BALLET: The age difference in each class may vary, with an age gap from four to five years. All placement decisions are at the sole discretion of the artistic staff.
Sprouts—Ages 3 to 5 (2 years): High energy classes using dance games and natural movement concepts to grow physical skills, increase stamina, open the creative mind and improve the student’s personal expression and musicality. This class uses fantasy and imagery to prepare students for a successful lifetime of dancing. Children will explore movement qualities, musicality, motor coordination, enhancing the development of both their bodies and their minds.
Starts/Seedlings—Ages 6 to 8 (2 years): Whether moving up from sprouts class or starting ballet for the first time dancers in these classes will discover new skills as Starts. Dancers will move from creative movement into the basics of ballet: posture, positions, linking steps and basic ballet movements with a focus on developing coordination.
BALLET
Ballet Beginnings—(Youngest Age 8) For students who are ready to take on the challenges of classical ballet. We will begin classes at the barre and progress through a skill-appropriate technique class. We will address proper placement and alignment as well as coordination and body positions. Students will begin to understand how thoughtfully practicing ballet can allow their bodies the greatest range of movement.
Classical Ballet-- Students engage in a traditional ballet class focusing on expanding their ability to engage in classical ballet technique. Ballet Barre will focus on strengthening muscles for stronger technique. This class will engage in longer, more complicated combinations. Technique for jumps and turns will be a focus in center of class.
Sprouts—Ages 3 to 5 (2 years): High energy classes using dance games and natural movement concepts to grow physical skills, increase stamina, open the creative mind and improve the student’s personal expression and musicality. This class uses fantasy and imagery to prepare students for a successful lifetime of dancing. Children will explore movement qualities, musicality, motor coordination, enhancing the development of both their bodies and their minds.
Starts/Seedlings—Ages 6 to 8 (2 years): Whether moving up from sprouts class or starting ballet for the first time dancers in these classes will discover new skills as Starts. Dancers will move from creative movement into the basics of ballet: posture, positions, linking steps and basic ballet movements with a focus on developing coordination.
BALLET
Ballet Beginnings—(Youngest Age 8) For students who are ready to take on the challenges of classical ballet. We will begin classes at the barre and progress through a skill-appropriate technique class. We will address proper placement and alignment as well as coordination and body positions. Students will begin to understand how thoughtfully practicing ballet can allow their bodies the greatest range of movement.
Classical Ballet-- Students engage in a traditional ballet class focusing on expanding their ability to engage in classical ballet technique. Ballet Barre will focus on strengthening muscles for stronger technique. This class will engage in longer, more complicated combinations. Technique for jumps and turns will be a focus in center of class.
CELTIC DANCE
Highland - Scottish Highland dances, including the popular Sword dance and Highland Fling, are typically performed to the sound of the great Highland bagpipes. This high energy and high impact dance form has a foundation in ballet and appeals to perfectionists. The prerequisite for the Int/Adv class is solid knowledge of the Fling, Sword, Seann Triubhas and Lilt. All levels will include a solid grounding in technique with a focus on the traditional dances but will also develop more contemporary material throughout the year. Ghillies (dance shoes) and white knee socks are required for this class.
Beg/Int Irish - Entry level Irish soft shoe class where the foundation is laid for dancing ceili (group) dances and solo reels, jigs and slip jigs. Gillies (Irish dance shoes) and bubble socks are required for this class. Bubble socks can be purchased in class and we are often able to do a gillie swap at the beginning of the year for new dancers.
Adv Irish- These class will include both Irish soft shoe and hard shoe and grouped by age and ability. As dancers progress through the levels, the steps become more complicated with quicker footwork and challenging movements. Please follow instructor recommendations for appropriate placement.
Hard Shoe - A percussive dance form in the Irish tradition. Hard shoe jigs, reels and hornpipes will be introduced in the entry level class. It is recommended but not required that dancers have at least a year of Irish soft shoe before enrolling in this class. Special Irish hard shoes are necessary so please speak with the instructor before class begins.
Celtic Company - This performance troupe includes dancers experienced in Irish, Highland and/or Cape Breton Step dance who have consistently displayed a high level of commitment to Celtic dance. The group travels across the region and throughout New England performing and competing year round which requires a regular rehearsal schedule. Celtic Company participation requires additional financial commitments for costumes, competition, registration and travel fees. By invitation only, if this is something that interests your dancer, please speak with Heather so she can talk to you about the group and give you advice on the steps needed to join the group and what to expect for family/dancer commitment.
Highland - Scottish Highland dances, including the popular Sword dance and Highland Fling, are typically performed to the sound of the great Highland bagpipes. This high energy and high impact dance form has a foundation in ballet and appeals to perfectionists. The prerequisite for the Int/Adv class is solid knowledge of the Fling, Sword, Seann Triubhas and Lilt. All levels will include a solid grounding in technique with a focus on the traditional dances but will also develop more contemporary material throughout the year. Ghillies (dance shoes) and white knee socks are required for this class.
Beg/Int Irish - Entry level Irish soft shoe class where the foundation is laid for dancing ceili (group) dances and solo reels, jigs and slip jigs. Gillies (Irish dance shoes) and bubble socks are required for this class. Bubble socks can be purchased in class and we are often able to do a gillie swap at the beginning of the year for new dancers.
Adv Irish- These class will include both Irish soft shoe and hard shoe and grouped by age and ability. As dancers progress through the levels, the steps become more complicated with quicker footwork and challenging movements. Please follow instructor recommendations for appropriate placement.
Hard Shoe - A percussive dance form in the Irish tradition. Hard shoe jigs, reels and hornpipes will be introduced in the entry level class. It is recommended but not required that dancers have at least a year of Irish soft shoe before enrolling in this class. Special Irish hard shoes are necessary so please speak with the instructor before class begins.
Celtic Company - This performance troupe includes dancers experienced in Irish, Highland and/or Cape Breton Step dance who have consistently displayed a high level of commitment to Celtic dance. The group travels across the region and throughout New England performing and competing year round which requires a regular rehearsal schedule. Celtic Company participation requires additional financial commitments for costumes, competition, registration and travel fees. By invitation only, if this is something that interests your dancer, please speak with Heather so she can talk to you about the group and give you advice on the steps needed to join the group and what to expect for family/dancer commitment.
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HIP HOP
Students learn the latest moves to the coolest grooves in hip hop, pop, rap and R & B. All classes are taught with age-appropriate music and choreography. Please follow instructor recommendations for appropriate placement. |
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TAP
Wake up your feet with rhythm tap dance! We will use warm-ups, drills, improvisational scores, and choreography developed by legends of the form as well as current icons to develop our sense of rhythm and timing and to hone our footwork. JAZZ
Learn basic american jazz technique and build strength while exploring the iconic choreography of Bob Fosse and other jazz moves. Explore jazz as it relates to performance art and musicals. |
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LYRICAL
As a dance style in itself, lyrical is defined in part by a fusion of ballet and jazz, demanding technical skill, musicality and an expression of emotion. A solid, ballet-based technique, proper placement and bodily alignment are essential components.
MODERN
This physically demanding class relies on a base of Ballet and/ or Jazz as well as some acro and gymnastics skills. Mix that up with a fine tuned ability to connect to the material and to communicate a wide and diverse range of emotion in the work, and you've got Modern! Expect lifts, falls, athletic adagio partnering, weight sharing, jumps, leaps and tableau work.
As a dance style in itself, lyrical is defined in part by a fusion of ballet and jazz, demanding technical skill, musicality and an expression of emotion. A solid, ballet-based technique, proper placement and bodily alignment are essential components.
MODERN
This physically demanding class relies on a base of Ballet and/ or Jazz as well as some acro and gymnastics skills. Mix that up with a fine tuned ability to connect to the material and to communicate a wide and diverse range of emotion in the work, and you've got Modern! Expect lifts, falls, athletic adagio partnering, weight sharing, jumps, leaps and tableau work.
