CLASS CURRICULUM 2008-2009

TOT RHYTHM: This Performing Arts morning program for children 3 to 5 years old is offered Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9:00-12:00. While incorporating the basic principles of balance, strength, flexibility and coordination, children also learn the fundamentals and terminology of Tap, Jazz, Tumbling and Creative Movement. This active and exciting program will promote personal, social and emotional growth. It will teach students good manners, sharing, taking turns, being creative and developing skills needed for kindergarten. Our goal is to bring laughter, music and dance into the lives of young children. Students will enjoy morning activities along with a healthy snack, story time and arts & crafts. Materials, drinks and snacks are provided by the studio. All students enrolled in this program are invited to participate in our annual recital. Students may choose to register for 1, 2 or all 3 days! (Please see our Tot Rhythm Link on our homepage)

MOMMY & ME: For children ages 1 & 2. This class is an exciting and stimulating introduction to dance, music and movement. This program is designed to enhance motor skills, creativity and build social skills. In this class, children will be moving to music, listening to stories, playing with puppets and socializing during cooperative play. A variety of props and different types of music, including children’s songs and nursery rhymes will be used in this class. This class prepares the child for Kinder Dance where they are independent of their parent. ATTIRE- Students should wear comfortable fitting clothing.

KINDER DANCE: For children ages 3 & 4. Students learn to follow the teacher’s instructions while working in a nurturing, stimulating, yet structured classroom interacting with their peers. Class begins with a general warm-up and stretch, and then introduces the concept of Jazz and Ballet movement. By using games, props, toys and rhythmic instruments, the class offers creative ways to challenge the child both mentally and physically. CLASS ATTIRE- Students should wear comfortable fitting clothes. They may be barefoot, or wear slipper socks or ballet slippers. (Please do not wear department store dress up slippers, they are VERY slippery on the wood floors)

CHILDREN'S COMBINATION: For children ages 5 & 6. This is a more structured class that continues to aid the development of the child’s physical coordination and musicality. This class offers a combination of Tap and Jazz. This class has an emphasis on building the child's gross motor skills, confidence, creative thinking, rhythm and coordination. CLASS ATTIRE- Students need to purchase tap shoes. Ballet slippers or barefoot is necessary for the Jazz portion of the class (Please do not wear department store dress up slippers, they are VERY slippery on the wood floors) . Tap shoes will be worn in the recital. They may wear a leotard and tights or comfortable fitting clothing. Our class begins with Tap so please help your child with their shoes before class begins. PARENTS- Please put your child's name in his or her Tap/ Ballet shoes to eliminate confusion.

PRE-BALLET- For children ages 5 & 6. This class is an introduction to Ballet. It teaches children basic foot and arm positions as well as terminology. Children learn by using props and age appropriate music. The class may include dance related games and story time. Children should be able to listen and follow teacher's directions. Children should wear a leotard, tights and Ballet slippers. (Please do not wear department store dress up slippers, they are VERY slippery on the wood floors)

TUMBLE TOTS- For Children ages 5 & 6. This class promotes self-confidence, coordination, balance and increase strength and flexibility. Children will progress further with their gross motor skill development such as skipping, jumping, leaping and galloping. Students will be introduced to rolls, bridges and cartwheels. Our tumbling program is designed to emphasize fun and fitness! CLASS ATTIRE - Students may wear a leotard and footless tights or fitted shorts/pants (NO JEANS). All tumblers MUST BE BAREFOOT.

TAP: This class focuses on the coordination of mind and body and gives dancers a perceptive sense of rhythm, timing, and phrasing. Tap is great for all ages. Technique in both Rhythmic and Broadway Tap will be taught. CLASS ATTIRE- Tap shoes need to be purchased. Students may wear a leotard and tights or comfortable fitted clothing suitable for dancing.

BALLET: The foundation of all dance forms. Body placement, grace, poise, flexibility, alignment, strength and technique are achieved through Ballet technique at the barre, center work and across the floor. Students learn combinations and terminology. CLASS ATTIRE- Students must wear a leotard, tights and Ballet slippers. (Please do not wear department store dress up slippers, they are VERY slippery on the wood floors)

POINTE: Students must take at two additional ballet classes per week. Readiness for pointe work is determined by each student’s strength and physical development, not by their age. The instructor will advise parents when a student has the necessary strength and maturity to go on pointe. Pointe class may be taken only with the permission of the instructor and the studio director.

JAZZ: This class includes isolations, stretches, and footwork. This class emphasizes timing, flexibility, endurance, and technique. The entire body gets a workout as students are exposed to contemporary and theatrical Jazz styles. CLASS ATTIRE- Students must wear a leotard and tights or comfortable fitted clothing suitable for dancing. Jazz shoes required.

TUMBLE-DANCE: This class concentrates on developing fundamental gymnastic, dance and locomotor skills, coordination, strength, balance, body awareness and flexibility. In this class students will be introduced to cartwheels, roundoffs, headstands, handstands, forward and backward rolls, dive rolls, bridges, walkovers and more! Students will also learn basic dance movements including Leaps, Jumps and Turns. CLASS ATTIRE - Students may wear a leotard and footless tights or fitted shorts/pants (NO JEANS). All tumblers MUST BE BAREFOOT.

LYRICAL: Lyrical dance a beautiful art form that smoothly incorporates the techniques of Ballet and Jazz and the emotions of Modern. Expression from the inner emotion is a primary factor in choreographing and interpreting this art form. Lyrical dance interprets music or words, showing the audience the emotion of the particular piece. This class is only offered to our advanced students. CLASS ATTIRE- Students must wear a leotard and footless tights. Students may be barefoot. Lyrical shoes are needed for recital.

HIP HOP CLASSES: These classes start with warm-ups and conditioning which may include Kickboxing and Aerobics. These high-energy classes use the latest rap, R&B and pop music together with movements influenced by some of today’s hottest video choreographers presented in a clean age appropriate manner. Hip hop encourages movement that give students the opportunity to develop their own sense of style.

THERE WILL BE NO STREET SHOES PERMITTED IN THE DANCE STUDIO, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Pre- Hip Hop students should wear Jazz Shoes. Hip Hop Shoes are required for all other levels.
*PARENTS OF HIP HOP STUDENTS: Please kindly understand that while we do our best to pick clean and age appropriate music, not all choices may be desirable to all parents. For those who feel this may not be the best class, we highly recommend Jazz.

LINE DANCE: Stay current with the latest in line dancing. Line Dancing is a type of non-partner dancing, primarily associated with the Country & Western genre. Students generally dance in lines and learn a sequence of patterns that repeat throughout the music. This class is a lot of fun and offered only to teens/adults. CLASS ATTIRE- Comfortable clothing should be worn. Jeans allowed but not recommended. Recommended shoes- Hip Hop Sneakers, Jazz shoes or clean, studio only sneakers. Please no cowboy boots.

ADULT CLASSES: Classes offered in Tap, Jazz, Line Dance and Ballroom are a wonderful form of conditioning and are extremely enjoyable. If you can walk, you can dance! Adult classes will not be required to participate in the recital. CLASS ATTIRE- Please wear appropriate shoes and comfortable clothing, no jeans

WORKSHOPS: Workshops may include Ballroom samplers, Yoga, Pilates, Line Dance, Belly Dancing, Break Dancing, and Latin. Workshops will be offered weekly. Please refer to our "Events & Workshops" link and web site for updates. E-Mail us with Workshop suggestions!