The soccer programs are very good and have knowledgeable leadership… Our son has enjoyed the soccer sessions and has grown by leaps and bounds, both emotionally and physically.

Will Sullivan, Williamsburg

Dance

Primary Classes

Pre-Dance: (ages 3-5) Children will explore movement through imagery and games.  Basic technique and terminology will cover: The 5 Positions of the Feet, Leg Extensions (Tondu, Degage’, Grand Battement), Balance and Leaps.  Basic motor skills will be introduced, including: balancing, skipping, galloping, sliding and turning.  Students will learn self-discipline in the classroom setting while working with partners, in a group and as an individual.

Ballet/Tap Combination: (ages 5-7) This is a great class choice for children who have no prior dance experience.  Students will learn basic Ballet and Tap technique and terminology in a combination class structure of a 40 minute Ballet session and 20 minute Tap session. Ballet Technique will include: The Five Positions, Demi Plie’, Tondu, Rond de Jambe, Saute’s, Bourree’ along with basic motor skills. Tap Technique will include: Rhythm recognition and Echoing, Toe Taps, Heel Taps, Shuffles, Shuffle Hop Toe Combinations, Ballchange. Students will also begin to develop memorization skills with small dance combinations.

Ballet

Beginner/Intermediate Ballet: (ages 6-9)  Prepares the younger students for the upcoming Leveled Classes.  Successful completion of these classes prepares the student for Level II training. This is a more focused, structured class for children that have completed Pre-Dance and/or the Combination Class. Students are expected to actively learn Ballet terminology.

Leveled Ballet Classes: (ages 10+) Class placement based on successful completion of lower leveled classes and instructor approval. Ballet technique will be presented in a “pre-professional” environment designed to develop the proper technique in the dancer, appropriate for both amateurs and aspiring professional dancers. Students will be given a full Ballet Barre with emphasis on Center, Correct Alignment and Turn Out.  Center Exercises will focus on balance, expression and memory development as students are gradually presented with combinations based upon terminology and technique appropriate to Level.

Required Uniform: Solid Color Leotard (any color/style), Pink Tights, Pink Ballet Shoes, Hair Must Be Pulled Into A Bun, Please No Skirts or Shorts.

Tap

Beginner/Intermediate Tap: (ages 6-9) Prepares the younger student for the upcoming Leveled Classes.  Successful completion of these classes prepares the student for Level II training.  Students will learn the basic fundamentals and how to perform them in combination. Students learn the Tap fundamentals of Rhythm and Fine Motor Coordination.  Students are expected to actively learn terminology.

Leveled Tap Classes: (ages 10+) Class placement based on successful completion of lower leveled classes and instructor approval. Tap technique in the traditional “Broadway Style” will be presented in a “pre-professional” environment designed to develop the proper technique in the dancer, appropriate for both amateurs and aspiring professional dancers. Students will begin with the basic fundamentals of rhythm and technique.  A building block approach is used, where the student learns basic rhythms and steps and combines them in order to develop more advanced steps, combinations and tempos.

Jazz

Beginner/Intermediate Jazz: (ages 7-9)   Prepares the younger student for the upcoming Leveled Classes.  Successful completion of this class prepares the student for Level II training.  It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that students complete Intermediate Ballet or Ballet I prior to registering for Jazz Class. Students will learn Jazz fundamentals including: The traditional Jazz warm-up, Center Barre: Plie’, Tondu, Degage’, Develop’, Grand Battment, Retire’.

Leveled Jazz Classes: (ages 10+) Class placement based on successful completion of lower leveled classes and instructor approval.  It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that students complete Intermediate Ballet or Ballet I prior to registering for Jazz Class. Jazz technique will be presented in a “pre-professional” environment designed to develop the proper technique in the dancer, appropriate for both amateurs and aspiring professional dancers.

Head Dance Instructor: Kara Ernst

Program Director: Natalie Barnett, nvidnovic@thewisc.com