Visit us at #1 - 5400 Jaeger Road or call 239-566-3535
Bring a Friend Week: February 8th - 14th
The Lower & Upper Program is designed for dancers from ages 8 - 18. Classes are offered in many different styles and techniques to provide the students with a broad educational spectrum of the world of dance.
Ballet (Ages 8 - 18; 60/90 minutes) Ballet is the foundation of all dance styles. Progress is made gradually requiring repetition of basics and introduction of new steps to develop strength, correct alignment, technique, and musicality. Our ballet program is a blend of Russian (Vagonova), Cecchetti (Italian), French and Balanchine styles.
To be eligible for the Ballet 4 level class students must be enrolled and attending a minimum of two ballet classes each week.
Broadway Jazz (Ages 12 - 18; 60 minutes) This class will focus on performance skills such as facial expression, connection to music and audience appeal while developing strong theater dance technique. Students will study theater dance through the ages beginning in the 1920s until the present. This class is a must for any young performer!
Contemporary/Modern (Ages 12 - 18; 60 minutes) Modern dance is a contemporary dance form that has its roots in Ballet. Classes include floor and center work that incorporates the use of gravity and a sense of weightlessness in the body on top of technique work. The movement vocabulary and range of motion used is endless and creative and draws on each student’s personal expression. Classes may include improvisation and creative exercises. Graham & Limün technique will be used. It is strongly recommended that students also be enrolled in a ballet class when taking Contemporary/Modern.
Hip Hop (Ages 10+; 60 minutes) In this class, students will learn the latest dance moves and hear the latest hits. They also will be able to use basic steps to create explosive hip-hop moves with plenty of attitude. No prior experience required, but for younger students some prior dance training is recommended. We pride ourselves in age-appropriate movement, music and costuming.
Jazz (Ages 8 - 18; 60 minutes) With an emphasis on technique and systematic training, dancers are exposed to a multitude of styles and flavors of jazz dance movement. Jazz helps develop coordination, flexibility, strength and movement. Jazz dance is truly an American art form.
Lyrical (Ages 10 - 18; 60 minutes) This class blends ballet and jazz techniques creating a perfect avenue of self-expression performed to contemporary music. Lyrical dance interprets music or words, showing the audience the emotion of the particular piece. Dancers will gain fluidity of movement, grace, control, individual expression and self-confidence.
Pre-Pointe & Pointe (Ages 10 - 18; 30/45 minutes) Pointe is an extension of ballet and builds foot articulation and strength as well as incorporates classical variations. Students must receive the teacher’s permission to participate in pointe class to assure that they are in proper physical shape to be able to safely work on pointe.
Pre-Pointe classes typically begin in connection with Ballet 2 level class with the student moving onto beginning pointe at the Ballet 3 level. However, students will only be able to go on pointe if they are able to do so safely, without risking injury to the growing bones and joints. To ensure our student’s safety, instructors will only grant permission to go on pointe if the students ready.
To be eligible for Pointe classes a student must be enrolled and attending a minimum of two ballet classes each week.
Rhythm Tap (Ages 8 - 18; 45/60 minutes) Rhythm tap focuses on rhythms and intricate footwork, creating a percussion instrument out of the dancer's feet. Just like jazz vocalists who add rhythms to music by scatting, tappers add their voice by "scatting" with their feet. Rhythm tap tends to be a heavier or harder-hitting form of tap than Broadway tap, and sounds are made not only with the bottom of the shoe, but also with the back, sides, and tip. Rhythm tap is a broad category that encompasses the hoofing styles of current stars such as Savion Glover and the late Gregory Hines and past masters such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Jimmy Slyde.
Acro 3 (Ages 9+; 60 minutes) A combination of acrobatics and dance. Think Cirque de Soleil! Learn how to properly execute acrobatic tricks and develop gymnastic skills. Acro emphasizes strength, flexibility, agility and physical control. This class is great for acrobats, gymnasts and dancers alike. Focus is on improving tumbling skills, dance skills and combing both in routines and performance.
Active Isolated (AI) Conditioning (Ages 10+; 45/60 minutes) This class is for Dancers and Non-Dancers. Students will focus on improving their flexibility, which is an asset in the world of dance. Emphasis is on postural alignment, strength, flexibility and re-patterning of muscular-skeletal imbalances. A flexible body is more efficient, is more easily trained to strength and endurance, enjoys more range of motion, stays balanced more easily and is less prone to injury. Please bring your own mat.
