Dance

List of 13 items.

• DANCE I (GRADES 7-12)

  This dance class is offered to students who are either new to dance or who have had a gap in their dance training. Students will actively engage in learning modern-based contemporary technique the first semester and ballet technique the second semester. Although the class is mostly movement based, students will learn some dance history in order to gain a deeper understanding of the events, challenges, and celebrations that helped shape the art form. Students will reflect on their learning and technical progress in the class. (Grades 7-12, HS students are permitted to take the class as a semester or a full-year class)

• APPRENTICES (GRADES 7-12)

  This full-year dance class is for students with some previous dance training. Students learn intermediate-beginning ballet technique, and, for the student who is ready, begin pointe work during the second semester. The emphasis of the class is to continue to learn and refine the student’s comprehension and application of ballet vocabulary and movement. Students focus on the study of body placement, correct alignment, developing musicality, and proper transfer of weight. Students begin to take responsibility for memorizing combinations quickly. The ballet history included in this course covers the 16th-17th centuries. Students will reflect on their learning and technical progress in the class. The dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisite: Dance I and/or department approval)

• CORYPHÉE (GRADES 7-12)

  This is a full-year beginning-intermediate ballet class. Students are introduced to new movement vocabulary, and work to increase physical strength, flexibility, and stamina. Due to the fast pace of the class and performance requirements, students are expected to retain corrections and choreography. The ballet history included in this course covers the Romantic era. Students will reflect on their learning and technical progress in the class. The dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Curricular Spring Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisites: Ballet Apprentices and/or department approval)

• CORPS DE BALLET (GRADES 7-12)

  This is a full-year intermediate dance class. The class moves at a quicker pace and combinations become longer. The class works on movements such as double pirouettes and simple jumps embellished with beats. Pointe work becomes increasingly advanced and students are expected to wear their pointe shoes more often. Students will also learn the history of the Classical era in ballet. Due to the fast pace of the class and performance requirements, students are expected to retain corrections and choreography. Students will regularly complete self-assessments of their technical skills and prowess. The dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Curricular Spring Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisites: Coryphée and/or department approval)

• BALLET SOLOISTS (GRADES 7-12)

  This is a full-year advanced-intermediate dance class. This class moves at an accelerated pace as students incorporate and build upon skills learned in the previous levels, learn new and more challenging ballet vocabulary, develop their artistry, and dance en pointe more often. Due to the fast pace of the class and performance requirements, students are expected to retain corrections and choreography. The ballet history included in this course covers the Russian influence in the early 20th century. Students will regularly complete self-assessments of their technical skills and progress. The dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisites: Corps de Ballet and/or department approval)

• BALLET PRINCIPALS (GRADES 8-12)

  This is a full-year advanced dance class. Students learn new and challenging ballet vocabulary at an accelerated pace and dance en pointe every class. The dancers also have monthly assignments to discover current dancers, choreographers, and dance companies. Due to the fast pace of the class and performance requirements, students are expected to retain corrections and choreography. Students will regularly complete self-assessments of their technical skills and progress. The dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisites: Ballet Soloists and/or department approval)

• BALLET VARIATIONS (GRADES 11-12)

  The objective of this full-year class is to teach our most advanced and serious dancers how to express their individual musicality and artistry. Throughout the year the students learn variations, short dances ranging from 1-3 minutes, from Classical era ballets such as Paquita, La Bayadère and Raymonda. Students are assessed by their performance of each variation. Students dance en pointe in every class. The dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 8-12; prerequisites: Ballet Principals and/or department approval)

• CONTEMPORARY TRAINEES (GRADES 7-12)

  This course is offered to all students who have had beginning to intermediate dance training and emphasizes continuing to learn and refine comprehension and application of beginning/intermediate modern vocabulary and movement. Students focus on the study of body placement: correct alignment, developing musicality, and proper transfer of weight. Students begin to self-correct for retaining and memorizing combinations quickly. Students gain experience with improvisation, self-assess their technical skills and progress, and have one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Curricular Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisite: Dance I and/or department approval)

• CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE (GRADES 7-12)

  This class requires at least two current years of focused modern-based contemporary training. It allows students the opportunity to learn Lester Horton technique and understand its significant contribution to dance. Students learn to take responsibility for memorizing combinations quickly and accurately and are expected to attain a sufficient degree of mind-body awareness in order to self-correct during exercises. Throughout the year, students work to understand and control the turnout of their hips, placement and control of their arms, and the line of their bodies. Students will regularly assess their own skills and progress while continuing to work on improvisation and choreography. Dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisites: Contemporary Trainees and/or department approval)

• CONTEMPORARY SOLOISTS (GRADES 7-12)

  This intermediate class requires at least three current years of focused modern-based contemporary training. This class moves at an accelerated pace as students incorporate and build upon skills learned in the previous levels while learning new and more challenging modern-based contemporary vocabulary. Due to the fast pace of the class and performance requirements, students are expected to retain corrections and choreography. Students will regularly assess their own skills and progress while continuing to work on improvisation and choreography. Dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 7-12; prerequisites: Contemporary Ensemble and/or department approval)

• CONTEMPORARY COMPANY PRINCIPALS (GRADES 8-12)

  This advanced-intermediate dance class requires at least four years of focused modern-based contemporary training. Students learn new and challenging contemporary vocabulary at an accelerated pace with a focus on floorwork and partnering. Due to the fast pace of the class and performance requirements, students are expected to retain corrections and choreography. Students will regularly assess their own skills, improvise frequently, and continue to hone choreographic skills. Dancers will have at least one performance opportunity, which will include the Spring Arts Festival Dance Concert. (Grades 8-12; prerequisites: Contemporary Soloists and/or department approval)

• CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHERS' LAB (GRADES 9-12)

  This advanced class is the fourth level of the contemporary performance company curriculum and requires at least five years of focused modern-based contemporary training. The class progresses at an accelerated pace and is geared toward students who have the ability to both execute and appreciate varied choreographic styles and processes. Students are asked to use technical skills acquired in the previous levels in new and challenging ways in order to create their own authentic choreography. The class focuses on developing new vocabulary as well as expanding students’ understanding of contemporary dance history, including exposure to a wide variety of choreographers and their respective pieces. Due to the brisk pace of this class, success will be enhanced by students’ ability to receive feedback and remain open to the creative process. Dancers will have at least one opportunity to create group and solo works for others as well as themselves. (Grades 9-12; prerequisite: Contemporary Company Principals)

• CHOREOGRAPHERS' LAB ADVANCED (GRADES 10-12)

  This course is designed for advanced contemporary dancers to continue to develop their choreography skills and to deepen their focus in specific areas that interest them after taking a year of Contemporary Choreographers' Lab. Students will continue to learn about the choreographic techniques and professional choreographers they began to study in Choreographers’ Lab. They will have the flexibility to select the activities and projects to create their own course curriculum focusing on their areas of interest such as pedagogy, dance on film, performance skills, creating longer productions, solo work, ensemble work, site-specific work, or whatever they might dream up. (Grades 10-12; prerequisite: Contemporary Choreographers’ Lab)