Dance Styles Explained:
What is Ballet?
Ballet is the base for all dancing skills as it teaches correct posture & stance. It is highly recommended that all students study this as their first subject. Ballet is also a great teacher of self discipline and motivation. It is technical, graceful and is the best form of dance for the strengthening & conditioning of the body, along with its great ability to loosen the limbs. Ballet originates from France and all its terminology is in the French Language so your child also gets to learn a different language whilst learning to dance.
What isTap?
Tap is an exciting way of making music with the feet. A trained Tap Dancer would be able to tap out a whole songs rhythm purely by using their feet. Its lots of fun and teaches great timing, rhythm & co-ordination like no other dance style.
What is Modern Jazz?
Modern Jazz is an expressive, energetic dance style which incorporates different dance elements/styles such as slow dance, to very up beat funky Jazz styles like Urban Fusion and Street Jazz. This stylish form of dance can be seen in shows such as Fame along with contemporary ballet.
What is Lyrical / Contemporary?
Is probably the most expressive style of dance as it is classed as a slow dance and is a combination of ballet technique with modern/contemporary. Flowing movements with strong arm lines performed /danced with feeling, grace and flexibility. Lyrical tells a story through expressive movement.
What is Street Dance & Hip Hop
Hip Hop is the latest dance trend, it’s a street style of dance that blends funky moves with sleek lines and looseness, allowing the dancer to naturally move the body. It requires high stamina and the ability to let yourself go. Hip Hop is this millenniums in style that all youngsters including boys love to learn and dance, if you have seen Step up the film (2007) then you’ll know what I mean.
Freestyle
Freestyle is a fun and disco dance style dating back to the John Travolta era of Saturday Night Fever. It is all the latest moves for the disco combined with modern trends and tricky dance moves. Very up beat.
What is Acro?
Acro is dance combined with acrobatic tricks. A great dancer needs good flexibility to get to the top, this subject teaches how to obtain that flexibility and how to use it as a dancer. It requires dedication, determination but its fun and extremely rewarding.
What is Choreography?
Choreography lessons are very important for a dancers career as it teaches them how to take music, stories, poems, situations and themes and turn them into dance routines whether it be in the style of Ballet, Tap, Jazz or Lyrical etc. They learn how a dance is composed drawing on their knowledge of steps but learning to improvise and experiment with new ideas and steps. I recommend this to age 7 upwards is exciting and there is always something new to do all the time especially good for junior and teens. Students who are good at choreography can go on to earn good money as a choreographer if they follow this career path.
What is Musical Theatre?
Musical Theatre is a new and exciting syllabus created by the I.D.T.A which promotes and encourages stage presence. Pupils are taught vocal training, voice projection, and performance /acting skills.
What is Ballroom & Latin? (Coming Soon)
Ballroom & Latin is old time sequence dancing it involves strong arm and head lines along with tricky foot work and the ability to work with a partner. It has been all the rage of late with shows such as “Come Dancing” hitting our screens but it requires hard work and dedication. It is great for all ages and teaches great discipline.