BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

DANCE FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
A new course designed for two year olds, enjoying the joyful adventure of discovering music and dance. Must be accompanied by one adult.

DANCE FOR THREE YEAR OLDS
This course introduces young dancers to playful , structured movement designed to aid coordination, flexibility, balance and perception of shape. Their skills in listening and observing grow while they dance. We use stretching, jumping, and spinning with music. We use line, circle and number patterns with different props to add to the fun. Parents do not come in the studio with three year olds. No photography or video is permitted of the class. Please use the viewing window briefly so that children are not distracted.

PRE-BALLET: FOUR YEAR OLDS
Four year olds learn pre-positions of the arms and legs, and increase coordination with skipping, hopping, and turning patterns. Instruments help with rhythm and number. Flexibility and balance are increased, and listening skills improve. These children are old enough to learn a dance for our annual June performance. An adult caregiver remains available, but not in the studio during class time. Forty-five minutes.

BALLET ONE
Five and six year olds begin brief barre work, learning the positions of the feet and arms, tendu, and other ballet basics. We combine these essentials with exercises in movement quality, rhythm, tempo, balance, and coordination. We sometimes blend formal elements with creative movement. The children learn basic steps including polka, chasse, saute, turning, skipping, hopping and partner patterns. They increase their skills in listening, observing and performing dance movement. Fifty-five minutes.

BALLET TWO
Seven to nine year olds increase their vocabulary of ballet elements, with a longer barre and beginning work on crossed positions. Many new steps and patterns are learned, and combinations of elements. Musicality becomes increasingly important in dancing at this stage. We continually work to balance technical elements, with expressiveness and joy in dancing. Sixty minutes.

BALLET THREE
Nine to eleven year olds add further barre elements and begin exploring pirouettes and a increasing vocabulary of jumps and connecting steps. The dancers work on quality of movement, musicality and clarity of form. A delight in dancing remains a necessity at every step. Two classes a week are recommended. One hour and ten minutes.

BALLET FOUR
Dancers in this level range in age from eleven to young teens. The movement vocabulary is greater at this level, and the young dancers begin pointe work when they are strong enough. Readiness for pointe work is required, however, and dancers need to develop balance and steadiness as well as strength. We do not permit dancers to begin pointe until they are fully ready. Pointe is then begun at the end of class briefly at the start, increasing as ability grows. At least two classes a week are needed at this level. One hour and ten minutes.

BALLET FIVE/SIX
Dancers are teens through adults and use a full vocabulary of barre and center, including pointe work. The adagio and allegro work increase in depth and complexity, and pirouettes of many kinds are explored. Musicality and artistry are increasing with technical ability at this level. Two classes a week are the minimum, with more recommended for growth. One and one half hours.