Course Offerings - Begining Dance Classes

Elementary Dance Classes – Level 1/Introductory Beginning Classes and Level 2 Elementary for ages 7 through 9 Ballet, Tap & Jazz, Beginning Level 1, age 7 90 minutes Level 1 Beginning classes introduce the growing dancer to more specific techniques and skills for the various dance disciplines but still with a shorter class format. Emphasis is placed on developing correct alignment and learning basic terminology and introductory steps. These classes provide more structure with a higher skill level than in the Pre-Ballet/Tap class. (Level 1 is a combination class designed to provide students with a foundation in various dance disciplines. Students must take all components of Level 1.) Ballet, Tap & Jazz, Level 2, ages 7 ½-8 2 hours Level 2 classes are longer in duration and aim to develop and strengthen technique in each dance form. These classes may be taken separately, but we recommend that students continue to take ballet as it server as the foundation for developing strength and alignment in jazz. Ballet Level 2 is 50 minutes in duration, Jazz Level 2 is 50 minutes in duration, and Tap Level 2 is 30 minutes in duration. These classes are offered on the same evening with 10 minute breaks after ballet and jazz so that students taking all classes have a break in between classes. Students may opt to take ballet only or ballet, jazz, and tap.

Course Offerings - Dance, Movement & Tumbling for Younger Children

Dance, Movement & Tumbling for the Younger Child The following classes support your child’s natural curiosity for movement and exploration while fostering creativity and self-esteem. Young children will develop new skills in a nurturing environment with our caring instructors. Creative Dance, ages 3-4, and 4-5 50 minutes A playful introduction to dance through music and motion. Creative Dance begins with circle time, warm-up & stretching. Children explore movement concepts of tempo, space, levels and energy. All young children delight in gliding, sliding, galloping, leaping and skipping. Creative Dance for ages 4-5 will also include a segment of introductory tap and counting skills. Kindergym, ages 3-4, & age 4 ½-5 50 minutes A great start for the active child! Our young tumblers are introduced to basic tumbling skills in a safe and fun setting. Children will develop strength and coordination through log rolls, egg rolls, forward & backward rolls and basic loco-motor skills. Children will develop balancing skills and core strength. Focus is also given to teaching children how to take turns and foster self-confidence. Each child will receive his/her own personal chart for you to record the progress and skills learnedthroughout the semester through our “Fun & Fit” recreational gymnastics curriculum. Pre-Ballet, Tap ages 5 ½ to6 ½ 1 hour Emphasis in this combination class is on developing movement and musicality while introducing students to positions of feet and arms in classical ballet. Students continue to build upon existing skills and movement concepts and develop a variety of movement patterns. Elementary tap skills are introduced to enable students to develop rhythmic awareness and musicality.

Course Offerings - Classical Ballet

Classical Ballet Students receive training in the Russian/Vaganova style of classical ballet. Levels 3 and higher allow students to take 2-4 classes per week. A placement class or permission of the Director is required for admission to Levels 3 and higher. Ballet Level 3 Elementary, ages 8+ 1 hour class Classes are comprised of barre work, floor stretches and center work. Students continue to develop correct alignment which encourages correct muscle usage to further strengthen technique and develop a fuller movement vocabulary in classical ballet. Students may opt to take 2 classes per week. Ballet Level 4, High Elementary 1 hour class, 2 days per week Students further develop correct technique, strength and flexibility through multiple classes. Barre and center work are now more complex. Classes focus on building the dancers’ knowledge of adagio, petit allegro, and grande allegro. Dancers at this level may begin pointe work, providing they have acquired proper conditioning, placement and strength. A placement/audition class is required for this level. Ballet Level 5, High Intermediate & Ballet 6/7 Advanced 1 ½ hour class, 3+days per week Levels 5 & higher require 3 or more days per week of training in addition to pointe classes. Fluent knowledge required in all ballet elements of barre, adagio, petit allegro, grande allegro and strong pointe work. A placement/audition class is required for these levels. Ballet Technique for Teens/Adults 1 hour class A one hour technique class with emphasis on alignment, proper muscle usage and development of fluid movement and maintaining flexibility. The pace in these classes are geared to the level of the group in the class, but slow enough for beginners to learn in a comfortable environment while providing a good workout for the more experienced adult dancer. Adult ballet classes are usually offered in the spring semester.