Class Descriptions

 

Ballet: Age 2-6 A 30-minute or 45-minute introductory class for 2- to 6-year-olds. Young dancers learn the necessary steps while learning how to follow direction and imitate movement in a positive environment. Engaging music is used to get these little dancers inspired to dance. The use of props enables the dancers to use their imagination, creativity while having fun in a structured class. 

Jr ballet: Age 6-10: Ballet is a fundamental foundation for most styles of dance. Ballet training helps dancers understand the way their body moves and builds the muscles that are necessary to execute technical skills needed for multiple styles of dance. This class will introduce dancers to the traditional format of ballet training. Dancers will gain strength, control, balance, and gracefulness in movement throughout this class. 

Ballet age 9 & up: Ballet is the fundamental foundation for most styles of dance. Ballet training helps dancers understand the way their body moves and builds muscles necessary to execute technical skills needed for multiple styles of dance. This class is designed in the traditional format of ballet training. 

Beginner level: for dancers just starting out in their ballet training or taking consistent ballet classes for less than two years. Dancers will learn or review and perfect basic ballet vocabulary and technical skills and work toward preparing for intermediate level classes. 

Intermediate level: for dancers that have been taking ballet classes consistently for two or more years. Dancers should have a strong understanding of ballet vocabulary and intermediate level strength, flexibility, and technical execution. 

Combos: (Ages 3-6) A 45-minute age-specific class containing tap and ballet. This class introduces young dancers to two styles of dance and inspires movement and creativity within a positive environment. Dancers will learn ballet skills, tap instruction, and terminology in both styles of dance. The use of fun, age-appropriate music and props engages the young dancers’ minds and helps with motor skills. Combo classes will always start with tap and end with ballet. This class will always perform a tap routine at the recitals. 

Dancetivity: (Dancer activity Ages 18 months +) is a non-recital class. Dancers will learn classroom etiquette, teaches dance fundamentals through creative movement and music, prepares dancers, and help transition them into our recital classes. 

Hip Hop:  Age 2-6: A 30-minute or 45-minute introductory class for 2- to 6-year-olds. This class is a fun introduction to hip hop for young dancers. Dancers will learn beginner hip hop skills, coordination, stretching and counting with upbeat music. All moves and music are age appropriate. 

Hip Hop: Age 6+ Hip hop is a fast paced and exciting class that introduces dancers to intricate, age-appropriate movements to hip hop beats and lyrics. This is a great aerobic workout. Hip hop is constantly changing, and new styles are regularly incorporated into classes. All moves and music are age appropriate. 

Jazz: (Ages 4-18) is a 45-minute class. Jazz dance introduces a stylistic dance vocabulary for a fun, expressive way of dancing. This dance style is known for its upbeat music and choreography style. Jazz technique will be introduced in this class as well. 

Beginner level: for dancers just starting out in their jazz training or taking consistent jazz classes for less than two years. Dancers will learn or review and perfect all basic jazz vocabulary and technical skills.

Intermediate level: for dancers that have been taking jazz classes consistently for two or more years. Dancers should have a strong understanding of jazz vocabulary and intermediate technical execution.

Lyrical/Contemporary (Ages 4-18) is a 45-minute class. This class takes the fundamentals of ballet and jazz and combines them into a slower flowing dance form that allows for emotional expression through movement. Dancers will enjoy the slower pace and artistic exploration that lyrical dance offers while also improving on ballet and jazz technique. Contemporary training will incorporate aspects of modern dance with more exploration in telling a story or conveying emotion through movement. 

Tap: (Ages 6-18) is a 45-minute class. This class will help dancers develop rhythm and understand music at a deeper level. Tap is a rhythmic percussive dance form that uses the sounds from a dancer’s feet to accompany music or create their own. Dancers will learn traditional tap technique perfecting basic skills that they will eventually put into more complex patterns for choreography. 

Beginner level: for dancers just starting out in their tap training or taking consistent tap classes for less than two years. Dancers will learn or review and perfect basic tap vocabulary and technical skills and increase clarity and speed. 

Intermediate level: for dancers that have been taking tap classes consistently for two or more years. Dancers should have a strong understanding of tap vocabulary, level, and speed. 

Technique: (Ages 6+) This is a non-recital class. This class teaches the proper positioning of the body and to learn how to properly execute skills. This class is intended to work on turns, jumps, and across the floor combinations.

Turns & Leaps: (Ages 7-18) This is a training class designed to assist students in focusing on the leaps, jumps, and turns those dancers perform in dance. This specialized class is a way to better your technique when executing basic leaps, center leaps, turns, and fouetté.

Class Placement 

Students must be of the required age of the class by October 1. Students may sign up for a class at or below their age level. The only exception is if the dancer is placed by a teacher at a higher level. Because classes are progressive and build upon another, new students should register for the lowest class available to their age. Registering for a higher class may result in missing important curriculum. DDC staff will assess maturity, ability, prior classes taken at DDC, and attendance history to determine whether a higher-level class would be better suited. It is typical for students to spend a minimum of one year in the same class, and class promotions occur by January. All students must be able to separate from their parents/guardians. It can take a good 4 weeks for a dancer to get acclimated to a class. 

There is a four-student minimum. Classes that do not meet this requirement may be canceled or shortened in length with the same tuition at the teacher’s discretion.