Children’s Division

Creative and Preclassical Dance are the ABC’s of any dance form. Children trained in our program have made successful and easy transitions into beginning ballet, gymnastics, tap and jazz programs!
It is important to remember that physical skills that often seem quite simple to us as adults are very difficult and complicated for young children.
Examples of Developmental Skills As Taught In Our Creative And Preclassical Dance Program:

Preschool Children: Creative Dance 1 & 2
This age group is quite new to learning how their bodies move, as well as how to behave in a classroom. Children in this program are gently introduced to the classroom environment. Because this age child loves and needs repitition, the same class is repeated several times before being changed.

Kindergartners: Kinderdance
The program for five year olds builds on the work done the previous year. Students at this age now learn to further control their movements. Weight transfers are done not only forward and backward, but also from side to side. Balances are more sustained. Jumps are now done in basic patterns, traveling steps are often done with partners, and skipping is learned both forwards and backwards. Students also start learning the concepts of counting music and opposites.

First Graders : Preclassical First Grade
First graders continue to work on the same concepts, but in greater degrees of complexity. Their ability to count music is developed, they utilize opposite arms and legs while skipping, galloping, and balancing. Weight transfers are taught in more complex patterns, and traveling steps across the floor are sometimes done on half-pointe. They also begin to learn the technique of spotting (the snap of the head that allows dancers to turn without getting dizzy).

Second Graders: Preclassical Second Grade
In second grade, children move into the Preclassical 2 level. Essentially, this class takes the concepts learned in the Creative and Preclassical Dance program and begins to put them into the format used in an actual ballet class. Barre work is introduced. By the time students have turned eight, they are ready both physically and mentally to begin studying the beautiful and disciplined theatrical art form that is called classical ballet! They advance to the Middle Division for third grade.