Class Descriptions

Musical Theatre and Dance Tracks

We offer two tracks, Dance and Musical Theatre, to help students focus on the areas in which they are most interested and show the most potential. As students get older and more advanced, a track focus ensures that the student is best served and well-prepared for the future.

The Dance Track

Students prepare for potential careers in the dance world and/or for college or conservatory programs in Dance. The primary area of study in this track is Ballet. Students are also required to take Modern Dance and Jazz, and courses in other areas (i.e.voice, tap etc.) can be added to enhance the student’s education.

The Musical Theatre Track
Students study the areas of Jazz, Tap, Voice and Theater. Students take at least one class per week in Ballet to strengthen their technique, alignment and placement. Students in this track prepare to audition for college BFA and BA programs in musical theatre.

• BALLET gives a dancer placement, technique, strength, speed, and musicality.
• Level I students are required to attend one one-hour class per week.
• Level II students are required to attend two one-hour and thirty minute classes per week.
• Level III students are required to attend three one-hour and thirty minute classes per week.
• Level IV-V students are required to attend four one hour and forty-five minute classes per week.
• Beginning and Intermediate Pointe and Pas de Deux classes are offered to students by invitation. These classes are attended in addition to each students’ weekly ballet classes.

JAZZ classes combine traditional jazz technique with popular contemporary styles. An energetic and athletic style, each class consists of a full warm-up, isolations, traveling across the floor, turns, and a variety of stylistic material.

TAP classes have two components: Classic Tap includes all aspects of basic tap technique in the Broadway Show style; Rhythm Tap is rooted in jazz syncopation and musicality and includes building improvisational skills. Students in Levels I and II study primarily classic tap with some rhythm tap fundamentals.

MODERN dance is an expressive art form which utilizes the basics of dance technique with an exploration of organic and personal creative movement. Classes develop strength, flexibility, mobility and kinesthetic awareness and emphasize the integration of thinking, feeling, sensing, and doing in the performance of movement.

VOICE classes build confidence and skill through warm-ups, sight-reading, diction exercises, ear training, and understanding voice care. Students sing together and as soloists exploring interpretation and musicality while developing good vocal technique. All Voice students participate in the March Vocal Concert.

THEATRE classes focus on developing skills in acting, teamwork, the art of stagecraft, and spatial awareness. Improvisation, pantomime, and scripts work on these skills.

HIP HOP classes focus on the contemporary styles of hip hop found in music video. Classes are age appropriate, athletic and energetic and have a basic warm-up that immediately moves into moving sequences.

CLASSES AT LEVEL III-V  (PRE-PROFESSIONAL LEVELS)

The Pre-Professional Levels incorporate classes from Level III-V. Students in these classes are exceptionally motivated and committed. Not all intend professional careers in dance or theatre, but all are trained to have the tools required to pursue advanced training (in college or conservatory programs) if they wish. Classes are rigorous, challenging and fun and require great dedication from the student. Students enjoy more attention in smaller classes and more performance opportunities.

Classes in the Pre-Professional Levels:
Students are placed in these courses according to ability. ALL courses require permission to enroll.
 

• Ballet
• Pas de Deux
• Beginning and Intermediate Pointe
• Jazz
• Tap
• Modern
• Voice
• Theatre IV
• Musical Theatre Workshop

In the pre-professional division, all students are encouraged to take at least one dance technique class per week. Movement classes are critical for any student at a pre-profes

sional level, even if their primary field is acting or voice. In our effort to train the whole student, and to help each student find the fullest value, we strongly encourage taking a movement class.
 

LEVEL I & II

Ages 9 and up

A sequential curriculum in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip hop, voice and acting enrich the dancer’s experience in the performing arts. We welcome students of all levels of abilities and interest in dance and theatre. We guide pre-professional students towards an appropriate slate of classes and we can craft a schedule of classes which provide a solid foundation in dance and theater arts for the more recreational student.

Classes in Levels I and II:

• Ballet
• Jazz
• Tap
• Modern
• Hip Hop

 

EARLY STEPS IN DANCE

3 through 6 year olds

CREATIVE MOVEMENT (3-4 yrs) classes use the fundamentals of ballet as the foundation of dance technique. The class is 45 minutes long and meets once per week. Teachers use props and fun music to strengthen coordination skills, development movement ability and introduce music and rhythm. Creative Movement parents are required to attend an informational meeting during the first class.

BALLET/TAP or JAZZ/TAP COMBINATION (5-6yrs) classes focus on ballet or jazz and tap fundamentals. The hour long class is split into two equal sections with a short break to change shoes. Ballet technique teaches the beginnings of first and second position, stretching the foot and moving with the music. Jazz technique teaches the beginnings of counting correctly, learning and repeating a sequence, and moving with the music. Tap technique focuses on rhythm, and the fundamentals of using the parts of the foot to make a variety of sounds in combination.

Students progress from Creative Movement through one or both of the combination classes into our Introductory Level in the Performing Arts classes which focus on developing technique specific to individual dance styles. Students often take Creative Movement and the combination classes for two years each.

INTRODUCTORY LEVEL

7 through 9 year olds

The Introductory Level of the program is designed to develop well-rounded young students by providing them with a foundation experience in dance or musical theatre. The curriculum prepares students to continue to Level I. All classes are one hour long.

PRE-BALLET class is the required foundation in the study of ballet. Proper technique is introduced and supports physically safe execution of movement. In this class students work through all of the ballet basics and are introduced to music and style.

INTRO TO JAZZ classes consist of a full body warm-up, isolations, traveling across the floor, and a variety of combinations. The class focuses on strengthening the student’s ability to count rhythmically and follow and memorize patterns in both warm-up and performance combinations.

INTRO TO TAP students are instructed in the basics of tap in the Classic style. Students learn to articulate the foot in different patterns and incorporate learning and memorizing sequences and adhering to rhythm and counts.

INTRO TO HIP HOP classes use the fundamental level of hip hop style movement that is appropriate for the young student. The classes introduce style and basic technique with hip hop music.

INTRO TO MUSICAL THEATRE* classes consist of one half hour of vocal music training and one half hour of acting and movement training. The class introduces the language, style and technique of performing in musical theatre.

*Intro to Musical Theater is an Open Division class and does not perform in Lower Level Showcase in May.

OPEN DIVISION CLASSES

The School for the Performing Arts welcomes students of all levels of abilities and interest in dance and theatre and these classes provide a solid foundation in the arts.

Open Division classes do not perform in the dance showcases. Parents are invited to in-class presentations to watch students periodically during the year.

Students in Open Division classes are required to adhere to the same attendance policy and dress codes. In our effort to build respect for the art form and a standard of discipline for our students, these policies are strictly enforced. Please see the dress code and attendance policy section.

Open Division classes include:

• Intro to Musical Theater
• Theatre I, II & III
• Voice I, II & III
• Hip Hop II/III
• Teen Ballet
• NDI Dance for 4th, 5th and 6th graders

 

 

 

PERFORMANCES

LOWER LEVEL SHOWCASE
Students who attend classes in Ballet/Tap and Jazz/Tap Combinations, Intro Level classes, and Level I classes perform in an end of year showcase in late May.

UPPER LEVEL SHOWCASE
Students who attend classes in Levels II and higher perform in an end of year showcase in early June.

Creative Movement students invite parents and guests to attend several classes per year and observe their work in progress.

Theatre I, II & III students invite parents and guests to attend several classes per year and observe their work in progress.

Teen Ballet and Hip Hop II/III classes offer parents and guests an in-class presentation in May. They do not perform in the Upper Level Showcase.

Voice classes take part in a vocal concert in the spring.

NDI-NM Dance is the same award-winning technique we use in the public schools to teach discipline, excellence, self-confidence, self-esteem, and teamwork. This class is open to students in grades 4 through 6 who do not have NDI-NM at their school. This class requires extra rehearsals in May which involve time away from school. Dancers in this class perform at least seven times in the NDI-NM End-of-Year Event at The Dance Barns in May.