At every level of dance instruction, we emphasize education, fun, and discipline. Our mission is to foster cultural awareness through dance while inspiring each student to develop a lifelong love and appreciation for this art form.
Our dance levels are designed to help instructors place students in classes that best support their individual growth, skill development, and educational experience. These levels also serve as a helpful guide for parents and guardians as they follow their child’s progress and understand class expectations.
Our dance levels are intentionally broad, allowing students the time they need to develop strong technical foundations. It is common for a dancer to remain in the same named level for two to four years while continuing to learn increasingly advanced skills, receive more detailed instruction and corrections, and be challenged according to their individual ability. While the level name may remain the same, the expectations, curriculum, and each dancer’s personal growth continue to progress year after year.
The following level descriptions provide a general overview of our dance program. Final class placement is determined by our instructors to ensure each dancer is enrolled in the level that best supports their individual development, technical ability, and overall success.
Preschool (ages 3-5)
Focuses on gross motor skills and developing rhythm through marching. It encourages the student to develop skills in following simple directions, exhibiting good behavior, and listening.
Introductory/Beginner
Is for students who have minimal exposure to dance, usually no experience up to two years. In this level, the student is introduced to gross locomotor skills, simple rhythms, counting, and basic positions.
Level 1
Is for students who usually have 2-3 years experience. The student should know basic ballet positions and simple steps, be able to perform simple single and double sound tap steps (quarter note and eighth note rhythms), and recognize where the “downbeat” falls. Jazz will include warm-up, stretches, isolations, simple steps and progressions, and the introduction to balance and simple turns.
Level 2
Is for students who usually have 4-5 years experience. In all dance genres the student builds upon previously introduced techniques. The student should know placement and alignment. Steps, progressions, variations, turns, leaps, and rhythm patterns have increased and other time signatures are introduced in this level.
Level 3
Is for students who usually have 6-7 years experience. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and correct implementation of placement, alignment, turn-out, focus, and projection. There is more advancement in all the dance genres with a higher difficulty level.
Advanced Level
Is for students who usually have 8 or more years experience. The nuance of dance and the artistry start to evolve. This is a more advanced dancer who has an understanding and awareness of self in respect to knowing and being “ABLE” to implement Level 3. There is a maturity and understanding of port de bras, projection, and the performance aspects of dance.