Classes
Hip Hop
Free artisan street style of dance that incorporates African
dance, martial arts, gymnastics and other forms of dance.
The class provides fused training in old school and new
school footwork, floor work, popping and locking to the
syncopation of Hip-Hop and R&B music, all the while studying
to learn how to interpret each not and beat within your
body. Hip Hop is a high energy, upbeat class that is great
for boys and girls of all ages.
Acrobatics
Acro is a fun class where students learn skills of all kinds.
Our beginning classes explore rolls, handstands, cartwheels,
back bends, headstands and basic "double-tricks". Intermediate
students progress towards hand walks, front and back walkovers,
balance tricks and back-handsprings. All classes use progressions
to help students improve their flexibility and technique,
while learning just how fun it is to be upside down!
Tap/Jazz/Acro combo classes
This class can be an hour to an hour and a half depending
on the age of the students. It is a fast paced class that
really keeps the interest of the students. It allows them
to experience three styles of class without coming to the
studio three times a week. At each age and level of the
students they will progress through the basics of tap, jazz
and acrobatics. Starting with forward and backward rolls,
shuffles and flaps to leaps and turns. This class is recommended
for beginning through intermediate students who want a range
of dance in one class.
Lyrical Jazz
Lyrical dance draws from contemporary, ballet and jazz movement.
The focus of this type of dance is on fluidity of movement
and expressing the emotions of the music being danced to.
As well as teaching technique, choreography and improvisational
exercises are used to encourage self expression in her students.
It is recommended that students have at least two years
of either jazz or ballet before taking lyrical.
Tap Dance
A form of dance characterized by a tapping sound that is
created from metal plates that are attached to both the
ball and heel of the dancer's shoe. These metal plates,
when tapped against a hard surface, create a percussive
sound and as such the dancers are considered to be musicians.
Tap dancers make frequent use of syncopation. Another aspect
of tap dancing is improvisation. This can either be done
with music or without which is called a cappella dancing.
Common tap steps include the shuffle, shuffle ball change,
flap, flap heel, cramp roll, and maxi ford.
Jazz Dance
Jazz is a classification shared by a broad range of dance
styles. It emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional
dance. It is up beat with turns, leaps and tricks. Ballet
technique is an important aspect of jazz because many of
the same steps are used. Isolations are unique to jazz dance.
This is where one part of the body is used while all other
parts are still. Core strength and center control are important
for executing isolations and powerful movements while maintaining
balance. Unlike ballet, jazz is an anything goes style.
The only limits are the imagination of the choreographer
and dancer.
BALLET CLASS LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS:
FIRST STEPS
In First Steps we introduce the child to the world of movement
and music. In this class we focus on rhythm, timing, stories,
1st and 2nd positions of the feet and arms, stretching/strengthening
and aplomb/posture. Though most of the movement here is
a very elementary basis in training for ballet, it is recommended
all students take this for any dance training they may pursue.
We want to instill the love of taking class, dancing, moving
and the freedom it provides at this age. This is done with
familiar stories acted out in movement, movement games,
exploring movement through themes, concepts, very basic
steps and terminology, familiar songs and tunes a child
can relate to and an introduction to the studio and classroom
etiquette. Respect and teamwork and friendship are among
main developmental goals and technical goals include etiquette,
dress code adherence. Most studios call this CREATIVE MOVEMENT.
PRE-BALLET
In Pre-Ballet, we find tradition, etiquette, history and
the basic 1st through 3rd positions of the feet and arms.
The Barre is used with two hands facing the mirror only
to develop balance and back/hip alignment. We focus on the
demi-plie, beginning and preparatory port de bras, finishing
movements, battement tendu and battement jete exercises
as well as aplomb, musicality and phrasing (counting), flexibility,
alignment and rotation of the hips in and out. This class
is designed to give a student an introductory course into
classical ballet technique and the discipline it requires.
French terminology is used and defined for students. Teachers
and technique are slightly more demanding of students at
this age as compared to previous training. The uniform is
required and hair is to be kept in a bun at all times. Music
is almost exclusively piano with minor exceptions.
BALLET I-V/ TECH/ ADULT
In Ballet Technique classes we strive to introduce the fundamentals
of classical dance training including classical positions,
poses, port de bras, anatomy, musical understanding and
pathos. Here we break down and study vocabulary and establish
kinesthetic rules and concepts. We utilize classical Vaganova
theories as well as Balanchine Method in our teachings to
create uniformity in our dancers capable of swift, clean,
sharp lines, athletic and muscular dancers. One of our goals
is to produce a ballet student capable of pursuing a professional
career within a classical or contemporary company. Students
should have completed 1 year of PreBallet upon entering
this curriculum if possible, they must be age 7 or older.
Dress code is strictly enforced and classical music is used
predominately to develop the dancer's awareness of classical
phrasing and music. At each level of technique, the demands
and rigors of the technique and student will increase. As
they reach the intermediate level, the girls will be evaluated
for pointe (III), the men for mens class (II). Pas de Deux
studies will begin at the late Intermediate level (III-IV+).
Special attention to barre exercises, stretching and strengthening
and vocabulary are studied in the beginning years, complexity,
rhythm and timing in later years. Adagio, Petite Allegro/Batterie
and Grand Allegro are studied in each year, vocabulary appropriate
to the level of class. Advanced increases vocabulary, characterization,
musicality and execution understanding as well as artistic
development, personality and character creation. In adult
classes we strive to offer a program for 13 year olds and
older that provides them with classical training with a
focus on artistry, grace and exercise. Auditioning and career
opportunities discussed in tech classes including building
portfolios, resumes, headshots, reels etc.
POINTE I-III
In Pointe Technique, per invitation only, the student must
demonstrate a strong work ethic, above average understanding
of technique, excellent attitude, consistent execution of
uniform and attendance policies and have a strong commitment
to the study of ballet. She is required to be at least 11/12
years old, attend a minimum of (2) technique classes per
week in addition to the designated pointe class. As this
class is a privilege, it can be taken away if the student
begins to be continuously tardy, misses an unacceptable
number of classes or is falling behind. Pointe is not only
a very difficult technical study but quite physically dangerous
to the student who is not serious. Students will not perform
'en pointe' until the intermediate level. Advanced students
are required to have their pointe shoes on for all classes.
This class teaches dancers how to dance 'en pointe' or toe.
We will include in the study of pointe a breakdown of the
shoes anatomy, history, wear, tear and care of the products
and shoes, theoretical understanding of how pointe works,
proper fitting, padding, rules of getting up, maintaining
balance, coming off the shoes and stamina.
PREPOINTE
An elective for female dancers (or, males who wish to focus
on leg and feet strengthening), who are working towards
pointe. This is a non-level class and the curriculum and
syllabus will repeat year to year. This endeavors to make
the dancers transition form flat to pointe dancing comfortable
and easier solely focusing on barre alignment, feet and
ankle strength, turnout, calf strength, Achilles flexibility
and posture.
Recommended Prereq's:
- Ballet I: Request PreBallet first, but not required; 6 turning 7 years old minimum
- Ballet I: Request PreBallet first, but not required; 6 turning 7 years old minimum
- Ballet II: Completion of 1 + years and a solid base to beginning technique, summer encouraged
- Ballet III: Completion of 3-4 + years and a solid intermediate technique, summer encouraged
- Ballet IV: Completion of 4-5 + years and at a solid intermediate level, summer required
- Ballet V: Completion of 3, en pointe, going to summer intensives or, striving to take open classes
- Adult I/II: None; moves quickly though
- Pointe: Per invite only and must maintain 2+ ballet classes of similar levels
- Mens: Level II+, 10 years old, and taking one other ballet class
- Variations/Pas: Level III+ for males, Pointe II for females and at least 2 other tech classes
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