PRE-K DANCE / AGES 3 to 4

Introduction to basic Ballet vocabulary, posture, alignment, body part and spatial awareness, practice moving as a group, cooperating, following directions, and exposure to a wide variety of music. Students dance with props and costumes and have fun enacting stories through dance. Children are encouraged to express themselves creatively as well as to imitate movements and dance patterns.

TODDLER DANCE / AGES 2.5 to 3

Toddler Dance is for child along with parent/caregiver. The class explores circle stretches, story dances, rhythm exercises, traveling steps, & some free-form improvisation. Practice includes moving as a group, cooperating, and following directions. Excellent transition class to independent Pre-K Dance class.

BALLET 1, 2

Foundations of Ballet alignment, basic positions, and carriage of the arms are introduced. Dancers begin to learn about articulation of the feet and ankles. Story dances, skips, jumps, turns, and improvising within Ballet technique, make this a great introduction to the rich Ballet class experience. Dancers learn choreography and also improvise within Ballet technique. Ballet Class etiquette is learned and practiced. Placement in class is based on combination of age, ability, and maturity.

BALLET 3, 4, Teen/Adult

Students perform barre exercises, center floor, and traveling steps. Focus is on maintaining proper alignment, developing strength, endurance and increasing flexibility and extension. Dancers learn turns, jumps, slow balances (adagio exercises) and complex choreography. Ballet Class etiquette is reinforced and practiced. Placement in class is by evaluation and is based on combination of experience, ability, and maturity.

STYLES / AGES 5 to 7

A survey of Tap dance, Hip Hop, and Modern Dance. Class will include tap basics, choreography and improvisation. Hip Hop styles from old school, breaking, to new trends and Intro to Modern Dance forms.

CONTEMPORARY

Contemporary, Modern and Jazz dance styles are explored. Form and technique is drawn from dance pioneers Katherine Dunham, José Limón, Merce Cunningham, and Lester Horton (best known for being Alvin Ailey’s teacher) among other contemporary choreographers. The Afro Caribbean roots of some of these techniques are incorporated and explored in these classes.

HIP HOP

Hip-hop dance refers to social or choreographed dance styles primarily danced to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. This includes a wide range of styles notably popping and locking which were developed in the 1970s and more recently krumping and jerking. Students build strength, flexibility, and endurance. Dancers learn choreography, create choreography, and work towards proficiency and ease in improvising within the style.

B-BOY/B-GIRL

Breaking or b-boying/b-girling, commonly called breakdancing, is a style of dance that evolved as part of hip-hop culture during the 1970s. It is danced to both hip-hop and other genres of music that are often remixed to prolong the musical breaks. This class is Intense, strenuous, and athletic. B-Boy/B-Girl class includes drills, top rocking/up rocking, footwork, power moves, cyphers, and battles. Participants perform regularly throughout the year.

TAP

Classes begin with an introduction to basic Tap steps, sounds, and technique. Students explore rhythms through call and response and repetition. Tap classes develop technical footwork and rhythmic sophistication as students’ progress. Dancers learn choreography and practice improvising to jazz music. Prerequisite: students must be enrolled in either Pre-K 2 or Ballet 1.

DANCE WORKOUT

Dance Workout mixes Hip Hop, Jazz, and Afro-Caribbean Styles. Class includes strengthening exercises and stretching and is suitable for beginner through advanced students. Many adults in this class have studied dance sometime in their life and are returning to it with a new focus – enjoyment, exercise and stress relief!