Class Schedule | Admission Process
Level placement is based on a combination of age, ability, and maturity.
Pre-K Dance (ages 3-4)
Independent of a caregiver, children learn body part/spacial awareness and following directions. This class is a great introduction to basic ballet vocabulary, posture, and alignment. Students enjoy story dances, dress-up time, moving as a group, and expressing themselves creatively with a variety of music.
Technique Classes
BALLET
Foundations of ballet alignment, basic positions, carriage of the arms, and class etiquette are introduced. Dancers learn about articulation of the feet and ankles, rotation of the hips (or “turn out”), skips, and jumps. As they progress, students explore challenging barre exercises, turns, leaps, slow balances (adagio exercises), and complex combinations.
Not Just Ballet
This class combines foundations of ballet technique and other modern and contemporary styles. This gives the students the opportunity to strengthen their techniques, explore and improvise.
MODERN DANCE
Contemporary, modern, and jazz dance styles are explored. Form and technique are drawn from dance pioneers Katherine Dunham, José Limón, Merce Cunningham, and Lester Horton (best known as Alvin Ailey’s teacher) among other contemporary choreographers. Students gain exposure to the Afro-Caribbean roots of some of these masters’ techniques.
CKDS COMPANY PROGRAM
Students selected for our Dance Companies study ballet and contemporary styles at an accelerated pace with numerous opportunities to perform in community and professional venues. Those invited to participate in our company program exemplify a high standard of technical advancement, artistic expression, maturity, and willingness to face challenges.
Temporarily On Pause
TODDLER DANCE / AGES 2.5 TO 3
Toddler Dance is for a child to participate in with a parent/caregiver. This lively class explores circle stretches, story dances, rhythm exercises, traveling steps, and some free-form improvisation. Children practice moving as a group, cooperating, and following directions. Excellent transition class to Pre-K Dance, in which students work independently.
B-BOY/B-GIRL
Breakdancing or b-boying/b-girling evolved as part of the hip hop culture during the 1970s. This high energy, intense, and strenuous class includes drills, top rocking/up rocking, footwork, power moves, cyphers, and battles. Members of the B-boy/B-girl Crew participate in performances regularly throughout the year.
Dance-Fit
Adults of all levels are welcome to join this class, which includes conditioning exercises and an eclectic dance sampling. Be prepared to sweat. (Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers)
TAP
Students begin with an introduction to basic tap steps, sounds, and techniques before exploring rhythms through call and response, and repetition. As they progress, dancers learn challenging technical footwork and rhythmic sophistication in choreography and improvisation.
HIP HOP
Students learn the foundations of hip hop dance, demonstrating how the style has evolved. Students build flexibility, endurance, balance, and confidence as they create choreography and work toward proficiency and ease in improvising with style.
Dance fusion
An upbeat sampler class that explores Hip Hop, Modern, Contemporary and Afro-jazz styles.
AFRICAN DANCE
These high-spirited classes focus on developing strength, articulation, and execution of complex rhythms through dance techniques from West Africa. The class is accompanied by a live drummer, which helps students understand the relationship between the drums and the dance.