Our Dance Curriculum

The dance program will offer three levels of instruction to nurture the individual needs of each student.  The three levels consist of the Early Childhood Dance Program, Classic Dance Program, and Performance Dance Company Program.  2011-2012 dance schedule can be found on the "register for 2010-2011 page".

Early Childhood Dance Programs Ages 1½ -6 years old

Our Early Childhood Dance Program is designed to provide our youngest students, ages 1 ½-6, the basic elements of dance with emphasis on fun and developing a positive attitude toward dance and fitness. Dance helps children mature physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. The standards in our Early Childhood Dance Program address the developmental needs of the young child through the art of dance.   Early Childhood Dance Program is a wonderful introduction to the world of dance.

First Steps:   Ages 11/2 months-3 years old

Bubbles, parachutes, and hula hoops make for a fun and adventurous way of learning their first steps in music and dance.  Toddlers ages 1½ to 3 and a parent or caretaker dance together while focusing on rhythm, movement and music. In this interactive class, weekly themes combine large motor skill, as well as music and art projects.  This class will not participate in the annual spring recital.  

Creative Movement:  Ages 3-4

Creative Movement will explore dancing with props, weekly themes, sing along songs and creative imaginative play while encouraging a love for dance.  This is a wonderful and fun way to introduce the 3-4 year child to ballet technique, mat work, and dance vocabulary. Creative Movement will help develop coordination, body control, confidence and prepare the young dancer for future studies in all dance forms. 

Pre-ballet & Tap Combinations Class:  Ages 5-6

• Pre-Ballet

Pre-Ballet classes offer a prelude to formal ballet instruction for 5-6 year olds. Students are introduced to ballet terminology and barre work while building flexibility of movement, dance exploration and classroom decorum.

• Tap

This is the perfect age to introduce tap dancing.  Most dance experts agree learning tap before the age of 5 instills bad habits.  Children under the age of 5 do not have the fine motor skills needed to successfully learn tap.  The 5-6 year old dancer has the coordination to balance, understand weight transfer and combining steps. 

Classic Dance Programs  Ages 7 & Up

Our Classic Dance Program is designed to provide an outlet to study dance in a positive and nurturing environment.  These are non-competitive classes and provide the highest quality dance training for each dancer to reach their fullest potential. The Classic Dance Program provides flexible scheduling and open opportunities to dance for boys and girls ages 7 & up.  Students will perform in the annual recital and have the opportunity to attend dance workshops.

Combination Class:   Ages 7 & Up 

Choose from :    Ballet  & Tap                     Ballet & Lyrical                         Jazz & Tap

• Ballet

Ballet develops poise, grace and confidence due to a sense of expressive and physical accomplishment.  Ballet is a highly technical and structured form of dance.  Students will gain an understanding of proper dance form, terminology and ballet technique.  Class will begin with barre work, moving into center and across the floor progressions.

• Lyrical

Lyrical dance is a modern dance form which fuses modern dance, jazz, and ballet. Lyrical dance is often referred to as contemporary dance. It requires excellent technique to perform, as the moves are often difficult and precise. Moreover, the dancer must be well aware of facial expressions, essentially acting, to properly perform a lyrical dance piece.

• Jazz

Jazz is an introduction to the Broadway, funk, theatre, and hip-hop styles of jazz with emphasis on proper jazz technique.  Classes will include warm-ups, isolations, locomotive movement, and center combination.

• Tap

Learn the All-American dance form.  Develop strength, flexibility, and coordination while improving rhythmical awareness.  Students will learn to make rhythmic and syncopated sounds with their feet.

Hip Hop:   Ages 9 & up

Join our dance crew and learn the hottest form of dance.  Hip Hop combines, jazz, street dance, and funk.  Students will start class with strength and conditioning and then learn combinations influenced by dance videos and hip-hop music. 

Performance Company Dance Program Ages 6-18

Our Performance Company is designed to inspire, motivate and challenge the serious dancer whose interests and potentials in dance require more than once a week training to challenge their abilities. Students will perform at community events, our annual spring performance, and compete in dance competitions on a regional and national level. Along with extra performance opportunities students are exposed to a series of workshops, lectures, and master classes by acclaimed professional guest artists.  Performance Company Classes are required to take ballet technique class and attend one Saturday rehearsal per month to learn and/or clean choreography.  There will be a Performance Company Book with more detailed information given to each  Performance Company dancer.

Time Obligations:

Primary Performance Company Ages 6-9

2 class minimum (ballet/lyrical, jazz/tap), one Saturday per month to learn and or clean choreography, guest artist workshop,  2 regional dance competitions with tap and jazz routines, The Arts Center recital and community performances.

Junior Performance Company Ages 10-13

4 core class minimum (ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical), one Saturday per month to learn and or clean choreography, guest artist workshop, 4 regional dance competitions with tap, jazz, and lyrical routines, The Arts Center recital and community performances.

Senior Performance Company Ages 14 & Up

4 core class minimum (ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical), one Saturday per month to learn and or clean choreography, guest artist workshop, 4 regional dance competitions with tap jazz and lyrical routines, The Arts Center recital and community performances.

      If you are interested in auditioning for the Performance Company Dance Program,

please contact the director Jill Garlock.