Dance Styles

In Ballet, Tap and Modern we follow the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus. The rest of the classes are free unset syllabus classes.

BALLET

We offer classes in ballet from the age of 3 upwards.

Beginners Ballet

This free class is designed for boys and girls around the age of 3-6. The class is based on alot of free work getting them used to the simple placements and positions of thier limbs. This is achieved with the use of props such as wands, fairy wings, flags and instruments. It also includes free imaginate music with lots of mimes suchs as becoming fairies, butterflies, ponys, horses, tooth fairy, soldiers and many more. The most important aspect of the beginners ballet class is fun!

Primary grade and onwards

This is now were they have set syllabus work that is still enjoyable but becomes more challenging. At the beginning grades alot of the syllabus work is still based on a fun element but now includes more tecnique and challenging steps. As the grades get higher they have alot more exercises which become longer to obviously build great stamina and strength. In the higher grades the class is split into different sections.

1.Barre Work - This is were exercises are performed holding onto a ballet barre helping to work on the basic techniques. It gives a dancer support and stability when learning new movements which adds confidence and enables them to concentrate on just one side of the body at a time. Both sides of the body are always worked equally the same.

2.Centre Work - This includes port de bras (use of the arms), adage (Slow controlled movements) and allegro (Elevation). The centre work is performed to show the development of the barre work but now using the use of directions. The target of centre work is to develop strength, control, balance, alignment, co-odination, presentation and spacial awareness. The port de bras is to encourage quality, style, breath control, highlights, musciality and line. The adage is to show slow controlled and sustained movements gaining correct poisture and placement. The allegro is the elevation part which will help build great stamina, strong core and strong quads, thighs and hamstrings.

TAP

Again we offer classes from the age of 3.

Beginners Tap

This class is combined with the beginners ballet class. Here they learn the basic tap steps incoporating fun and enjoyable music. They also begin to develop the different rhythms incorporating thier feet, hands and the use of musical instruments. Most important part of tap is the children love the noise!

Lower Tap Grades

The primary and grade 1 tap has recently been changed and updated. It includes alot more free steps including more funky lively music and the children seem to love it.

Higher Tap Grades

The higher tap grades cover alot more variety of steps get more intricate and tricky. Some of the exercises require the use of a barre to help with support so full concentration can be made to the feet. These are then developed into the centre. Most of the tap requires a stong core, good poisture, relaxed knees and ankles, musicality, good tonal quality and rhythmicality. Then more variety of steps include pick ups, cramp rolls, set rhythms, riffs, timesteps, turning steps, compound steps and amalgations.

MODERN

Classes from age 3/4 onwards

Lower Modern Grades

This is a very popular class based on a lively environment with a variety of exciting music encouraging the children to be very creative and imaginate. The class is to work on natural movements and the basic motor skills such as walking, running, jumping and skipping. It is also excellent for getting the children used to maipulating the limbs and understanding the different body parts. The most popular exercise the children love is a song learning which is thier right and left using different movements and singing.

Higher Modern Grades

The higher grades become more challenging and cover a wider variety or movements. the exercises become longer and more intense to help build lots of strength and stamina. The general movement throughout the higher grades consists of leap, turns, kicks, improvisation, different rhythms, elevated movements, technical exercises, abdominal exercises, vocab steps, combination steps, floor exercises and amalgamations.

JAZZ

Classes from age 5

Beginners Jazz

This is a free class introducing them to a lively and upbeat class performing short routines to thier favourite pop music. The class will always begin with a warm up then it will continue with short exercises to prepare them for more difficult movements such as turns, kicks and elevations. They will also perform short funky jazz routines which will follow with slow gentle stretches to help gain flexibility and a cool down.

Jazz Medals

This consists of bronze, silver and gold medals which show and develop the different stages of jazz. The examinations are more about the performance showing different styles and qualities in short routines to a variety of pop music.

STREET DANCE

From age 4 onwards

This is a free class which consist of warms ups and routines for each style of street dance, freestyle and choreography work.

Street Dance styles consist of:

Hip Hop

Locking

Breaking

Popping

Lyrical choreogrphy

House

MUSICAL THEATRE

This is a free class where we work on songs from different musicals and we put routines and performances together using acting, singing and dancing. We also do drama exercises to help build confidence, facial expressions and becoming different characters.

ACRO

Acro over the last couple of years has become very popular. This is were we blend movements and tricks from gymnastics and blend them into dance routines. Tricks and movements such as cartwheels, roly polys, splits, crabs, walkovers, aerials, flicks. Lots of the acro requires great flexibility and strength, so it is recommended that other classes are also taken such as modern, ballet and jazz to build the strength and flexibility required. There is also small parts of contortion used with children that are overly flexible.

CONTEMPORARY

Contemporary is become more and more popular, this is a dance style which is great for expressing yourself using your feelings and emotions. The style of dance is a mixture between Ballet, Modern and Jazz. It includes expressive movements, floor work, jumps, leaps, turns, hops, leg extensions, pirouettes.