Classes for Kids and Teens offer fun and enriching dance experiences that strengthen the dancer’s technique and developing artistic skills. These exciting classes are offered in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and modern. There are no prerequisite classes or minimum class requirements; however, students are placed according to both age and ability.
We will be completely virtual for September and October, at which point we will assess whether or not it is safe and plausible to return to in person classes. Our Active Safety Plan will be included in your registration materials and includes many new protocols to keep you dancer safe and healthy, as well as our teachers, accompanists, and staff members. In-person classes will be offered as a hybrid so that you will have the option of continuing to take classes virtually.
Ballet:
We love ballet and want to share our love of ballet with you! In our Kids and Teens ballet classes, dancers of all levels are welcome as we learn classical ballet vocabulary, build flexibility, and strength in the legs, feet, and body core while improving balance and coordination. In-studio classes feature live piano accompaniment!
Jazz:
Build a sense of rhythm and musicality, while discovering the joy and self-expression one experiences in jazz class! Jazz combines many styles and techniques from ethnic and contemporary dance. These classes are designed to explore the history of Jazz while also enhancing self-confidence, increasing agility, and exposing students to a variety of movement styles.
Hip-Hop:
Our Hip Hop classes focus on developing rhythm and coordination while encouraging individual style and freedom. These fast-paced, athletic, energetic classes will explore such styles popping, locking, and breaking as well as street and funk.
Tap:
Tap classes emphasize the flow of movement by teaching students to find rhythms and beats not only in music, but in their own bodies as well. The focus of each tap class is to improve the student’s sound clarity, rhythm and musicality, timing and phrasing. Class exercises will help build flexibility of the knees and ankles and enhance speed of movement in a fun, nurturing environment. Tap vocabulary increases and combinations become more intricate with each class level.
Modern:
Students are encouraged to use movement as an expressive tool while building strength, confidence, and creativity in Modern dance. Our Modern classes encompass the full spectrum of this style—from Horton-based Modern to Contemporary dance. Classes will focus on fundamentals of technique and performance in beginning levels and will incorporate improvisation and longer, more complex combinations in more advanced levels.
Boys I and Boys II: Taught by Broadway choreographer and veteran dance teacher Matt Williams, these high-intensity dance classes are a fun way to get your boys in shape! Rooted in Jazz, creative movement, sports and (just a little bit of) ballet, these classes will motivate and inspire young boys to love dance. Drawing on 20 years of choreographing and teaching, Mr. Williams uses a variety of action-packed dance games and music-based physical challenges that inspire boys to strive for their maximum potential as dancers. Class structure includes a strengthening and rhythm-based warm up set to a thrilling soundtrack, technical traveling exercises and age-appropriate/boy-appropriate choreography. Extras include “Dance Battles”, “Dance Obstacle Courses” and jumping contests! Mr. Williams is also trained as a National Dance Institute (NDI) master teacher and holds an MFA in Theater Directing.
