Dance & Fitness Courses

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Course Descriptions

(Not all classes listed below are offered each semester, see current courses in the PDF above)

Early Childhood Program Course Descriptions (ages 3-5)

Dance Discovery

(Students must be 3 at start date) Designed for the young dancer, this class develops gross motor skills, coordination, and movement imagination to boys and girls while introducing basic dance skills in a fun environment. Students expand their creativity by utilizing props, song and dance. Students begin exploring pre-ballet concepts, coordination and terminology.

    Attire: Girls- Mirella garnet camisole leotard with matching skirt, pink tights, pink ballet shoes (not bedrooms slippers), hair secured back. Boys- white t-shirt and black cotton shorts, black ballet shoes.

Pre-Ballet and Tap Combination

(Students must be 4 years old at start date, students encouraged to have participated in our prior Dance Discovery class,) Students explore ballet, tap, creative movement, and song and dance concepts in a structured but fun environment by learning terminology, technique and movements appropriate for the young dancer.

    Attire: Girls-light pink camisole ballet dress. Pink tights, pink ballet shoes (not bedrooms slippers), black tap shoes, hair secured back. Boys- white t-shirt and black cotton shorts, black ballet shoes, black tap shoes.

Youth Program Course Descriptions (ages 6-13)

Ballet

Students learn classical ballet techniques through barre exercises, center work, allegro, progressions, and choreography in a structured and fun environment. Fun props are utilized to help students discover the importance of good posture and balance. When Can I Start Pointe Work? Students must be evaluated by an instructor for pointe. Our studio utilizes the Guidelines and Functional Criteria for Assessing Pointe Readiness, put out by the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science to conduct this evaluation.

    Attire: Level I Girls Mirella buttercup camisole leotard with matching skirt, pink tights, ballet shoes, hair in bun with long bangs secured back. Short hair must be secured with a headband. Boys-white tshirt, black leggings, black ballet shoes.
    Level II/III Girls Mirella Royal blue camisole leotard with matching skirt, pink tights, ballet shoes, hair in bun with long bangs secured back. Short hair must be secured with a headband. Boys-white tshirt, black leggings, black ballet shoes.
    (Ages 9-13) Level I/II and PreTeen Level II+ – Girls black camisole leotard with matching black skirt, pink tights, ballet shoes, hair in bun with long bangs secured back. Short hair must be secured with a headband. Boys-white or black shirt, black leggings, black ballet shoes.

Jazz and Tap Combination

Students progress through learning basic, high-energy jazz and tap technique with fun, age appropriate music! Warm ups, progressions and routines. Students in level III are required to be enrolled in ballet.

    Attire: Level I Girls – Mirella buttercup camisole leotard (ages 7-9), Purple camisole leotard (ages 10-13), black jazz pants, black jazz shoes (with no laces), black tap shoes. Boys – Solid color shirt with black track or sweatpants, same shoes. T-shirts or other clothing not permitted.
    Level II Girls – Mirella seafoam camisole leotard, (ages 7-9), Jade camisole leotard (ages 10-13), black jazz pants, black jazz shoes (with no laces), black tap shoes. Boys – Solid color shirt with black track or sweatpants, same shoes. T-shirts or other clothing not permitted.
    Level III Girls – Mirella royal blue camisole leotard, (ages 7-9), Coral camisole top (ages 10-13), black jazz pants, black jazz shoes (with no laces), black tap shoes. Boys – Solid color shirt with black track or sweatpants, same shoes. T-shirts or other clothing not permitted.

Hip Hop

(ages 7 and up)

This upbeat class familiarizes students with hip-hop style dancing. The class builds dancers’ skills weekly beginning with warm-up exercises, mini-combinations/choreography, across the floor work, and finishing with a choreographed dance and occasional freestyle! Students will improve their musicality, learn numerous named dance skills, and incorporate the essence and their own interpretation of hip-hop style into their performance quality.

    Attire: Exercise appropriate clothing not restricting movement. No shorts or jeans permitted. Jazz shoes or clean sneakers with a low tread. (NO SHOES WORN ON THE STREET ARE PERMITTED ON THE DANCE FLOOR), hair secured back.

Lyrical (Ages 10-13)

(Students required to be currently enrolled in ballet) A dance style that combines elements of ballet, modern, and Jazz dance techniques. Students will learn to incorporate gesture, facial expression, and controlled movements in order to execute movements and emotions fully. Besides emotional connection to music, lyrical dance encourages use of articulation, line, weight, and movement qualities. Lyrical requires strength, control and ease of movement. Due to its demand for an intermediate technical skill level, students are required to be currently enrolled in ballet at CPAS to participate.

    Attire: Black camisole leotard, pink tights, black ballet skirt, pink ballet shoes, foot thong, or barefoot, hair secured back.

Teen and Adult Program Course Descriptions

Ballet

Learn the techniques of classical ballet through barre exercises, allegro, adagio, progressions, and floor barre for core strengthening. Upper level class will explore learning various classical variations.

    Attire: black camisole leotard, black or pink tights, ballet shoes, skirt optional, hair secured back, no shirts or shorts.
    For Level III+ solid leotard, black or pink tights, white waste band, hair secured back. No tshirts, shorts or loose clothing permitted.

Contemporary Jazz

This class combines ballet, pilates, modern dance, lyrical and jazz for a physically diverse and technically challenging class. Exploration of movements will vary week to week, although a consistent, extensive center warm-up will train the dancer for balance, technical execution, across-the-floor combinations, including intermediate and advanced jumps and turns, and dance repertoire. The most successful dancer will arrive early to class to pre-warm up, be willing to try new movements, commit to attend class regularly and embody discipline and excellent work ethic.

    Attire: Dancers should dress comfortably, but with close-fitted clothing, allowing for all ranges of movement.

Contemporary Modern

This class draws on a variety of modern dance styles to get you moving on and off balance, on and off the floor, and challenging your coordination. Modern is an expressive form that draws from ballet technique and emphasizes creativity in sequencing, athleticism, and freedom of movement. Students will progress through warm-up exercises that focus on proper alignment and prepare the body to dance. Class will culminate with a dance combination designed to develop skills needed for dance performance; articulation, musicality, coordination, and stage presence.

    Attire: Dancers should dress comfortably, but with close-fitted clothing, allowing for all ranges of movement.

Hip Hop

This upbeat class familiarizes teens and adults with hip-hop style dancing in a non-competitive atmosphere. The class builds dancers’ skills weekly beginning with total body warm-up exercises, dance mini-combinations and a set of challenging choreographed dances in a variety of styles to different music selections throughout the semester. Students will improve their musicality, learn various named dance skills as well as precision in movement, and be encouraged to freestyle and incorporate their own hip-hop style into their dance performance, whatever the application!

    Attire: Exercise appropriate clothing that does not restrict movement or body visibility, and clean sneakers with low tread. No shorts or jeans permitted. (NO SHOES THAT HAVE BEEN WORN ON THE STREET ARE PERMITTED.)

Jazz

Training includes jazz technique study, terminology, placement, and rhythmic awareness development. Students progress through core techniques and skills from beginner to advanced levels. Class level placement is based on specific skill sets. Students are required to master specific skills before moving on to higher levels. Stretching, toning, floor progressions, core conditioning, center work, and choreography included at each level. Students participating in Jazz V by permission of Director only and must be currently enrolled in Ballet.

    Attire: Leotard and jazz pants or tights, jazz shoes. T-shirts or other clothing not permitted. Hair must be secured back.

Pilates Mat and Stretch

This class is based off the beginning Pilates mat method, complimented with stretching. This class can accommodate all levels of experience through variations on the level of difficulty in execution of the exercises and stretches. An invigorating and centering way to begin your morning and wake up your core muscles!

    Attire: Exercise appropriate clothing and yoga mat required.

Tap

Includes tap technique, terminology, placement, rhythm, musicality, tonality, and good posture. Students will learn about different tap styles–from focusing on a whole body aesthetic to becoming a musician with taps as you utilize different parts of the tap itself. Progressions, improv and acapella work will be explored. Broadway tap covers a style more conducive to tap for theater/musical theater, and “rhythmic tap” focuses on more complex musicality with tap with additional emphasis on acapella style and tone.

    Attire: Exercise appropriate clothing that does not restrict movement, tap shoes, hair secured back.

Yoga

Our yoga class is based off of the Viṅyāsa method which refers to the alignment of movement and breath. This method turns static yoga postures into a dynamic flow. The length of one inhale or one exhale dictates the length of time spent transitioning between postures. Poses are then held for a predefined number of breaths. Attention is placed on the breath and the journey between the postures.

    Attire: Exercise appropriate clothing that does not restrict movement, yoga mat.

Zumba

Zumba is a Latin-inspired, dance-fitness class incorporating Latin and International music and dance movements, to create a dynamic and effective fitness system. The class format combines fast and slow rhythms to tone and sculpt the body to achieve a unique blended balance of cardio and muscle-toning benefits. Dancers and non-dancers alike immediately and easily master Zumba! Zumba creates a party-like atmosphere providing a non-intimidating opportunity to participate in group exercise classes. It’s fun! It’s different! It’s easy! It’s effective! All fitness levels are welcome! Just wear exercise appropriate clothing and bring your “party” attitude!

    Attire: Exercise appropriate clothing that does not restrict movement, dancesneakers or tennis shoes (No shoes worn on street permitted.)

Important Studio Policies:

  • Absolutely no shoes worn on the street are permitted on the dance room floor at any time.
  • Students should not arrive more than 10 minutes prior to their class time.
  • Any student arriving 10 minutes after the start of their class time is only permitted to observe. If a student arrives after a class has begun, they must quietly enter and wait by the door for the instructor to invite them to join.
  • Students are required to wear the designated attire for classes to participate.
  • At no time should children be at studio unattended unless they are in a class.
  • Parents are to come into the studio to pick up their child. Please do not ask them to come out to the parking lot.
  • Students not picked up 15 minutes after the end of their class time will be charged a $15 late fee.
  • Late tuition incurs a $20 fee per week with returned checks incurring a $20 fee.
  • Make-up classes will be available if a class is cancelled. No refunds on missed lessons. Students may make up classes in a different course, which must be completed during the current session.
  • CPAS reserves the right to combine, cancel or close any classes as needed.
  • All students MUST provide a registration form to an instructor prior to participating in any class.
  • Account Credit for future classes will be given if there are extenuating circumstances requiring withdrawal from class. All requests will be considered on an individual basis. Registration fees and uniform/costum costs are non-credited. No refunds will be issued if student withdraws from class after the designated drop period. Method of payments: Cash, check, or credit card. All credit cards have an additional $3.99 transaction fee.

Attire Requirements:

During the regular school year, please see course descriptions above regarding attire. Several classes have a required “uniforms” leotard style and color, tights, and shoes. Uniforms can be ordered through CPAS. Summer attire information can be found on our Summer Semester brochure.

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