Dance Classes

Students will be introduced to the dance class experience. Very young dancers have fun in this creative introductory class learning basic ballet movements and terminology. Class activities include spacial exploration, creative movement, moving in groups, improvisation and working with props. Students learn basic ballet vocabulary and the importance of the discipline involved in the learning of classical ballet and what they should expect of themselves as a student, including proper ballet etiquette in the classroom.

Primary Ballet students will dance the end of year demonstration. Note there is no performance in the fall, thus students registered in spring are eligible for the end of year demonstration. Students are strongly encouraged to register for both fall and spring.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 3-5
• Pre-req/co-req: none
• Audition: Not required

Continuing Primary Ballet invites students into the magical enchantment of classical ballet. It presents ballet as a fun and creative learning  experience, but is structured enough so that the student begins to learn ballet technique through body awareness and becomes able to recall movement.

Continuing Primary Ballet students will dance the end of year demonstration. Note there is no performance in the fall, thus students registered in spring are eligible for the end of year demonstration. Students are strongly encouraged to register for both fall and spring.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 3-6
• Pre-req: Primary preferred, beginners welcome
• Co-req: none, though we strongly encourage co-registration with Dance Fusion
• Audition: Not required

This class introduces the fundamentals of jazz, tap (no tap shoes required), and musical theatre dance. Designed to give primary students experience with all types of dance from the beginning of their ballet dance education.

• Age group: 5-6 years old
• Pre-req: None
• Co-req: none, though we strongly encourage co-registration with Continuing Primary
• Audition: Not required
• Instructor: Karie-Lee Sutherland

Beginning fundamentals of ballet technique, flexibility and performance.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Suggested Ages: 7-9 years old
• Pre-req: Continuing Primary preferred, beginners welcome
• Co-req: None
• Audition: Not required
• Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck

Students develop body awareness and are introduced to alignment, placement and turn-out and its importance for a classical ballet dancer. They begin working on musicality and phrasing and increasing their strength and flexibility. They will continue working on memorization. They will also learn the importance of the discipline in the classroom.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 8-10 years old
• Pre-req: Level 1 or equivalent
• Co-req: Mini Company
• Audition: If pre-req is not satisfied, there will be a placement audition
• Instructor: Heather Cameron-Johnson

This class approaches more complicated ballet combinations for barre and center work. It continues the importance of proper ballet technique, alignment, body placement, body awareness, musicality and phrasing, as well as continued emphases on performance quality. Increased flexibility, endurance and body strength are also stressed to allow for the development of higher elevations and leg extensions.

This class is offered three days per week and students are encouraged to take more than two days per week in order to learn with more ease and retention, allowing them to advance more rapidly.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 9-13 years old
• Pre-req: Level 3 or equivalent
• Co-req: Apprentice Ballet Company
• Audition: If pre-req is not satisfied, there will be a placement audition
• Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck and Ana Bird

*Note this is not bundled, but we have 3 classes students can register for, one integrated pre-pointe class and one pointe add-on.

This level of student continues to approach more complicated ballet combinations for barre and center work. Continued stress on the proper use of ballet technique, alignment, body placement, body awareness, musicality and phrasing.  Continued emphasis on performance quality and movement.  Students will continue to increase their body strength, stamina and flexibility. Pointe work will be progressed into more difficult technique.

This class is offered four days per week and students are encouraged to take at least three days per week in order to learn with more ease and retention, allowing them to advance more rapidly. Students are encouraged to audition for the Junior Ballet Company to develop their performance skills.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 9-13 years old
• Pre-req: Level 4 or equivalent
• Co-req: Junior Company
• Audition: If pre-req is not satisfied, there will be a placement audition
• Instructors: Ana Bird and Heather Cameron-Johnson

*Note: this option is a registration bundle, including Level classes and some pointe options.

This level of student will continue fine tuning and enhancing their training in all the areas of classical ballet. They will develop stronger musicality, phrasing and performance qualities. They will have the opportunity to learn classical variations to increase their pointe vocabulary and strength.

This technique class is offered five days per week and students are encouraged to take at least three days per week in order to learn with more ease and retention, allowing them to advance more rapidly. This bundle also includes a weekly pointe class. Students are encouraged to audition for the Senior Ballet Company and sign up for Musical Theatre Dance and Advanced Modern Dance.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 14+ years old
• Pre-req: Ballet Level 5 or equivalent
• Co-req: Senior Company
• Audition: If pre-req is not satisfied, there will be a placement audition
• Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck, Isabele Elefson, Rachael Vrbancic and Thomas Bell
  

*Note: this option is a registration bundle, including Level classes and some pointe options.

This level of student will continue fine tuning and enhancing their training in all the areas of classical ballet. They will develop stronger musicality, phrasing and performance qualities. They will have the opportunity to learn classical variations to increase their pointe vocabulary and strength.

This technique class is offered five days per week and students are encouraged to take at least four days per week in order to learn with more ease and retention, allowing them to advance more rapidly. This bundle also includes a weekly pointe class. Students are encouraged to audition for the Senior Ballet Company and sign up for Musical Theatre Dance, Pas de Deux and Advanced Modern Dance.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 15+ years old
• Pre-req: Ballet Level 6 or equivalent
• Co-req: Senior Ballet Company
• Audition: If pre-req is not satisfied, there will be a placement audition
• Instructor: Tricia Sundbeck, Isabele Elefson, Rachael Vrbancic and Thomas Bell
  

*Note: this option is a registration bundle, including Level classes and some pointe options.

Level 7 Students learn to work with a partner on balance, lifts and turns.

• Attire: Skin-tone tights, black leotard; OR black tights, white shirt
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 15+ years old
• Pre-req/Co-req: Ballet 7
• Audition: Permission of instructor
• Instructor: Thomas Bell

Students learn basic ballet vocabulary and the importance of the discipline involved in the learning of classical ballet and what they should expect of themselves as a student, including proper ballet etiquette in the classroom.

• Attire: Dance appropriate clothing that doesn’t restrict movement
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Suggested Ages: 13+ years old
• Pre-req: None
• Audition: Not required

Teen and Adult students learn basic ballet vocabulary and the importance of the discipline involved in the learning of classical ballet and what they should expect of themselves as a student, including proper ballet etiquette in the classroom.

• Attire: Dance appropriate clothing that doesn’t restrict movement
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 13+ years old
• Pre-req: None
• Audition: Not required
• Instructor: Thomas Bell

Based on the traditional elements of modern dance technique, this class includes: floor work, concepts of space and musicality, developing technical proficiency and improvisational skills.  The class is also enhanced with elements of today's more contemporary dance. The goal of this class is for the student to gain a deeper understanding of modern dance and to explore their individuality as a dancer.

• Attire: dance appropriate clothing that doesn’t restrict movement
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 9-13 years old
• Pre-req: Ballet Level 4/5 or equivalent experience
• Audition: Not required
• Instructor: Shauna Steele

This beginner/intermediate class is designed for adult tappers who have either been away from tap for an extended period of time or who want to move their basic skills forward. The class will consist of tap warm-ups, floor exercises, and choreography.

• Attire: dance appropriate clothing that doesn’t restrict movement
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 14+
• Pre-req: None
• Audition: Not required

This beginner/intermediate class is designed for adult tappers who have either been away from tap for an extended period of time or who want to move their basic skills forward. The class will consist of tap warm-ups, floor exercises, and choreography.

• Attire: dance appropriate clothing that doesn’t restrict movement
• Hair: Long hair should be styled up
• Age group: 14+
• Pre-req: None
• Audition: Not required