Joy of Motion Dance Center’s LEAP! conservatory program for adults, the award-winning Youth Dance Ensemble (YDE) program, the American Dance Conservatory (ADC), and eleven Youth Performance Companies (YPCs), are holding auditions for placement in Dance Institute programs and company acceptance for the 2017-2018 season.
LEAP! Program for Adults
Joy of Motion Dance Center introduces LEAP!, a rigorous training program for adults dedicated to dance. In a conservatory style setting, advanced beginning and intermediate level students will effectively learn to articulate the language of dance with skill and passion. Through a comprehensive curriculum, LEAP! students will study ballet, modern, repertory, and jazz (intermediate level only) five to six hours each week with some of the metropolitan area’s finest dance educators. Dancers will train and learn repertory with Dance Institute Director Helen Hayes and some of Joy of Motions exceptional faculty members.
LEAP! is a Dance Institute program for adults.
Fall LEAP! placement auditions will be held August 31, 2017 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM in Friendship Heights.
Youth Dance Ensemble (YDE)
The Youth Dance Ensemble (YDE), one of Joy of Motion Dance Center’s Dance Institute programs, is an award-winning dance company and training program for dedicated youth dancers with a focus on ballet and modern dance. With four preparatory levels and a Company, students in grades 1-12 follow a structured curriculum with classes in modern, ballet, and jazz, as well as supplemental dance styles. YDE teaches and inspires excellence in dance and learning through classes, performances, artist residencies, and educational projects that integrate and connect dance to well-being, self, and community. YDE creates well-rounded dancers that are fully prepared for dance programs at the collegiate and university level.
YDE is a Dance Institute youth program. Acceptance to YDE level 2 and above is by auditions only.
Youth Dance Ensemble Auditions will be held in conjunction with American Dance Conservatory Auditions on September 6 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm in Bethesda.
American Dance Conservatory (ADC)
Joy of Motion Dance Center’s American Dance Conservatory (ADC) is a youth company and training program for dedicated young dancers with a focus on the American dance forms of jazz and tap. With two preparatory levels and a Company, students in grades 5-12 will follow a structured curriculum with core classes in jazz, tap, and ballet, as well as supplemental dance styles. Classes and performance opportunities create well-rounded dancers prepared to pursue college dance programs, musical theater, and other endeavors based on these traditionally American dance styles. Through the ADC program, students will connect their dance training to learning life skills which will enable them to become strong, healthy individuals with the ability to succeed in both dance and life.
ADC is a Dance Institute youth program. Acceptance to ADC is by audition only. Proficiency in tap dance is not required to audition, and lack of proficiency will not preclude a student from acceptance.
American Dance Conservatory Auditions will be held in conjunction with Youth Dance Ensemble Auditions on September 6 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm in Bethesda.
Youth Performance Companies (YPC)
Next year, Joy of Motion will have 11 Youth Performance Companies (YPC), including all of our five hip hop companies, three jazz, two ballet, and one tap company. The companies will be led by many of the same directors as in the past, and we’re excited to welcome several new directors to our ranks.
Youth Performance Companies (YPC) at Joy of Motion provide young dancers with the essential performance training for developing well-rounded dancers. Our vision is to build strong, thriving communities within each company and to create a unified and seamless approach to performance training among all of the companies and dance styles. Participants have the opportunity to perform high-quality work in a variety of venues, providing audiences with exceptional dance performances. We commit to providing both performers and their audiences with access to excellence.
The YPC program is a part of Center Stage and the performance season. Acceptance to the YPC program is by audition only.
FALL YPC AUDITION SCHEDULE
All YPC auditions will take place at Friendship Heights
| STYLE | GRADE LEVELS | DATE | TIME |
| Ballet | 6th-9th | Sep 5 | 4:00 – 5:30 PM |
| 9th-12th | Sep 5 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | |
| Tap | 9th-12th | Aug 31 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM |
| Jazz | 3rd-6th | Sep 7 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM |
| 6th-9th | Sep 7 | 4:00 – 5:30 PM | |
| 9th-12th (STREET JAZZ) |
Sep 8 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM | |
| Hip Hop | 3rd-6th | Sep 6 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM |
| 6th-12th (FREESTYLE) |
Sep 6 | 4:30 – 5:30 PM | |
| 7th-12th | Sep 6 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM |
6th and 9th graders should come to the audition for the younger company that fits their grade. If a student is feeling comfortable and wishes to stay to audition for the older company, please feel free to do so.
**Auditions are conducted by grade level. Students may be eligible for more than one company, depending on the grade they will be entering in the fall.
PREREQUISITES TO AUDITIONS FOR YPC PROGRAM
3rd-6th graders must have 2 years of dance training in any style to audition
6th-9th graders must have 2 years of dance training in the style of the company to audition
9th-12th graders must have 3 years of dance training in the style of the company to audition
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about Youth Dance Institute programs, including YDE and ADC, contact Helen Hayes, Director of the Dance Institute, at hhayes@joyofmotion.org.
If you have questions about Youth Performance Companies, contact Sarah Chapin, Director of Performance Programs, at schapin@joyofmotion.org.
