Classes & Camps

 

Open Summer classes in July and August include Ballet, Hip Hop, and Tap for ages 5-7, 8-11, and 12+, Preschool/ Kinderdance (combination class of tap and ballet) for ages 3-4, 4-5, and 5-6, and adult classes in ballet, tap, and jazz/hip hop. Dancers purchase Dance Bucks for the number of classes they wish to attend. Minimum purchase is three Dance Bucks. Registration through the studio, Northville Parks and Recreation.

*Returning for Summer 09* Open Ballet & Pointe class for experienced dancers ages 10+.  A Great way to stay in shape and improve your technique over the summer!

Winter Fantasy Camp provide the needed energy outlet that second week of the holiday break.   Three day curriculum will be similar to components from Summer Dance Me a Story Fantasy Camp. Registration through the studio, Northville Parks and Recreation.

Center Stage Dance Team- A second round of clinics and auditions have been scheduled for the 2009/2010 season. Please see below for specific dates and times.

Congratulations 2009/2010 Dance Team members:

Emily gantt

Morgan Mahlebashian

Lauren Nash

Nicolette Orlando

Emma Rife

Jessica Thoe

Claire Varvatos

 

Class Descriptions

PreSchool(ages 3-5) and Kinderdance (ages 5-6) formerly know as Rhythm – this syllabus serves our youngest dancers, ages 3-6. We’ve identified similar fine and gross motor skill development, attention spans, and social skills and grouped these dancers as follows: 3-4 year olds, 4-5 year olds, 5-6 year olds. As part of our assessment of your child’s placement, we may ask the following questions: does your dancer have any siblings? older or younger? has your dancer been involved in any other programs that were directed without the presence of the parent? has your dancer taken any other dance classes? The answers to these questions assist us in creating classes that are progressive and successful for both the student and the instructor. Although all PreSchool/Kinderdance classes are a combination of ballet and tap, each different age group has a defined focus. Our 3-4 year olds are still very self-centered and team-building activities play a large part in their development. Our 4-5 year olds have begun to view the world beyond their own line of sight and their attention spans and gross motor skills are more within their control. Their syllabus includes an increase in tap and ballet vocabulary and skill development and more complicated (but still age appropriate!) instructions as to use of the barre and floor, and longer combinations. The 5-6 year olds are bursting with social needs! We continue with more development of tap and ballet vocabulary, we include some jazz movement in anticipation of their jump to jazz as first graders, include some props and the like in their combinations, and begin to educate them on dance class etiquette.

Ballet – the most important class for any dancer (or athlete!) for its natural attention to discipline, flexibility, grace, body awareness, and strength and stamina. We teach the classic Russian syllabus for ages 6+. Students will be exposed to age appropriate material determined by physical and emotional development. Barre, center, and across the floor exercises will support the choreography given to the dancers for their performance pieces. Ballet vocabulary, in French, is used exclusively. This technique will act as the strong basis for all other forms your dancer may choose to study. Students are grouped as follows: Level 1 (ages 6-9), Level 2 (ages 9+), Level 3 (ages 10+), levels 4, 5, 6,(company level classes based on skill). Dancers should expect to train in a particular level for a minimum period of two years.

Pointe and Pre-Pointe – An advanced level of ballet for dancers ages 12+. Students are assessed by their ballet instructors as to readiness. Pre-pointe barres are attached to ballet classes from the level 3 classes and higher. These classes prepare the dancer for the rigors of pointe by focusing on development of the bottom of the foot, their increased awareness of center, and overall body control. Instruction includes the how-tos of fitting a pointe shoe, the correct method of tying pointe shoe ribbons, and sewing ribbons and elastics on to ballet slippers and pointe shoes. All students must be enrolled in a ballet technique class to participate in a pointe or pre-pointe program.

Tap – both classic (up on the balls of the feet) and rhythm (down low into the floor, often with a full foot) styles are taught. Barre (for our younger dancers), center, and across the floor exercises are designed to train the ear as well as reach the ultimate goal of speed and clarity of sound. Many exercises are executed a cappella (no music) to help teach the dancers the importance of listening to the other feet around them, which enhances musicality (the skill of ‘hearing’ the music). Tap is introduced to our youngest of dancers (ages 3-6) as part of a combination class, and then offered as a core class for ages 6+.

Jazz – The most American of dance forms, jazz steals its language from ballet. Its turns, connecting steps, runs, walks, leaps and jumps are presented in parallel position as opposed to its cousins in ballet who work turned out, but share many of the same tenants; long, stretched positions, lifted upper bodies. Additional differences include tempos, isolations of the head, shoulders, hips, and ribs, and more rigid positions of the arms and hands. We offer beginning jazz to students ages 6-9 (level 1), ages 9+ (level 2), ages 10+ (level 3), levels 4, 5, 6,(company level classes based on skill). Dancers should expect to train in a particular level for a minimum period of two years.

Lyrical – the new kid on the block! Lyrical is a combination of jazz and ballet movement (parallel and turned out) with an emphasis on telling the story of the music, describing the lyrics with our bodies. Dancers must be simultaneously enrolled in a ballet technique class, as the balletic quality of lyrical choreography is very evident. This class is offered to dancers at level 1 and higher.

Hip Hop – has been in the streets since the late 1970s but wasn’t mainstream until the boy bands of the 90s and MTV got a hold of it. Incorporating the tempo of jazz as well as its jumps, turns, and flexibility requirements, hip hop has its own look. Very low and deep into the shoes and floor, often with a hunched upper body, hip hop calls for severe hip, rib, shoulder, and head isolations. Complicated arm and hand movements are its signature as well as multiple isolations and movements within a single note. A jazz technique class taken simultaneously is a requirement. Level 1 classes are attached to the back end of jazz classes and are choreography only. levels 2,3, and older levels are separate classes that address a more complicated syllabus for their added physical maturity and awareness.