Classes and Programs

Children/Teen/Adult
The discipline and vocabulary of traditional ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop is taught to children, teens and adults from beginning levels to advance. We strongly urge younger students who have an interest in moving in a pre-professional direction to take multiple ballet classes a week. In addition to ballet classes we also encourage adding acro dance, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap or hip-hop for dancers who desire versatility in movements and style.
ShowStars Combo (1-2 grades)
60 minute class that offers instruction in ballet, tap, and jazz. This class continues to expose the student to different dance styles, offering a good technique foundation, while keeping the interest high. Students will perform a tap and ballet dance in the year end recital (one costume).
Ballet
There are many different training programs that a dancer can follow on the road of ballet. Two of the larger programs are the Cecchetti and Russian Vaganova. Each method is composed of levels for all dancers from the newest beginner to the most seasoned student and they both have their advantages.
Ballet Fundamentals for ages 3rd grade +
Students new to Ballet, or students wanting to maintain a basic foundation in the Ballet genre. Only one class per week is required. Progress will be slower than for students taking twice a week, but this class serves as as good introduction to ballet, as well as maintaining the ballet basics. This class also fulfills the necessary requirements of a student taking Acro or Contemporary class.
Jr Ballet ShowStars A & B(8-10yrs)-
The student at this level will continue to develop strength and coordination with more technically demanding work. There is a greater focus on posture, alignment and placement of the feet to insure a strong foundation for the upper grades and pointe work.
Sr Ballet Pre-pointe
The student will continue to develop strength and coordination with more technically demanding work. There is still a heavy focus on posture, alignment and placement of the feet to insure a strong foundation for the upper grades and pointe work.
Style, quality and coordination are the elements focused on in this level. The more advanced work directly relates to the development of strong ankles and core balance, which are both critical for pointe work. Requires twice a week minimum. Counts as two classes.
Sr Ballet Levels beyond pre-pointe
Teacher Placement. Students are required to attend 2-3 classes per week.
Advancement to working on Pointe is awarded on an individual basis. We will allow a student to progress on Pointe, only if they demonstrate certain abilities. This is in the best interest of the student’s long term health. 3 ballet classes per week minimum are required.
Contemporary/Lyrical
Contemporary dance borrows from jazz, ballet, funk, social dance styles and many modern dance styles of the 20th century. Contemporary dance encourages natural, spontaneous movement and personal interpretation. It focuses on self-expression, awareness of space and body movement, use of body weight, efficiency of muscle use and safe body alignment. Classes start with a comprehensive warm-up and gradually build up to more elaborate dance routines. ***Requires student to be enrolled in ballet.
Jazz
Jr Jazz A & B (3-5th gr)
Students learn rhythm, syncopation, isolation and improvisation. This class teaches basic jazz vocabulary and technique derived from classical ballet and modern, and encourages individual expression and style.The first half of class consists of exercises which stretch and tone muscles and develop support for proper stress-free alignment of the skeletal structure. Students gain strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination while dancing to upbeat music.
Teen Jazz- Intro to jazz for ages 11+
Sr. Jazz 11yrs +
Intermediate/Adv jazz class is geared for dancers with a basic knowledge of jazz technique and terminology. Class will consist of a set warm-up that includes stretching and strengthening the body and basic ballet technique for body placement and alignment. Students will work on movements progressing across the floor, which consist of elements such as leaps, turns, isolations, footwork, and musicality. Teachers will challenge students with increasingly difficult exercises and combinations to build strength and proper technique.***Teacher Placement
Modern
Modern dance grows strong and versatile dancers with techniques that bring you from the floor, to the air, and back again. In addition to fundamental Modern dance skills, dancers will learn creative principles through movement exploration, creation and choreography, as well as basic contemporary partnering concepts like counterbalance and weight-sharing. This investigative and collaborative environment encourages teamwork and develops maturity in young dancers. Requires student to be enrolled in ballet 2X per week
Musical Showtime Theater (Kindergarten-2nd gr)
The class is structured to give the very young student the experience of being in a theater dance on stage, working together through a class warm-up, theater dance movement, voice, and stage presentation. Children learn the basics of facial expression and body movement as they learn song and dances from musicals.
Theater Production-ages 8+(Requires Jazz)
The class is structured to give the student the experience of being in a production on stage, working together through a production warm-up, rehearsal and a final performance. Pieces are chosen from classic musicals, and often incorporate blocking, partnering, scene, song and dance. Requires student to be enrolled in jazz.
Tap
Tap dance emphasizes the flow of movement by teaching the dancer to find rhythms and beats not only in music but in their own bodies. Students will master fundamental skills at each level. Tap is a high energy form of movement offering fun and fitness.
Hip-Hop
This class will introduce young students’ to the basic vocabulary and style of hip hop movement. Hip Hop is about personal style and expression. This high energy class can be taught to anyone with a passion to move, so no dance experience is required, but be prepared to sweat!!

Acro Dance (Requires Ballet or Jazz)
Acrobatic Dance, or acro as it is commonly referred to by dancers and dance professionals, is the beautiful fusion of classic dance technique and the precision and athleticism of acrobatic elements. Often defined by unique choreography, acro dancers seamlessly blend musicality, emotional expression, line and extension with acrobatic movements in a dance context.
Acro is an especially challenging style for dancers to master as training in both dance and acrobatic elements is required. Acro technique includes balancing, limbering, tumbling and partnering, based in flexibility, contortion and strength.
Acrobatic Arts starts at the very beginning, Our instructors have gone through the Acrobatic Arts Teacher Training and Certification courses to be trained in proper placement and technique so our students will have the building blocks to progress safely and quickly from one level to the next. The course provided extensive, hands-on training in spotting and progression so our teachers are knowledgeable, confident and inspired to teach acro dance.
**Students must be enrolled in ballet/jazz as AcroDance is founded in ballet and jazz. Students through the 2nd grade must be enrolled in a combo class.
Every student enrolled will start at the beginning of the course, and will move through progressions.
ACRO vs Gymnastics: What’s the Difference?