Class Offerings!
Ballet | Tap | Jazz | Hip Hop/Jazz Funk | Contemporary | Ballet/Tap Combo | Gym Pointe | Creativity Skills | Acro
---What is BALLET?
Ballet combines detailed technique with grace and artistry to tell a story or express an emotion. Our ballet classes include barre exercises, across-the-floor learning, and center floor combinations, pulling from various methods of ballet. Younger dancers will also participate in creative play, story times, and ballet-based games and activities designed to reinforce class concepts.
What we Offer: Pre-Ballet (ages 2.5-5), Beginner 1 Ballet (ages 5-7), Beginner 2 Ballet (ages 8-10), Intermediate Ballet (ages 11-13), High School Ballet (ages 14+), Team Program Classes
---What is TAP?
Tap dance calls on dancers to use their feet as an instrument, creating rhythms and patterns using metal attached to the bottom of the shoe. With roots as a form of communication and expression by enslaved Africans, this style infuses Black and European influences to create the intricate and energetic style of dance we know today! Our dancers will learn age/level appropriate tap vocabulary and history along with how to count music and strengthen their legs, ankles, and feet. Like many of our classes, our younger levels with incorporate games and creative activities to reinforce class concepts!
What we Offer: Pre-Tap (ages 2.5-5), Beginner 1 Tap (ages 5-7), Beginner 2 Tap (ages 8-10), Intermediate Tap (11-14+) Team Program Classes
---What is JAZZ?
Jazz dance is an energetic and technical form of dance that can be done in many different styles, from classic and Broadway style jazz (think isolations and character!) through commercial jazz and jazz funk (think strong and sassy!). Jazz dance is rooted in Latin and African dance forms and can look slightly different depending on the music and style of the piece. In our classes, we will work on strength, flexibility, and performance using group stretches/warm-ups, across-the-floor and center floor technique exercises, and dance combinations!
What we Offer: Beginner 1 Jazz (ages 5-7), Beginner 2 Jazz (ages 8-10), Intermediate Jazz (ages 11-13), High School Jazz (ages 14+), Team Program Classes
---What is HIP HOP?
Hip Hop dance is a fun and high energy dance form that makes up one of the four main elements of hip hop culture (DJing, MCing, Breaking [dance], and Graffiti). Hip Hop has its beginnings in 1970s Bronx as a new art form and lifestyle born out of both struggle and joy. Hip Hop dance in particular, is a confluence of African and Latin dance. Our classes include strength training, lessons on the fundamentals of hip hop dance, and dance combinations. Our dances will also include elements of Jazz Funk, a form of jazz dance that is often mixed with hip hop in commercial dance (i.e., the dancing you see in mainstream media like movies, music videos, and TV shows).
What we Offer: Beginner 1 Hip Hop (ages 5-7), Beginner 2 Hip Hop (ages 8-10), Intermediate Hip Hop/Jazz Funk (ages 11-13), High School Hip Hop (ages 14+), Team Program Classes
---What is CONTEMPORARY?
Contemporary is a more recent form of dance popularized by dance shows such as So You Think You Can Dance. A hybrid form of dance, contemporary is most closely linked to modern dance—a form of dance that uses floorwork, improvisation, and movement that comes from the core such as releases and contractions—in style and technique. However, while modern dance has a unique and specific technique, contemporary breaks through restraints, using some modern technique as well as different elements of ballet, jazz, and hip-hop techniques. The emphasis in this form of dance is on storytelling and expressing emotions. Essentially, any movement that allows the performer(s) to best tell their story is fair! Our classes include an active stretch/warm-up based in ballet and jazz technique along with lessons, dance combinations, and class activities centered on storytelling and improvisation.
What we Offer: Beginner 2 Contemporary (ages 8-10, Intermediate Contemporary (ages 11-13), High School Contemporary (ages 14+) Team Program Classes
---What is BALLET/TAP COMBO?
Designed for our tiniest dancers, our ballet/tap combo classes include a half hour of each dance form. We will focus on the basics of both tap and ballet along with creative play and other activities designed to practice motor skills and reinforce class concepts. See: Ballet or Tap for specifics of each style of dance
What we Offer: Toddler Ballet/Tap Combo (ages 2.5-4), Pre Ballet Tap Combo (ages 3-5).
---What is POINTE?
Pointe class is the next level for longtime ballet students, in which they learn to perform ballet technique on the tips of their toes in special pointe shoes. For safety reasons, pointe dancers must be a minimum of 12 years old with at least five years of ballet training. They also must pass a pointe readiness evaluation with our pointe teacher.
---What is CREATIVITY SKILLS?
At its heart, dance is about creativity. Creativity is woven into all forms of dance from the creation to the execution of choreography, and this class is made specifically for honing the skills needed to perform, create, and understand dance as a form of movement-based storytelling. Class lessons include improvisation technique, opportunities to choreograph their own pieces with guidance, writing prompts, and a wide range of other activities designed to explore movement and find inspiration for their dancing. Though jazz and contemporary dance are most often used as a vehicle for this exploration, students are welcome to use any type of movement in their own work.
---What is ACRO?
Acrobatic dance combines dance technique and artistry with gymnastic-like skills, such as tumbling, balancing, and flexibility tricks. Our dancers will go through a structured program of levels to build on skills in a safe manner.
What we Offer: Toddler Tumble (ages 2.5-5), all other classes are leveled based on skills.