Classes
Dance Connection offers the finest in professional dance/fitness instruction in the following areas:
Lil' Steppers
Lil' Steppers classes are introductory courses for toddlers ages 18 months to 2 years. As they learn to listen to music and hear the beat, they will improve their rhythm and timing as they learn to clap and use their feet. This is a recommended preparatory course for future Next Step students. Students learn basic motor skills as they learn new dance movements. Our positive instructors help the students learn socialization skills, as well as focusing in a classroom environment through discipline and structure. Physically, you will see improvements in your child’s balance and coordination. Classes are 30 minutes in length. Female Lil' Steppers students wear comfortable clothing with basic tennis shoes reserved for classroom use only. Leotard and tights with a full-sole basic pink ballet slipper (elastics attached and strings tucked in) are optional. Male Lil' Steppers students wear comfortable clothing with basic tennis shoes reserved for classroom use only. Full-sole basic black ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in) are optional.
Next Step
Next Step classes are introductory courses for preschool students who are 3 years old. Students work basic motor skills as they learn new dance movements in tap, ballet/creative movement and tumbling. Our positive instructors help the students learn socialization skills, as well as focusing in a classroom environment through discipline and structure. Physically, you will see improvements in your child’s balance and coordination. Your child will also benefit from learning beginner terminology. Each dance type is focused on for 15 minutes, resulting in a 45-minute class period. Female Next Step students wear any color leotard and tights, black patent leather Mary Jane style tap shoes with buckles and full-sole basic pink ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in). Male Next Step students wear any color t-shirt and dance pants (no oversized clothing), Bloch black jazz oxford tap shoes - no soft leather and full-sole basic black ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in).
Combo
Combo classes are introductory courses for preschool students ages 4 and 5 years old. Students continue working basic motor skills as they learn new dance movements in tap, ballet/creative movement and tumbling. Our positive instructors help the students learn socialization skills, as well as focusing in a classroom environment through discipline and structure. Physically, more balance and coordination will be gained, as well as additional work on new terminology and skills. Students working in this program should be able to determine what style of dance interests them most, so upon graduation, they will be able to determine which area they want to focus study. Each dance type is focused on for 20 minutes, resulting in a 1-hour class period. Female Combo students wear any color leotard and tights, black patent leather Mary Jane style tap shoes with buckles and full-sole basic pink ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in). Male Combo students wear any color t-shirt and dance pants (no oversized clothing), Bloch black jazz oxford tap shoes - no soft leather and full-sole basic black ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in).
Tap
Tap classes at Dance Connection are offered to students ages 5 through adult. A tap class provides students a fun and energetic environment to learn strong tap fundamentals and technique. Tap is a fantastic base for rhythm, timing and coordination – all skills that can be used in every dance form, as well as sports and other outside activities. Dancers that participate in this program are able to learn skills at a fairly rapid pace – quicker than in ballet and jazz, which are subjects strongly based on the placement of the entire body. This is the recommended class for students that are young, are beginners and/or have never studied dance before. Class lengths vary with the level of the class taken. They run either 45 minutes or 1 hour. As a guideline, approximately the first 2/3 of the class is spent working on technique and the remainder is spent on choreography and combinations. Female tap students wear any color leotard and tights, form fitting dance pants (which can include capri pants and/or bike shorts), cami tops are also acceptable with approval from your teacher and Capezio or Bloch black jazz oxford tap shoes — no soft leather soles. Male tap students wear any color t-shirt and dance pants (no oversized clothing) and Capezio or Bloch black jazz oxford tap shoes - no soft leather soles.
Jazz
Jazz classes at Dance Connection are offered to students ages 5 through adult. As a student progresses through the levels of jazz study, he or she will focus on breathing, basic stretches, isolations and walks. The student will advance into combinations with stress on proper technique. The fundamentals of strong jazz technique will be learned through proper body placement and strength, as the fluidity and smoothness of movements and transitions increase. As dancers advance, they learn difficult skills like pirouette turns, leaps, jumps and floor work. Students gain a working knowledge of terminology, as well as its accurate execution, as they learn to enjoy this expressive form of dance. Class lengths vary with the level of the class taken. They run either 45 minutes or 1 hour. As a guideline, approximately the first third of the class is spent working on warm-up, flexibility and conditioning; the second third works on technique and skill know-how and the remainder is spent on choreography and combinations. Female jazz students wear any color leotard and tights, form fitting dance pants (capri pants and/or bike shorts), cami tops are also acceptable with approval from your teacher and Capezio or Leo's black slip on jazz shoes — shoes without laces are preferred. Male jazz students wear any color t-shirt and dance pants (no oversized clothing) and Capezio or Leo's black slip on jazz shoes – shoes without laces are preferred.
Ballet
Ballet classes at Dance Connection are offered to students ages 5 through adult. Ballet study is a very disciplined art, and requires students to be focused and attentive in the classroom environment. Much detail is placed on the body, as accurate placement is a necessity for this form of dance. Because of ballet’s intensity in the areas of body placement (back, shoulders, arms, abdominal muscles, hips, legs, etc.), it is truly the foundation for all studies of dance. Strength is built differently by each student, and occurs over a period of time. Dancers will not receive immediate gratification, but those who work diligently will achieve success over their course of study. It is a recommended class for all dancers and anyone wishing to become more graceful, more poised and more coordinated. This is also an excellent class for budding athletes and/or gymnasts who wish to have an edge over the competition. Class length is 45 minutes, 1 hour or 1.5 hours based on instructor placement. Approximately the first third of the class is spent working on technique at the barre, the second third is spent working on technique in the centre and the remaining time is used for choreography and combinations. Female ballet students wear a black leotard and non-shimmer pink tights, which allows the instructor to see muscles working in the legs. Ballet skirts and/or dance cover-ups for warmth purposes can be worn with permission of the instructor, as it can prohibit the instructor from seeing proper body placement. Split-sole Bloch pink ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in) are required (leather or canvas). Male ballet students wear a white t-shirt and black dance pants (no oversized clothing). Split-sole Bloch black or white ballet slippers (elastics attached and strings tucked in) are required.
Hip Hop
Hip hop classes are offered to students ages 5 through adult. Movement in hip hop is based on current trends in the dance industry, most of which can be seen in today’s music videos and/or television shows. Like any form of dance, this subject offers its own set of skills and terminology that must be learned. It is strongly based on the proper body placement as well as the strength to execute its many “tricks” or “stunts.” As the student advances, he or she will learn how to put the many intricate moves of hip hop together. Class length is 30 minutes or 45 minutes based on age and ability. Hip hop students wear comfortable dance clothing and white tennis shoes that are reserved for classroom wear only. Please do not wear shoes in from the street.
Cheer
Cheer classes are offered to students ages 5 through adult. Students in this program work on different elements of cheer technique. They learn basic arm placement, hand placement, foot and leg placement as well as jump technique. In addition, they get basic skills in tumbling. Cheers, sideline chants and call-outs are also part of class – focusing on proper vocal projection is important to this process, also. Finally, they get experience working in a dance/pom routine, so they will get some basic jazz movement to coordinate with their moves learned in cheer technique. Class length is 45 minutes. The first 2/3 of the class is spent focusing on the areas mentioned above, while the reminder of the class is spent working on choreography and combinations. Cheer students wear comfortable dance clothing and white tennis shoes that are reserved for classroom wear only. Please do not wear shoes in from the street.
Clogging
Clogging classes will only be offered if enough students are interested in the program. Clogging classes are offered to students ages 5 through adult. Clogging is a skill that is best learned when a student has already gained some tap knowledge. Many skills are similar and/or the same; however, each subject offers its own list of terminology. Class length is 45 minutes. The first 2/3 of the class is spent working on technique and skills, while the remainder of the class is spent focusing on choreography and combinations. Clogging students wear comfortable dance clothing. White clogging shoes are also required. Adult
Adult classes are offered for the beginner to advanced upper teen / adult student. What separates these classes from other classes offered at Dance Connection is not the quality of dance instruction, but rather the age of students in the class. Our upper teen / adult classes are reserved strictly for the more mature student, which allows for easier socialization among students, as well as a more relaxed atmosphere that helps students progress at their own rate. We find this the best way for students to enjoy class and get a great workout. For class descriptions and lengths please see the above class descriptions. Adult classes range from 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the class. Adults can follow the dress code listed above, or they may simply wear comfortable exercise clothing with the appropriate dance shoes. Parents of current Dance Connection students – ask us how you qualify for a fantastic parent discount, so that you, too, can discover the benefits of dance!
|