classes
Studio C is proud to offer classes in a variety of dance styles. Each individual style develops a different set of technical and performance skills. It is important that students are registered in the appropriate classes. Our staff will be happy to assist you with these choices.
Please note, in all cases students will be placed according to both ability and age.
KinderDance
Designed to stimulate and inspire our youngest dancers, Creative Movement introduces students to the core concepts of dance: balance, coordination, rhythm, accent, expression, and improvisation. Social and learning skills are also developed through classroom routines, waiting one’s turn, following instructions, and celebrating achievements. This class provides a solid foundation for success in all learning environments, not just dance class. Zoom options available for this program.
Combination (Jazz/Tap)
Perfect for beginners, and graduates of our KinderDance program, the Combination Class program allows students to sample various dance styles. By exploring Jazz, Tap, and Ballet, students strengthen their core dance skills, and begin to develop the basics of dance technique. Students learn 2 dances for recital (a jazz dance and a tap dance). This class is a stepping stone towards our recreational and competitive programs.
Junior Ballet 1
Our Junior ballet program offers an introduction to the fundamentals of Classical Ballet. Dancers will learn the basics of posture, turnout and movement, using classical music, and following the traditional methods of Classical Ballet instruction.
Junior Ballet 2
Junior 2 extends the learning from Junior 1, with an increased focus on Classical Ballet methods including exercises at the barre, safe and effective stretching, and centre floor progressions using elements of allegro & adagio. Dancers will continue to develop the strength and flexibility needed to demonstrate dance posture and turnout.
Intermediate Ballet 3
Older dancers will improve their technique and expand their movement vocabulary through the use of traditional barre exercises and allegro & adagio progressions in centre floor. Dancers will continue to build strength, flexibility and technical proficiency. At this stage, dancers are working to maintain turnout in stationary positions, and throughout movement phrases. Dancers expand their musicality, and begin to dance with more proficiency with regards to accents and rhythmic details.
Intermediate Ballet 4
Older dancers will begin to refine their technique and continue to expand their movement vocabulary through the use of traditional barre exercises and allegro & adagio progressions in centre floor. They will begin exploring more dynamic movements, and intricate footwork that requires a solid technical foundation. At this stage, dancers have consistent working turnout, in held positions and throughout movements phrases. Dancers continue to expand their musicality, and begin to bring character and nuance to their performances. Dancers in Intermediate 4 will also begin their Pre-pointe training (a series of exercises and corrections which could eventually lead to be approved for Pointe).
Pointe
Upon approval from their Intermediate 4 teacher, students may begin training en pointe, where they will continue to develop their Classical Ballet technique, and explore new areas of movement and performance. Approval for pointe is entirely up to the instructor, and will not be granted until a student has developed the necessary skills, strength, and work habits to train en pointe. In this class, students work to transfer the technical skills they have learned to en pointe dancing. Dancers continue to follow the structure and methodology of a Classical Ballet class, while expanding their movement vocabulary.
KinderAcro
Ages 5-6
30 minute class
Weekly
Dress Code
The focus of this level is learning the shapes and body positions of acro, and making sure students develop adequate body stability and strength in these positions.
Younger students have different body proportions than students 7 & up: their arms and legs are shorter, heads larger and heavier, and centre of gravity higher.
These proportions even out around age seven generally, at which point they will be ready for Junior 1.
Skills such as Candles, Flexed-foot Needles, Bridges (with spot), Donkey kicks, Mini Cartwheels, Teddy Bear Stands, and Mini forward/backward Rolls (with spot)
Junior 1 Acro
Ages 7+
45 minute class
Weekly
Dress Code
In Junior 1 students learn fundamental acro skills that they will continue to build off of for all their future training years! This is why all beginner students ages 7 and up will begin here.
In this level, students will learn tricks like: forwards and backwards rolls, handstands, cartwheels, and bridges.
Junior 1 students will perform the set technique warm up every class which covers all the body ‘shapes’ of Junior 1 Acro, and breaks down the skills in a manageable way. Students will have fun memorizing the warm-up over time and perfecting each exercise.
Junior 2 Acro
45 minute class
Weekly
Dress Code
This level is for students who have mastered the Junior 1 syllabus work. Junior 2 is preparatory for the ‘big tricks’ that start to show up in Junior 3 and above. For example, Handstand to Bridge Recover and Bridge Kick-over (in junior 2) prepare students for Front and Back Walkovers (in junior 3). Students will focus on getting the technique right in Junior 2 so that they will be successful in future!
The set technique warm-up for Junior 2 will ensure students are working on their strength, flexibility, and acro foundations every week.
Junior 3 Acro
45 minute class
Weekly
Dress Code
This level is intended for students who have mastered the Junior 2 syllabus work. This is where the hard work starts to pay off and students begin achieving tricks such as front and back walkovers. The Junior 3 warm-up lays the groundwork for all future training. Results usually start to come more quickly now, because proper technique and good habits are becoming muscle memory for students.
Intermediate Acro
45 minute class
Weekly
Dress Code
These students have mastered all of their acro foundations and are ready to begin working on higher-level skills! They are quite strong and flexible, and well-prepared for this phase of training because of the hard work done in previous levels. The set technique warm up that is performed every class is much more intense.
This level has students working on major tricks and tumbling like side aerial cartwheels and front and back handsprings. Many variations will give students new challenges, while also giving them time to perfect their trick technique.
AcroFit
45 minute class
Weekly
Dress Code
Students 13 and over will enjoy this class that focuses on increasing flexibility and strength for the teen body. This multi-levelled class works within trick families to allow dancers to remain challenged in a class with their peers regardless of skills and previous experience.
Jazz
Jazz is an ever-changing dance style that relies heavily on popular music. It creates accented and dynamic routines through the use of syncopation, isolation, and flexibility. Beginners focus on learning movement combinations that develop coordination, balance and strength. In advanced classes, dancers focus on jazz tricks, including leaps, kicks, and turns. Studio C follows the CDTA levelled syllabus and will group dancers making considerations for both age and ability.
Tap
By moving to the beat, children will learn how to create music with their feet. Using traditional tap steps, progressions, and combinations, students will build their technique as well as fundamental skills like rhythm, timing and co-ordination. Tap can be performed to a wide variety of up-tempo music. Studio C follows the CDTA levelled syllabus and will group dancers making considerations for both age and ability.
Lyrical
This class uses jazz and ballet technique to interpret music and express emotion. The focus is on expression through artistic dance movement. This program challenges dancers to understand how meaning and expression can be portrayed through dance. Music used is typically quite passionate, with a slow to medium tempo.
Musical Theatre
Students will use dance technique, performance skills, and lip synch to portray a character from a stage or film musical. Opportunities abound to build confidence and engage in personal expression. It is not necessary to have previous dance experience as musical theatre class will also teach the fundamentals of jazz technique.