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Dance Class Information – Jazz Dance Classes, Ballet, Tap & More

Programs

Ballet: The ballet program at HRPAC is the heart and soul of our studio.  It is designed to provide dancers with a solid  foundation of training in preparation for possible professional careers. A  blending of the Vaganova, Cecchetti, and Royal Academy methods are taught in order to produce a well rounded, well educated dancer. From Ballet 5 onward students are required to take a minimum of 2 ballet classes a week  (excluding Pointe classes) in order to begin the more serious study of  technique, positions, and turns. Accompanied by classical music, students will study technique, alignment and proper positioning of the body, arms and feet  through barre work, center floor combinations, traveling progressions and  choreography.  Students are placed by the director according to age, experience, and ability.  Classes focus on technique, proper body alignment, French terminology and musicality.  Our upper level classes such as senior ballet or company ballet class are by audition and Director approval.  Students from our Ballet 1 class through our Company Ballet classes are in both our Nutcracker full length ballet and our Spring recital.

Pre-Pointe/Pointe: Students may participate in our pointe program by invitation only. For the more serious dancer, this class  is designed to help students learn, improve, and perfect pointe technique,  precision, and artistry through barre work, center floor combinations, traveling  progressions, and choreography.  Students are required to take a minimum of two ballet classes weekly in addition to their pointe class.  Students offered prepointe in flat shoes are only required to take the 1 ballet class a week.  If a student is put on pointe they will be required to pick up an additional ballet class.

Jazz: Jazz has continued to evolve with various ethnic and cultural influences  since its origin in the late 1950’s. Dancers will expand their technique  and  understanding of jazz dance to cover traditional, contemporary, and Broadway styles. Jazz students interested in eventually auditioning for the Company are required to take ballet for a better understanding of  dance technique.  Class includes proper warmup, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and center combinations.   Students will participate in our Spring recital. 

Tap: Discover the style of the old hoofers, comparable  to that of the modern style of Savion Glover and the late Gregory Hines. Discovering rhythm, style, and sound, tappers will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap.  Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankle, coordination, speed of movement, clarity of sound, and fun!  Students will participate in our Spring recital.

Hip Hop:  Hip Hop dance is made up of many genres that include elements of popping, locking, jazz, tap, etc to form its own style.  Our hip hop classes are divided by age, but can be adjusted based on ability.  Miss Savanna will be including traditional movements from the West-African diaspora along with aspects of commercial hip hop, all while keeping the music and movements age appropriate.  Students will participate in our Spring recital.  Students must be 5 years old by December 1 to participate in our Hip Hop class.

Modern: A blending of techniques is taught through stretching, center and  floor work combinations, traveling progressions and choreography. Artistry and  performance, as well as mental alertness and observation skills, are emphasized.  Space, time, and energy are explored as elements of movement. Modern dancers are  required to take ballet for a better understanding of dance technique.  Company Modern is by director approval only.  Students will participate in our Spring recital.

Lyrical/Modern: A blending of techniques is taught through stretching, center and  floor work combinations, traveling progressions and choreography. Artistry and  performance, as well as mental alertness and observation skills, are emphasized.  Space, time, and energy are explored as elements of movement. The style allows expressiveness, individuality, and develops a dancer’s sense of musicality.  You must be enrolled in Ballet 2, Jazz 2 or above for this class.  Students will participate in our Spring recital.

Dance Company: Dance Company is by audition only.  Students will study various styles of Broadway Character Dance, Jazz, or Contemporary, and learn choreography to be performed as part of the Hudson River Dance Company.  Dance Company students are required to enroll in a jazz class and be part of the Ballet Company, and are held to the same commitments as Ballet Company dancers.  Director approval required.

Musical Theatre Dance:  This open level class is for students enrolled in Ballet 3, Jazz 3 or above.  Students will learn choreography and characterization to music from popular Broadway musicals.   Students will be encouraged to sing along with the lyrics, or even recite lines from the musical.  The class uses theatre games to help bring out different character personalities in the students.  Students will participate in our Spring recital.

Pre-dance Combo (3-5, must be 3 by December 1): Dance classes designed for our youngest dancers, both male and female.  These classes introduce the basics of ballet and tap technique and incorporate gross and fine motor skills with attention given to color/shape recognition and spatial awareness. Dancers learn about participating in a classroom environment, taking turns, and being independent from their caregiver in an educational setting.  Tumbling basics are introduced while students learn about social skills, cooperation, and using friendly words and actions.  Students are introduced to beginning tap rhythms and steps.  Students will participate in our Spring recital. 

Tumbling for Dancers: This class is geared for our students that are 7 – 12 years old (as of December 1, 2024).  Students will learn the beginning foundations of macro, a style defined by combining the artistry of dance with that of acrobatic movement.  Students will focus on safety, strengthening/training flexibility, and learning skills such as splits, cartwheels, bridges, and somersaults, in conjunction with fundamental dance technique.

Ballet Repertory Company: For our pre-professional students, the Ballet Repertory Company is comprised of students selected through annual auditions.  Company members learn a wide range of choreography, from classical to contemporary, intended to educate and inspire both dancers and audience.  Members may be presented with opportunities to choreograph their own pieces.  The Repertory Company performs at local events throughout the season.