Ballet Classes

Level 1 - A beginning level of true classical ballet. This level is for students between the ages 8 and 12 that have never taken or have only taken combination classes. The class will cover terminology, dance history, basic floor patterning, body strength building and choreography. Due to the amount of material and the need to develop muscle memory a student may remain 2 to 3 years in this level. This class can be taken 2 to 3 times a week.

Level 2 - Requires a pre-requisite Level 1 or an equivalent from another studio. Evaluation will be required. This level is for ages 9 and up that have an understanding of barre and center work. Students need to know all barre exercises, movements and center terminology. This level is for students starting or preparing pointe. No student allowed on pointe before the age of 11.

Level 3 - Requires a pre-requisite Level 1 or 2 or an audition. This level is for ages 11 and up. The student needs to know the basics of barre, center and diagonal work, and be able to execute these with grace and precision. Students will be required to pass a verbal exam of terms. Students will learn multiple turns, more difficult jumps, and intricate steps.

Level 4 - Requires a pre-requisite of level 3 or an audition. This level is for ages 12 and up. The student needs to know the basics but must be familiar with more intricate steps. Students will be required to pass a verbal exam of terms. Students at this level will be polishing their technique. The will also learn how to execute steps more efficiently in order to learn intricate combinations.

Level 5 - Requires a pre-requisite of level 4 or an audition. This level is designed to build endurance and push the envelope of training. Students at this level need little to no explanation of terms or execution. The dancer will develop more of what they have already achieved.

Level 1 - A beginning level of tap. This level is for students between ages 7 and 11 that have never taken or have only taken combination classes. The class will cover terminology, rhythm, basic floor patterning, body strength building and choreography. Students will begin to learn time steps and structured tap sequences. Due to the amount of material and the need to develop muscle memory a student may remain 2 to 3 years in this level.

Level 2 - Requires a pre-requisite Level 1 or an equivalent from another studio. Evaluation will be required. This level is for ages 10 and up that have an understanding of terminology and center work. Students need to know extensive warm-up exercises, movements and center terminology. Students must be familiar with time steps, turns, and structured sequences. Due to the amount of material and the need to develop muscle memory a student may remain 2 years in this level.

Level 3 - Requires a pre-requisite of level 2 or an audition. This level is for ages 13 and up. The student needs to know the basics but must be familiar with more intricate steps. Students will be required to pass a verbal exam of terms. Students at this level will be polishing their technique. They will also learn how to execute steps more efficiently in order to learn intricate combinations. The tapper will need to also be able to execute steps with speed and precision. The dancer will develop more of what they have already achieved.

Junior Pre-Adv Broadway - Requires a pre-requisite Level 1 or an equivalent from another studio. Evaluation will be required. This level is for ages 9 and up that have an understanding of terminology and center work. Students need to know extensive warm-up exercises, movements and center terminology. Due to the amount of material and the need to develop muscle memory a student may remain 2 years in this level.

Pre-Adv Broadway - Requires a pre-requisite Level 1 or 2 or an audition. This level is for ages 11 and up. The student needs to know basics of center and diagonal work and be able to execute these with grace and precision. Students will be required to pass a verbal exam of terms. Students will learn multiple turns, difficult jumps, and intricate steps.

Adv Broadway - Requires teacher recommendation or an audition. This level is for ages 13 and up. The student needs to know the basics but must be familiar with more intricate steps. Students will be required to pass a verbal exam of terms. Students at this level will be polishing their technique. They will also learn how to execute steps more efficiently in order to learn intricate combinations. The dancer will develop more of what they have already achieved.

~ as presented by the Mid-America Dance Alliance

The Modern Dance technique taught at The Dance Pointe is Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) combined with Bartinieff Fundamentals.

LMA is a system and language for understanding, observing, describing and notating all forms of movement. Devised by Rudolf Laban, LMA draws from his theories of "Effort" and "Shape" to describe, interpret and document human movement. Used as a tool by dancers, athletes, physical and occupational therapists it is one of the most widely used systems of human movement analysis.

Bartinieff Fundamentals are an extension of LMA originally developed by Irmgard Bartinieff who trained with Laban before becoming a physiotherapist. The resulting Fundamentals are a set of concepts, principles, and exercises that apply Laban’s movement theory to the physical / kinesiological functioning of the human body. They include:

• Dynamic Alignment

• Core Support

• Rotary Factor

• Initiation and Sequencing

• Spatial Intent

• Center of Weight / Weight Transference

• Effort Intent

• Developmental Patterning and its Support for Level Changes

Level 2 - Requires a pre-requisite Level 1 or an equivalent from another studio. Evaluation will be required. This level is for ages 9 and up that have an understanding of terminology and center work. Students need to know extensive warm-up exercises, movements and center terminology. Due to the amount of material and the need to develop muscle memory a student may remain 2 years in this level.

Level 3 - Requires a pre-requisite Level 2 or an equivalent from another studio. This level is for ages 9 and up. The dancer should have an understanding of terminology and center work. Students will be learning even more warm-ups, exercises, movements and terminology. They will be learning more intricate combinations at this level. As in Level 2, the student may remain 2 years at this level.

Level 4 - Requires teacher recommendation or an audition. This level is for ages 13 and up. The student needs to know the basics and must be familiar with more intricate steps. Students will be required to pass a verbal exam of terms. Students at this level will be polishing their technique. They will also learn how to execute steps more efficiently in order to learn intricate combinations. The dancer will develop more of what they have already achieved.

All Jazz/Pom classes are in preparation for acceptance on Pom Squads, Dance Teams, Competition Teams, Broadway classes, Theater, and Show Choir.

Junior Tumbling

No prior experience is required. Tumblers will learn the proper technique and execution of cartwheels, round-offs and the beginning techniques of standing back handsprings and round-off back handsprings.

Advanced Tumbling

Minimum skills required: cartwheel, round-off, unassisted standing back handspring and unassisted round-off back handspring. Tumblers will learn and strengthen proper technique of standing and running back handspring series. Tumblers will beging to learn the proper technique of round-off back handspring back tucks.