The following are definitions and descriptions for the various genres of dance that we offer…
Ballet:
Starting as a court dance in Italy, but developed its more popular form in France and Russia before spreading across Europe and abroad. It has now become a staple for all performance dance disciplines, creating beautiful lines, poise and gracefulness while executing balance and flexibility. Our instructors are extremely well versed in Cecchetti, Vaganova and Royal Academy of Dance training.
Pointe:
Classical form of ballet training. Dancers must be enrolled in two ballet classes a week and seek the instructor’s approval before enrolling.
Modern:
We teach several modern theories such as Graham and Taylor but our main focus is the Lester Horton theory, it has been chosen for its ability to teach strength, flexibility and endurance. Starting with fortifications (a series of strengthening and balancing exercises), the class then moves across the floor with grounded progressions and continues cardiovascular combinations to build dancers endurance. Improvisation and Composition elements may be added into Modern classes to help dancers become more in tune with movement creation and to expand their movement & performance quality.
Jazz:
Throughout history, Jazz dance has coincided with any music that was popular for the time. It is a free form dance style that allows a dancers “True Performer” to come out. Our jazz classes cover everything from Broadway to Urban Funk. It is up beat and continuous movement for the duration of the class. Integrated with “Jazz Technique” such as turns, leaps and uptempo combinations, Jazz is the perfect class for anyone who wants to express themselves and has a lot of energy to give!
Tap:
A percussive movement driven by the feet and ankles. Both Broadway and Rhythm tap are taught, Broadway focuses on the performing aspects of tap and Rhythm for musicality and dynamic percussive ability.
Hip Hop:
A free form of movement that increases rhythm and musicality. We encourage improvisation and fun to help boost confidence and encourage performance with our dancers.
We offer several different styles of dance for all ages and levels. See specific descriptions for each class below…
Preschool Ballet
This class is for 3-4 year olds. Dancers learn basic ballet steps and foundation while enjoying creative movement exercises in a structured environment that also allows them to gain social interaction with other dancers their age.
Preschool Jazz
This class is for 3-4 year olds. Dancers learn basic jazz steps and skills while enjoying creative movement exercises in a structured environment that also allows them to gain social interaction with other dancers their age.
Preschool Tap
This class is for 3-4 year olds. Dancers learn basic tap steps and skills while enjoying creative movement exercises in a structured environment that also allows them to gain social interaction with other dancers their age.
PreDance Ballet
This class is for 5 years and up. Dancers will continue to work on basic ballet steps and foundation, while new ones are introduced. There are less creative movement exercises with this class than what is done in Preschool Ballet. And a slightly more structured environment is required.
PreDance Jazz
This class is for 5 years and up. Dancers will continue to work on basic jazz steps and skills, while new ones are introduced. There are less creative movement exercises with this class than what is done in Preschool Jazz. And a slightly more structured environment is required.
PreDance Tap
This class is for 5 years and up. Dancers will continue to work on basic tap steps and skills, while new ones are introduced. There are less creative movement exercises with this class than what is done in Preschool Tap. And a slightly more structured environment is required.
Beginning Ballet
Dancers interested in enrolling should have 2 current years of Ballet training or be 8 years old or older if a novice.
Skills learned in this class will include 30 min or more of barre work, learning and properly executing tendus, dégagés, ronde de jambs, and plie’s in 1st, 2nd, and 5th position. Center work will include tendu and dégagé combinations, petite allegro jumps such as: Saute in 1st and 2nd, Changement and Echappe.
Beginning Jazz
Dancers interested in enrolling should have 2 current years of Ballet training or be 8 years old or older if a novice.
Dancer will learn and work on proper execution of beginning level jazz skills such as: Battements front and side, chasse step tuck jump, grapevine right & left, Pivot Step to the right, jazz square right and left, chaine turns right and left, pirouette prep in relieve.
Beginning Tap
Dancers interested in enrolling should have 2 current years of Ballet training or be 8 years old or older if a novice.
Dancers will learn and work on execution of tap skills such as: Shuffle front and side, Shuffle ball change, Shuffle hop step (Irish), Flaps & Running Flaps, Flap heel-heel, Flap ball change forward and back, Maxiford, Buffalo, Lindy, Paradiddle.
Beginning Hip Hop
Hip hop is a free movement style of dance that allows dancers to express their mood and passion for dance with less structure than other forms of dance.
Beginning hip hop is an introduction to rhythm, street jazz, isolations and more for dancers.
Intermediate Ballet
Dancers interested in enrolling should have 2 current years of Ballet training. Skills learned in this class will include introduction to petite allegro across the floor, waltz turns, turned out pirouettes in center, frappes at the barre, change of weight at the barre, balancing in sur le cou de pied and posse’ at the barre.
Intermediate Tap
Dancers should have solid knowledge and ability to perform beginning level tap skills such as:Shuffle front and side, Shuffle ball change, Shuffle hop step (Irish), Flaps & Running Flaps, Flap heel-heel, Flap ball change forward and back, Maxiford, Buffalo, Lindy, Paradiddle.
And will begin learning and working on execution of more advanced tap steps such as: Drawbacks, Paradiddle and 2 variations, Single and Double Time-step, Four Count Riff, Maxiford Turn, Cramp Roll, Cramp Roll Turn
Intermediate Jazz
Dancer should have solid knowledge and ability to perform beginning level jazz skills such as: Battements front and side, chasse step tuck jump, grapevine right & left, Pivot Step to the right, jazz square right and left, chaine turns right and left, pirouette prep in relieve.
And will begin learning and working on execution of more advanced jazz skills such as: Battements to front, side and back 90 degrees or higher, chasse (alternating sides), single pirouette, splits, chaise step split slep, x jump and axel jumps.
Intermediate/Progressive Modern-Improvisation
Dancers should have at least 2 previous and current years of dance in either ballet, modern or jazz. Will learn and work on Horton Theory Fortifications 1-6, learn combinations to incorporate fortification skills and encounter improvisational movement exercises and begin studying choreography.
Intermediate/Progressive Hip Hop
Dancers should be age 9 or older and have 1-2 years of current dance experience or more. Skills learned will include isolations, popping/locking, street jazz and more.
Progressive Ballet:
Dancers interested in enrolling should have 3 current years of Ballet training. Skills learned in this class will include turned out pirouettes from 4th and 5th position, petite allegro, adagio combinations and more. One hour or more may be spent at the barre with the additional 45 minutes used for center and across the floor work.
Progressive Jazz
Dancer should have solid knowledge and ability to perform intermediate level jazz skills such as: Battements to front, side and back 90 degrees or higher, chasse (alternating sides), single pirouette, inside pirouette, splits, chaise step split leap, x jump and axel jumps.
Progressive Jazz students will learn and master double pirouettes (right & left), Center Leap, Switch Leap, barrel jump, Tilt Kick, pirouettes to jumping and down to the floor and more…
Progressive Tap
Dancers enrolling in this class should have solid knowledge and ability to perform intermediate tap skills such as:
Four Count Riff, Maxiford Turn, Cramp Roll, Cramp Roll Turn, Drawbacks with Shuffle & Crossing, Paradiddles with all 4 variations, Single, Double, Triple Time steps, Intro to Rhythm Tap
In Progressive Tap they will learn and Master such skills as:
Time steps including Traveling, Paradiddles with all variations and traveling
Double Pull Backs, Wings, Rhythm Turns Forward and Backwards, Bombershay, Paddle and Rolls and more…
Pre-Pointe/Beg. Pointe
An introduction to pointe technique focused on proper alignment, body placement, and strengthening of the feet and ankles. This class largely consists of barre work and progresses towards basic pointe work at the center. Previous ballet experience and teacher evaluation required for class admittance.
Pointe II/III This class will work towards progressing intermediate and more advanced pointe technique with continued emphasis on proper alignment and strength building. This class includes barre, center, and across the floor work, as well as experiential lessons in musicality, choreography, and variations. Previous pointe experience and teacher evaluation required for class admittance. (Director Approval Required)
Acro/Conditioning I Students will work on flexibility and strength while mastering beginning acrobatic skills. Level 1 acrobatic skills include: cartwheels on both sides, handstands, one arm cartwheels, backbend kick overs, and front limbers.
Acro/Conditioning II Students will work on flexibility and strength while mastering intermediate level acrobatic skills. They will also learn to incorporate acrobatic skills into choreography. Level 2 prerequisite acrobatic skills are: cartwheels on both sides, handstand, one arm cartwheel, backbend kick over, and front limber. Level 2 acrobatic skills include: back shoulder rolls, back walkovers, front walkovers, Valdez. Once these skills are perfected, they will be combined or altered to make them more advanced.
Advanced Hip Hop
Dancers should be age 12 or older and have 3 years of current dance experience or more. Skills learned will include isolations, popping/locking, street jazz and more.
Adult barre is a full body workout for all levels designed to strengthen and tone through a series of low impact, isometric, and mindful movements. The workout utilizes the ballet barre and also includes floor work with core-based conditioning, and stretching. This sculpting workout will leave you feeling stronger and more limber with every class.
Adult Tap: Tap dancing is a great way to develop musicality, timing and balance. Adult Beginning Tap is designed for students who have never had any previous experience in tap dance. The class will cover basic steps and terminology while offering fun combo’s and rhythm exercises.
Adult Hip Hop is for all levels and aims to help dancers ages 17 and up grow their love for dance. No dance experience is necessary, in this class the instructor will focus on getting each dancer comfortable with their body movements and basic hip hop fundamentals.
Adult Jazz includes a warm-up that develops strength, flexibility, coordination, and dance techniques specific to jazz dance for all levels. Includes dynamic choreography set to popular music and encourages individual expression and development of personal style.
Company Classes
The following classes are for Southern Dance Precision company students who have auditioned at the end of the previous season and attended summer class, workshop and intensive requirements. If you have questions about any of these classes or are curious if your dancer can be enrolled in them please send an email to Ms Anne at [email protected]
Mini Co.
30 minute choreography class for company members ages 4-6 years.
Petite Co. Ballet
This class is for Petite Company members only, so they may work on beginning and intermediate ballet skills and company choreography.
Skills learned in this class will include introduction to petite allegro across the floor, waltz turns, turned out pirouettes in center, frappes at the barre, change of weight at the barre, balancing in sur le cou de pied and posse’ at the barre.
Petite Co. Jazz
This class is for Petite Company members only, so they can work on beginning and intermediate jazz skills as well as learning choreography for competition.
Junior Co. Ballet
This class is for Junior Company members only, so they may work on intermediate and progressive ballet skills and company choreography.
Skills learned in this class will include turned out pirouettes from 4th and 5th position, petite allegro, adagio combinations and more. One hour or more may be spent at the barre with the additional 45 minutes used for center and across the floor work.
Junior Co. Jazz
This class is for Junior Company members only, so they can work on intermediate and progressive jazz skills as well as learning choreography for competition.
Pre-Teen Co. Ballet: Director Approval Required
Dancers interested in enrolling should have 3 current years of Ballet training. Be enrolled in 2 ballet classes a week and age 10 or older. Skills learned in this class will include turned out pirouettes from 4th and 5th position, petite allegro, adagio combinations and more. One hour or more may be spent at the barre with the additional 45 minutes used for center and across the floor work.
Pre-Teen Co. Jazz: Director Approval Required
This class is for Junior Company members only, so they can work on intermediate and progressive jazz skills as well as learning choreography for competition.
Pre-Teen Co. Modern-Improvisation: Director Approval Required
Dancers should have at least 2 previous and current years of dance in either ballet, modern or jazz. Will learn and work on Horton Theory Fortifications 1-6, learn combinations to incorporate fortification skills and encounter improvisational movement exercises and begin studying choreography
Leaps, Legs and Stunts
Dancers will work on floor work, partnering skills and advanced acrobatic stunts. They will also learn how to incorporate these skills into choreography.
Senior Co. Ballet Director Approval Required
Advanced Ballet Class in various ballet theories, such as Vaganova, Cecchetti, and Balanchine. Dancers wishing to enroll in this class should have at least 4 years or more of classical ballet training 2 or more hours a week and must seek Director Assessment before enrollment can be completed.
Senior Company Jazz Director Approval Required
Dancer looking to enroll in this class should have at least 4 recent years experience of Ballet and Jazz. Have solid foundational knowledge of advanced jazz skills such as double-triple pirouette, grande jete, chaine jete, reverse jete, battements 90 degrees or higher to front, side and back; 2 out of 3 splits and more.
Senior Co. Tap Director Approval Required
Class for Advanced Level Tappers with 5+ years of tap and introductory Rhythm Tap experience as well. Dancers should have firm knowledge and ability to perform such tap steps as Time Steps 1-4 and Traveling, Paradiddles with 2-3 Variations, Double Pull Backs, Wings and more. Director must give approval before dancers may be enrolled in this class.
Senior Co. Modern Director Approval Required
Class will consist of studies to stretch and strengthen different areas of the body. Advanced level continues with the fundamental studies of Horton Theory including flat backs, primitive squat, lateral stretches, release swings, leg swings, deep lunges, and T positions, table top turns, hinges and ¾ Turns, with more advanced fortifications, combos and include composition lessons and practice for dancers.
Teacher Assistant Program Director Approval Required
Students in this program will learn over 3 years the ability to write curriculums, create and teach curriculums, constructive criticism and disciplinary skills, leading dancers with music and choreography of ages 2-14 years old.