Classes

We offer dance education through a fun and creative curriculum.

Placement:  Age, experience and individual progression determine placement for older students.  A class level that is too advanced for a student is not enjoyable, can be detrimental to long-term self-esteem and does not avail maximum opportunity to learn.  If we feel that a child's class will not best serve her/his needs, we will contact you and make appropriate changes.

What to take:  2 1/2 to 4  year-olds take a 1-hour combination ballet and tap class, once a week.  This class also includes creative movement.  Kindergartners and 1st Grade take a 1 1/2-hour combination ballet, tap and jazz class, once a week.  Also taking the 1 1/2-hour combination class, are 2nd & 3rd graders.  Beginning age 9, students may choose what types of dance they wish to take, each type of dance being a 45-minutes class, once a week (some of these individual classes are back-to-back).  Refer to the information below for class descriptions and ages.

Ballet:  Beginning age:  2 1/2.  Ballet is the basis for all dance training.  It develops poise, gracefulness, good posture and a sense of line and technique needed for all dance forms.  We draw from ballet methods with emphasis on correct technique and body placement.  We begin teaching at age 2 1/2 the correct terms, foot positions, arm positions and movements.

Tap:  Beginning age:  2 1/2.  Tap training develops a student's sense of rhythm, coordination and style.  Many types of styles will be covered during a child's years of training, from classical tap to "hoofin". 

Jazz:  Beginning age:  5.  Jazz offers a freedom in personal style and is very helpful to those interested in theatre dance and up-to-date dance forms to contemporary music.  We cover many styles and attitudes with our jazz.  This is also the perfect type of dance for drill team preparation.

Acrobatics:  Beginning age:  6.  (6 to 8 yr. olds must already be enrolled in the combination ballet/tap/jazz class or in company classes).  Our acrobatics is the floor exercise part of gymnastics and is slightly more dance-oriented and theatrical.  It is beneficial in areas of balance, flexibility, coordination and over-all body tone and strength.  We approach acrobatics in a personal progress-oriented fashion, from beginners to advanced, with emphasis on proper execution and safety.  We begin with basic tumbling and balance work and progress to aerials with advanced students, when they are ready.

Modern/Lyrical:  Beginning age:  7, 6 if in company. (7 and 8 yr. olds non-company members must already be enrolled in the combination ballet/tap/jazz class.  Using Graham and Horton exercises and technique, we cover a broad range of interpretive, abstract and lyrical dance forms.  This enhances strength, balance, self-expression and creativity in our dancers.  We will incorporate many techniques.

Pointe:  Beginning age:  10.  As students achieve leg and ankle strength and proper body placement through their ballet training, they may go "en pointes" (on the tips of their toes in hard, supportive shoes).  Proper physical development and technique must be in place to avoid possible injury.  You must have had previous ballet training, be currently enrolled in a ballet class and be approved by the director and teacher.

Hip Hop:  Beginning age 6 (6 to 8 yr. olds must already be enrolled in the combination ballet/tap/jazz class or in company classes).  Hip hop is bouncy, funky, fast, smooth, grounded and airborne, requiring complex use of the entire body.  Isolations and intricate movements are two key aspects of the style.  It is also trick-oriented with the use of break dancing, popping, locking and various gymnastic-type movements - and quite an aerobic workout.  The technique may not be as obvious as ballet, but make no mistake, hip hop is complex, precise and has a technique all its own – bring your tennies and your enthusiasm!