Class Descriptions

Acting

Aerial

Aerial silk is a type of performance in which one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a special fabric. Performers climbs the suspended fabric using the strength of their bodies. They use the fabric to wrap, suspend, fall, swing, and spiral their bodies into and out of various positions.

African

Students both young and old are introduced to many different African dances. The warmup includes stretching, isolation and body conditioning, which are all done in the African context, using African music and live drumming. The end of the class is an expression session section. This is a fun class, excellent exercise and great for all ages!

Ballet

The foundation for all other forms of dance commonly practiced today, Ballet is a classical dance form dating back to the fifteenth century that involves formal technique including arm, leg, and foot positions to make lines with the body. Balance and correct body posture are the basis for turning, lifting and jumping. Instruction in Ballet is an important first step for any new dancer and needs to be continued throughout a dancers dance life!

In their Ballet classes at DDPAC, children are treated to a fanciful and creative introduction to dance, and older students are offered technique, proper body alignment and musicality.

Bollywood

Bollywood Dance has been seen in many Hollywood movies such as MOULIN ROUGE, CHICAGO, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. The Bollywood dance style incorporates the fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Salsa, African, East Indian Classical and Folk.

Broadway Jazz

Broadway Jazz is a class that focuses more on different styles of theatrical dance. It involves learning combinations to music from Broadway Musicals in which there is a specific story that is being expressed in the dance. All musicals have a different story, therefore in Broadway dance, you are always acting within the dance itself. This class is fun and exciting and students will be learning many different styles since the world of theatre dance is so versatile in styles. Some styles include: Luigi, Fosse, traditional, and comedy/character dance!

Contemporary

Contemporary is a hybrid of ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern dance styles. It is a ballet-based technique that allows a greater range of movement than the strict body lines and foot work in traditional schools of ballet. Contemporary Ballet exposes dancers to a wide range of techniques that fosters versatility. This class focuses on centering, strengthening the body, increasing flexibility, improving balance, proper placement, body alignment, fluidity and emotion. The dancer learns to let the music and their own passion guide the movement. The class consists of a warm up with stretching, ballet barre, centre work, and a full dance routine at the end of the class which is all set to contemporary music. The class will let you express yourself through dance and is a benefit to all levels of dancers.

Dunham

Dunham Technique is the weaving together of Ballet and Modern with African and Caribbean movement. This great technique was created by living legend Katherine Dunham. Students are introduced to the Dunham Bar, followed by a series of center floor isolations, then progressions are introduced which include traditional Haitian, Brazilian, Cuban and African movements. The last part of the class introduces a combination. Dunham Technique makes an all around stronger dancer in all disciplines.

Elite Technique Master Class

This 2-hour class consists of Stretch and Strengthening, Leaps & Turns and Jazz Technique, taught by Meisha Lee

Flamenco

Fun, passionate classes that explore the Technique and Theory of Flamenco as appropriate for each age group. Arm, hand and body movements to various Flamenco rhythms as well as Castinets are combined into Choreography as students progress.

Hip-Hop

In Hip Hop, movements are bouncy, fast, and funky. It is foot oriented, but uses body isolations, popping, and break dancing. Hip Hop is highly energetic and allows the dancer to perform with freedom of movement. This dance is ideal for developing improvisational skills as well as musical interpretation.

Jazz

There are many forms of jazz dance; lyrical jazz, modern jazz, and street jazz. We will be focusing a little bit on all of these. Lyrical is slower and uses more extension in the moves, modern uses more contractions and off-center shapes, and street jazz (also called L.A. Jazz) involves more shoulder shrugs, hip isolations, and neck rolls emphasizing walking and moving on beat.

Leaps and Turns

This is specifically a technique class that focuses on jumping and turning, two technical aspects of dance that are used in almost all forms of dance and choreography. This class will teach students how to properly prepare for a jump safely to prevent injury to the body and also how to turn properly on the body”s center access to prevent from falling over or feeling unstable. The abilty to jump and turn correctly is very crucial to a dancer”s technical progress.

Modern

This class incorporates a combination of different styles of modern dance. Modern dance itself was first created as a rebellion against ballet and later became a fusion of new expressive ways of moving incorporating technical dance forms. This modern class incorporates technique with a more athletic style of movement including fall and release, moving the body off its center, and learning how to use the floor and space in many differnet ways. This class allow for more exploration of movement, and more freedom to dance outside the specific form of traditional ballet. Students will learn combinations as well as use their own creativity to improvise freely to music .

This class is designed for kids ages 16 months to 2 years, or for the little ones that are still aren’t ready to try a class all on their own. With the use of  props, creative movement, and songs, we will introduce your child to the basics of dancing and music in a way that is specifically designed to cater to young minds. Parents are encouraged to join in and enjoy quality time with their child as they learn about counting, rhythm, and body positions.

Musical Theatre

Musical Theatre will provide students the opportunity to learn dance technique for musical theatre, acting exercises and an introduction to singing.  We will explore all aspects of performance, but focus primarily on jazz technique and skills instrumental in Broadway-style choreography (i.e. acting skills and character development). Students will learn original repertoire from some of Broadway’s most celebrated choreographers, covering a wide range of musical theatre eras and styles. This class increases creative imagination, communication and self confidence.

Pop Theatre

*Pop Theater* is a fresh approach for children who may be new to the theater world. A mix of new and old pop musicals and movies will be introduced through song and dance. This class is perfect for the High School Musical and Hairspray fanatics. Pop theater runs much like a jazz class with a warm- up to enhance strength and flexibility, across the floor for individual attention and a chance to perform small dance combinations. Finally, a song/dance will be constructed with students performing bits from Broadway shows and films. Pop Theater is a great way to associate music with movement and perform small productions. It builds imagination, teamwork, confidence, respect, and dedication in a positive environment, allowing kids of all personalities to thrive.

Tap

Taps on the bottom of the shoes allow the dancer to make sounds. A unique vocabulary is used in tap, and each step allows the dancer to create different syncopated rhythms. A very energetic style of dance which develops foot control and balance to a high level.