Class Levels:


            *Special Note: Students are placed by ability, not by age or grade level, regardless  
               of previous training. Every student learns at a different pace and has individual 
               capabilities of coordination, timing, attention span, strength, stamina, and 
               determination. The Director and/or teacher will determine a student’s readiness to 
               be advanced to the next level.

Ballet:

            NEW!! Tiny Dancer Division:  A program designed to introduce creative movement and basic ballet        

            vocabulary to "little feet"; each class blends a fix of fundamental stretching, body awareness, basic

            positions and locomotive steps using imagination and expression. Designed to inspire and delight the 

            child as they begin to learn how to gain mastery over their body and how they move in space. Please

             click on the "tiny dancer" tab above for  specific  class descriptions, thanks.

            K -1 Ballet:  Introduction to basic ballet principles with focus on foot placement & articulation;

            continuation and expansion of skills learned in butterflies & bugs 4's.

            Ballet I/Beginning:  Beginning level for learning technique; 2nd grade and up. Dancers at this level 

            learn the formal structure of a ballet technique class including barre, center and across the floor.

            Ballet II/Adv. Beg:  Previous training required; dancers strongly encouraged to take two classes per

            week; must display ability to stand at barre correctly, have knowledge of  and be able  

            to correctly perform basic ballet vocabulary movement and have a well placed  port de bras.

            Ballet III/Beg. Int.:  By permission only. Previous training and three classes a week required. Dancers

            must be able to perform barre exercises with hips pulled up and straight knees, balance on one leg 
            at barre and in center, and have a working knowledge of simple adagio, petite and grand allegro.

            A clean, well- placed port de bras is required; dancers at this level may be asked to join a pointe class.

            Ballet IV/Adv. Int:  By permission. Previous training and three classes a week required; pointe is

            included as part of class. Dancers must be able to perform correctly a clean pirouette en dehors

            and en dedans on each side, have strong balance at the barre and in center, be able to correctly

            perform intermediate level adagio, petite and grand allegro, channie and pique turns.

            Ballet V/Advanced:  By permission. Previous training and four classes a week required; pointe is

            included as part of class. Dancers must be able to, at minimum, correctly perform en pointe: a 
            clean pirouette en dehor and en dedans, sissone en pointe in all directions, pique, soutounu

            and channie turns.

            Pointe:  Our criteria may differ from other schools. Director’s  permission only.

            Strong enough back, abdominals, legs and feet; evenly held turnout; “spot”;

            11+ years of age, and a positive attitude in class are some of the requirements.

            A technique class must precede pointe at the beginning level.

           Teen Ballet:  Open level of learning technique for the older dancer. Great for jazz and

           tap dancers who want to improve their body alignment, arm carriage and turns. Also great

           for the teen athlete to improve core strength and flexibility.

           Adult Ballet:  Open level for technique

JAZZ/FUNK: 

         *A ballet class is strongly recommended for all jazz/funk dancers

            K - 3 Jazz/Funk:  K – 3rd grade; Beginning technique taught with focus on foot placement and 
            articulation

            Jazz/Funk I:  ages 9+; Continuation of technique with the introduction of turns

            Jazz/Funk II:  Previous training required. Dancers must display ability to 
            perform basic jazz vocabulary movement in the center and across the 
            floor, have their balance, “spot” and perform isolations correctly; 5th 
            grade and up

            Jazz/Funk III:  By permission; Previous training required. Dancers must 
            perform a clean, well placed 6-step pirouette en dehor, each side.
  

            Advanced Jazz:  By permission; Previous training required and a 
            ballet class strongly recommended. Clean well placed multiple turns 
            en dehor and en dedans, strong jumps and “quick study” are a pre-
             requisite for this class; 9th grade and up.

            Teen/Adult Jazz:  Open level for learning technique.

TAP:

            Tap I (8 - 11 yrs):  Beginning level for technique

            Tap II  (10 - 12 yrs):   Previous training required or by permission;

            dancers must display basic tap vocabulary technique.

            Teen Tap 13+:  Previous training required; dancers must 
            display intermediate level tap vocabulary technique including

            clean single pullbacks.

            Advanced Tap: By permission; previous training required. 
            Dancers must, at minimum, have a well placed port de bras, “spot”, 
            have a “clean” triple time step, double  pull backs and wings.

            Adult Tap:  Open level for learning technique.

HIP HOP:

     Hip hop requires mind body coordination including moving multiple parts of the body in different directions at the same time, a skill that does not develop until a student is near 11 years old. Prior to this age jazz/funk is strongly recommended to learn isolations, develop core strength and correct body placement.

            Hip Hop I (11+):  Beginning level where fundamental skills are taught and mastered

            Hip Hop II:  By permission; isolations, “spot”, strong jumps and body placement and control

              are some of the pre requisites for this class.