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.
Pre Ballet- Ages 3-4 (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 creative movement and imagery to introduce students to moving their bodies and prepare them for a successful lifetime of dancing. Children will explore movement qualities, musicality, and motor coordination to enhance the development of both their bodies and their minds.
Ballet 1- Ages 5+ (2 years)
Whether moving up from Pre Ballet class or starting ballet for the first time, dancers in these classes will start to discover new skills and techniques. 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. In this class students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of ballet that they will carry with them as they grow.
Ballet 2- Ages 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. We will learn what ballet technique is, how to use it, and how to use it to help your dancing.
Ballet 3-
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. We will focus on technique for jumps and turns in the center. This class will engage in longer, more complicated combinations as well as learning how to bring our technique from the barre to the center.
Pre Ballet- Ages 3-4 (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 creative movement and imagery to introduce students to moving their bodies and prepare them for a successful lifetime of dancing. Children will explore movement qualities, musicality, and motor coordination to enhance the development of both their bodies and their minds.
Ballet 1- Ages 5+ (2 years)
Whether moving up from Pre Ballet class or starting ballet for the first time, dancers in these classes will start to discover new skills and techniques. 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. In this class students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of ballet that they will carry with them as they grow.
Ballet 2- Ages 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. We will learn what ballet technique is, how to use it, and how to use it to help your dancing.
Ballet 3-
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. We will focus on technique for jumps and turns in the center. This class will engage in longer, more complicated combinations as well as learning how to bring our technique from the barre to the center.
Ballet 4 and Pre Pointe-
This class is for students with many years of ballet training behind them and who have an interest in going on pointe in the future. Students will engage in a traditional ballet class that starts at the barre. We will focus on using our best technique in order to get the most out of our bodies in ballet class. We will carry that technique with us into the center to learn more complicated combinations that will challenge us with the quality of moves, timing, and musicality. In the pre pointe section of this class we will be doing exercises at the barre to improve calf strength and a series of exercises performed with a resistance band to build calf, ankle, and foot muscles.
This class is for students with many years of ballet training behind them and who have an interest in going on pointe in the future. Students will engage in a traditional ballet class that starts at the barre. We will focus on using our best technique in order to get the most out of our bodies in ballet class. We will carry that technique with us into the center to learn more complicated combinations that will challenge us with the quality of moves, timing, and musicality. In the pre pointe section of this class we will be doing exercises at the barre to improve calf strength and a series of exercises performed with a resistance band to build calf, ankle, and foot muscles.
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.
Irish 1-2 - 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.
Irish 3-5- 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.
Irish 1-2 - 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.
Irish 3-5- 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. Starting with how to make different sounds with your feet and building on difficulty and speed as levels increase. 
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. This is a high energy style where students will learn dynamics, isolations, musicality, and animated expressions to create an entertaining performance. |
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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! In this style students will explore how to incorporate dynamics, emotions, and storytelling through their dancing. As levels increase there will be more opportunities for lifts, falls, athletic adagio partnering, weight sharing, jumps, leaps and tableau work.
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! In this style students will explore how to incorporate dynamics, emotions, and storytelling through their dancing. As levels increase there will be more opportunities for lifts, falls, athletic adagio partnering, weight sharing, jumps, leaps and tableau work.
Performance/Competition Troupe- This is a group of dedicated dancers who take classes in multiple styles and are interested in competitions and additional performance opportunities. This group learns multiple dances throughout the year that they take to local competitions as well as perform in our recital. This is a longer class that will include a strengthening and conditioning portion to work on building muscles and technique that will help with all styles of dance.
*Must attend Troupe Summer Intensive/Placement Audition
*Must attend Troupe Summer Intensive/Placement Audition
