SMDC Class Descriptions

Preschool Program

Dance with Me is our parent and child class.
Petite Ballerinas class is our first formal year of independent instruction for students who are 3 and 4 years old. The goals of this class are to establish beginning classroom etiquette, broad movement, and basic musicality.
Blooming Ballerinas is the second year of training for students 4 to 5 years old. This class aims to build upon the larger motor skills and creative movement initiated within the Petite Ballerinas class.

Developmental Classes

Kinder Ballet - NEW for Season 6! This new class is designed specifically for our Kindergarteners. Strategically placed on the schedule for after school, this class will help students develop musicality, coordination and flexibility in a fun and age appropriate class as they grow.
Pre-Primary Ballet - This class is at the heart of the developmental program and includes formal, introductory ballet technique, focuses on flexibility and musicality, and emphasizes early body positioning in an engaging and upbeat classroom. This class can be taken as a stand-alone ballet class or in combination with Jazz Funk or Totally Tap.
Jazz Funk - Jazz Funk is our introduction to quick, sharp, and stylized jazz movement and technique.
Totally Tap is our first level of tap curriculum and focuses on basic tap technique and rhythm.

Primary Ballet - This class stands as an introduction to classical ballet training as it focuses on center floor and barre technique, body alignment, repetitive movement to develop muscle memory, and musicality skills.
Beginning Jazz focuses on sharp, quick, and stylized jazz movement and technique.
Beginning Tap includes technical and rhythmic tap training.
Beginning Hip Hop is our introduction to the Hip Hop style and focuses on larger, upbeat movement.

Pre-Teen & Teen Ballet - A beginning ballet foundations class for students 11 and up who have less than 2 years of formal ballet training
Pre-Teen & Teen Jazz - A beginning jazz foundations class for students 11 and up who have less than 2 years of formal jazz training.
Hip Hop 1 & Hip Hop 2 - Intermediate hip hop classes that include stylized footwork, muscle control and movement that contains hip hop techniques of popping, locking and breaking.

SMDC's Training Program

Ballet - Ballet classes are designed to give students a detailed classical foundation, which includes technique, alignment, terminology, musicality, and artistic expression. Basic anatomy and kinesiology are also taught to develop their understanding of how their body moves. Dancers will also participate in end of season Ballet Exams headed by our Ballet Director Ms Helene.

Pointe - Our Pointe classes build upon the dancer’s previous ballet training and offer dancers the chance to study classical ballet variations. Dancers will learn and practice pointe barre work with emphasis on individual's correct foot and body alignment as well as study of the proper techniques for the execution of more difficult steps. Pointe work requires continuous study to develop the correct musculature and all pointe shoes must be approved by our Ballet Director Ms Helene prior to wearing. Dancers must be invited and approved to join the pointe program by our Ballet Director and must be enrolled in two ballet technique classes to reinforce pointe training.

Pilates - Our Pilates class focuses on strength, stability, posture, proper breath control, and flexibility. Each class will work to balance all muscle groups' strength and flexibility, with an emphasis on challenging the core muscles with each movement. Classes will be taught using slow, controlled movements.

Jazz - Jazz classes focus on traditional jazz vocabulary and various styles of jazz including Broadway and commercial jazz. This class focuses on developing strength, flexibility, correct alignment and coordination, which will draw from ballet technique and alignment. Dancers will gain a sense of individuality and originality and will develop the ability to move through center work, progressions and choreography. The goal is to develop dancers who are expressive, dynamic, musical and build a passion for jazz that helps them create their own individual style.

Lyrical - Our Lyrical classes will combine technical elements of ballet and jazz while concentrating on freedom and fluidity of and storytelling through movement. Influenced by the expressiveness and airier aspects of jazz, contemporary and modern dance, our lyrical classes will focus on stretching and strengthening, using basic technical elements, musicality and emotion through improv and choreography.

Contemporary - These classes will explore creative, artistic movement through a strong foundation in ballet and jazz technique. Dancers will work on moving in and out of traditional techniques while picking up on new subtle movement challenges. Classes emphasize rhythm, design, shape, and motion in space with a deliberate use of gravity. Classes focus on rhythm, syncopation, musicality, heavy and weighted movement, and applying technique to self-expression and musicality. Dancers are encouraged to explore freestyle/improvisation as well as creative freedom in contemporary choreography. This style of dance is constantly changing and evolving with current trends in contemporary movement.

Hip Hop is a high energy class that has developed from funk, soul and street dance and uses popular hip hop and pop music. The intricate movements, dynamics and body isolations build a dancer’s stamina while keeping them current with the varied trends of Hip Hop in today’s ever evolving styles. Hip hop is a fun and fast-moving class taught in a positive environment that encourages dancers to not only improve technique, but to engage in freestyle/improvisational dance and build confidence and performance style.

Tap is an energetic form of dance that focuses on rhythm and percussion. Classes will include across the floor exercises that teach dynamics, shading, phrasing, and musicality along with extended rhythmic phrases and improvisation exercises center floor. This class develops the elements of tap dance vocabulary, musicality, and individual style. The goal is to develop dancer’s coordination, clarity, rhythm, timing and phrasing in a fun and challenging way.

Acro classes combine fundamental acrobatic technique to increase flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, endurance, timing, body awareness, self-discipline, and confidence. Classes focus on proper hand placement and body alignment with emphasis on the muscles and flexibility required to perform proper technique. The goal of our Acro classes will be to focus on acrobatic elements to be used in various dance styles.