Dance courses offered by the studio may be taken by students aged three to adult and are available on all levels from beginning to advanced. Students will be placed into appropriate classes based on age, ability and previous training at the discretion of the faculty.

 

pre-k ballet/tap
The class will develop listening skills as well as general body awareness and coordination. Principles such as discipline, concentration, poise, grace and confidence will be introduced. Basic ballet moves and tap steps will be introduced.
This class is offered to ages 3-5 years only.

ballet
“Ballet” is the fundamental, technical form from which all other dance styles stem from. The most classic and often serious dance form, Ballet teaches young dancers rudimentary terms and techniques, and is monumentally important for all dancers to establish and maintain proper form. The is a required class for all dance team members.
Several levels are offered for ages 5 years to adult.

pre-pointe
Students must take this class to progress to pointe. Exercises and combinations in the first half of the year are practiced to strengthen the feet, ankles and body in anticipation of starting on pointe. During the second half of the year students begin learning the early fundamentals of dancing on pointe. Students enrolled at the discretion of the teacher.
This class is offered for ages 11 years and up.

pointe
“Pointe” is the most advanced form of Ballet and can therefore only be taught to and performed by the most seasoned dancers. The distinguishing characteristic of this style is that the dancers perform all of the steps completely on the top of their toes, which can be very demanding for the performer, but appears lovely and graceful from the audience.
Students enrolled at the discretion of the teacher.

jazz
The “Jazz” dance style encompasses a wide variety of other styles. Not to be confused with the musical genre of Jazz, this style of dance is not always performed to “Jazz” music, and can often use popular music of today. Combining the basic techniques of ballet with the more modern steps found in pop and Broadway, Jazz is an upbeat, stylish and versatile dance form. Students will work on strengthening and conditioning as well as learning the latest dance moves.
This class is offered to students 7 years and up.

tap
“Tap” is the percussive style of dance. Special shoes are worn by tap dancers to create rhythms by tapping on the floor. While balance and grace still crucial to this art form, the fundamental characteristic of “Tap” is the sound it creates. There are different styles of this dance, from the more classical form associated with the Rockettes, to a more modern, aggressive style called “hoofing”. Tap classes teach students an overall comprehension of rhythm, and greatly enhance their coordination. Notable dancers of this style include Fred Astaire, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Gene Kelley, Sammy Davis Jr. and Ann Miller.

musical theater
This class is designed to teach Broadway-style jazz and choreography. Students will be able to duplicate styles of choreographers like Bob Fosse, Michael Bennett, Jerome Robbins and more. We will teach dancers how to emote while dancing; to tell a story rather than doing a mirror dance.
This class is offered to students 11 years and older.

hip hop
Any type of dance that is done to modern, popular music could be considered Hip Hop. The style is derived from an urban “street” type of movement and generally performed to funky, upbeat music heard on MTV and today’s radio. The style is known for fast, athletic movements and lots of popping and jolting as opposed to the fluid, balletic types of dance. Hip Hop is extremely popular today and can be seen virtually everywhere, from the clubs to the streets to artists in concert.
This class is offered to students ages 6 to adult.

tumbling
This style uses many of the key ingredients of floor gymnastics but takes on a form more analogous to dance. The style utilizes basic moves like backbends, cartwheels, handstands and front/back walkovers as well as more advanced tricks such as front/back handsprings, aerials, layouts and back tucks. “Acro” is certainly important to improving a dancer’s strength and flexibility to a greater degree than most other styles, but also having some “tricks” in his or her arsenal can be a huge asset to any dancer who pursues a career in the field. It also is a great class for cheerleaders.
The class is offered to students ages 3 and up.

lyrical

  

Lyrical dance is a modern dance form which fuses modern dance, jazz, and ballet. Lyrical dance is often referred to as contemporary dance. It requires excellent technique to perform, as the moves are often difficult and precise. Moreover, the dancer should be aware of his or her facial expressions while dancing.

The origins of lyrical dance are unclear. The form is most often seen in live shows of contemporary music artists, like Celine Dion. Cirque du Soleil frequently combines elements of lyrical dance in their routines as well. The goal of the lyrical dancer is to convey the emotion of a song’s lyrics. Intense emotional expression of the face and body are necessary to tell a story that evolves along the lines of the song to which lyrical dance is performed.

This class is offered to students 11 years and older.