Class Offerings
Creative Movement focuses on body part identification, free expression, and spatial awareness. The child's natural movements are encouraged, while at the same time a rudimentary sense of order and form is introduced through controlled and sustained movements. Emphasis is placed on imagination, creativity, body shapes, listening skills, and working as part of a group. Material is presented in an imaginative and age-appropriate way.
At ages 4 and 5, children continue their introduction to the elements of dance through the use of natural movement. The innate joy of moving is preserved and nurtured through the use of music and the excitement of discovery in dance. At ages 6 to 8, as students progress, lessons acquire a more formal structure, and simple ballet steps and corresponding French vocabulary are introduced. Promotion of imaginative and exploratory experiences in dance continues. Children learn the proper attire and disciplined conduct which will help them prepare for the more structured syllabus training in Levels 1-6.
Ballet students are exposed to a syllabus unique to our school, which embodies elements from Cecchetti, Russian, Bournonville, and Balanchine styles. Starting as young as eight years old, Levels 1 through 3 are dedicated to the foundations of true ballet technique. Competency in basic elementary enchainement is nurtured during this time. Classes stress posture, strength, correct placement and use of the legs and feet, understanding of turnout, and simple arm and upper body positioning. Level 3 begins Intermediate work. Students are encouraged to commit more time to training in order to develop increased strength, flexibility, and stamina. Participation in multiple classes per week at this age will promote the necessary technical level and adequate strength and stamina to allow for pointe work. In Levels 4 through 6 the students are introduced to more complex classroom enchainements. Opportunities to learn and perform classical repertory and neoclassical and contemporary choreography are offered. In this phase of our program, students will acquire a more mature interpretation of dance as a performing art.
Students experience a variety of tap styles with strong emphasis on technique and performance. Instructors focus on the rhythm tap style, with influences of tap masters such as Brenda Bufalino and Sam Weber. Our tap training can begin as early as Kindergarten age, where students are introduced to elementary rhythms and use of the body, legs and feet in basic tap steps. As students mature and progress, increasingly demanding technical exercises and complex routines are taught. Students are given some musical and historical context for better understanding of jazz music and tap dance as an American artistic expression, and are exposed to swing, funk, blues, and Latin music and rhythms. Students have opportunities for master classes and workshops with professional tap dancers, and live music is incorporated as much as possible.
Modern dance is a form of movement that draws upon ballet, jazz, yoga, Pilates, and many more styles of dance and athletics. Modern is focused on creating new and unique forms of movement and expression, without the codified steps required in ballet. Certain stylized forms of modern that will be introduced in class include techniques from visionaries such as Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Irmgard Bartenieff. Class is done with bare feet, and emphasis will be placed upon learning new ways of exploring weight, space, breath and support, improvisation, body patterning, spinal coordination, kinesthetic awareness, and performance qualities. Modern dance allows for individual creativity and expression from students, and the class focuses on the improvement of strength and alignment, balance in vertical and off-vertical movement, and coordination of the body.
The concurrent study of ballet is strongly recommended for all jazz dance students in order to assist with the correct placement and alignment of the body. Like ballet, jazz training focuses on body placement and rhythmic movement, but in a modern American context. Our jazz instructors draw influence from Gus Giordano, Ed Kresley and Billy Siegenfeld, among others, who have shaped our unique approach to the jazz idiom.
Musical Theatre is a performance-based class focusing on jazz technique and skills instrumental in Broadway-style choreography. Ballet and classical jazz exercises will be emphasized during center floor warm up. Across the floor exercises will develop a variety of turns and leaps. Students will learn original choreography from some of Broadway's most celebrated choreographers, covering a wide range of musical theatre eras and styles.
Hip-Hop is a free style dance form based on jazz movements and also incorporates hip-hop rhythms. This form of dance is came about from and is influenced by today's music and culture.
STOTT PILATES is a contemporary, anatomically-based approach to Joseph Pilates' original exercise method. Its exercises safely deliver optimal strength, flexibility and endurance, without adding bulk. STOTT PILATES incorporates modern exercise principles, including contemporary thinking about spinal rehabilitation and performance enhancement. STOTT exercises are designed to restore the natural curves of the spine and rebalance the muscles around the joints. Pilates training is recommended for all serious dancers to build core strength.
Lyrical dance is a style of dance created from the fusion of ballet and jazz dance techniques. Lyrical dancing focuses on the expression of strong emotion and is often performed to music with lyrics to inspire movement.
Cecchetti Syllabus: Recommended for all ballet students, this ballet training is based on the method developed by Maestro Enrico Cecchetti, renowned dancer and foremost teacher of the artists of the Imperial Russian Ballet and Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russes.
Graded levels with appropriate examinations offered by the Cecchetti Council of America provide stimulus to the progress of the serious student. Cecchetti syllabus classes are offered in concert with ballet classes.
Pointe: Pointe work is introduced after the student has strong basic technique and after the legs are sufficiently developed. In all the advanced classes, students with the requisite physical and technical ability are encouraged to wear pointe shoes in order to make dancing en pointe feel and look natural and effortless.
