CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

COMBINATION CLASSES: These classes offer a combination of tap, ballet, jazz, tumbling and creative dance with the time split up each lesson to cover these subjects. Generally, two dance subjects each week will be covered, but by the end of the dance season, dancers have a very good understanding of the basic principles in each of the disciplines. The classes place much emphasis on flexibility, endurance, dance etiquette, poise, grace and balance. Also taught in this class are the basic dance elements, including shape, time, energy and space with the addition of discipline, technique, and performance skills and opportunity. Combination classes are offered according to age and ability and this is where most beginning students should begin.

JAZZ CLASSES: These classes are offered to older students at the beginning level; younger students interested in jazz should take the combination class. Jazz class will emphasize timing, flexibility, endurance and technique. Jazz styles taught will include traditional jazz, lyrical jazz, and modern jazz. Performance opportunities are also offered.

BALLET CLASSES: Ballet is considered to be the basis for all types and styles of dance and is absolutely required of anyone interested in any sort of future in dance. These classes offer ballet technique at the barre, across the floor work and combinations, terminology, and lyrical ballet. New beginning students interested in ballet should enroll in a combination class, and these classes are primarily offered to Shaw Dance Team dancers. These technique classes will not perform.

POWER TAP/CLOGGING: Clogging is now called power tap and will emphasize clogging history, technique tap skills, Irish step dance, and performance opportunities. This style of dance teaches endurance, rhythm and timing skills, and will also teach the dance to learn quickly.

HIP HOP CLASSES: This class will teach students the latest movement in street dance, funk, and hip-hop. This is a great movement class that involves a great deal of energy, but students interested in more technical dance should enroll in a jazz class. Most students studying hip-hop also study more traditional forms of dance. This class does offer performance opportunities and no previous experience of any kind is required to take the hip- hop class. Boys and girls are welcome!!! This class is extremely fun and fills quickly. Hip Hop I classes are for beginning students in hip hop and Hip Hop II classes are for students with one or more years in hip hop.

SPECIAL NEEDS DANCE: These classes will be geared to children, teens and adults with special needs. Curriculum will involve ballet, jazz, creative movement, locomotor skills, rhythm, timing, dance elements and performing opportunities will be offered.

CHEERDANCE: This exciting class will help students learn arm angles, jumps, rallies, short chants, performance cheers, basic stunting and cheerdance.

CHEER TEAM:: This new team is offered by invitation only, and is for the student with previous cheer and/or dance experience. This team will compete cheerleading routines and will learn arm angles, jumps, stunting, tumbling and teamwork.

TUMBLING: This class will place emphasis on flexibility, strength, endurance and basic conditioning. Students will be challenged and coached on an individual basis starting with the beginning level and building up, as each student is ready. This class is HIGHLY recommended for competition dancers and will not perform. Many students at Shaw Dance Studio take this class in addition to regular dance classes. (Tumblers should try to enroll in the class of their ability level, but if a competitive dancer has a major conflict with another dance class, the teacher will work progressively with that tumbler in the class time in which he/she can enroll.)

Beginning Tumbling- New beginning tumblers at the elementary age.

Intermediate Tumbling- This is for the tumbler who can execute cartwheels, round-offs and backbends, etc. This class will teach backhand springs, aerials, etc.

Advanced Tumbling- This class is for the tumbler who can execute backhand springs and aerials with basically no spot. This class will further develop these skills and will emphasize tucks, layouts and even more advanced tumbling passes.

BEGINNING DANCELINE: This team is formerly known as our Prepteam, and is for the dancer with at least one year of dance experience and a placement class is required. This team will learn jazz technique, ballet technique, and teamwork and will compete on the beginning or novice level. Tuition prices include extra practices held throughout the year. Danceline classes will begin in August.

INTERMEDIATE DANCELINE: This team, formerly known as Prepteam, is an intermediate level dance team is for students with at least two years of dance experience and a placement class is required. Students will study jazz, ballet technique, hip-hop and teamwork. Students age nine and older are required to take the additional ballet class, which is scheduled into the listed practice times, and tuition prices include extra practices held throughout the year. These teams will compete on the beginning and intermediate level. Danceline classes will begin in August.

SHOWTEAM: Showteam members audition for class placement each August. Dancers are placed according to age and ability, and dancers study jazz in all of its disciplines, ballet technique, and hip-hop. These teams will compete and perform on the high intermediate and advanced level. Showteam members are also required to enroll in ballet technique and Showteam Hip Hop Teams, and this group will have some extra practices. All tuition for jazz dances, hip-hop, ballet technique and any necessary extra practices is included in the listed monthly tuition. Showteam Dynamites will not take Showteam Hip Hop, but if second year Dynamites desire to take Showteam hip hop, that will be allowed with teacher approval. Showteam classes will begin in August.

ELITE SHOWTEAM: These dancers are chosen from the highest scores at Showteam auditions. This is an extra class for Showteam members and will require some extra practices. These dancers will be challenged on the advanced and professional levels, and these dancers will study jazz, lyrical jazz and modern dance.

MODERN/CONTEMPORARY TEAM: This new team will teach modern dance technique, improvisation, and will perform and compete modern dance pieces. Members of this team will be chosen during the Showteam audition process and should be advanced dancers in jazz and ballet. Additional costume and competition fees will be charged.

POINTE: This ballet class is offered through invitation only for high intermediate and advanced ballet students wishing to further pursue the study of ballet. Pointe students must concurrently enroll in a ballet technique class. This class will further develop ballet technique, terminology, turnout, proper body alignment, and flexibility.

FITNESS: A fun and challenging fitness class will be offered to adults and teens. This class will feature exercises in stretching and will focus on cardio and target-toning with weights, step, and other fitness apparatus’. This is open to adults and teens.

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