Creative Movement Class (Age 3-6)
Children want to dance because they love to move! This class provides children with the opportunity to experience a warm-up, circle time, activity songs, and across-the-floor activities just like the structure of a traditional ballet class. I focus on creative movement which builds on the necessary gross motor skills needed for primary dance instruction. I use fun, upbeat, and classical music to learn basic skills like hopping, skipping, jumping, galloping, and balance coordination. Students will engage in dramatic music movement and learn introductory ballet steps. These include plies, tendu, releve, arabesque, positions of the feet, and other introductory dance steps. These steps however, do not take up the majority of classtime while these children are so young. Most of the dancing will be done with activity songs and using their imaginations!
Ballet Classes (Elementary Age)
By introducing students to the basic shapes, positions, postures and traditions of classical ballet, these classes enhances both cognitive and physical development at this important time when fine and gross motor skills are becoming more refined. During this stage of dance development, technique is the primary focus in ballet. Students learn the 5 positions of the feet, arm positions, and participate in basic barre exercises such as plies, tendus, and rond de jambe. Students will dance a series of repetitive movements which build upon each other. The ballet technique learned throughout the year is choreographed into a dance piece which is performed in our recital. These classes are based on the Cecchetti ballet program.
Teen Dance Class
Students are taught proper body placement, body alignment, barre and center floor work, along with across the floor combinations. Classes introduce vocabulary, proper alignment, and technique. I teach combinations using balance, strength, and style. Students have a warm up focusing in core strength, flexibility, and movement. The benefits of taking dance include development of technical strength, body awareness (including posture), self-discipline, and musicality. Ballet training provides dancers with the opportunity to develop grace, poise, fitness and self-confidence, as well as the joy of dance and an appreciation of classical music. We will focus on learning new movements and choreographing dances to be performed at sporting half-time events and RDA recitals.
Boys’ Dance Class (5-12 yrs)
This class is for the boys who love to dance, but don’t necessarily want to practice plies at the barre. In this class we will explore music, movement, activity songs, etc. I’ll teach combinations using balance, strength, and style. The students will have a warm up focusing on core strength, flexibility, and movement. The benefits of taking a dance include development of technical strength, body awareness (including posture), self-discipline, and musicality. Dance is also great for football players! This class will give the dancers the opportunity to develop self-confidence, as well as the joy of dance and an appreciation of music. We’ll do creative movement plus some hip hop and jazz which will be performed at recitals.