DANCE WILL BENEFIT…THE BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT.  

A student’s physical and mental fitness is enhanced by the regular exercise and love of movement which dance gives them. Whether it is classical moves in ballet, the more contemporary steps of jazz and hip hop or the strenuous activities of acrobatic classes, dance builds a strength of body and character which will live in the dancer forever.  

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CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Ballet is the foundation of all dance.  Its origins stem from Italy.  It is a highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. It is best known in the form of classical, but can additionally include neoclassical and contemporary ballet.  

Each class begins with a ballet barre, moves to a center floor adage, petite and grand allegro, and concludes with a formal grand reverence.  Students will learn terminology in French, correct body alignment, how to improve their natural turn-out and develop a love for the most graceful living art.  

 

*Pointe as an extension to ballet, is the advancement of ballet class to hard boxed pointe shoes.  Students usually progress to pointe work between the ages of 9-12 depending on their muscular and skeletal development, as well as their dedication to practice.  

 

Jazz is an umbrella term that refers to several related dance styles including roots from tap, ballet, jazz music and African-American rhythms and dance.  Originating from the African American vernacular dance, jazz dance evolved from a number of influences including Vaudeville and Broadway.  

Jazz class will focus on learning proper dance technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns.  Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz such as Broadway, Street and Contemporary to help develop a well rounded dancer.  Curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with traditional jazz movement and includes a proper warm-up, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions and combos.  

 

Tap is the only form of dance which incorporates sound.  Developed in the United States during the nineteenth century, tap has become popular all over the world.  The name comes from the tapping sound made when the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch a hard floor.  This lively, rhythmic tapping makes the performer not just a dancer, but a percussive musician. Tap classes will develop rhythm, style and sound.  Students will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap.  Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement.  Class emphasis is on developing proper tap technique, producing clear tap sounds, having fun!

 

Acro or acrobatics is the art of slow controlled movements using the flexibility of the back, legs and shoulders.  Acro is one of the performing arts and involves difficult feats of balance, agility and coordination.    Gymnastics is the sport of power tumbling executed by a straight back using strength and speed.

Classes will focus on increasing flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration. Emphasis will be placed on developing fundamental acrobatic technique, teaching skills such as handstands, chin stands, elbow stands, cartwheels, back bends, walkovers, balance and contortion tricks, all at each student’s individual level of experience.    

 

Lyrical / Contemporary is a fusion of ballet and jazz techniques.  Lyrical dance challenges choreographers to use emotion to interpret music and express emotion.  A lyrical dancer’s movements attempt to show the meaning of music while telling a story through every movement made.  Lyrical dance has a relatively recent history compared to other dance styles.  

Classes in lyrical will emphasize one’s interpretation of music lyrics while telling a story with movement that can be fluid or abstract.  Students will take the slow fluidity of ballet and combine it with the the turns and leaps of jazz.  

 

Hip Hop/Break Dance is a high energy, athletic, popular dance style originated on the streets in the late 80’s with break dancing,  Hip hop has come full circle incorporating  Martial Arts, Jazz, and Modern dance.  Hip hop classes infuse the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking.  Students will be encouraged to step outside the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements. Dancers will have fun as they learn combinations to popular and high-energy music!

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Caribbean / African With live drumming, this class will teach you the fundamentals of traditional West African dance with emphasis on an understanding of the accompanying drum rhythms. Infused with the rhythms of the caribbean, classes start with a thorough warm up, followed by a sequence of movement across the floor.

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Zumba  fuses hypnotic latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba fanatics achieve long term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exhilarating hour of caloric-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life! Prerequisite: All fitness levels welcome.

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*Yoga Unroll your yoga mat for an invigorating full-body flow where you’ll explore the yoga postures and fundamental principles of Vinyasa yoga. Our class is set to inspiring tunes, and is a foundation-building yoga class that will work every muscle through movement and breath at a moderate, but intuitive pace.

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*Pole Fitness (21 & up) Starting from the ground up, by moving with your new dance partner, ‘the pole', you will learn beginner pole, dance and floor moves. You will also learn how to incorporate these moves, which tighten and tone your body, into your first routine. Performing moves with an element of challenge. Get to know your body and learn beautifully choreographed routines  Pre-requisite: All fitness levels welcome.

 

*Classes are subject to change depending on class size.
 

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