TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH MOVEMENT
Our classes are open to everyone of all levels and abilities, and students enjoy our collaborative and creative approach to dance education. We teach from a concept-based perspective, emphasizing the elements of Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy. Students also learn technique, improvisation, and choreography in a safe environment where healthy risk-taking is encouraged. Students develop skills in observing, participating, and describing in a setting that values a commitment to self, to the group, and to lifelong learning.
Across our classes, students are encouraged to deepen an understanding of themselves and their community. Young Dance offers All Abilities Dancing for individuals living with and without disabilities, Afro-Modern, Ballet, Breaking, Choreography, Conditioning, Creative Movement, Dance Together, Hip Hop, and Modern dance.
2022–23 CLASS SCHEDULE CALENDAR TUITION REGISTRATION
CURRICULM APPROACH
Students explore Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy through:
- Understanding: Defining and exploring terminology
- Developing Skills: Exploring technique through practice
- Creating: Through improvisation and student-made choreography
- Perceiving: Watching each other
- Analyzing: Giving each other feedback using terminology from the concepts we’ve explored
- Community: Working together in pairs and groups, supporting each other
CLASS STRUCTURE
Our classes are multi-aged, spanning 3 grade levels or more. This provides students the opportunity to be learners and leaders, two aspects of education that we deeply value at Young Dance.
All of our classes are open to students of all skill levels and abilities. No previous experience necessary. The experiential nature of Young Dance classes enables students to learn at their own pace physically, while being challenged at an age-appropriate level. If your dancer is new to Young Dance, please contact us at info@youngdance.org to discuss placement.
While we do offer specific All Abilities Dancing classes, all of our classes are for those with and without disabilities. If you are unsure which class will be the most rewarding for your dancer, please contact us to discuss the possibilities.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Our class programming runs September 15, 2021 thru May 21, 2022.
Registration is for a 9-month session. Mid-year registrations are accepted at the discretion of the instructor.
For more information please contact: info@youngdance.org
Classes culminate in a performance in mid-May, with other informal performances and events occurring throughout the year.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Dance Together, Ages: 1–3 with caregiver (crawlers and walkers welcome)
Children and their caregivers discover the joys of movement through games, stories, and songs. These early classes introduce children to group learning environments while using movement to develop strong bonds with their caregivers. Children also develop large and fine motor skills in classes that emphasize observation, exploration, manipulation, imitation, and repetition.
Creative Movement 1, Ages: 3–5 (Pre–K)
Creative Movement classes offer a fun environment for children to explore, improvise, and express themselves through movement. Children develop large and fine motor skills, as well as coordination, rhythm, teamwork, and listening skills.
Creative Movement 2, Ages: 5–7 (K–1)
In Creative Movement 2, children learn the structure of a dance class and terminology through improvisation and games. Young dancers are challenged with more complex routines exploring the dance concepts of Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy.
Creative Movement 3 (formerly Let’s Get Movin’), Ages: 6–9
This class focuses on dance elements emphasized in teamwork and creativity while providing a foundation in Modern Dance and improvisation. Dancers will experience an exciting full-bodied class exploring a roller coaster ride of movement fun! Come swing, roll, jump, express, create, and sweat while learning the freedom and enjoyment of dance.
All Abilities Dancing 1, Ages: 7–11
Creative Dance for youth living with and without disabilities. This class will focus on positive body awareness, creativity, teamwork, motor coordination, and personal expression.
All Abilities Dancing 2, Ages: 11 and Older
Participants develop skills of improvisation, partnering, and choreography with an emphasis on communication, collaboration, and performance.
Afro-Modern Dance, Ages: 10–18
Based on rhythms from Africa and the diaspora, Afro-Modern Dance is a contemporary class where dancers explore full-body expression rooted in West African, Caribbean, and American dance traditions. Focus on wellness, community, improvisation, and fluidity across movement styles.
Ballet 1 & 2 (from a body-positive, somatic perspective), Ages: 7–18
Ballet skills, terminology, rhythm, and coordination will be taught with an emphasis on body-positive awareness to skill-building, flexibility, and coordination. Students will be introduced to spatial awareness, musicality, steps, and the alignment of ballet technique.
Choreography, Ages: 7–18
This class will introduce students to both the exploration of the choreographic process and the basic tools used in choreography. Students will learn dance-making through improvisation, activities, and discussion.
Conditioning with Push Fitness! Ages 10 and older
Young Dance and Push Fitness are teaming up to offer a family conditioning class for dancers and dance enthusiasts. This class, taught by Janine from Push Fitness, will introduce a conditioning regimen that will allow dancers the opportunity to build strength and stamina to complement their dance training and, prevent injuries.
Contemporary Technique Studies, Ages: 12–18
This class focuses on the comprehensive instruction of Contemporary Ballet and Modern Dance technique: Alignment, Momentum, Shape, and Breath. An in-depth exploration of floor work and locomotive phrases will be explored, as well as technique and skill-building.
Dance and Technology: Screen Dance, Ages: 11–18
Instruction in the dance form that combines videography, direction, choreography, dancing, and creativity. This class will be offered online only through distance learning for Fall, Winter, and Spring Sessions.
Modern 1, Ages: 7-9 (grades 2-3)
Introduction to Modern Dance, through improvisation and technique. Explores concepts of Space, Time, Body, Effort, Movement, and Form. Students develop listening skills, problem-solving skills, perception and evaluation skills, and teamwork through large and small group activities.
Modern 2, Ages: 9–11 (grades 4–5)
Modern dance learning through technique, improvisation, and choreography.
Modern 3, Ages: 11–14 (grades 6–8)
Explores modern dance concepts of Space, Time, Body, Effort, Movement, and Form, but with a strong emphasis on working together. Developing teamwork and collaborative skills.
Modern 4 & 5, Ages: 14–18
Modern dance concepts of Space, Time, Body, Effort, Movement, and Form with technical rigor and deep creativity. Confidence and self-awareness are key themes, along with empathy, embodiment, and energetic expression. This class explores elements of teamwork and leadership with an emphasis on exploring the self and articulating self-expression. Registration for Modern 5 is by invitation only. Contact Young Dance with questions.
Hip Hop 1, Hip Hop 2, & Hip Hop 3, Ages: 8–18
This class is full of energetic choreography that offers a glimpse into the history of hip hop, including the styles that created and made hip hop so popular (i.e. breaking, popping, locking, and house).
“The assurance that my body is right became increasingly important in the 11 years in which I grew up with Young Dance.”
-Emily Winkler-Morey