movement.
At BJC, we understand dance as a path to personal and artistic growth. Our teaching combines challenge and empathy, fostering discipline, respect, resilience, and enjoyment.
We help each student reach their full potential in an environment of trust, inclusion, and community, where every achievement, large or small, is celebrated as part of a transformative process. Today, more than 30 years later, we remain true to our purpose: to train dancers with a high technical and human level who live, grow, and dream of dance in community.
Our Essence
More than a school, we are an artistic tribe that inspires, supports, and grows together. We believe in a disciplined, joyful, and human dance that develops not only dancers but also whole, resilient, and happy people. In every class, every rehearsal, and every performance, we promote a love of art, perseverance, and the connection between body, mind, and emotion.
Our Values
At BJC, our values are at the heart of everything we do:
Safety — We guarantee a safe physical and emotional environment.
Excellence — We strive for constant improvement, with technical and human rigor.
Passion — Each step is taught and experienced with enthusiasm and dedication.
Growth — We support the holistic development of each student.
Respect — We value diversity and empathy in every interaction.
Discipline — We foster commitment and responsibility.
Enjoyment — Dance is also joy, freedom, and celebration.
Trust — We build strong bonds between students, parents, and teachers.
Fun — Learning is also about laughing, sharing, and enjoying the process.
Community — We grow together, as a large artistic family.
Integrity and Inclusion — We teach through values, with openness and equity.
Manifesto
“At our BJC School, we believe that reaching the highest level of dance requires technique and discipline. But we also know that true value lies in the journey, in the process experienced with passion for the art.
Training dancers is much more than teaching steps; it’s accompanying them on a journey of personal growth, friendship, and effort. Here, each child finds a safe space to discover and strive, surrounded by a tribe that supports, inspires, and walks with united excellence toward their dreams.
Because at BJC, dance is not just learned; it’s lived, felt, and shared in community.”
BJC Elite Competition Team
Elite Team BJC is more than a competition team; it’s a program designed for dancers who want to take their training to the highest level. More than a competitive group, it’s a family of artists committed to excellence, discipline, and teamwork, where each member learns to surpass their own limits with passion and purpose.
Through intensive technical training, stage practice, and the experience of national and international competitions, our students develop physical strength, emotional maturity, and leadership, proudly representing BJC’s values: discipline, respect, resilience, camaraderie, and joy. Being part of the BJC Elite Team means growing up in an environment that fosters excellence, but also well-being, empathy, and unity.
Because at BJC we believe that the real competition isn’t between dancers, but rather becoming a better version of themselves every day.
Our Teachers
Our Director
Viviana Clare
Executive Director – BJC Dance School / National Ballet Company of Costa Rica / Spectalium
Viviana Clare began her classical ballet studies at the age of five, training continuously under the guidance of distinguished teachers. She trained as a dancer using the Vaganova methodology, guided by Canadian teacher Fury Darlington, and later delved deeper into Cuban technique, thus consolidating a solid and versatile foundation in her artistic training.
In 2000, she was admitted to the National Ballet School of Cuba, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, where she pursued professional ballet studies under the direction of renowned teacher Ramona de Saá. During her stay, she also specialized in ballet methodology and teaching, strengthening her pedagogical profile..
At the age of 14, she began working as a ballet teacher, a career she continues to this day with the same passion and excellence. In 2002, she was hired by Ballet West in Montreal, Canada, where she performed as a professional dancer.
In 2016, she founded the BJC Dance School, an institution that promotes the comprehensive training of dancers through technique, discipline, and personal development. Under her leadership, BJC has established itself as a space where dance is experienced with passion, purpose, and community.
Viviana holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Costa Rica and completed an internship in Finance at Concordia University (Canada). She is also a certified teacher in Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT), Level 3, a program internationally recognized for its focus on strength, alignment, and body awareness applied to classical dance. She currently serves as Executive Director of BJC Dance School, the National Ballet of Costa Rica, and the artistic production company Spectalium, where she promotes projects with a cultural and social impact, with the aim of bringing art to every corner of the country.