CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
ACROBATIC ARTS - AcroDance is the beautiful fusion of the artistic motion of dance and the athleticism of acrobatics. AcroDance is not the same as gymnastics. An AcroDancer must complete all of the skills on the hard stage without the advantage of a sprung floor, while seamlessly integrating musicality, emotional expression, extension, control and line. Skills taught in AcroDance might look the same as gymnastics, but they are taught differently to compensate for the conditions. Through thoughtful progressions and a carefully planned syllabus, teachers will introduce new skills as the dancer has trained his/her body for the skill and is ready for it. This greatly reduces the potential for injury, creates more technically correct work, and helps dancers to progress more quickly (in the long run). Dancers must be registered in at least one ballet class and one jazz class at BRDS to enroll in ACROBATIC ARTS.
Ballet – This highly technical form of dance teaches discipline, precision, technique, strength, flexibility, and performance. Through the language of ballet, students will be intensely trained to perform with a high quality of movement. Ballet originated in the 15th century and the language of ballet is French. Students will be taught to understand the French ballet vocabulary, as well as, learn proper ballet technique, posture, and body placement. Ballet classes are open to dancers age 2 and older.
Contemporary – Contemporary dance is taught through the use of modern and post-modern dance techniques. Contemporary dance allows the choreographer and dancers a great amount of creative freedom. Through techniques such as improv, partnering, contact-release, and many more, a piece can be told as story or one that is more abstract. Students enrolled in this class must show a very high level of maturity and respect for artistry.
Hip Hop – Hip hop is an urban style of street dance made popular through music videos, TV shows, and movies. Several techniques such as popping, locking, and breaking make this a fun and exciting style of dance to learn and perform. In this class students will learn several styles of hip hop that include jazz-funk, b-boying, krumping, lyrical-hip hop, and free-style. Hip Hop classes are open to dancers age 3 and older.
Jazz – Jazz dance is a fun and energetic style of dance. Students will learn to express themselves in several different styles of jazz from Broadway to Funk, and everything in between. This style is exciting to watch and perform because of the unique movements, quick turns, and big leaps. Dancers need a strong ballet back ground to excel in this style. Jazz classes are open to ages 5 and older.
Lyrical – Lyrical is a style of dance that combines the technical movements of ballet with the artistic and expressive movements of jazz and modern. Students will learn to express themselves through musicality, and to show emotion through movement. To enroll in lyrical, students must show a high level of maturity and seriousness in dance class.
Pointe – En pointe or “on the tip” is a classical ballet performed in specialty re-enforced pointe shoes. Students must have had several years of classical ballet training before entering a pointe class. Pointe dancers must show good posture, strength, turn out from the hips, proper body placement, and a high level of ballet intelligence before being approved for pointe shoes.
Tap – Tap dance is a style of dance that focuses on rhythm and percussion. Students wear tap shoes with a metal tap on the ball and heel of the shoe. Tap dancers will learn musicality, rhythm, and syncopation to music. Tap classes are open to ages 3 and older.
ACROBATIC ARTS - AcroDance is the beautiful fusion of the artistic motion of dance and the athleticism of acrobatics. AcroDance is not the same as gymnastics. An AcroDancer must complete all of the skills on the hard stage without the advantage of a sprung floor, while seamlessly integrating musicality, emotional expression, extension, control and line. Skills taught in AcroDance might look the same as gymnastics, but they are taught differently to compensate for the conditions. Through thoughtful progressions and a carefully planned syllabus, teachers will introduce new skills as the dancer has trained his/her body for the skill and is ready for it. This greatly reduces the potential for injury, creates more technically correct work, and helps dancers to progress more quickly (in the long run). Dancers must be registered in at least one ballet class and one jazz class at BRDS to enroll in ACROBATIC ARTS.
Ballet – This highly technical form of dance teaches discipline, precision, technique, strength, flexibility, and performance. Through the language of ballet, students will be intensely trained to perform with a high quality of movement. Ballet originated in the 15th century and the language of ballet is French. Students will be taught to understand the French ballet vocabulary, as well as, learn proper ballet technique, posture, and body placement. Ballet classes are open to dancers age 2 and older.
Contemporary – Contemporary dance is taught through the use of modern and post-modern dance techniques. Contemporary dance allows the choreographer and dancers a great amount of creative freedom. Through techniques such as improv, partnering, contact-release, and many more, a piece can be told as story or one that is more abstract. Students enrolled in this class must show a very high level of maturity and respect for artistry.
Hip Hop – Hip hop is an urban style of street dance made popular through music videos, TV shows, and movies. Several techniques such as popping, locking, and breaking make this a fun and exciting style of dance to learn and perform. In this class students will learn several styles of hip hop that include jazz-funk, b-boying, krumping, lyrical-hip hop, and free-style. Hip Hop classes are open to dancers age 3 and older.
Jazz – Jazz dance is a fun and energetic style of dance. Students will learn to express themselves in several different styles of jazz from Broadway to Funk, and everything in between. This style is exciting to watch and perform because of the unique movements, quick turns, and big leaps. Dancers need a strong ballet back ground to excel in this style. Jazz classes are open to ages 5 and older.
Lyrical – Lyrical is a style of dance that combines the technical movements of ballet with the artistic and expressive movements of jazz and modern. Students will learn to express themselves through musicality, and to show emotion through movement. To enroll in lyrical, students must show a high level of maturity and seriousness in dance class.
Pointe – En pointe or “on the tip” is a classical ballet performed in specialty re-enforced pointe shoes. Students must have had several years of classical ballet training before entering a pointe class. Pointe dancers must show good posture, strength, turn out from the hips, proper body placement, and a high level of ballet intelligence before being approved for pointe shoes.
Tap – Tap dance is a style of dance that focuses on rhythm and percussion. Students wear tap shoes with a metal tap on the ball and heel of the shoe. Tap dancers will learn musicality, rhythm, and syncopation to music. Tap classes are open to ages 3 and older.