Ballet: Dance Nation teaches a traditional Vaganova method of ballet, a system which is designed to use the whole body in every movement. Barre, center, and across the floor exercises will support the choreography given to the dancers for their performance pieces. Ballet vocabulary is used exclusively. This technique will act as the strong basis for all other forms of dance.
Pre Pointe/Pointe: An advanced level of ballet for dancers ages 9+ and must have a ballet instructor’s approval. This class will prepare dancers for the rigors of pointe by focusing on development of the bottom of the foot, their increased awareness of center, and overall body control. All students must be enrolled in a ballet technique class to participate in a pointe prep or pointe program.
Contemporary/Lyrical: A fusion of ballet, modern and jazz styles of dance. This style of dance has a strong focus on extensions, control, balance and flexibility. Dancers will learn to capture the mood of music through movement and expression.
Tap: A form of dance where rhythmic tapping and syncopated sounds are created by clicking taps on the heels and toes of a dancer's shoes. Tap dance is an important form of dance that teaches a sense of rhythm, timing and precision.
Jazz: One of the most popular styles of dance. Jazz shares many of the same tenants as ballet, but its turns, connecting steps, runs, walks, leaps and jumps are presented in parallel position rather than turned out, as in ballet. Jazz is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves and footwork. Jazz also encourages the dancer to embrace personal expression.
Hip Hop: This style of dance incorporates the tempo of jazz as well as its jumps, turns, and flexibility requirements, but hip hop has its own look. Very low and deep into the floor, often with a hunched upper body, hip hop calls for severe hip, rib, shoulder, and head isolations. Complicated arm and hand movements are its signature as well as multiple isolations and movements within a single note.
Leaps and Turns: A dedicated skills class for experienced dancers. This class will be focused on technique and proper body placement; the fast pace contributes to building stamina, strength, and flexibility, for improved execution of turns, jumps, and leaps.
Stretch & Conditioning: Stretching has a number of benefits for dancers. Stretching helps keep muscles long, while exercise gives them additional strength. This class will teach how stretching properly helps to prevent injury, by making the muscles more pliable. In addition, students will work on improving posture, increasing flexibility and range of motion and strengthening the muscles. It will also aim at increasing the core body strength essential for a dancer.
Pre Pointe/Pointe: An advanced level of ballet for dancers ages 9+ and must have a ballet instructor’s approval. This class will prepare dancers for the rigors of pointe by focusing on development of the bottom of the foot, their increased awareness of center, and overall body control. All students must be enrolled in a ballet technique class to participate in a pointe prep or pointe program.
Contemporary/Lyrical: A fusion of ballet, modern and jazz styles of dance. This style of dance has a strong focus on extensions, control, balance and flexibility. Dancers will learn to capture the mood of music through movement and expression.
Tap: A form of dance where rhythmic tapping and syncopated sounds are created by clicking taps on the heels and toes of a dancer's shoes. Tap dance is an important form of dance that teaches a sense of rhythm, timing and precision.
Jazz: One of the most popular styles of dance. Jazz shares many of the same tenants as ballet, but its turns, connecting steps, runs, walks, leaps and jumps are presented in parallel position rather than turned out, as in ballet. Jazz is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves and footwork. Jazz also encourages the dancer to embrace personal expression.
Hip Hop: This style of dance incorporates the tempo of jazz as well as its jumps, turns, and flexibility requirements, but hip hop has its own look. Very low and deep into the floor, often with a hunched upper body, hip hop calls for severe hip, rib, shoulder, and head isolations. Complicated arm and hand movements are its signature as well as multiple isolations and movements within a single note.
Leaps and Turns: A dedicated skills class for experienced dancers. This class will be focused on technique and proper body placement; the fast pace contributes to building stamina, strength, and flexibility, for improved execution of turns, jumps, and leaps.
Stretch & Conditioning: Stretching has a number of benefits for dancers. Stretching helps keep muscles long, while exercise gives them additional strength. This class will teach how stretching properly helps to prevent injury, by making the muscles more pliable. In addition, students will work on improving posture, increasing flexibility and range of motion and strengthening the muscles. It will also aim at increasing the core body strength essential for a dancer.