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

Each student will be assigned their level as evaluated in class at the end of the year for returning students, or at the start of the year for first time students. Students will be eligible for the class of their level, one above, and one below. 

* 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 toward the same syllabus at slightly different paces.

  • Ballet 1:  Ages 5-7
  • Ballet 2:  Ages 7-9

Students in Ballet Levels 3, 4, and 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 in Ballet 6 must take a minimum of three ballet classes a week.

  • Ballet 6: Ages 13 and up

Students in Ballet 7 and 8 must take a minimum of four ballet classes a week.

  • Ballet 7: Ages 13 and up
  • Ballet 8: by invitation only

Specialty Levels:

  • 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 Specialty Classes

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

  • Ballet Repertoire

Nutcracker

Students will learn Nutcracker choreography to be performed at a winter showcase. Parts will be by audition.

  • Nutcracker 1 – Elementary School
  • Nutcracker 2 – Middle School
  • Nutcracker 2 – High School

Ellové

The Ellové Technique® is a conditioning and cross-training class taught by certified instructor, Laura Haney. The pure techniques of ballet, yoga, fitness, and Pilates are set to music in a seamless movement sequence that improves strength, flexibility, and control. The Ellové Technique reduces injury risk by targeting muscle imbalances, refining alignment, increasing endurance, and practicing safe stretching techniques. No experience is required; this class is truly for all bodies! All are welcome!

  • Required for Veritas Senior Company Members
  • Highly Recommended for Veritas Junior Company Members
Photo by Garden Street Studios
Photo by YAGP

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
  • Pointe D

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 B/C: Beginner Modern,  for Ballet Levels 3/4
  • Modern D: Intermediate Modern, for Ballet levels 5/6
  • Modern E: Advanced Modern, for Ballet Level 7, by permission of the instructor
Photo by Garden Street Studios

Hip Hop

  • Hip Hop A: Ages 5 – 8, Studio only Sneakers required.
  • Hip Hop B: Ages 9 – 11, Studio only Sneakers required.
  • Hip Hop C: Ages 10 -13 Must have at least one year of Hip Hop instruction or permission of instructor. Studio only sneakers required.
  • Hip Hop D: Ages 14 and up, with instructor permission. Studio only sneakers required.

Lyrical / Contemporary

Contemporary dance uses the foundations of ballet, modern, and jazz dance techniques to create fluid and dynamic performance. Incorporating controlled legwork and fluidity of ballet , contraction and release of modern, and rhythm and dynamics from jazz, students will learn how to use their technical facility to access new levels of fluidity, artistry, and musicality. Contemporary classes may also include floor-work and improvisation exercises.
 
While similar to contemporary dance, lyrical is more focused on performance and expression while dancing to the lyrics of music.
Photo by YAGP

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 becomes more complex and intricate in both the skills they learn and the choreography.

  • Jazz 1/2: Ages 5-8, Ballet levels 1/2
  • Jazz 3/4: Ages 8-11, Ballet levels 3/4
  • Jazz 5: Ages 9-12, Ballet levels 4/5– with at least two years of Ballet instruction or by permission of instructor.
  • Jazz 6: Ages 12 and up,  Ballet levels 5/6 – with at least two years of Ballet instruction or by permission of instructor.
  • Jazz 7: Ages 14 and up, Ballet level 7– by 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 and C: Ages 9-12+, with at least one year of Tap instruction or permission of instructor

These classes are 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 D: Ages 13 and up – by 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.

 

Photo by Garden Street Studios

Aerial Silks

Ages 10 and up.

Silks class level will be set by the instructor. These will be mixed aged classes as levels are based on mental focus, safe Silks technique, strength and ability, not age.

  • Beginner Silks: Students will develop a basic understanding of climbing, wrist keys, and foot keys.
  • Intermediate Silks: Students must display consistent skill in aerial foot keys, standard and french climb to the top of fabric, dead hang (20 seconds), same side climb with seat belt, and inconsistent skill with hip key, and aerial invert.
  • Advanced Silks: Students must demonstrate consistent skill with aerial invert, aerial foot keys, dead hang (45 seconds), and inconsistent skill with hip key.
    • Students in Advanced Level must take 2 silks classes per week

Acrobatics

Students 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.

  • Acrobatics For Dancers: Ages 9+, by permission of instructor

Competition Teams

Our Competition teams are designed for dedicated students who would like to further develop their hip hop or jazz 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.

  • Hip Hop Competition Team
    • All Hip Hop Team participants are required to take:
      • Weekly Hip Hop Competition Team Class
  • Jazz Competition Team
    • All Jazz Team I & II participants are required to take:
      • Weekly Jazz Competition Team Class
      • Weekly Jazz at their level

      It is highly recommended to take:

      • Ballet technique at their level

Dream Studio Veritas Dance Company

By audition or instructor invitation only.

Veritas Dance Company

Senior Company

All Veritas 1 participants are required to take:

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

It is recommended but not required to take:

  • Ellové
  • Percussive dance (Tap or Hip Hop)

Junior Company

All Veritas 2 participants are required to take:

  • Junior Veritas Rehearsal
  • Weekly Ballet at their level (see above requirements).
  • At least one Modern Class per week (at their level).
  • Company Class (recommended but not required for Junior Company)
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Photo by Garden Street Studios