Dance Courses
Introduction to Dance: Beginning Jazz & Modern
No prerequisite
The course serves as a foundation for Modern and Jazz Dance and it is for students with little or no dance experience. Course includes: floor and standing work to increase joint mobility, efficient movement patterns, core strength, proper support for dance movement and development of full body connectivity.
Jazz 1: Beg/Intermediate Jazz
Prerequisite: Introduction to Dance or Ballet I or Placement by faculty
This is a beginning jazz dance class that requires a basic knowledge of jazz based movement. Course includes: building on fundamentals of Intro to Dance technique, knowledge of the jazz technique standards, stronger loco-motor skills & movement progressions and the placement of jazz in history.
Jazz 2: Intermediate Jazz
Prerequisite: Jazz 1 or Placement by faculty
This is an intermediate jazz class that requires a strong awareness of the basic technique standards of jazz dance. Course includes: building on fundamentals of Jazz 1, advancing technical application of jazz technique, exploring more difficult movement progressions and loco-motor skills, preparing students for the advanced/pre-professional jazz class and emphasizes performance and style quality.
Jazz 3: Advanced Jazz
Prerequisite: Jazz 2
This is an advanced level jazz class that requires a very strong awareness of core and advanced technique standards as well as a strong desire to perform. Course includes: preparation for professional jazz dance careers after graduation, solidification of: strong technical standards, style application, and performance techniques, exploration of various industries in which dancers may find jazz dance related work after graduation and preparation for work in the entertainment industry. Course also includes modules on audition preparation, resume/demo reel creation, and professional dance career preparation, both physically and mentally.
Modern 1: Beg/Intermediate Modern
Prerequisite: Introduction to Dance or Ballet I or Placement by faculty
This is an intermediate modern dance class that requires a basic knowledge of modern based movement. Course includes: building on the fundamentals of Intro to Dance, develop knowledge of modern technique standards, develop stronger loco-motor skills, movement progressions, use of the body in a 3-dimensional way and discusses different techniques throughout history through movement and research.
Modern 2: Intermediate/Advanced (Bartineff Fundamentals)
Prerequisite: Modern 2
This is an intermediate/advanced modern class that requires a strong awareness of the core technique standards of modern dance. Course includes: building on the fundamentals of Modern 2 class, advancing technical application of modern technique, exploring more difficult movement progressions and loco-motor skills, introducing Bartinieff Fundamentals and 6 intensive units on body patterning relation to efficient movement.
Modern 3: Advanced/Contemporary/Teaching
Prerequisite: Modern 2
This is an advanced level modern class that requires a very strong awareness of core and advanced technique standards. Course includes: further preparing dance students for higher education and/or professional dance careers after graduation, solidifying strong technical standards, style application, and performance techniques, enhances the student’s ability to pick up on style and nuances that are being asked for in today's movement and explores teaching methods and class organization. Students will be prepared to work as teacher assistants upon completion of this course.
Social Dance: Semester class – taught in the fall
This course is and introductory class designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of social dance. It will focus on developing an awareness of the common dances and styles used in social settings both past and present. This course is perfect for theatre or dance students who wish to broaden their dance training and increase their understanding of social interaction through dance.
Musical Theatre Tap: Semester class- taught in the spring
Prerequisite: Introduction to Dance or Ballet I or Placement by Faculty
This course is perfect for the student who wishes to broaden their stylistic training. The first term of this course focuses on tap fundamentals. The second term introduces the fundamentals of dance for the musical theatre stage. It focuses on developing an awareness of the common dance styles and vernacular dances utilized in musicals, examination of famous musical choreographers, history of musicals in the 20th century, and the connection between movement and character/plot development.
Choreography/Improvisation-semester class
Prerequisite: Modern 2
This intermediate level course focuses on the choreographer’s creative process for solo, duet, trio and group dances. Course includes: using more complex tools for identifying, selecting and utilizing a variety of source material through the use of critical evaluation skills for dance, use of choreographic devices and use of improvisation for generating movement and creating meaning through the use of time, space, energy/force and weight.
Anatomy of Movement: semester class
No prerequisite open to all students
This course begins with the skeletal system and then continues to the muscular system. Course includes: studying the body in relation to movement, basic nutrition and dance injury prevention.
Ballet 1: Intro to Dance/Foundations of Classical Ballet- Beginning Ballet
No prerequisite- open to all students
This course is designed to build a firm foundation in classical ballet technique. Course includes: traditions of classical ballet technique and classroom etiquette, learn ballet terminology, the basic foot positions, arm positions, body directions and proper body placement, introduces the elementary exercises for mastering the placement of the body, legs, arms, and the head and develops the elementary skills in the coordination of steps.
Ballet 2: Intermediate Classical Ballet
Prerequisite: Ballet I or placement by faculty
This course is designed to build upon the fundamentals of classical ballet technique taught in Intro to Dance/ Foundations of Classical Ballet. Course includes: proper placement of upper body, arms, legs, and head, introduction of coordination skills and artistic expression of port de bras, simple combinations to perfect technique, musicality and movement, develop stamina by increasing repetitions and speed of acquired steps, practice steps at the barre on demi-pointe, simple enchainment of petit and grand allegro and memorization of ballet terminology.
Ballet 3: Intermediate/Advanced
Prerequisite: Ballet 2 or placement by faculty
This course is designed to build upon the fundamentals of classical ballet technique taught in Ballet 2. Course includes: strengthening balance on demi-pointe both at barre and center practice, introduction and practicing of tours in big poses as preparation to grandes pirouettes, steps are practiced en tournant in the center, introduction of Batterie and teaching of big jumps, tempi becomes more rapid and movement sequences becomes more intricate and the introduction of more extensive movement vocabulary. Readiness for pointe work is determined by student’s strength and physical development and decided upon by the assessment of the instructor.
Ballet 4: Advanced Classical Ballet- pointe
Prerequisite: Ballet 3
This course is designed to further prepare students for higher education and/or professional dance careers after graduation. Course includes: continuation of increased stability in pirouettes and variety by increasing repetitions, revelations, and practicing turns en diagonal, en pointe and from varying approaches, practice more complicated grand adagio and grand allegro, practice certain jumps en tournant, develop power and elevation in grand allegro with varying approaches, steps, and lengthened combinations, enhance speed of movement in petit allegro while furthering the education of all batterie and teaching of artistry and musical sensitivity development by introducing classical repertoire into class work.
Dance Conservatory:
Prerequisite or concurrent: Anatomy of Movement, Ballet 3, Modern 3, Jazz level 2+. In all these classes you must have earned at least a B grade, teacher signature, 3.0 accumulative GPA. This is a pre-professional, by audition only class. Course includes: performing multiple times during the year, early morning rehearsals and extra requirements and preparation for higher education and the dance industry.
Introduction to Dance: Beginning Jazz & Modern
No prerequisite
The course serves as a foundation for Modern and Jazz Dance and it is for students with little or no dance experience. Course includes: floor and standing work to increase joint mobility, efficient movement patterns, core strength, proper support for dance movement and development of full body connectivity.
Jazz 1: Beg/Intermediate Jazz
Prerequisite: Introduction to Dance or Ballet I or Placement by faculty
This is a beginning jazz dance class that requires a basic knowledge of jazz based movement. Course includes: building on fundamentals of Intro to Dance technique, knowledge of the jazz technique standards, stronger loco-motor skills & movement progressions and the placement of jazz in history.
Jazz 2: Intermediate Jazz
Prerequisite: Jazz 1 or Placement by faculty
This is an intermediate jazz class that requires a strong awareness of the basic technique standards of jazz dance. Course includes: building on fundamentals of Jazz 1, advancing technical application of jazz technique, exploring more difficult movement progressions and loco-motor skills, preparing students for the advanced/pre-professional jazz class and emphasizes performance and style quality.
Jazz 3: Advanced Jazz
Prerequisite: Jazz 2
This is an advanced level jazz class that requires a very strong awareness of core and advanced technique standards as well as a strong desire to perform. Course includes: preparation for professional jazz dance careers after graduation, solidification of: strong technical standards, style application, and performance techniques, exploration of various industries in which dancers may find jazz dance related work after graduation and preparation for work in the entertainment industry. Course also includes modules on audition preparation, resume/demo reel creation, and professional dance career preparation, both physically and mentally.
Modern 1: Beg/Intermediate Modern
Prerequisite: Introduction to Dance or Ballet I or Placement by faculty
This is an intermediate modern dance class that requires a basic knowledge of modern based movement. Course includes: building on the fundamentals of Intro to Dance, develop knowledge of modern technique standards, develop stronger loco-motor skills, movement progressions, use of the body in a 3-dimensional way and discusses different techniques throughout history through movement and research.
Modern 2: Intermediate/Advanced (Bartineff Fundamentals)
Prerequisite: Modern 2
This is an intermediate/advanced modern class that requires a strong awareness of the core technique standards of modern dance. Course includes: building on the fundamentals of Modern 2 class, advancing technical application of modern technique, exploring more difficult movement progressions and loco-motor skills, introducing Bartinieff Fundamentals and 6 intensive units on body patterning relation to efficient movement.
Modern 3: Advanced/Contemporary/Teaching
Prerequisite: Modern 2
This is an advanced level modern class that requires a very strong awareness of core and advanced technique standards. Course includes: further preparing dance students for higher education and/or professional dance careers after graduation, solidifying strong technical standards, style application, and performance techniques, enhances the student’s ability to pick up on style and nuances that are being asked for in today's movement and explores teaching methods and class organization. Students will be prepared to work as teacher assistants upon completion of this course.
Social Dance: Semester class – taught in the fall
This course is and introductory class designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of social dance. It will focus on developing an awareness of the common dances and styles used in social settings both past and present. This course is perfect for theatre or dance students who wish to broaden their dance training and increase their understanding of social interaction through dance.
Musical Theatre Tap: Semester class- taught in the spring
Prerequisite: Introduction to Dance or Ballet I or Placement by Faculty
This course is perfect for the student who wishes to broaden their stylistic training. The first term of this course focuses on tap fundamentals. The second term introduces the fundamentals of dance for the musical theatre stage. It focuses on developing an awareness of the common dance styles and vernacular dances utilized in musicals, examination of famous musical choreographers, history of musicals in the 20th century, and the connection between movement and character/plot development.
Choreography/Improvisation-semester class
Prerequisite: Modern 2
This intermediate level course focuses on the choreographer’s creative process for solo, duet, trio and group dances. Course includes: using more complex tools for identifying, selecting and utilizing a variety of source material through the use of critical evaluation skills for dance, use of choreographic devices and use of improvisation for generating movement and creating meaning through the use of time, space, energy/force and weight.
Anatomy of Movement: semester class
No prerequisite open to all students
This course begins with the skeletal system and then continues to the muscular system. Course includes: studying the body in relation to movement, basic nutrition and dance injury prevention.
Ballet 1: Intro to Dance/Foundations of Classical Ballet- Beginning Ballet
No prerequisite- open to all students
This course is designed to build a firm foundation in classical ballet technique. Course includes: traditions of classical ballet technique and classroom etiquette, learn ballet terminology, the basic foot positions, arm positions, body directions and proper body placement, introduces the elementary exercises for mastering the placement of the body, legs, arms, and the head and develops the elementary skills in the coordination of steps.
Ballet 2: Intermediate Classical Ballet
Prerequisite: Ballet I or placement by faculty
This course is designed to build upon the fundamentals of classical ballet technique taught in Intro to Dance/ Foundations of Classical Ballet. Course includes: proper placement of upper body, arms, legs, and head, introduction of coordination skills and artistic expression of port de bras, simple combinations to perfect technique, musicality and movement, develop stamina by increasing repetitions and speed of acquired steps, practice steps at the barre on demi-pointe, simple enchainment of petit and grand allegro and memorization of ballet terminology.
Ballet 3: Intermediate/Advanced
Prerequisite: Ballet 2 or placement by faculty
This course is designed to build upon the fundamentals of classical ballet technique taught in Ballet 2. Course includes: strengthening balance on demi-pointe both at barre and center practice, introduction and practicing of tours in big poses as preparation to grandes pirouettes, steps are practiced en tournant in the center, introduction of Batterie and teaching of big jumps, tempi becomes more rapid and movement sequences becomes more intricate and the introduction of more extensive movement vocabulary. Readiness for pointe work is determined by student’s strength and physical development and decided upon by the assessment of the instructor.
Ballet 4: Advanced Classical Ballet- pointe
Prerequisite: Ballet 3
This course is designed to further prepare students for higher education and/or professional dance careers after graduation. Course includes: continuation of increased stability in pirouettes and variety by increasing repetitions, revelations, and practicing turns en diagonal, en pointe and from varying approaches, practice more complicated grand adagio and grand allegro, practice certain jumps en tournant, develop power and elevation in grand allegro with varying approaches, steps, and lengthened combinations, enhance speed of movement in petit allegro while furthering the education of all batterie and teaching of artistry and musical sensitivity development by introducing classical repertoire into class work.
Dance Conservatory:
Prerequisite or concurrent: Anatomy of Movement, Ballet 3, Modern 3, Jazz level 2+. In all these classes you must have earned at least a B grade, teacher signature, 3.0 accumulative GPA. This is a pre-professional, by audition only class. Course includes: performing multiple times during the year, early morning rehearsals and extra requirements and preparation for higher education and the dance industry.