Our technique classes are offered at various levels to accommodate every dancer. Each student is placed in the class or level that is most appropriate for his/her needs and development as young dancer. Placement is up to the discretion of the teacher and school director. See diagram below. For a breakdown of tuition, please see the Tuition Web page. For a Schedule of Classes, please visit the Schedule Web page.

Elementary Dance Classes

• Parent and Child/Movement and Song: Encourage your child’s imagination as you explore creative dance using stories, props and movement. (This class is offered through Howard County Recreation and Parks only. Appropriate for ages 2-3 years old. Call 410-313-PARK to register or visit the HCRP web site.)
• Creative Dance: Introduces children to the joy of moving using stories, props and lots of imagination.
• Dance Basics:An introduction to pre-ballet/tap movement and basic dance skills, incorporating locomotor and rhythmic patterns. Creative dance may be incorporated within the class movement.
• Dance Fundamentals:Students continue to build on their knowledge of pre-ballet and pre-tap movement. As students progress, movement patterns become more complex and students begin to develop sustained attention for learning technique more directly.
• Creative Movement A and B: Fundamentals of Modern Dance:Introduces students to creative dance as a way to explore their own way of moving and creating. Students
  will learn about space, shape, time, and rhythm and body awareness while beginning to use them as tools for expression.
• Pre-Ballet:Introduces students to beginning ballet movement and traveling exercises. Emphasis is on the coordination of the beginning standard arm and leg positions as well as basic floor vocabulary.
• Pre-Jazz:Introduces the student to syncopated rhythm patterns, isolated movement of the body and simple traveling sequences.
  Pre-Tap: Introduces basic movement and rhythmic patterns in the tap dance vocabulary.
• Elementary A and B Ballet, Jazz and Tap:Students will continue to review and build on their skills acquired in their pre-dance classes. They will begin to focus on combining pieces of movement vocabulary in ballet, longer more complex movement phrases in jazz and combining both axial and loco motor movement in tap.Please note that two years in Elementary A may be needed prior to moving to Elementary B.

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Performance Dance Track

• Level A - Ballet, Jazz, Modern: Reviews skills from elementary B classes and begins to place more emphasis on technique, phrasing and more complex movement sequences.Prerequisite: Completion and mastery of Elementary B skills. Please note more than two years in Elementary B may be needed prior to moving to Level A.
• Level B1- Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern and Tap: Reviews skills taught in Level A classes and emphasizes further development and mastering of skills learned in Level A. Pointe class will emphasize proper development of foot and ankle strength. Prerequisite: Completion and mastering of Level A skills. Please note that more than two years in Level A may be needed prior to moving to Level B1.
• Level B2 - Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern and Tap:Reviews skills taught in Level B1.
  Dance technique at this level introduces a mature perspective of musicality, quality
  and dynamic differences along with clear understanding and performance of brief and simplistic movement phrases. Pointe class will continue to emphasize proper foot and ankle development. Prerequisite: Completion and mastering of Level B1 skills. Please note that more than two years in Level B1 may be needed prior to moving to Level B2.
• Level C - Ballet, Pointe and Variations, Jazz, Modern and Tap:Dance technique classes at this level expand on musicality, quality and dynamic differences for the mature dancer by emphasizing performance of long and complex movement phrases. Pointe class will move towards more advanced exercises while continuing to focus on proper foot and ankle alignment. Variations class will emphasize mastery of historical background and style as well as technique. Prerequisite: Completion and mastering of Level B2 skills. Please note that more than two years in Level B2 may be needed prior to moving to Level C.

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Recreational Dance Track

• Ballet I - III: Students are introduced to standard barre and center vocabulary. Time is spent on phrases that emphasize slow, controlled movement, fast footwork, turns and jumps.
• Jazz I - III: Students will learn basic syncopation and isolation movements and combine them with larger motor work that demonstrates strength and flexibility in longer movement patterns as they move through the levels.
• Modern I - III: Students are introduced to the use of the spine and torso and involvement of the whole body in simple movement patterns that become more complicated as the student progresses.
• Teen Ballet, Jazz and Modern: Students are introduced to basic movement phrases and patterns in all classes allowing students to work at their own pace.

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Classes for Children with Special Needs

• Movement and Me (ages 4-8): This class is a creative movement class geared towards students with special needs. Students will have fun moving their bodies and learning various dance/movement activities and music.
• Combo Class (ages 11-16): This class covers several aspects of dance including jazz, modern and creative movement. This class is designed for children with special needs. Students will enjoy exploring different ways of moving through various dance activities.

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Fitness Classes

• Yoga (ages 16 and up): Hatha Yoga strengthens the body and improves flexibility while increasing relaxation and reducing stress. Become aware of breathing techniques, meditation and chakras (energy centers).
• Pilates-Mat Class (ages 16 and up): The Pilates Method is an exercise system focused on improving flexibility and strength for the whole body without building bulk. It is a series of controlled movements that provide a refreshing and energizing workout.
• Dance Fitness to the Oldies and Rockin’ Dance Fitness (ages 16 and up):Work out to your favorite music of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, back when it was recorded on vinyl!
  Your favorite dance steps combined with dance aerobics will make you feel great! No
  experience necessary. (These classes are also offered through Howard County Recreation and Parks. Call 410-313-PARK to register or visit the HCRP web site.)
• Barre Core (ages 16 and up):A full body workout without impact on the knees or joints. Gain tone and strength using your own body weight as you glide through a series of ballet/fitness based exercises at the barre. (This class is offered through Howard County Recreation and Parks only. Call 410-313-PARK to register or visit the HCRP web site.)

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Specialty Dance Classes

• Musical Theatre I and II (ages 9-18): Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, song, dance, and spoken dialogue. A great introduction to show tunes and Broadway style choreography for students interested in musicals. No experience is necessary.
• Hip Hop I, II, III, and IV (ages 10-adult):A high energy dance class based on street dancing that uses popular hip hop and pop music. Dynamics and isolation of the different parts of the body make this form easily recognizable.
• Lyrical/Modern I and II (ages 10-17): (All students enrolled in lyrical must also be enrolled in a ballet class). - Learn to express yourself through the music, lyrics and movement in this new, free flowing dance class. This class is a blend of modern dance and ballet, executed to contemporary music with meaning and definition.
• Dance and the Art of Storytelling (Ages 3-7): This class focuses on the ways dance has been used in the past as a method of storytelling and the ways we can use it to tell our own stories. Classes focus on reading child-friendly versions of famous ballets and folktales and then acting or “dancing” them out. Culminating in the creation of a story-web of movement. Perfect for homeschool groups. Session classes only.
• Cultural Dance Workshop (Ages 6-10): A six week class devoting two weeks each to a brief study of a different cultural style of dance. This is a fun way of looking at cultural origins and meanings of dance as well as learning the styles themselves. The sessions will focus on African dance, Israeli dance and ballet. Perfect for homeschool groups. Session classes only.
  Movement for Boys: A class designed to introduce boys only to movement and dance in a fun, structured environment. Session classes only.
• Belly Dance I and Belly Dance II (ages 16 and up): Enjoy a great workout while performing this tradition-enriched dance. (Beginning I class is offered through Howard County Recreation and Parks only. Please call 410-313-PARK to register or visit the HCRP web site.)
• Social Ballroom (ages 16 and up): Learn to Salsa, Waltz, and Foxtrot, all in one night! These classes introduce you to the basics of ballroom. Gain the skills needed to feel comfortable on the dance floor and at your next formal function.
• Latin Jam! (ages 16 and up): This is a blast of a class that’s aerobic, fun and up to the minute trendy cool! No partners required. Just dance your hips into oblivion with
  the hottest music of Salsa, Merengue, ChaCha, Samba, Ba-chata, Reggaeton and
  Rumba!

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