Class Descriptions

Students must be placed in a class that is both level and age appropriate. We will be happy to recommend the right level for your student and look forward to guiding you along your personal dance journey. 

The instructors will be observing during the first month of classes. If needed, we make recommendations for a different and more suitable class.

Each level will take 1-3 years to complete before moving on to the next level. Dancers taking 2 or more classes in their designated style/level may take a 3rdchallenge class in the next higher level.

Any student that is recommended for level 2 or higher may also take a lower level to supplement their training.
*Please be advised: If a student has not fulfilled the required years or level of experience, it is suggested they take the lower level class to ensure they learn the prerequisite material and skills. Any holes in a dancers training will result in frustration that can easily be avoided with proper education.

Dance with Me

We know as a parent or new parent that it’s difficult to take some time for your self, let alone get a work out in! This class offers you time
To bond with your baby while giving you time to focus on your self. This class will offer work out exercise while having your baby be your exercise weight, dance cardio, stretches for both you And your baby, fun music and silly songs to sing to your baby getting your baby to move and groove while getting a strong work out in! Please bring a body wrap or body pack to strap to your body to keep them safe and close to you. You may also bring a baby mat for you baby to be able to lay freely and watch you dance to the music!

Pre-ballet/Tap/Acro

Little Dancers

Hip-Hop Flip Flop

 Ages 2.5-5

 
Pre-ballet/Tap/Acro - The structure of a classroom environment is introduced and the children learn to take simple direction from the teacher. Children gain body awareness and begin to master group work, for example, moving in a circle or working with partners. Musicality and rhythm are taught through clapping, singing and improvising to music. Basic movement themes such as; jumping, balletic walks/runs, spinning and skipping are explored as an introduction to dance.

Little Dancers ballet and tap class is a fun, energetic, and enjoyable class for little ones which will help spark an interest in dance. The Little Dancers class will incorporate interactive activities to keep them entertained as well as educating them in ballet / tap techniques.
Hip-Hop Flip Flop is an upbeat class that will include basic hip-hop dancing and basic tumbling skills.

Ballet

Technique based on body alignment, proper placement and posture. Barre and center floor work are combined with choreography combinations to teach musicality, rhythm, coordination and flexibility. Ballet provides a foundation for all other forms of dance as well as conditioning for sports and injury prevention. Ballet is the basis for all forms of dance and in encouraged for all dancers, as well as athletes wishing to gain better body control, alignment and core strength. Ballet teaches discipline, self-control, respect and self-awareness. 

Primary Ballet– Must be ages 5-6. Beginner Level. Progressing from Creative Movement, children now learn to work in lines and on the diagonal. Basic movement themes such as; jumping, balletic walks/runs, spinning and skipping are explored as an introduction to classical ballet. Students continue to work with partners to facilitate a sense of teamwork. Barre and center work is introduced, as ballet technique is given emphasis in this class.
Ballet Level 1– Must be ages 6+ with 0-3 years experience – Beginner Level. Level 1 introduces students to the foundations of barre work in order to develop proper alignment and classical technique. Students continue to work on traveling steps with an introduction to grand allegro. At this level an emphasis is placed on turning, jumping, and linking steps. Students are expected to show awareness of basic technique, appropriate timing and musicality.

Ballet Level 2 – Must be ages 9+ with 3-4 years experience – Beginner/Intermediate Level. Level 2 students are given similar structure to Level 1 students with an increased expectation of proper technique and musicality. Students will focus on building the strength, flexibility and control needed to execute ballet moves. Each class will emphasize barre exercises and will also include a challenging combinations of center floor work and across-the-floor combinations.

Ballet Level 3 – Must be ages 11+ with 5-7 years experience – Intermediate/Advanced Level. Students at this level are given extended barre exercises with increasing demi pointe work, stretching and strengthening. Classical ballet lines should be established along with a new vocabulary for traveling steps, elevation and pirouettes. The lyrical use of arms and upper back builds on the free movement established in the previous level. Students at this level have a strong understanding of classical vocabulary and can now adequately demonstrate use of line and musical performance.

Ballet Level 4– Must be ages 12+ (teens) with 5-7 years experience – Advanced Level. Level 4 reinforces students to the foundations of barre work in order to develop proper alignment and classical technique. Class work continues to improve the dancer’s spacial awareness and orientation of the body. Dancers continue to work on coordination of the whole body with the addition of fluidity of movement. Added steps include multiple pirouettes, turns in a la seconde and beating jumps and partnering. This class is also a prerequisite for the dancer who has a serious interest about studying pointe in the near future. *Material is taught quickly in this level and students are expected to pick up the material being taught at a fast rate. 
Pointe, Level 1 and 2 – Must be ages 12+, must have director’s approval to start pointe training.

Ballet level 4 dancers may take this class on flat.(Level 2 – continues technique based in level 1, but continues with more advanced skills focused more heavily in the center) – Also known as pointe work, is when the dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet using a pointe shoe, a special dance shoe that consists of a hardened box and a stiff-shanked shoe. Beginner pointe students begin at the barre, learning proper foot placement and becoming confident in shoes with exercises in releve, sauté and echappe. Students with increased pointe experience (Level 2), learn center combinations and turns, such as chaine, pirouette and fouette are introduced. Due to the demands that pointe work places on the body, students must have the necessary strength in their core, legs, ankles and feet, as well as meeting the necessary class requirements and passing a studio evaluation to be considered for this advanced class. In certain circumstances, a doctor examination of the feet may be needed to ensure proper growth plate development. Students are required to take Ballet Level 4 and at least one (2) additional Ballet class during the week.

Technique 

 Want more time in the studio to perfect that soutenu? Take this non-performing class each week and see the increased results before your eyes. Your instructor will work with you on perfecting your technique, so whether you want to perform stronger in your ballet class or jazz class, or get higher marks at your competition…this class is for you. Please take the level that corresponds with your ballet and jazz level recommendations.

Jazz

A stylized technique based class that emphasizes long lines and musicality. As an ever changing art form, jazz encompasses many forms of technique from contemporary to musical theater. Class focuses on flexibility, strength, turns and leaps and jazz choreography. Jazz is specifically used to teach personal expression and help dancers find their personal style and voice, as well as body control and awareness. These topics relate to body and choreography and use the encounter to grow as a dancer and as a person. Each level will focus on learning proper dance technique such as isolations of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns. Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz such as Broadway, Lyrical, and Contemporary to help develop a well rounded dancer. Class curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with traditional jazz movement and includes a proper warm-up, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and combinations. 

Pre-Jazz– Must be ages 5-6, Beginner Level
Jazz Level 1– Must be ages 6+ with 0-3 years of experience. Beginner Level.Students will learn the foundations of jazz with a focus on finding the joys of jazz dancing. There will be a focus on learning proper alignment, isolations, stretching, balance and basic jazz vocabulary. Students will learn basic pirouettes, battements, leg holds, leaps, jumps, isolations, and traveling steps.
Jazz Level 2 – Must be ages 9+ with 1-3 years experience. Intermediate Level.The structure of jazz 2 will be similar to jazz 1 with a focus on learning to properly connect steps together, increasing strength and flexibility, as well as increasing jazz vocabulary and finding style. There will be an emphasis on building technique and style.

Jazz Level 3– Must be ages 11+ with 4-5 years experience. Intermediate/Advanced Level.Students at this level will be given increasingly difficult combinations. There will be an emphasis on precision and consistency in both style and technique.

Jazz Level 4– Must be ages 12+ with 5+ years. Advanced Level. Designed for the teenager with the necessary jazz experience to be able to carry more mature themes and advanced skills. Dancers should have the ability to pick up choreography in all jazz styles quickly before entering this level. This level is about artistry, extremely detailed corrections and preparation for pursuing a career in dance. 



Tap 

Tap classes are designed to develop rhythm, style and sound. Students will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap technique, producing clear tap sounds, and having fun. As students progress through each level of 1-5, the curriculum will become increasingly more complex and intricate. Includes beginner through advanced level classes.*Please be advised: If a student has not fulfilled the required years or level of experience, it is suggested they take the lower level class to ensure they learn the prerequisite material and skills.

Tap Level 1 – Ages 6+. Beginner Level.
Tap Level 2– Must be ages 9+ with 1-3 years experience. Beginner/Intermediate Level.

Tap Level 3 – Must be ages 11+ with 3-4 years experience. Intermediate Level.

Tap Level 4 – Must be ages 12+ with 5-7 years experience. Intermediate/Advanced Level. Material is taught quickly in this class and students are expected to pick up the material being taught at a fast rate.



Hip-Hop

This class is high-energy and fun for students that want to learn some new dance moves. Hip hop focuses on locking, popping, breaking and commercial dance styles. Classes include conditioning and warm-up, simplified break down of each dance step, skill combinations and choreography. 
Hip Hop Level 1– Must be ages 6+ . Beginner Level. Students will learn to understand and apply knowledge of hip-hop fundamentals. There is emphasis on rhythm and proper technique all while maintaining a fun and high energy class.

Hip Hop Level 2– Must be ages 9+ with 1-3 years experience – Beginner/Intermediate Level. There will be concentration developing proper dance alignments, memorization, rhythm, flexibility, strength. 

Hip Hop Level 3 – Must be ages 12+ with 3-5 years experience – Intermediate Level. Concentration on learning through movement, choreography and grooves will be the focus in this class. 


Acrobatics

Acro is centered on fundamental acrobatic technique to increase flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, endurance, timing, body awareness, self-discipline, and confidence. Classes focus on proper hand placement and body alignment with emphasis on the muscles and flexibility required to perform proper technique.

Acro Level 1– Must be ages 6+. Beginner Level. Introductory level class that will build acro skills and knowledge of the basics. Students will learn skills including a baby bridge, forward pike roll, pre-cartwheel, somersault, straddle and tuck jumps, right & left cartwheels, round off, handstand, and bridge recover.

Acro Level 2– Beginning / Intermediate Level. Acro 2 focuses on bridge kickover, front and back limber, chest stand, forearm stand, one handed cartwheel, front and back walkover, side aerial (introduction), Arabian limber, headstand and some partner or group Acro stunts.Class Prerequisites– Students must have mastered bridge recover, handstand and cartwheel without spotting assistance. 

Acro Level 3– Intermediate Level. Students will learn how to execute one handed front walk-over, one handed back walk-over, side aerial, front aerial, back hand spring, round off back hand spring, back hand spring step out, press hand stands, walking on hands, rolling tinsica (spider), connections (ex: cartwheel back walk-over back hand spring step out), partner or group acro stunts. Class Prerequisite –Students must have mastered limbers, and handstand holds without spotting assistance .*This class must be prepared for extreme conditioning and difficult skills.

Acro Level 4 –Advanced Level. Class Prerequisite –Students must have mastered front and back walkovers, press handstands, headstands and forearms stands without spotting assistance.

Tumbling

Jumps, flips, kicks and twists! These are all things we emphasize in this class. As dance has adopted more acrobatic and gymnastics- inspired moves into its curriculum, the pressure felt by dancers to incorporate harder and flashier moves into their routines has skyrocketed. Luckily, at Xscape, we have the class to meet these challenges! Taught by Coach Lucas, who has over ten years of gymnastics experience, and twenty years of martial arts experience. Your children will learn in a fun and patient environment. The goals of this class include learning backwards tumbling: handsprings, flips, and contortions, Strength Training: hand stands, holds, and partner tumbling, and finally Safety, Comfort, and Control. 

Singing

Our voice lessons offer a full range of kid friendly lessons for all ages and abilities. Our University trained teachers will help you learn musicin a style that caters to your musicalinterest and unleashes your creativity. Whether you want to learn rock, pop, blues or classical, whether you are a novice or expert, we have a lesson suited for you. Since all our lessons are one on one with a teacher, progress is catered to each student, allowing for maximum attention and progress. Our teachers want you to learn music that you feel passionate about, so be sure to tell them what style of musicyou enjoy!

Acting

An exploration of acting principles mixed with fun and movement! Your student will learn about Broadway productions, stage performance and improvisation. This class helps students gain confidence for life

Pom Dance

Pom dance is a fun and upbeat style of dance focused on sharp, staccato arm movements, synchronization and the execution of visuals and jazz technique. Dancers will learn the fundamentals of Pom motions and technique, practice precision, and improve their energy, endurance and entertainment skills.

Stretch and Conditioning

This non performing class is designed to improve a dancer’s range of motion, enhance muscle flexibility and increase their level of core muscle strength. Designed for the motivated and dedicated dancer to increase flexibility and full body strength. Dancers are taught basic anatomy as well as proper form. This is a high energy, fast paced class. Through a variety of stretches and strengthening exercises, dancers will also increase their awareness of their own body’s potential as it connects to expression through movement. 

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT)

Miss Marie is our PBT certified instructor and is thrilled to be adding this unique opportunity to our more serious students!“Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance students' technique by focussing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. It is a unique training system using ballet-technique specific exercises to train skill acquisition in a graded and progressive manner from junior through to advanced levels. PBT helps teachers around the world prepare their students to receive the strength they need to achieve their personal best.The program helps with injury prevention and rehabilitation and enhances the ability of athletes to perform at their best. It can be difficult for students to feel which muscles initiate the correct alignment in training. However, with the use of an exercise ball, the students gain a great sense of posture and weight-placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group working throughout each exercise, which then stays with them when whilst performing in dance or their chosen field of sportPBT focuses on core strength, weight placement and alignment of the body with a gradual approach of carefully designed exercises and repetitions of these exercises that trigger their muscle memory. The program is designed with safe dance methodology to promote a long, healthy career and is now being taught by over 4000+ certified teachers worldwide and over 3500 schools globally have added PBT classes in their curriculum for students.PBT is not only a program to improve technique in ballet dancers, it is now being appreciated and incorporated in training by all forms of dancers, athletes, physiotherapists and even footballers!”Class Prerequisites: Students must pre-register to ensure they will have an exercise ball to borrow for the duration of the class. Students may also purchase their own ball according to the following guidelines below. 
Exercise BallAlso know as a 'Swiss Ball' or 'Fit Ball'Using your height to size up your ballWhen you stand next to an exercise ball, it should be even or slightly above your knee level. The best way to size up your ball is by sitting on it. When you sit on the ball, knees should be bent at a 90-degree angle and your thighs should be parallel or even with the floor. Find your height and see which ball size you should try first.
Adult Dance Classes– Our adult classes are a fun and light-hearted for both the inexperienced and experienced dancer. Although strong technique will be taught, the environment is casual and made to make everyone feel welcome. Do something for you…Challenge yourself and your body and mind will thank you. Comfortable clothing can be worn.