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Dance
The Dance Program at WISC was re-instituted in 2008 and continues to grow. We offer more dance classes than ever before and have recently began offering Dance Academy classes to provide progressive dance training to our students. As a part of the WISC Gymnastics Center (WGC), the Dance Academy shares the same mission which is to provide a strong foundation for children to help develop their natural abilities in a fun, safe and encouraging environment. Our goal is to develop happy, healthy, well-rounded children with strong self-esteem and great confidence.
View our NEW Academy Dance brochure here!
Introductory Classes included in the WISC Facility Memberships
These classes will provide an introduction to dance classes offered in our Dance Academy.
Baby Ballerinas (3 - 5 Years):
This class is intended as a first dance experience. 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 (5 - 7 Years):
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.
Academy Ballet Classes
Academy Dance classes provide a progressive dance experience in a studio setting. These classes are taught by our Professional dance insturctors with extensive experience in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Contemporary styles.
Beginning Ballet Academy (6 - 9 Years):
Successful completion of this class prepares the student for Intermediate or Level I/II training. This is a more focused, structured class for children that have completed Baby Ballerinas and/or the Combination Class or have been given teacher recommendation to participate. Students are expected to actively learn Ballet terminology.
Intermediate Ballet Academy (6 - 9 Years):
Continues the dance training of younger students in preparation for the upcoming Leveled Classes. Successful completion of these classes prepares the student for Level I/II training. This is a more focused, structured class for children that have completed Beginning Ballet or had been given teacher recommendation to participate. Students are expected to actively learn Ballet terminology.
Ballet I/II and Ballet III Academy (10+ years)
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 for ALL Ballet Classes: Solid Color Leotard (any color/style), Pink Tights, Pink Ballet Shoes, Hair Must Be Pulled Into A Bun, Please No Skirts or Shorts.
Tap
Beginning Tap Academy (6 - 9 Years):
Prepares the younger student for the upcoming Leveled Classes. Successful completion of these classes prepares the student for Intermediate or Level I/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.
Intermediate Tap Academy (6 - 9 Years):
Continues training from the Beginning Tap Academy class and prepares the younger student for the upcoming Leveled Classes. Successful completion of these classes prepares the student for Level I/II training. Students will continue to apply the fundamentals and perform them in combination. Students expand upon the Tap fundamentals of Rhythm and Fine Motor Coordination. Students are expected to actively learn terminology.
Leveled Tap Academy(10 Years & up):
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
Beginning Jazz Academy(6 - 9 Years):
Prepares the younger student for the upcoming Intermediate and Leveled Classes. Successful completion of this class prepares the student for Level I/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 Batetment, Retire’.
Intermediate Jazz Academy(6 - 9 Years):
Continues to expand upon the Beginning Jazz technique and prepares the younger student for the upcoming Leveled Classes. Successful completion of this class prepares the student for Level I/II training. It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that students complete Intermediate Ballet or Ballet I prior to registering for Jazz Class. Students will expand upon the Jazz fundamentals learned in Beginning Jazz Academy including: The traditional Jazz warm-up, Center Barre: Plie’, Tondu, Degage’, Develop’, Grand Battement, Retire’.
Jazz I/II and Jazz III Academy(10 Years & up):
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.
Workshop (Teacher Recommendation Only)
Dance Program Director: Natalie Barnett, nbarnett@thewisc.com