Young Dancer Program Ages 3 – 6 Years
BTC (Ballet, Tap and Creative Movement) is a class designed specifically for 3 and 4 year olds. Students will learn basic ballet technique and vocabulary; basic tumbling and basic tap terminology and technique in a nurturing environment. Creative movement games and activities will be incorporated to strengthen the understanding of technique and terminology, all while helping to develop fine and gross motor skills.
BT (Ballet & Tap) is a class designed specifically for 5 year olds. Students will learn proper ballet technique and vocabulary and tap fundamentals. Creative movement activities are also used to support technical training and vocabulary. This class is structured to teach interpersonal skills and group dynamics while fostering self-confidence.
BTJ (Ballet, Tap & Jazz) is a class designed specifically for 6 year olds. Students will learn ballet technique, tap fundamentals and jazz dance basics. This class is structured to give students a well-rounded dance education and will prepare them for all of our level 1 technique classes.
YDP Acrobatics is a class designed for 5-7 year olds. Class will focus on agility, coordination, flexibility and balance. Class activities will include floor tumbling activities and acro balances.
YDP Hip-Hop is a class designed for 5-7 year olds. Class focuses on the fundamentals of hip-hop including popping, locking and break dancing. Dancers will start with a warm-up in the center, progress through isolations and continue by working on coordination and technique. Teachers focus on incorporating rhythmic qualities of music into the dancers’ body as well as learning to "follow the leader.” The emphasis is on finding a comfort zone for the dancer and teachers encourage individuality and confidence in movement.
Boys Hip-Hop is a class designed for 5-8 year olds. Hip-Hop technique focuses on a combination of three main elements in hip hop dancing, popping, locking, and break dancing. Class begins with a warm-up in the center, progresses through isolations and ends with a combination. Teachers focus on incorporating rhythmic qualities of music into the dancers’ body as well as learning to "follow the leader.” The emphasis is on finding a comfort zone for the dancer and teachers encourage individuality and confidence in movement. In addition, our boys hip-hop class is designed to meet the high energy needs of the young male dancer.
Boys Tap is a class designed for 5-8 year olds interested in learning the history, musicality and fundamentals of tap dance. Tap technique is about making music and understanding it. Dancers will be introduced to music theory and gain an understanding of rhythms, tempo and counting In addition, dancers will be exposed to tap improvisation, which is an important component of becoming a well rounded percussive dancer. Faculty also make time to share the history of this American art form by sharing dances of legendary tap artists and teaching students the stories of the “old dances” that are part of the rich history of the art of tap dancing.
Technique Classes Ages 7 and up
Ballet technique classes are the foundation for a dancer. Ballet focuses on developing a solid ballet technique with emphasis on understanding correct body placement, proper use of turn out, coordination of the upper body (epaulement), and use of arms (port de bras). Careful explanations of exercises and theory help students to use the ballet vocabulary in a simple, practical way. Exercises at the barre prepare for more complicated rhythms and combinations in the center.
Pointe technique takes the practices of ballet technique and places them en pointe. Students must have permission of the instructor to be registered for any pointe class. Students must have had previous ballet training and be a minimum of 12 years old to be considered for placement in these classes.
Tap technique is about making music and understanding it. Dancers will learn music theory in all levels of training and gain an understanding of rhythms, tempo and counting as well as an understanding of note values in different time signatures. As the dancer increases their vocabulary and mastery of the technique, dynamics such as accenting and shading are introduced. Exposing students to tap improvisation is an important component of becoming a well rounded percussive dancer. Faculty also make time to share the history of this American art form by sharing dances of legendary tap artists and teaching students the stories of the “old dances” that are part of the rich history of the art of tap dancing.
Jazz technique will focus on elements of weight, rhythm, and sharp movement qualities. These classes begin with a center floor warm-up, continue with isolations, and end with across the floor exercises and contemporary combinations. These classes will touch upon the many styles of jazz dance including: classic jazz, broadway jazz, contemporary jazz and commercial jazz.
Modern technique is the study of various practices that work with balance, direction and momentum, release of the joints, and individual expression. These classes are designed to prepare the dancer to move fully through space, to use personal expression, and to develop an awareness of self. Many classical techniques will be explored and introduced including Limon, Horton, Graham and Cunningham techniques.
Contemporary technique strengthens the body and focuses on interpretation and musicality. Exercises include ballet and jazz positions, stretching, coordination movements, turns, jumps, and floor work. Freeing and joyful, the dance style takes its inspiration and moods directly from the music, bringing its roots and emotions into the choreographed movements. Faculty strive to help students find more personal expression in their dancing and a freedom in their movement. Students enrolled in this class must be enrolled in both ballet and jazz classes to be eligible.
Hip-Hop class focuses on a combination of three main elements in hip hop dancing, popping, locking, and break dancing. Class begins with a warm-up in the center, progresses through isolations and end with a combination. Teachers focus on incorporating rhythmic qualities of music into the dancers’ body as well as learning to "follow the leader"; as there is no real defined technique for hip hop dancing. The emphasis is on finding a comfort zone for the dancer and teachers encourage individuality and confidence in movement. Dancers enrolled in hip-hop classes are encouraged to train in jazz dance to become a well-rounded jazz/hip-hop dancer.
Acrobatics class will focus on agility, coordination and balance. Class activities will include floor tumbling, acrobalance & handstands. This class is great for those who already have a good level of general fitness but want to work on building solid core strength. The class will introduce you to the very basics (like stretching and floor tumbling) leaving you the freedom to build on your newfound skills as you choose. Acrobatics is a great way to get super fit and toned. We are Acrobatic Arts Certified.
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance students' technique by focussing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. It is a unique training system using ballet-technique specific exercises to train skill acquisition in a graded and progressive manner from junior through to advanced levels. PBT helps teachers around the world prepare their students to receive the strength they need to achieve their personal best.
The program helps with injury prevention and rehabilitation and enhances the ability of athletes to perform at their best. It can be difficult for students to feel which muscles initiate the correct alignment in training. However, with the use of an exercise ball, the students gain a great sense of posture and weight-placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group working throughout each exercise, which then stays with them when whilst performing in dance or their chosen field of sport
PBT focuses on core strength, weight placement and alignment of the body with a gradual approach of carefully designed exercises and repetitions of these exercises that trigger their muscle memory. The program is designed with safe dance methodology to promote a long, healthy career and is now being taught by over 4000+ certified teachers worldwide and over 3500 schools globally have added PBT classes in their curriculum for students.
PBT is not only a program to improve technique in ballet dancers, it is now being appreciated and incorporated in training by all forms of dancers, athletes, physiotherapists and even footballers!
Specialty Classes
Latin Fusion dance class includes a wide range of dances originating in Latin America, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Examples include the Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Samba, Salsa and Merengue. This class allows you to be a part of the Latin explosion in today's music and culture! Dancers will learn latin ballroom basics and fuse these basics with jazz dance technique for a fun, stylized experience.
Musical Theatre is a form of theatrical dancing that combines the songs of Broadway musicals with the movement of classic jazz styles. This high-energy class will prepare any dancer for the bright lights of Broadway. Musical theatre dancing is less of a particular style, and more of a description of dancing that is rooted in the diverse history of Broadway musicals. Relying heavily on a knowledge of ballet, tap, and jazz, musical theater dancers are, first and foremost, actors and place a high focus on musical interpretation.
Heels class utilizes high heeled character shoes and combines styles of dance like classical jazz, street jazz, broadway jazz, hip hop or commercial dance. Heels class will focus on technique as well as learning dance combinations in heels.
Contemporary Flow class focuses mainly on the dancer's relationship with the ground, utilizing simple movement patterns, which explore cohesion and expansion and trains the body to move in and out of the floor efficiently and with speed and control. This is a contemporary floor work class. Dancers should wear and pack extra clothing that protects their shoulders and knees. Dancers should carry knee pads in their dance bags.
Contemporary Jazz Fusion class is contemporary dance that combines different dance styles to create a new aesthetic. Movement can be inspired by improvisation and an approach to dancing that does not conform to any particular defined dance styles. Finding your voice through movement and developing a personal style is encouraged and nurtured.