Classes emphasize the development of classical ballet skills with a focus on proper placement and alignment. Students will learn ballet vocabulary through barre and center work while building strength and flexibility. Pointe Prep and Pointe classes are also available for grades 6-8. Dancing en pointe requires strength and skill and therefore requires prior ballet training and concurrent enrollment in ballet classes. See the individual class descriptions for more details.

Students will learn movement terminology and historical facts about urban dance culture. This class uses Rap, R&B, and other popular music of today. Dancers are introduced to the elements of freestyle and the styles that influence it such as popping, locking, and b-boying/b-girling. There is also a Hip Hop/Modern combo class available for grades 6-8.

Jazz is an exciting and ever-evolving dance form full of rhythm, syncopation, passion, and life. Steeped in the rhythm of jazz music, a true American art form, jazz dance brings energy and life to all those who dance it. Classes explore body isolations of the head, shoulders, ribcage, feet, and arms, and encourage individual expression and the development of personal style. Jazz can be powerful and percussive or expressive and lyrical. Ever-evolving, jazz dance is taught with the music of today together with the classical jazz of yesterday. A Contemporary Technique class is also available for grades 6-8.

Modern dance is a contemporary dance form that has its roots in ballet. Classes include floor and center work, that incorporate the use of gravity and a sense of weightedness in the body on top of technique work. The movement vocabulary and range of motion used is endless and creative, and draws on each student’s personal expression. Classes may include improvisation and creative exercises. A Contemporary Technique class and a Hip Hop/Modern combo class is also available for grades 6-8.

Dancer Conditioning

This class is designed to condition students so that they are better equipped to achieve their goals as dancers. Toning, conditioning, and strengthening exercises will be taught that students complete in class and can also take home to practice on their own. Students will gain a kinesthetic awareness of their own bodies that they can integrate the into other dance classes and their daily lives.

Stretch & Strengthen

This class is designed to challenge students by introducing stretching techniques and exercises, as well as strengthening exercises. Students gain a kinesthetic awareness of their own bodies so that they can integrate the ideas learned in class into their daily lives.

Tap focuses on rhythms and intricate footwork, creating a percussion instrument out of the dancer’s feet. Just like jazz vocalists who add rhythms to music by scatting, tappers add their voice by “scatting” with their feet. Classes emphasize the development and strengthening of basic tap technique and terminology highlighting the importance of rhythm and sound.