Class Descriptions 

Technique

Counterpoint Ballet 1 (1 hour, grades 1-2) Counterpoint Ballet 2 (75 minutes, grades 4-6) and Counterpoint Ballet 3 (90 minutes, grades 7-12) are rigorous but joyful technique classes for the ballet enthusiast, the ballet-curious, even the ballet skeptic. In Counterpoint Ballet, we embrace the powerful beauty of this iconic dance form, investigate the conventions that puzzle us, and respectfully release that which no longer serves us. We know that ANY body is a “ballet body,” that the language of movement need not be gendered, and that pointe shoes are optional. We care for our bodies and nurture our minds. We challenge ourselves and we encourage one another. In our weekly classes, students will be supported at their level, gaining strength, flexibility, artistic agility and musicality. 

Hip Hop 1 (45 minutes, grades K-2) and Hip Hop 2 (1 hour, grades 3-6) introduce dancers to the language of Hip Hop dance, including such specific styles as Poppin’, Lockin’, House and Krumping, among others. Students will develop skills in the art of freestyle and explore the tremendous expressive potential of this vital dance form. In Hip Hop 3 (75 minutes, grades 7-12) dancers progress through increasingly complex choreography, developing strength, flexibility and stamina. 

Midweek Dance Party (1 hour, grades K-4) Dance your way through that Wednesday slump in Midweek Dance Party, The Center’s new class for elementary school kids with a weekly Wednesday early release (home school students, too!). A boisterous blend of pop, freestyle and contemporary dance, THIS is a party you won’t want to miss!

Modern Movement (grades 2-6) is a contemporary technique class offering dancers (and aspiring choreographers!) a robust foundation in modern dance. Incorporating principles from a variety of contemporary dance styles, Modern Movement nurtures powerful, versatile dancers. Students will joyfully gain strength, stamina, and agility as they focus on form, body awareness, and the artistry of expressive movement. 

Rhythm and Rhyme (45 minutes, grades K-2) and Rhythm and Rhyme 2 (1 hour, grades 3-6) are The Center Dance Studio’s popular tap technique classes for elementary schoolers! Get your tapping toes ready to learn steps such as the Buffalo, the Shirley Temple, and the Cramp Roll; pull on your thinking caps to invent some steps of your own! Together, we will find our rhythm, and tap the time away!

Choreography Labs

Spinning Yarns (1 hour and 15 minutes, grades 1-3) introduces students to the language of dance, inviting them to explore movement in a creative, nurturing environment. Picture books, poetry, photographs and paintings serve as entry-points for authentic, movement-based storytelling. Students consider such choreographic elements as space, body, time and relationship as they work together to build dances inspired by favorite texts and their own imaginations. Guided improvisations, informed by our students’ own literary imaginations, are another staple of this course. An informal sharing of our work will take place at the end of the semester. 

Story Arc (75 minutes, grades 4-6) and Theme and Variation (90 minutes, grades 7-12) encourage students to stretch themselves — both creatively and physically — in a supportive, community-oriented atmosphere. Combining modern technique instruction and dance building, these classes invite students to apply their technical dance skills to a wide range of choreographic tasks, exploring movement dynamics, spatial design, time factors and relationship. Democratically selected themes and literary texts will inform collaborative dance making; students will also write across a variety of genres and use their work as choreographic material. By rooting students in the basics of Laban Movement Analysis, students will learn to constructively critique and refine their original ensemble works.