Class Descriptions for Steps: Open Class Program & The Conservatory: Pre-professional Program
Ballet-Traditional ballet class enhances students’ physical and mental discipline while re-affirming posture, placement, flexibility, and strength. Each class begins with barre and centre work, followed by exercises across the floor and reverence. Students learn performance skills and basic music fundamentals while cultivating self-confidence and presence. Students receive the individual attention they need whether they have had previous experience or are absolute beginners.
Pointe/ Variation –Students will learn various classical ballet variations and the history surrounding them while developing their pointe technique. Student will have the opportunity to share select variations at informal in-studio showings over the course of the year.
Contemporary-Contemporary Dance is created by combining a wide array of dance movements, from more classical traditions such as ballet, modern and jazz, to even adding some elements of hip-hop and musical theater! Contemporary dance classes engage the dancer in fluid movement and transitions, while challenging the dancer to take risks and to perform with great depth of feeling and expression. We prepare students who haven’t dance in years by creating a solid foundation of dance through center and floor work, and elements of improvisation and individual movement-style creation!
Modern- Modern Dance is a dance form that developed in the early twentieth century, partly in reaction to the traditional, more highly technical forms of dance such as ballet. While strongly influenced by classical ballet, the movement of modern dance is more fluid and contains dynamic highlights and tricks of jazz dance, including isolations, kicks, and leaps; alternately, many movements are weighted and close to the earth.
Jazz-The fundamental of jazz technique build strong body alignment and emphasize muscle awareness though form, shape, style, flexibility. Students develop musicality and retention skills as they perform jazz combinations and learn artistry of theatrical repertory. Stretch and conditioning is an important element of the class structure.
Hip Hop –Students passionate about Hip Hop should join this interactive class where performance skills will be further developed all while getting the basic Hip Hop fundamental.
Boys Hip Hop- The class focuses on the basic elements of Hip Hop technique that involves isolations, grooves, coordination, rhythm, agility, and flexibility. Dancers will explore popping, locking, basic breaking fundamentals, popular social dances, and freestyle.
Yoga- Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and well-being, and also a feeling of being at one with their environment. The practice of yoga makes the body strong and flexible; it also improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and hormonal systems. Yoga brings about emotional stability and clarity of mind
Pilates –Pilates is an innovative and safe system of mind-body exercise using a floor mat or a variety of equipment. It can be best described as strength, stretch, and control. In a classical Pilates mat class; we utilize body weight exercises to do resistance training. Joseph Pilates said that his method “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”
Stretch and Conditioning- Dancers will be guided through stretching and conditioning exercises that support dancer’s flexibility, strength and overall fitness. Information about injury prevention and tools to maintain their physical readiness in support of their dance training will be taught throughout the course.
