Dance Explosion School of Performing Arts

Elementary Levels 3 and 4

(Ages 7-10)

 

Our elementary level of dance classes is for dancers in 2nd-5th grade either continuing dance from our PK prep levels, or are new or returning dancers. These dancers are able to receive the fundamentals of classical ballet, as well as broadening comprehension and perfecting their prior known skills in tap. They also become exposed to jazz in this combo level.  The class is an hour and a half including 30 minutes of ballet, 30 minutes of tap, and 30 minutes of jazz. However, if the instructor has a goal in a specific area of training, they may spend more time on a specific area and shorten another area's time frame or only work two of the three areas if this occurs. There is also an optional lyrical class and optional acrobatics class that take place on seperate days of the week and are each an hour long.

Beginning June 2016, our Elementary program will be divided into Level 3 (Beginning/Intermediate Level) and Level 4 (Intermediate/Advanced Level)

 

About the Ballet Curriculum:
Our dancers are exposed to the ABT (American Ballet Theater) Level 1 and introduction of Level 2 Training Curriculum. The dancers are learning the importance of correct body alignment in classical ballet training as well as articulation of movements, positions and beginnings of incorporating porte de bras and comprehension of vocabulary, directional pathways, and turnout. The dancers will work barre work, center work, as well as across the floor work. All of these tools combined together will aid in their summer and fall technique growth and can also be seen in their end of the year recital as well.

 

About the Tap Curriculum:
Our dancers are exposed to two different styles of tap. These include Broadway show tap as well as rhythm tap/hoofing. The dancers are learning the importance of hearing rhythms as well as the snare vs. bass usage of the tap shoe to enhance new tap steps. The beginnings of hoofing and rhythm are combined with the Broadway show tap to create Ms. Melanie's unique presentation of tap created by her tap instructor of 10 years; Jared Grimes.

 

About the Jazz Curriculum:

Our dancers are exposed to multiple jazz styles. These styles have been influenced by multiple choreographers of both the east and west coast training. The jazz includes a west-coast flavor of what our kids like to call "sassy" included with our technical high energy nature of  jazz! Our kids are also incorporating their ballet technique to demonstrate their jazz to show not only energy, but articulation, as well as an ability to adapt to both quicker and slower jazz styles demonstrating versatility.

THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL DRESS CODE:

Ballet, Tap and Jazz Classes:
Girls:
Leotard (any color) and pink or tan tights

Shoes needed: pink ballet shoes, black tap shoes (either shiny maryjane taps or black oxford lace up tap shoes), black or tan jazz shoes (either lace up jazz shoes or slip ons)

Boys:

T-Shirt (any color) and Comfortable Shorts

Shoes needed: black ballet shoes, black oxford lace-up tap shoes, black jazz shoes. 

Lyrical and Acro Class:

Leotard (any color) and pink or tan tights with booty shorts or leggings OR sports bra or tank top and booty shorts or leggings.

Shoes needed: For Acro; Bare Feet. For Lyrical; Bare feet, Jazz shoes, or lyrical half shoes or feet paws/foot undeez.

Hair: Out of the face. If your child has shorter hair, either pull the bangs back and clip them back or half-up, half down. If your child has longer hair either a ponytail, braid, or bun.
Dancers can also wear colorful leggings, tutus, ect. to make their own dance outfit individual to them! Dancers are okay to wear design hair clips, bun flowers, or scrunchies in their hair to dress up their bun or ponytail.

Please refrain from having your child wear jewelry or rings because they could either fall off, break, or injure another dancer.