Class Descriptions

Pointe

En Pointe, students will learn the strenuous art of ballet en pointe through strengthening exercises and repertoire combinations. Students are required to have 3 or more years of experience in ballet as well as a minimum of 1 year of Pre-Pointe and have received a recommendation from their ballet teacher in order to participate in this class. Pointe class recommendation will be based on the strength, development, and health of each individual dancer.
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Pointe Dancers will be expected to be enrolled in a total of at least 3 hours of dance, including 1 Hours of Ballet, 2 Hours of an additional technique class.

Pre/Demi Pointe

MUST HAVE TEACHER APPROVAL
Students prepare to begin their pointe training through our curriculum of exercises designed to strengthen the ankle and lower body as well as core muscles. Dancers must show a solid Ballet foundation and awareness of turn-out and alignment to be ready to progress en Pointe. All Pre-Pointe/Demi Pointe students must be currently enrolled in Ballet.
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*Students will only be eligible to move to Pre-Pointe after 3+ years of consistent year-round Ballet Training at 8 Count Academy of dance,and receive instructor permission.
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**Dancers will be expected to be enrolled in a total of 3 hours of dance including 1hour of ballet, 2 Hours of an additional technique class.

Acro/Tumbling

Students will use flexibility and strength training to build their limbering, tumbling, and balancing skills. Mat exercises and across-the-floor combinations will increase their coordination and technique. Power skills such as Aerials, Back Handsprings, and Walkovers will be combined with Head, Hand, and other Balancing skills, and attention will be given to keeping dancers' bodies safe and strong!



Tricks worked on will be appropriate to the dancers' skill and age level. Beginners of any age are encouraged to join, as the unique nature of Acro leads to personalized goal setting and consistent achievements!

Lyrical

LYRICAL levels JUNIOR-SENIOR:
Lyrical dance is a dance style that blends jazz, contemporary, modern, and ballet techniques. Lyrical classes will include a warm-up that incorporates breathing, stretching, and strength. A lyrical dancer uses movement to express strong emotions such as love and joy. Dancers will also dance interpreting the lyrics of a song.

Movements in lyrical dance are characterized by fluidity and grace, with the dancer flowing from one move to another. It is strongly encouraged that dancers also take ballet or jazz to supplement their technique and see a great flourish of skills in class

Jazz

JAZZ levels JUNIOR-SENIOR:the basic building blocks of jazz built In the mini classes will be progressed upon in these classes depending on the age group and level that your dancer is placed in. Jazz is an upbeat type of dance that begins with a center warm-up and stretches and moves to combinations both across the floor and in the center. Moving to upbeat music, students will develop proper body alignment, flexibility, coordination, and strength. Dancers will work on skills such as leaps & turns, as well as strong transitions into and out of these skills.

Little Movers

The perfect class for our youngest dancers to begin in! Students begin learning creative movement through the use of props (instruments, scarves, etc.) and action songs. Aspects of ballet and tumbling/acro are learned throughout to give children a foundation for dance technique.

Mini Combo Classes

MINI BALLET/TAP COMBO AGES 4-6: This an hour long class split into 2 30 minute sections. 30 minutes of pre tap including center and across the floor combinations with a fun and exciting class of sounds and rhythms! Dancers will begin by learning basic tap vocabulary and movements. As dancers grow, the classes will build upon these foundations, focusing on clean, crisp sounds and rhythms.30 minutes of students learning the graceful and elegant technique of classical ballet through barre, center and across the floor combinations. Each class is structured to the specific needs of the dancers enrolled, and developmentally appropriate activities will be used to keep the learning fun!

MINI BALLET/JAZZ COMBO AGES 4-6: This is an hour long class split into 2 30 minute sections. 30 minutes of pre ballet basic movements at the barre,center work, and across the floor 30 minutes of pre jazz combos. jazz is an upbeat type of dance that begins with a center warm-up and stretches and moves to combinations both across the floor and in the center. Moving to upbeat music, students will develop proper body alignment, flexibility, coordination, and strength. Dancers will work on skills such as leaps & turns, as well as strong transitions into and out of these skills.

MINI ACRO/JAZZ COMBO AGES 4-6: This is an hour long class split into 2 30 minute sections. 30 minutes of jazz technique as well as 30 minutes of tumbling/acro dance where students will use flexibility and strength training to build their pre tumbling, and balancing skills. Mat exercises and across-the-floor combinations will increase their coordination and technique. Skills such as pre cartwheels and cartwheels, forward and backward rolls,handstands, etc will be worked on in class.

Ballet

BALLET levels JUNIOR-SENIOR: the basic building blocks of ballet built in the mini classes will be progressed upon in these classes depending on the age group and level that you dancer is placed in. Students will learn the graceful and elegant technique of classical ballet through barre, center and across the floor combinations. Each class is structured to the specific needs of the dancers enrolled, and developmentally appropriate activities will be used to keep the learning fun!

Tap

TAP levels JUNIOR-SENIOR: The basic building blocks of tap built in the mini classes will be progressed upon in these classes depending on the age group and level your dancer is placed in. This is a fun and exciting class of sounds and rhythms! Dancers will begin by learning basic tap vocabulary and movements. As dancers grow, the classes will build upon these foundations, focusing on clean, crisp sounds and rhythms. Dancers of any age are encouraged to try tap, as this super fun style of dance never goes out of style!

With our curriculum, dancers will continue to learn more intricate rhythms, patterns, and skills. All styles from Broadway to rhythm tap will be explored