2009 Dance Class Descriptions

Dance Magic/ Future Stars     2.5-5 years 
A wonderful introduction to dance that includes emphasis on developing motor skills, rhythm and creative movement. Our dance classes are combination of tap dance, jazz, ballet, music and fun activities. The primary goal is to stimulate creativity and build self-confidence.  This class establishes a student in dance class by introducing them to class structure and stage presentation.  Two Piece Leotard or combination of dance apparel is encouraged for our little dancers. 

 The Dance Magic Curriculum is specialized for keeping children engaged in our activities which include social interaction and listening skills.  The students begin with social interaction then proceed into the classroom for general strengthening and rhythm skills.  A snack break is integrated into this class time to refocus the students energy,  change shoes for the next segment (and take a small break to keep them engaged).  Upon returning to the classroom creative movement, and motor skills are developed until class time is complete.

The ultimate goal with our younger dancers is to promote confidence and self awareness.

Little Dance Stars/ Little Tap Stars 2 years and up

Building on the same concepts of our Dance Magic curriculum, these classes are designed as short time spans for the younger dancer. Developing classroom behavior and stage confidence are the goals throughout the year.  These classes are for the student that is getting acclimated to a classroom setting, along with  developing basic skills.  These skill sets include socialization, friendship, spacial awareness, and balance skills.  Targeted learning includes memory retention, right and left, numbers, letters, rhythms and movements.

Tap Dance    2.5+ years
While using the feet as a musical instrument, tap teaches rhythm and strengthens memory retention. Students begin with basic rhythms and progress to more difficult, fast-paced combinations as they grow. A happy, "fun dance", yet a highly stylized dance of quality that is recognized and performed all over the world.  Basic rhythms help the developing dancer with strength and memorization skills. 

Funk Tap (9+)

Developing on the general concepts of Tap dance, funk tap takes the learning one step further to integrate hip hop dance.  Working with stomps, and more body movements than traditional tap dancing.  A fun class for a beginning tap dancer to learn the basics and develop strength and coordination.

 Hip Hop Dance    8+ years
A funky and highly stylized movement with roots in street and jazz dance. It emphasizes specific steps and rhythms in a high-energy, dynamic style.  Our style of hip hop dance builds on popular forms of dance, while keeping the routines fun, and age appropriate.

Hip Hop/ Jazz (7+)

Is an introductory learning class aimed and teaching the students basic skills of both forms of dance.  Creative learning are the emphasis with basic techniques factored in to the classroom.  Giving the students the excitement of the hip hop style of dance, while learning the foundations of jazz.  By integrating the two styles of dance students can build skills basic skills for suture progression.

 Modern Jazz  (10+)
The focus of class will be on large expressive movement. Students will learn about strengthening their dance core while increasing their range of motion through choreography and techniques.  This style of dance is gaining popularity as a stylized form of expression developing the dancers strengths through feeling the music and expressing themselves through dance.

 Jazz Dance     5+ years 
A more "modern" dance class that draws on a combination of several dance forms. Jazz classes are broken into 4 levels.

Jazz 1       5-7 years
promotes memory retention, strength, basic techniques and performance skills in the young dancer. 

 Jazz 2      6-10 years  
focuses on continued improvement of performance skills and beyond the basics techniques including flexibility and strength. 

Jazz 2 is for the upper intermediate dance student.    Progressions, various jazz styles and advanced technique skills are the basis for this level of dancer. 

 Jazz 3        12+ years
Level 4 is taught at a quick pace and concentrates on   developing professional level skills.  Mastering the techniques of Jazz 3 is required before enrolling. 

 Ballet   5 years and up
Encourages students to find their dance “core” for balance and fundamental foundation.  Designed to compliment all areas of the dance curriculum, ballet technique increases each student’s strength, flexibility, balance and overall dance skills.  Classes emphasize the development of classical ballet skills with a focus on proper placement and alignment. Students will learn ballet vocabulary through barre and center work while building strength and flexibility.
 

Whether you want to participate in ballet or just watch it, the ballet experience can excite and inspire you. Ballet is among the most beautiful forms of expression ever devised: an exquisite mix of sight and sound, stunning, aesthetics, and  technique.

Anyone who wants to enjoy all that the dance forms offers – as an onlooker who wants to get a leg up on the forms you're likely to see or as an exercise enthusiast who understands that the practice of ballet can help you gain.  More strength, Greater flexibility, Better body alignment, confidence in movement, comfort through stress reduction

Flexibility Classes

Designed to help the beginning or advanced level dancer strengthen their skills without the added pressures of performing.  These classes are designed to continually develop dance core muscles, memory retention and strength of each dancer.  Basic skills are more enhanced when they are reviewed more than once a week.  Flexibility and strength aid in all areas of dance along with participation in other activities. 

Lyrical (7+) a fusion of ballet and jazz dance techniques. In short, "it is a form of dancing which is a mix of ballet and modern but with a storyline". Lyrical dance challenges choreographers and dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempt to show the meaning of the music. Lyrical jazz is a very passionate and emotional dance style. It portrays certain emotions such as love, and tells a story through every movement made. Lyrical is a deep, personal, emotional dance that is known by its connected and graceful movements of the body. The rhythm and beat of the dance is synced with the lyrics and mood of the song.  Ballet is also recommended in conjunction with Lyrical dance enrollment.

Cheer Dance (7+)  a highly concentrated style of dancing that will focus on strength and synchronized movement.  Cheer dance is a team style dance where multiple levels of dancers are combined to create a highly visual routine utilizing props and movement.  Various forms of dance are integrated to develop the cheer dance routines including partners and flexibility techniques.

Funky Jazz Class  7 years and up
Students will utilize hip hop and basic dance techniques to demonstrate complex moves and create rhythmic sounds by using their bodies.   Stomp, also referred to as Stepping or Street Step is quickly growing in popularity due to movies like “Stomp the Yard”.  A modernized version of what is known as the African gumboot dance.  With its roots in a rich heritage of performance through speech, dance and song, stepping dates back more than a century.  The more modern “Stepping," or "step-dancing," is a high-energy, wildly entertaining Street dance style that's been blazing across the country.  "Stepping started out with traditional African elements like body percussion, and coordinated group movement,” according to choreographer for “Stomp the Yard”, Dave Scott.  

  Performance/Competition Teams

Performance Teams are for students that are interested in studying and participating in competitive dance.  Students will perform at various community events throughout the year, and may require additional practice times.  Teams utilize several forms of dance for their routines; learn multiple routines and technique throughout the year.   The school does participate in competitions to a limited degree.  Our main focus is teaching dance.  Because we believe competition offers benefits such as performance experience and positive feedback, we make an effort to participate. Additional fees are required for performance costumes, team warm ups, entry fees, travel expenses and event admission.  All Team participants are required to attend competition in Casper, Wyoming in April and developmental workshops held throughout the year.   Participation in all team events is required to be a team member.
 

 Dance Company Superstars (6-10 years)
Class is 1.5 hour per week,   No tryout required, Ballet, Jazz and Flexibility are required.
 

 Dance Company Shooting Stars (9-14 yrs)
Class is 2 hours per week.  No tryout required, however students are reviewed after 8 weeks to determine strengths and competition prep techniques.   Ballet, Jazz, Flexibility and student choice classes are required.
 

 Dance Company All Stars (12+ years)  Class is 2 hours per week.  No tryout required, however students are reviewed after 8 weeks to determine strengths and competition prep techniques.   Ballet, Jazz, Flexibility and student choice classes are required.

Thank you for understanding — Participation in all team events is required, attendance is mandatory for team classes.