Children's Program
Ages 3-7
Children learn basic ballet and gross motor skills while developing a love of and excitement for ballet and movement play. Dancers are encouraged and challenged at each stage of development.
Ages 3-4
Students are gently exposed to basic ballet while developing gross motor skills and a love of and excitement for ballet and movement play.
Students will learn classroom etiquette and structure. Props (hoola hoops, ribbons, scarves, etc.) will be used frequently during class as visual aids and spacial awareness tools. Clapping counting and use of tambourines will be used frequently to develop rhythm and musicality.
Classes begin with floor exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles followed by basic center exercises in parallel and turned out 1st and 2nd positions. Barres will not be used in class. Traveling steps are performed on the diagonal and in a circle.
All dancers participate in an in-studio spring performance.
Age 5
Students are exposed to basic ballet technique and terminology while developing a love of and excitement for ballet. Students will learn classroom etiquette and structure. Dancers will end the year with an understanding of specified steps, although dancers of this age will vary greatly in degrees of execution. Props will be used frequently including rings with ribbons, tambourines and hoola hoops.
Dancers will not use ballet barres. They begin class with floor exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles. These exercises are followed by basic ballet steps performed in the center. Traveling steps are performed on the diagonal and in a circle.
Dancers will have a performance opportunity with SAFD annual spring performance in May at the Tennessee Theatre.
Ages 6-7
Our youth classes are designed to inspire our young dancers to love ballet and modern dance.
Developing strong motor skills, musicality and movement awareness is key at this age.
Appropriate exposure to age-specific technique is approached in a creative format with the use of props such as scarves, ribbons, tambourines and hula hoops. Improvisation and creative movement is implemented into every class and short stories are told on famous ballets such as The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.
Dancers will have a performance opportunity with SAFD annual spring performance in May at the Tennessee Theatre.
Classes
Pre-Ballet
Pre-Modern
Pre-Tap