BALLET
All students are encouraged to study ballet, as it is the foundation for most other dance styles and facilitates further success in different dance genres. In time, the discipline and posture utilized in the studio translates to every part of a dancer’s life. Ballet students are taught proper body placement, posture, alignment, barre and center floor work, along with across the floor combinations. Classes introduce and expand upon vocabulary and classical ballet technique and foster the patience and persistence that it takes to see results in this classical dance form.
LYRICAL
This is the perfect class for students who wish to explore the combination of dance technique and the art of expressive movement. Lyrical is a style of dance that uses the emotion and mood of the music to elicit movements from the dancers. It is a fusion of classical ballet, jazz and contemporary. Students have a warm up focusing on core strength, flexibility, and movement of the back. Any student attending lyrical is required to also attend at least one ballet or jazz class per week in order to build the strong foundation of technique that is required to perform lyrical routines.
JAZZ
This class is fun and energetic. It is a great class for students to explore their individual style and build confidence through movement. Jazz classes focus on technical elements such as kicks, leaps, turns, splits, and isolations. Classes include stretch and strengthening exercises, floor work, and across the floor progressions in addition to a center floor combination. Dance combinations will be performed at the end of each class in small groups for fellow students.
HIP HOP
This is a fun, high energy dance style. The first section of class will be dedicated to warm ups. Hip Hop is a style that combines street dance with funk and jazz, similar to what you would see in televised dance performances or music videos. Choreography will always be age appropriate and non-suggestive. Students will learn the importance of strength, musicality, isolations and dynamics to execute funk movements. Dance combinations will be performed at the end of each class in small groups for fellow students.
BOP
”Bop” is Splitz Dance Academy’s name for the pre-jazz and pre-hip hop style geared towards our youngest dancers. It is the very first introduction our Tiny Toes & Petite dancers get to rhythmic pop beats and basic hip hop grooves, using fun children’s music such as Disneymania, Kidz Bop, Hi-Five, The Wiggles and more.
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and body and fluid dance movements. Classes include stretch and strengthening exercises, floor work, and across the floor progressions in addition to a center floor combination. Dance combinations will be performed at the end of each class in small groups for fellow students. Any student attending contemporary is required to also attend at least one ballet class per week in order to build the strong foundation of technique that is required to perform contemporary routines.
TAP
Tap is the perfect dance style for those who love to make noise using rhythm, dynamics, and varying sounds. Tappers will have a graduated warm-up to loosen their ankles and knees for proper execution of progressions and syncopations across the floor and skills in the center. Dance combinations will be performed at the end of each class in small groups for fellow students.
DANCE CONDITIONING
This class is particularly for students looking to improve their overall dance technique. Students use yoga mats, stretching blocks, resistance therabands and foam rollers to build core strength, improve flexibility and refine posture and alignment. This weekly (non-performance) class will help dancers with the training they need to improve turns, leaps and extensions. It is a great additional class for dancers who would like to elevate their training and focus on fundamentals.
ACRO
Acro is a form of dance that combines lyrical and traditional/contemporary forms of jazz with gymnastics, tumbling and acrobatic partner stunts. This class builds strength, flexibility, endurance and the foundations for future years of acrobatic dance. Acro classes are dynamic and technique-based. Students will receive training in flexibility, strength, solo acrobatics, partner acrobatics, musicality, sequencing and dance.
TINY TOES & PETITE CLASSES
Our Tiny Toes and Petite classes are based on finding the love for dancing and the joy of expressing oneself to music. Throughout the dance season, students are taught the correct terminology for the fundamental ballet steps, whilst also encouraging their musicality, creativity through imagery when performing steps, story based choreography and the use of props during class time. In each class our instructors discuss with their students the importance of following dance class etiquette, to instill the respect, discipline and patience that it takes to continue with dance class. This is all done with age appropriate expectations in mind for each of our levels as the dancers grow and develop. Tiny Toes and Petite combo classes that also include “Bop”, will learn the basics of pre-jazz dance to some more upbeat children’s song in addition to the classical ballet portion of class.
ADAPTIVE DANCE
We are delighted to offer adaptive dance for dancers of all abilities. This class is taught by an adapted physical education specialist and is an opportunity for dancers of all abilities to enjoy a safe place to explore their passion for dance. Our choreography is designed to best meet the individual needs of the dancer. The adaptive dance class is structured to help students explore movement, rhythm and dance in a learning environment that fosters their personal best. Students will take pride in attaining new skills and celebrate success and achievements as a group. Our studio classrooms and restrooms are wheelchair accessible and accommodate students of all abilities.
