OVERVIEW OF CLASSES
Ballet introduces and develops the creative discipline of classical dance. It is the foundation of all dance forms and is strongly recommended to all students. Class begins with exercise at the barre for alignment, flexibility, and coordination, then moves center to the basic steps and patterns of dance. We teach Cecchetti method of ballet technique in traditional language (French) with classical music. The study of traditional ballets with their wonderful fairy-tale stories is also included in our dance program. Professional ballet dancers are renown for being the most physically fit people in the world. Their abilities of strength, endurance, and agility far outweigh that of any professional football star. Ballet class is now a staple of serious athletes, be they Olympic gymnasts, skaters or game sports. Is it any wonder why dance teachers continually encourage students to study ballet? Ballet is hard work but the ability and grace, the proper posture, confidence and discipline its study creates is more then worth the effort.
Pointe class is learning to dance on your toes. No child will be put on pointe until they are physically ready no matter how much they want to go on pointe or how many of their friends are on pointe. Regular attendance is expected in class as well as the reading of our "Going on Pointe" publication. First year pointe students should not purchase pointe shoes until speaking with their instructor. Also,ribbons should not be sewn on pointe shoes until the fit of the shoe is checked by instructor. If fit is not correct, shoes can not be worn in class.
Tap features technical warm-up, tap movements through space, graded learning of tap steps. If you have a good sense of rhythm and timing and love to perform- you'll love tap! Tap moves come from your feet and ankles and the rest of your body compliments the actions and sounds made by your feet. Tapping is a wonderful and fun way to exercise and we offer tap class for adults as well. Great Fun!
For tap class you will need to purchase special shoes with toe and hell taps. You will keep your knees and ankles flexible while you try to produce a clear and very crisp sounds with the taps. Tap sequences in class will start simply with basic slaps and taps and as you progress, the many marvelous sound will be yours! Practice outside class with special tape mat or make one out of a piece of plywood.
Jazz features technical warm-up, center isolations, floor and/or barre stretch, dance combinations. Previous ballet training strongly recommended. The essence of jazz is personal style and expression. It is a fusion of many types of dance and countless styles of movement. It thrives passing through fad after fad and it is perhaps the soul of American movement. "Jazz dancing" is what you see in most pop videos and musicals. Our students love jazz because it is upbeat and offers them an outlet for popular and unique expression.
Exercises are taught to popular movement in a logical order to improve your suppleness and strength. Isolation exercises teach you how to move each body part separately and then you progress to stylized walks, leaps and turns. Combinations of steps in various styles come at the end of class.
The Dancing School offers four styles of jazz dancing: Jazz (traditional American), Street Funk (hip hop, funky, athletic in style), Video (a mixture of traditional and funky) and Musical Theater (Broadway jazz is more flamboyant and polished. Students must audition for these classes and must have a background in ballet and traditional jazz technique).
Tumble Funk features warm-up stretch and Funky-Footwork set to popular music is the beginning motivation for this class. Gymnastic floor tumbling including cartwheels, backbends, rolls, handstands, walk over's are some of the skills that will be taught.
Hip Hop features classes that begin with physical work-out to popular music and continues with learning the latest "hip hop" steps.
Kinder-dance encourages children to express their dance potential in a positive and happy environment, with praise for each child. Combining forms of dance provides an excellent and interesting introduction for children. Ballet, Tap, and Jazz combination classes. Three and four year old class structure for Kinderdance levels 1 & 2 is essentially the same, with content and music based on appropriate developmental skills for each class and specific age. Each class begins in a circle for attendance and a brief "sharing" time. After an introduction song the class continues with a center warm- up stretch that includes all the major muscle groups as well as balance and correct body placement. The second session of class develops movement skills that form the basis for all ballet steps that travel. The third section of class is based on different monthly objectives or special songs and dances. The final portion of class is devoted to developing creative expression, and just plain fun, dance games or stunts. Kinderdance classes are 45 minutes in length.
