Dance Classes

Please note that the Jill Landrith School of Ballet has suggestions with class descriptions, but preferred class placement is by ability.

BALLET

Threshold Ballet This once a week class is for 4-5 year old ballet dancers. This class will begin working at the barre, learning basic positions and ballet exercises. This class will also focus on spatial awareness, movements across the floor, and refining motor skills.

Foundations This one time a week class is for 5-6 year old ballet dancers. This class will focus on study of proper placement of feet on floor. Class will work towards performing Plies, Tendus, Degages, Rond de Jambs, Frappes and Grand Battements at the barre, with traditional one hand on the barre. Center work will include Retires, Arabesques, Saute in Arabesque, Chasses, Changements, Pas de Chats, Chaines and Grand Jetes.

Structure This twice a week class is for the 7-9 year old ballet dancer. This class will focus on study of proper alignment of spine, legs and shoulders. Class work will add Adage and stretching at the barre. Center work will add Adage, Port de Bras, Pirouettes, Piques, Petite Allegro, and introducing Developpe, Jete and Tour Jete.

Additions This three time a week class is for dancers 10 years and older. This class will focus on preparation for pointe work, and beginning level pointe work. Class work will add to length of exercises, emphasizing Releves, introduction to pointe shoes, beginning pointe work, and eventually working entirely on pointe.

Expansions This level is for the 14+ year old ballet dancer with instructor permission. This class will focus on Advanced level dance vocabulary and movements, work on movement quality and intent, and transitions after high school. Expansions students may take the Additions level as well, so that they can study up to five times a week.

Teen and Adult Intermediate Ballet This ballet class is for adults and teens who have danced before and want to begin again.

Beginning Pointe/Adult Pointe This class is for the dancers being placed on pointe at that time, but could also be taken by those dancers who wish to home their basic pointe skills. Adult students wishing to start pointe or solidify pointe skills are welcome with instructor’s permission.

Variations/Adv Pointe/Pas de Deux This class is for advanced pointe dancers learning ballet variations and pas de deux skills (when social distancing practices make this a safe practice) . Instructor consent required. Kinesiology is also added to lengthen and strengthen specific muscle groups to improve all types of dance.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Contemporary dance is an expressive style that pulls elements from modern, jazz, lyrical and ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid and sometimes unpredictable movements. Technique of contemporary will focus on the strength and control of ballet with lyrical fluidity on the core and upper body. Floor work will incorporate modern technique of controlled fall and recovery. Improvisation as well as student choreography will be included.

TAP AND JAZZ DANCE

Tap 1 This class meets once a week class and is designed for the dancer ages 4-6 who is new to jazz. This class will introduce students to the basics of rhythm, coordination, and the beginning tap vocabulary and movements, which will be utilized and expanded upon in the upper levels. We will drill terminology with plenty of repetition, and emphasize working to create clear and crisp tap sounds as well as the basics of jazz technique with movements carefully chosen for the age range.

Tap 2 This once a week class is for the 7-12 year old dancer. This class will focus on developing the basic tap steps and implementing them within more complex combinations of steps. We will begin working with more challenging rhythms and tempo changes within the music and movement. This level will also focus on students’ overall confidence and performance.

Jazz 1 This class meets once a week class and is designed for the dancer ages 4-6 who is new to jazz. This class will introduce students to the basics of rhythm, coordination and movements, which will be utilized and expanded upon in the upper levels. Students will learn the basics of jazz technique with movements carefully chosen for the age range.

Jazz 2 This class will work on isolations, change of direction, use of space, and the dynamics and qualities of each movement. Terminology and memorization will be a focus by use of repetition throughout this level.

LYRICAL DANCE

Lyrical This one time a week class is for ages 10 and up. It is a fusion of ballet, modern and jazz. The dancer will earn how to use creative expression to tell the story of the music through their movement.