Philosophy & Curriculum	Classroom Policies
Registration & Tuition	School Year
Rules & Regulations	Withdrawal

 

Training Philosophy

I am honored to be entrusted with the training of your dancer, whether they are working toward professional goals or simply participating in dance as an educational/recreational part of their lives. I believe the study of dance can enhance the quality of each student's life and help teach the lasting values of hard work, commitment, and discipline. I believe in providing the best possible dance education in a loving and healthy environment for all my students. I believe in training the whole child - mind, body, and soul.

Most dance students will not choose to become professional dancers, but all children deserve the chance to learn and experience the art of dance. As with any activity in which you choose to participate, such as dance, piano lessons, softball, etc., there will always be aspects that we like and those that we don't. The important lesson to learn is that we always give our best and we always finish what we start. This helps to prepare our children for the choices that lie ahead of them in the real world.

I will strive to maintain an environment of positive reinforcement and loving discipline in all my classes which is necessary for the progress of any child. Some students will continue their study of dance for years. Others will only participate for a small portion of their lives. In either case, I hope that all my students will go out of this studio with a love and appreciation of dance as well as a sense of self-worth, confidence, and accomplishment.

 

Curriculum

The training offered at Dance South is of the highest caliber, ranging from pre-school through advanced levels. Ballet, Pointe, Tap and Jazz classes are taught according to a graded syllabus similar to those of ballet schools run by professional dance companies. This allows students to be placed according to their ages and ability levels. Though many students do no plan to continue their dance education for more than a few years, the school offers a quality training to prepare the serious student who may wish to continue his/her dancing on a college or professional level.

The success of any program depends upon communication among parent, child, and teacher. If at any time your child expresses unhappiness, frustration, or feels unchallenged or over challenged, please let me know immediately! Whatever the problem or concern, we will search together for the solution.

Listed below are the available classes with a brief description of each discipline:

Pre-Ballet / Tumbling - Ages 3 - 4 years - 1 hr. Class This is an introduction to dance for the younger students who are not yet physically or mentally developed for academic ballet. Students learn to use their body and imagination to creatively express the dynamics of music and dance. This class also includes simplified ballet steps, exercises, and games to develop rhythm, coordination, and self-confidence. Basic tumbling skills are introduced and developed through different uses of equipment and props.

Pre-Ballet / Beginning Tap - Ages 4 - 5 years - 1 hr. 15 min. Class This class is an introduction to ballet for the student whose body is almost ready for formal ballet training. Students continue to learn how to express the dynamics of music and dance through more complex exercises and games that continue to develop their rhythm, coordination, and self-confidence. Beginning tap is an introduction to tap and its basic rhythms and movements. Enjoying a return to popularity because of various Broadway shows and movies, this upbeat fun form is unbeatable for coordination as well as conditioning and strengthening the student's feet and legs.

Ballet / Tap - Ages 6 - 8 years - 1 hr. 15 min. Class This is an introduction to formal ballet training, which lays the foundation for the more challenging levels to come. Students begin to learn and incorporate the use of ballet terminology in a classical ballet format which includes barre, center work, and across-the-floor exercises. Tap continues with more challenging rhythmic combinations and movements.

Ballet / Tap / Jazz - Ages 8 - 10 years - 1 hr. 45 min. and Ages 10 and up - 2 hrs. Formal ballet training begins! Ballet is a very disciplined form of art. True progress in ballet is made very slowly and consists not only of new steps and dances but also repetition of the basic exercises, steps, and movements to acquire the strength, flexibility, muscle tone, and correct body placement needed for ballet. For discipline of mind and body and development of coordination, ballet has no equal. It is the alphabet of DANCE! Tap continues in its progression becoming more difficult in its rhythms and combinations of steps and patterns. Jazz is a new and exciting form of dance. It is more free and less restricting than ballet, but it applies and utilizes all of the ballet training. That is why ballet is the foundation of other dance forms.