THE TYPES OF DANCES WE TEACH
ACRO/TUMBLING: is a subcategory of gymnastics combined with elements of dance with the strength and agility acrobatics (such as handstands, somersaults, backflips). Tumbling is a very high energy class that focuses on stamina, flexibility, muscle strength through repetition of movement. Acrobatic Arts or Acro is the fusion of dance technique, strength and athleticism through acrobatics skills incorporated into dance choreography.
BALLET: is a type of performance dance that originated during the fifteenth century and the Italian Renaissance, later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its graceful, flowing, and precise movements, and its ethereal qualities. We incorporate various parts of Russian, French, British, and Italian ballet into our program. For example, Russian ballet features high extensions and dynamic turns, whereas Italian ballet tends to be more grounded, with a focus on fast, intricate footwork. Many of the stylistic variations are associated with specific training methods that have been named after their originators. Despite the variations, the performance and movement vocabulary of classical ballet are largely consistent throughout the world.
BALLET TECHNIQUE: is the foundational principles of body movement and form used in ballet. The techniques found in classical ballet are a framework for many other styles of dance, including jazz and contemporary ballet. Aspects of ballet technique include alignment, keeping the head, shoulders, and hips vertically aligned. Turnout movements with legs rotated outward; this promotes clean footwork, graceful port de bras (movement of the arms), and correct body positions, lines and angles. Other aspects of ballet technique include posture, toe pointing, keeping shoulders down, and pulling up, which combines proper posture and lifting of the muscles to increase turnout and enhance alignment and thus improve the quality of turns. Ballet technique is also used to exhibit ballon, the appearance of gravity-defying lightness, during leaps. Pointe technique is the part of ballet technique concerned with dancing on the tips of fully extended feet.
CHOREOGRAPHY: is the art or practice of developing/designing sequences of movements of physical bodies. Planning, arranging movements, steps, patterns of dance technique represents different motions and/or dynamics in performance and competition. A choreographer is one who creates and develop movement into sections and/or formations practicing the art of dance with various of styles in choreograph, a process known as choreographing.
CLASSICAL BALLET: is any traditional, formal styles of ballet that employ classical ballet. It also called romantic ballet, system of dance based on formalized movements, positions of the feet, arms, body designed to enable the dancer to move with the greatest agility, control, speed, lightness and grace. Classical-ballet technique is based on the turned-out position of the legs, which increases the range of movement through added mobility in the hip joint and also imparts a more pleasing line to the extended leg. The subject matter of classical ballet may be romantic, realistic, or mythological; a variety of dramatic and emotional situations may be represented. A classical production is divided into three sections: the opening pas de deux (dance for two), or adagio; variations or individual performances by the partners, first by the male and then by the female; and the final pas de deux, or coda.
CONTEMPORARY: Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. The term "contemporary" is somewhat misleading: it describes a genre that developed during the mid-20th century and is still very popular today.
HIP HOP: is a form of dance that combines a variety of freestyle movements to create a cultural piece of art. Through the three main styles of popping, locking, and breaking, hip-hop dance has evolved into one of the most popular and influential styles of dance. Hip Hop consists of four main elements: b-boying(breaking), dj-ing, graffiti art, and mc-ing(rapping). Hip hop dance as we know it today evolved from three underground dance styles: b-boying, locking, and popping. We breakdown each style of hip hop dance thoroughly through movement, history and knowledge.
IMPROV: is the process of spontaneously creating movement. Development of movement material is facilitated through a variety of creative explorations including body mapping through levels, shape and dynamics schema. Improvisation is a free, seemingly unstructured, less technically strict and impulsive form that draws inspiration from everyday dance practices and influences. It is a movement technique that is capable of evoking dramatic and thought-provoking content just as well as more codified western dance techniques such as ballet and non-western movement forms. A lot of improvisation is focused on finding a deeper way of comprehending otherwise concealed thoughts or feelings of an individual. Through the emphasis of instinctual, unpredictable, free movement that improvisation is centered upon the mover is able to explore authentic feelings and inspirations.
JAZZ: is a performance dance and style that in the United States arose in the mid 20th century. Jazz dance may allude to vernacular jazz or to Broadway or dramatic jazz. The two types expand on African-American vernacular styles of dance that arose with jazz music. Any dance to jazz accompaniments, composed of a profusion of forms. Jazz dance paralleled the birth and spread of jazz itself from roots in Black American society and was popularized in ballrooms by the big bands of the swing era (1930s and '40s). Before the 1950s the term “jazz dance” referred to a range of dance styles that originated from the African American vernacular dances of the late 1800s to mid 1900s. During the 1950s, modern jazz dance appeared on the scene which was rooted in Caribbean traditional dance and had a very different style.
JAZZ TECHNIQUE: is a blend of traditions in which the African influence of rhythmic propulsion results in an energetic and exhilarating class of rhythmic and dynamic movement and European influence. Typical elements of jazz dance are isolation movements, precise leg, arm and foot movements, breathtaking jumping techniques and twists. Some styles of jazz dance are classical jazz, contemporary jazz, commercial jazz, latin jazz, afro jazz and street jazz.
LYRICAL TECHNIQUE: Lyrical dance is a style that combines ballet and jazz dancing techniques. It is performed to music with lyrics so that it inspires expression of strong emotions the choreographer feels from the lyrics of the song. This style concentrates on an individual approach and expressiveness of such emotions as love, joy, hurt, or anger. The Lyrical style has a relatively recent history and brings together ballet with rock/folk/pop/alternative music and a variety of jazz and modern dance styles. Music for this style may consist of many genres including pop, rock, and hip- hop.
MOMMY & ME: is an introductory of toddler dance class where a parent or guardian joins them during class. This dance class may benefit your child by meeting other children his or her own age, experiencing a classroom setting which will make it a familiar place like school, gaining more muscle control, experience moving through music in time and enhancing physical coordination.
MODERN: is a style of theatrical dance that rejects the limitations of classical ballet and expresses complex emotions and abstract ideas. Some modern technique we offer ranges from, Graham, Cunningham and Horton and includes elements such as performance art, contact improvisation, floor work, release-technique, and improvisation. Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance which included dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
MUSICAL THEATER: is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. Although musical theatre overlaps with other theatrical forms like opera and dance, it may be distinguished by the equal importance given to the music as compared with the dialogue, movement and other elements. Since the early 20th century, musical theatre stage works have generally been called, simply, musicals.
PRE-POINTE & POINTE: Pointe technique is the part of classical ballet technique that concerns pointe work, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes. Pre-pointe is a level for beginners, and pointe is a level for intermediate/advance dancers.
STRETCH & CONDITIONING: is the practical application of sports science to enhance movement quality. It is grounded in evidence-based research and physiology of exercise and anatomy. We focus on movement quality to improve performance, preventing injuries, enhance general health, strengthen bones and increase muscle mass and metabolism.
TAP TECHNIQUE: is a type of dance characterised by using the sounds of metal taps affixed to the heel and toe of shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion, coupled with both characteristic and interpretative body movements. We work with the dancers on the ankles, sounds, speed, mastering tap rudiments (basics) and putting them to use in the appropriate level.
TURNS & LEAPS: is the skill, practice of executing basic ballet and jazz turns, leaps, kicks and leg strength. This offers training in dance technique and the elements of core strength. The conditioning is the preparation to achieve the correct aspects of turns and leaps.
BALLET: is a type of performance dance that originated during the fifteenth century and the Italian Renaissance, later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its graceful, flowing, and precise movements, and its ethereal qualities. We incorporate various parts of Russian, French, British, and Italian ballet into our program. For example, Russian ballet features high extensions and dynamic turns, whereas Italian ballet tends to be more grounded, with a focus on fast, intricate footwork. Many of the stylistic variations are associated with specific training methods that have been named after their originators. Despite the variations, the performance and movement vocabulary of classical ballet are largely consistent throughout the world.
BALLET TECHNIQUE: is the foundational principles of body movement and form used in ballet. The techniques found in classical ballet are a framework for many other styles of dance, including jazz and contemporary ballet. Aspects of ballet technique include alignment, keeping the head, shoulders, and hips vertically aligned. Turnout movements with legs rotated outward; this promotes clean footwork, graceful port de bras (movement of the arms), and correct body positions, lines and angles. Other aspects of ballet technique include posture, toe pointing, keeping shoulders down, and pulling up, which combines proper posture and lifting of the muscles to increase turnout and enhance alignment and thus improve the quality of turns. Ballet technique is also used to exhibit ballon, the appearance of gravity-defying lightness, during leaps. Pointe technique is the part of ballet technique concerned with dancing on the tips of fully extended feet.
CHOREOGRAPHY: is the art or practice of developing/designing sequences of movements of physical bodies. Planning, arranging movements, steps, patterns of dance technique represents different motions and/or dynamics in performance and competition. A choreographer is one who creates and develop movement into sections and/or formations practicing the art of dance with various of styles in choreograph, a process known as choreographing.
CLASSICAL BALLET: is any traditional, formal styles of ballet that employ classical ballet. It also called romantic ballet, system of dance based on formalized movements, positions of the feet, arms, body designed to enable the dancer to move with the greatest agility, control, speed, lightness and grace. Classical-ballet technique is based on the turned-out position of the legs, which increases the range of movement through added mobility in the hip joint and also imparts a more pleasing line to the extended leg. The subject matter of classical ballet may be romantic, realistic, or mythological; a variety of dramatic and emotional situations may be represented. A classical production is divided into three sections: the opening pas de deux (dance for two), or adagio; variations or individual performances by the partners, first by the male and then by the female; and the final pas de deux, or coda.
CONTEMPORARY: Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. The term "contemporary" is somewhat misleading: it describes a genre that developed during the mid-20th century and is still very popular today.
HIP HOP: is a form of dance that combines a variety of freestyle movements to create a cultural piece of art. Through the three main styles of popping, locking, and breaking, hip-hop dance has evolved into one of the most popular and influential styles of dance. Hip Hop consists of four main elements: b-boying(breaking), dj-ing, graffiti art, and mc-ing(rapping). Hip hop dance as we know it today evolved from three underground dance styles: b-boying, locking, and popping. We breakdown each style of hip hop dance thoroughly through movement, history and knowledge.
IMPROV: is the process of spontaneously creating movement. Development of movement material is facilitated through a variety of creative explorations including body mapping through levels, shape and dynamics schema. Improvisation is a free, seemingly unstructured, less technically strict and impulsive form that draws inspiration from everyday dance practices and influences. It is a movement technique that is capable of evoking dramatic and thought-provoking content just as well as more codified western dance techniques such as ballet and non-western movement forms. A lot of improvisation is focused on finding a deeper way of comprehending otherwise concealed thoughts or feelings of an individual. Through the emphasis of instinctual, unpredictable, free movement that improvisation is centered upon the mover is able to explore authentic feelings and inspirations.
JAZZ: is a performance dance and style that in the United States arose in the mid 20th century. Jazz dance may allude to vernacular jazz or to Broadway or dramatic jazz. The two types expand on African-American vernacular styles of dance that arose with jazz music. Any dance to jazz accompaniments, composed of a profusion of forms. Jazz dance paralleled the birth and spread of jazz itself from roots in Black American society and was popularized in ballrooms by the big bands of the swing era (1930s and '40s). Before the 1950s the term “jazz dance” referred to a range of dance styles that originated from the African American vernacular dances of the late 1800s to mid 1900s. During the 1950s, modern jazz dance appeared on the scene which was rooted in Caribbean traditional dance and had a very different style.
JAZZ TECHNIQUE: is a blend of traditions in which the African influence of rhythmic propulsion results in an energetic and exhilarating class of rhythmic and dynamic movement and European influence. Typical elements of jazz dance are isolation movements, precise leg, arm and foot movements, breathtaking jumping techniques and twists. Some styles of jazz dance are classical jazz, contemporary jazz, commercial jazz, latin jazz, afro jazz and street jazz.
LYRICAL TECHNIQUE: Lyrical dance is a style that combines ballet and jazz dancing techniques. It is performed to music with lyrics so that it inspires expression of strong emotions the choreographer feels from the lyrics of the song. This style concentrates on an individual approach and expressiveness of such emotions as love, joy, hurt, or anger. The Lyrical style has a relatively recent history and brings together ballet with rock/folk/pop/alternative music and a variety of jazz and modern dance styles. Music for this style may consist of many genres including pop, rock, and hip- hop.
MOMMY & ME: is an introductory of toddler dance class where a parent or guardian joins them during class. This dance class may benefit your child by meeting other children his or her own age, experiencing a classroom setting which will make it a familiar place like school, gaining more muscle control, experience moving through music in time and enhancing physical coordination.
MODERN: is a style of theatrical dance that rejects the limitations of classical ballet and expresses complex emotions and abstract ideas. Some modern technique we offer ranges from, Graham, Cunningham and Horton and includes elements such as performance art, contact improvisation, floor work, release-technique, and improvisation. Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance which included dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
MUSICAL THEATER: is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. Although musical theatre overlaps with other theatrical forms like opera and dance, it may be distinguished by the equal importance given to the music as compared with the dialogue, movement and other elements. Since the early 20th century, musical theatre stage works have generally been called, simply, musicals.
PRE-POINTE & POINTE: Pointe technique is the part of classical ballet technique that concerns pointe work, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes. Pre-pointe is a level for beginners, and pointe is a level for intermediate/advance dancers.
STRETCH & CONDITIONING: is the practical application of sports science to enhance movement quality. It is grounded in evidence-based research and physiology of exercise and anatomy. We focus on movement quality to improve performance, preventing injuries, enhance general health, strengthen bones and increase muscle mass and metabolism.
TAP TECHNIQUE: is a type of dance characterised by using the sounds of metal taps affixed to the heel and toe of shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion, coupled with both characteristic and interpretative body movements. We work with the dancers on the ankles, sounds, speed, mastering tap rudiments (basics) and putting them to use in the appropriate level.
TURNS & LEAPS: is the skill, practice of executing basic ballet and jazz turns, leaps, kicks and leg strength. This offers training in dance technique and the elements of core strength. The conditioning is the preparation to achieve the correct aspects of turns and leaps.