Class Descriptions
Below are the descriptions of each class offered during the 2023 - 2024 season. Please feel free to contact us with any questions at (734) 288-8238.
Ballet
Ballet is often referred to as the backbone of dance. The fundamentals used in ballet are often used throughout all other styles of dance as well. There are three main classifications: classical ballet, neoclassical ballet and contemporary ballet. This style of dance is used to tell a story. It relies heavily on technique and requires an enormous amount of diligence and dedication to perfect. Ballet is typically danced to classical music and is done wearing slippers or pointe shoes.
Pointe/Pre-Pointe
Pointe is the style of
Ballet in which the dancer performs on the tips of the toes in special shoes called pointe
shoes. Dancing en pointe is a disciplined skill and requires immense strength and
dedication. Pointe training begins at approximately 12 years of age and is a necessary
skill for serious ballet dancers. The entire body is engaged to perform en pointe and the
dancer must study and achieve a level of precision prior to beginning Pointe. Instructor
approval is required before a dancer begins en pointe.
Jazz/Musical Theatre
This type of dance is very upbeat
and energetic. Built upon fundamental movements from ballet and modern styles, it is
typically paired with upbeat music often from the musical theatre genre. Jazz dancers
often have more freedom to express their own individual personality through their dance
performances. These dances usually have quick footsteps, leaps, turns, and jumps.
Lyrical
Lyrical ballet is an offshoot of the now-obsolete Russian lyrical (Soviet ballroom) dances. It is a lilting style of dance that uses the ballet technique along with the Soviet ballroom dance forms. The word lyrical refers to a lilting, poetic feel associated with the movements and the steps flow from the one to the next. It belongs to the genre of classical folk dance.
Hip-Hop
Hip hop dance incorporates freestyle, musicality, and self-
expression. This style includes movement from varying other styles to create upbeat,
energetic movement. It is a cultural expression that combines storytelling with elements
of individual expression.
Tap
Tap dance is probably best known for the type of shoes the dancerswear. Tap dancers wear special shoes with metal taps on the soles that allow them tocreate their own drum-like rhythmic patterns and sounds while they dance. Although amajority of the focus in this dance is on the feet, dancers have the freedom to utilize theirupper bodies and arms to blend the movement and express their creativity asindividuals.
Modern
Born in the early 20th century, modern dance is a dance style that focuses on a dancer's own interpretations instead of structured steps, as in traditional ballet dancing. Modern dancers reject the limitations of classical ballet and favor movements derived from the expression of their inner feelings.
