Class Descriptions

Pre-Ballet Program

In our Pre-Ballet program we offer “Little Dreamers,” a class designed to introduce young children to ballet, modern, and tap technique in a fun and creative setting. Children will be exposed to dance in the traditional ways as well as through games and creative expression encouraging a love of music and dance and building self-esteem, coordination, and gross motor skills.

• Little Dreamers: Pre-ballet, modern, and tap for ages 3-5

Ballet Program

* Some ballet levels are split into sub levels (A, B, C) to allow for more schedule flexibility/choice and to attend more closely to our students technical needs. All sub levels in a level will work to toward the same syllabus at slightly different paces.

Each student will be given their level as evaluated in class at the end of the year for returning students, or placed by our teachers for first time students. Students will be eligible for the class of their level, one above, and one below. For example, in Ballet 5 students must take 2 classes per week. A student leveled at Ballet 5A would be required to take the 5A class and either 4B or 5B. 

• Ballet 1:  Ages 5-8
• Ballet 2:  Ages 7-10

Students that are considering taking Ballet 3, Ballet 4, or Ballet 5 must take a minimum of two ballet classes a week.

• Ballet 3:  Ages 8-11
• Ballet 4: Ages 9 -12
• Ballet 5: Ages 13 -15

Students that are considering taking Ballet 6 must take a minimum of three ballet classes a week.

• Ballet 6: Ages 13 and up

Students that are considering taking Ballet 7 must take a minimum of three ballet classes a week.

• Ballet 7: Ages 13 and up

Ballet 8 is by invitation only

• Ballet 8

Specialty Levels/Ballet Classes:

• Teen Ballet is intended for teens who are just beginning or returning to ballet class, allowing students to solidify technique basics in a mature environment with peers their age

• Ballet For Gymnasts is a ballet technique class designed for gymnasts who would like to improve their fluidity, coordination, and balletic routine elements.

Pointe

Recommendation required for all Pointe Classes

Pointe students are required to have three years of Ballet training and a minimum of two Ballet classes per week. Once a Ballet student is prepared, they will be independently examined by the instructor who will determine readiness to go on pointe. Factors considered will include: anatomy (bone structure in feet and legs), ankle strength, leg strength, core strength, age (to help in determining bone calcification), and attitude of the student. These factors must be considered very seriously to prevent injury to the dancer. All Pointe students will adhere to the dress code but may wear dance skirts if desired.

• Pointe A
• Pointe B
• Pointe C/D
• Pointe E

Ballet Specialty Classes

Classes intended for advanced/pre-professional students to expand on their technique and performance training.

• Pre-Professional Partnering
• Ballet 8 on Pointe
• Repertoire

Modern

These classes will incorporate aspects of various different techniques including but not limited to Ailey, Graham, and Limón. Modern students will adhere to the dress code. As in the Ballet classes, Modern classes have general guidelines only to aid in placing new students and students may be changed according ability. Students that are considering taking any Modern class are strongly recommended (but not required) to take one ballet class per week.  If you are considering Modern without taking ballet, please talk to Lara prior to registration.

• Modern A/B: Ages 6-8 – with at least one year of ballet.
• Modern B: Ages 8-11 – with at least two years of Ballet instruction (at a Ballet 3 level or higher).
• Modern C: Ages 12 and up – with at least two years of Ballet instruction (at a Ballet 5 level or higher) and one year of Modern Instruction or permission of instructor
• Modern D: Ages 14 and up – by audition or permission of instructor
• Modern E: Advanced Modern, by audition or permission of the instructor
• Modern EE+: Most Advanced Modern class, by audition or permission of the instructor

Hip Hop

• Tiny Hoppers: Ages 3-5, Creative Movement to a Hip Hop Beat for ages 3-5. Clean, studio only sneakers required.
• Hip Hop A: Ages 5 – 8, Studio only Sneakers required.
• Hip Hop B: Ages 9 – 12, Studio only Sneakers required.
• Hip Hop C: Ages 12 and up, Must have at least one year of Hip Hop instruction or by audition/permission of instructor. Studio Only sneakers required.
• Hip Hop D: Ages 14 and up, By audition or permission. Studio only sneakers required.

Lyrical / Contemporary

Jazz

The focus in these classes will be to learn proper dance technique such as isolations of the body, turning, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns.  Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz depending on their teacher.  Those styles include Broadway, Street, Contemporary and Jazz Funk.  This will help develop  students as well rounded dancers.  The base technique for jazz is ballet.  It is very important, for the student, that they are taking at least 1 ballet or have had a minimum of 2 years of ballet experience.   There will be a proper warm-up, stretches, isolations, and across the floor combinations. There are not as many Jazz levels as ballet therefore, students will remain in the same level for several years before moving up to the next level.  Each level of Jazz become more complex and intricate in both the skills they learn and the choreography.

• Jazz A: Ages 5 – 8
• Jazz B: Ages 9-13 – with at least two years of Ballet instruction or by audition/permission of instructor.
• Jazz C: Ages 12 and up – with at least two years of Ballet instruction or by audition/permission of instructor.
• Jazz D: Ages 14 and up – by audition/permission of instructor. Students should be working towards quadruple or quintuple pirouettes to be successful at this level.

Tap

• Tap A: Ages 5 – 11  No prior dance experience necessary.

This class is designed for those with little to no experience with tap dance. The primary focus of the class is the development of basic technical skills (shuffles, flaps, cramp-rolls, etc.). Students will also be introduced to the process of applying musical counts to the rhythmic tap combinations of the class.

• Tap B: Ages 9-13+, with at least one year of Tap instruction or permission of instructor

This class is designed for those students with some prior experience in tap. Students should be well versed in basic tap technical skills as well as the ability to execute some of the intermediate skills (time steps, riffs, etc.). Class objectives include the ability to quickly learn combinations and intro to precision of sound.

• Tap C/D: Ages 13 and up – by audition or permission of instructor

This class is fast paced and energetic. Students should have the ability to execute advanced skills. (Single wings, Maxie Ford Pullback, Double Cincinnati, etc.). This class will focus on advanced combination execution with speed and precision sounds. Students should be well versed in tap terminology and require minimal instruction for execution of combinations.

Acro & Tumbling

Students will be grouped by age and skill level, and will develop flexibility and strength so that they are ready for tumbling movements. Emphasis will be placed on development of basic tumbling skills. Small floor beams or trampolines may be used to develop balance/strength, but typically no other gymnastics equipment will be used in this class. Tumbling skills such as forward and backward rolls, handstands, bridges, cartwheels, and backbends are the main goal of this class.

• Tumbling
• Acro For Dance: Ages 12+

Competition Teams

Our Competition teams are designed for dedicated students who would like to further develop their hip hop performance and technique by taking part in regional dance competitions. Competition Teams are by audition only and have a set of required classes in order to participate.

• Mini Hip Hop Team
• Junior Hip Hop Team

Dream Studio Veritas Dance Company

By audition or instructor invitation only.

Veritas Dance Company

Senior Company

All Veritas 1 participants are required to take:

• Weekly Ballet at their level (see above requirements)
• The Saturday Senior Veritas class
• At least one Modern Class per week (at their level)
• Company Class

Junior Company

All Veritas 2 participants are required to take:

• The Saturday Junior Veritas Class
• Weekly Ballet at their level (see above requirements).
• At least one Modern Class per week (at their level).
• Company Class