Curriculum
Creative Movement :: Combination Ballet and Tap :: Kinderballet :: Pre-Ballet :: Pre-Tap :: Classical Ballet :: Pointe :: Character Dance :: Tap :: Modern :: Jazz :: Hip Hop
Creative Movement - 45 minute class for ages 3, 4, and 5 years old
Miss McCranie has designed a dance syllabus especially to fit the needs and development of these young dancers. Ballet terminology and basic positions are introduced at this level along with musicality and rhythm. Utilizing fun props like scarves, lummi sticks, and bean bags, the students practice simple dance steps, learn to differentiate left from right, improve basic motor skills, coordination, spatial awareness and self control while in a fun, nurturing dance environment. Emphasis is on the joy of dance movement and learning together in a structured class with "ballet etiquette." Creative Movement students perform their spring recital in the studio for their last class of the season. No purchase of costumes is required, as they wear studio provided costumes for their performance.
Dress: Girls - Solid pink short sleeve scoop neck leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes, hair in a classical bun (NO ATTACHED SKIRTS ON LEOTARDS) Boys - Solid white T-shirt, black jazz pants, white socks and black ballet shoes.
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Kinderballet - age 5
Kinderballet is a ballet class for students ready for an hour long class. Building on the skills learned in Creative Movement, more ballet poses and steps are taught. Balances in the centre are stressed along with fluidity of movement. This class is a natural progression from Creative Movement to Pre-Ballet, where barre work begins.
[ top ]Combination Ballet & Tap - 1 hour class for ages 5 and 6 years old
Two favorite styles of dance are taught at an elementary level, 1/2 hour of ballet and 1/2 hour of tap. Students will perform one style only in the annual recital.
Dress: Girls - Solid lavender short sleeve scoop neck leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, tan-tie tap shoes with tap elastics, hair in a classical bun (NO ATTACHED SKIRTS ON LEOTARDS). Boys - Solid white T-shirt, black jazz pants, black ballet shoes, white socks, black tap shoes.
[ top ]Pre-Ballet - ages 6 & 7
Ballet's basic poses and steps are taught in a one hour class, once a week with simplified combinations and stage directions teaching performance skills utilized throughout the student's ballet study.
Dress: Girls - Solid lavendar short sleeve scoop neck leotard, pink tights and pink ballet shoes, hair in a classical bun. (NO ATTACHED SKIRTS ON LEOTARDS) Boys - Solid white T-shirt or leotard, black jazz pants, white socks and black ballet shoes.
[ top ]Pre-Tap - ages 6 & 7
A one hour class teaching tap's basic steps and skills. Ballet classes are strongly encouraged to improve technique.
Dress: Girls - Solid lavender leotard, pink tights, tan tie tap shoes with tap elastics, hair in a classical bun. (NO ATTACHED SKIRTS ON LEOTARDS) Boys - Solid white T-shirt or leotard, black jazz pants, white socks and black tap shoes.
[ top ]Classical Ballet - ages 8 through adult
Ballet, taught world wide for over 300 years, is traditionally the dance style that is the best foundation for any other dance form. It is the most beneficial form of dance for body placement, strength, flexibility, and muscle tone. Students are offered 2 ballet classes per week as a minimum for enrollment.
Dress: Girls - Solid black short sleeve scoop neck leotard, pink tights, pink split sole ballet shoes, hair in a classical bun. Boys - Solid white T-shirt or leotard, black tights, dance belt, black ballet shoes.
[ top ]Pointe - age 11 up, with director's approval
The epitome of a ballerina's attainment is to rise "en pointe" to the tips of the toes. Must have a strong ballet technique to take this class and be approved by the instructor and director. Enrollment in a minimum of two ballet classes required to take this class.
Dress: Same as for ballet with pointe shoes approved by instructor.
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Character Dance
Character Dance is a subdivision of Classical Dance based on national and folkloric traditions that have been stylized and included in classical ballet. Most popular are the national dances of Hungary, Russia, Poland and Spain; czardas, mazurka, polka, flamenco, etc. Many of the best loved Classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote feature character dance segments. Ballet dancers are usually proficient in character dance.
The shoes worn are usually black heeled, called character shoes. They appear similar to tap shoes, but without any taps applied. Certain special roles require heeled boots in various colors. Costuming is generally vibrant and reflects the nationality. Women generally wear a long, to the knee circular skirt in class over their ballet leotards and tights. The skirt is sometimes used in choreography along with other props like tambourines and scarves.
Ballet classes are strongly encouraged to improve technique.
Dress: Same as for ballet.
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Tap - ages 8 through adult
The dance of sound, tap is America's own folk dance emphasizing timing, percussion, rhythm, and balance. Ballet classes are strongly encouraged to improve technique.
Dress: Same as for ballet with tan Mary Jane tap shoes for girls and black jazz/tap shoes for boys. 1-1/2 " heel is optional at appropriate age and advanced level-please consult instructor.
[ top ]Modern
Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. Although the term Modern dance has also been applied to a category of 20th Century ballroom dances, Modern dance as a term usually refers to 20th century concert dance.
Modern dance encourages dancers to use their emotions and moods to design their own steps and routines. It is not unusual for modern dancers to invent new steps for their routines, instead of following a structured code of technique, as in ballet. There are however strict techniques of modern such as Horton and Graham. Both have set vocabulary with structured warm ups and center combinations.
Another characteristic of modern dance in opposition to ballet is the deliberate use of gravity. Whereas classical ballet dancers strive to be light and airy on their feet, modern dancers often use their body weight to enhance movement. A modern dancer rejects the classical ballet stance of an upright, erect body, often opting instead for deliberate falls to the floor.
Modern Dancers Today:
Modern dancers use dancing to express their innermost emotions, often to get closer to their inner-selves. Before attempting to choreograph a routine, the modern dancer decides which emotions to try to convey to the audience. Many modern dancers choose a subject near and dear to their hearts, such as a lost love or a personal experience. The dancer will choose music that relates to the story they wish to tell, or choose to use no music at all, and then choose a costume to reflect their chosen emotions.
Dress: Girls - Solid black short sleeve scoop neck leotard (black or mulberry), pink or black footless or convertible tights, pink split sole ballet shoes, hair in a classical bun. Boys - Check with instructor.
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Jazz - ages 8 through adult
A truly American dance form based on ballet with modern, tap and African dance influences formulating a dynamic style of its own. Ballet classes are strongly encouraged to improve technique.
Dress: Girls - Black solid (no decor) jazz pants or tights allowed over black solid leotard. Black jazz sneakers. Hair must be in a ponytail or bun. Boys - Black solid (no decor) jazz pants with solid white or black t-shirt, dance belt. Black jazz sneakers.
[ top ]Hip Hop - ages 8 through adult
A more current, jazz dance form based on current cultural dance styles that is as ever-changing and as trendy as pop music. Ballet classes are strongly encouraged to improve technique.
Dress: Jazz pants with T-shirts, or non-restrictive dance clothing. Flat soled sneakers dedicated to studio use only. No black soles. No street shoes are allowed on the studio floor. Long hair pulled back into a pony-tail or braids fastened back out of the eyes.
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