our classes & workshops

Dance Classes

The Studio offers dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, Broadway, Irish, contemporary, lyrical, pop jazz, and bellydance.

Q: I'm familiar with the first few, but what are lyrical, contemporary, pop jazz, and bellydance?

A: A beautiful blend of ballet, modern, and jazz techniques, lyrical is commonly set to contemporary music with vocals or just instrumental bars. One goal of lyrical dance is to use gesture, expression, and controlled movements in order to execute movements and portray emotions. Besides emotional connection to music, lyrical dance typically encourages use of articulation, line, weight, and other movement qualities.

Contemporary dance draws on modern and postmodern dance, classical ballet, and other dance techniques. It can express a free type of movement and the choreography is more diverse than other specific genres. This class focuses on technique and improvisation with a focus on expression, posture, flexibility, and dance presentation. Still puzzled? Check out the videos posted on our Facebook page.

Pop jazz is a unique blend of "hip hop"/street dance with classic jazz, usually set to pop music. It has a technical base with sassy flair. Be prepared to be dainty, flirty, and fierce all at the same time. Think Britney and Lady Gaga style. Class consists of a proper warm-up, followed by technique and a high energy routine.

Bellydance can energize, promote self-confidence, and bring people together. Besides being good for the body, bellydance is also good for the mind, heart, and soul. You will learn basic shapes and movement, stylization, shimmies, and undulations, as well as get a great workout and laugh a lot! Please wear a snug top, and hip scarf (Jaylee has a few to borrow). Soft soled dance shoes are welcome but not required.

Levels

Open-level Classes: All levels welcome

All classes are open level unless otherwise specified. Open-level classes pay particular attention to the variety of ability levels of dancers present in that particular class. Modifications are suggested to make movements and combinations either easier or more challenging for each student. Instructors demonstrate and explain terminology when needed, focusing on students’ alignment and comprehension throughout class.

Beginner Classes

Taught at a relaxed pace with a focus on learning or re-learning the basics, beginner classes prepare students for all other Studio classes. Ideal for students new to dance or that dance style, or for students returning to dance after an extended absence, our beginner classes provide students with a firm foundation in proper alignment, technique, and basic vocabulary.

Elementary Classes

Students in elementary classes typically have a basic familiarity with all standard vocabulary and  exercises, either from other Studio classes, or from prior dance experience. Movement sequences and combinations vary from class to class. Center exercises include elements from the warm-up, as well as stationary and locomotor movements, balances, turns, and small and large jumps. A short piece of choreography that incorporates elements from the warm-up and center work may conclude the class.

Intermediate Classes

Students are expected to be familiar with standard warm-up exercises, coordination exercises, turns, jumps, and various balances. Center exercises and choreography combine stationary and locomotor movements, balances, turns, small and large jumps, with a focus on building strength, agility, and coordination.

Fitness Classes

The Studio offers the following fitness classes: Ballet Blast, Ab-solute Jazz, Zumba, Cardio Caliente, and Yoga.

Ballet Blast

Often imitated, never duplicated.  Our Ballet Blast class proves that you don't need weights or fitness props to achieve a beautiful ballet body. Ballet is hard enough, and if done correctly, it's all you need to develop long, lean, lovely muscles. Improve balance, strength, and stamina with simple but surprisingly effective movements. Class begins with an intense barre warm-up, followed by combinations done in the center and across the floor. No prior ballet experience required. Ballet slippers optional.

Ab-solute Jazz

Why suffer through sit-ups and crunches when you can dance your way to a strong center and toned tummy? Improve balance, strength, and stamina with this unique blend of dance sequences designed to target your core and provide a fun cardio workout.

Zumba

Zumba is a high intensity, high impact cardio workout that fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program that will blow you away. The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. So, ditch the workout and join the party! Please bring clean sneakers that you do not wear outside.

Cardio Caliente

In this class, Latin dance routines mixing fast and slow rhythms are used to tone your body and burn calories. Dances include Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha, Bachata, Samba, bellydance, African techniques and more.

Yoga

Melt away stress and connect with your body as you strengthen and stretch in yoga.  This class will combine posture flow sequences, linking movement and breath, with playful conditioning movements designed to bring awareness to alignment and to reawaken the body to its natural movement capability. Leave class feeling uplifted and reconnected to your most important teacher–-you!

Private and Semi-Private Lessons

Offered M-TH. 3:30 to 4:30 pm and by appointment on weekends.

Private classes are one-on-one lessons that progress at your own pace and focus on your specific needs.

Semi-private classes are generally three to ten students who prefer the individualized attention of a small class, or groups of friends or family members who want to take class as a private event. (These are especially popular for birthday celebrations or bridal/bachelorette festivities.)

The class format is flexible: we can arrange half-hour intensives, as well as one- or two-hour workshop-style classes that focus on particular aspects of dance, such as turns, jumps, stretches, coordination, or choreography. We can tailor the class to fit your needs and expectations.

For half-hour, one-and-a-half-hour, and two-hour intensives and workshop-style lessons, the hourly rate will be pro-rated accordingly.