Dance Theater of New England

Class offerings

View our Class Listings for 2011 or Register Online

Course of Study 

At Dance Theater of New England, we are committed to the educational and creative needs of your child. Beginner through advanced, recreational or pre-professional, our dance program offers a comprehensive course of study that will give your dancer the opportunity for personal and artistic development. schedule page

Creative Movement – (for children who are 3 years old by Sept. 1st)

Our program for the young children is designed to introduce basic classroom concepts in a fun and warm way. To achieve this end, we use Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) Preschool Curriculum when instructing young dancers. While in class, students use music, manipulatives, props, and simple movement activities to develop gross motor skills, musical awareness, as well as social and listening skills.

 Pre-Primary Dance – (for Children 4-5)

In this program, the class becomes more structured while maintaining a warm, open atmosphere. Gross motor skills continue to be taught, and fine motor skills are introduced. Locomotor and non-locomotor movement is explored through RAD syllabus and tap dance skills. Students begin to learn such important concepts as placement and sequencing through ethnic and folk dance models. There is plenty of opportunity for self-expression. This course is offered as a combination tap class.

Primary Dance – (for Children ages 5-6)

This is a foundation course in dance education. Here we begin to prepare young students for the physical requirements of the trained dancer. Gross and fine motor skills continue to be introduced and combined. Placement, locomotor and non-locomotor skills are re-enforced through a classical dance model superimposed on various dance styles such as ballet, folk and theater dance. This course is offered as a single subject or as a combined class with tap.

Hip Hop

Hip-hop dance as defined by a popular on-line encyclopedia, refers to social or choreographed dance styles primarily danced to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. This popular dance form includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were developed in the 1970s by Black and Latino Americans. What separates hip-hop dance from other forms of dance is that it is often freestyle (improvisational) in nature.  Dance Theater of New England instructors keep Hip-Hop fresh and new by employing unexpected music and family friendly themes.

***Hip Hop for Little Dudes 5-7 Friday 4:30 ***

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, and can be seen in ballets and famous shows like Cirque du Soleil; it is most commonly known as the floor portion of a gymnastics program.  As students master dance and tumbling skills, strength and confidence takes root.  As the tricks and skills become more difficult the dancer comes to realize that anything is possible in and outside the studio.  At Dance Theater of New England students are encouraged to progress at their own pace.  Acrobatic classes include a warm-up, strength training, across the floor tumbling, one-on-one individual skill building as well as dance training. 

Ballet

Dancers begin to learn the elegant style and time honored tradition of the dance of the noble courtiers of King Louis XIV. Through barre, centre and across the floor exercises, children learn the basics of the placement of the body, legs, arms, and head. In class, jumping, turning, and traveling steps are taught and later combined into increasingly complex combinations. As strength, flexibility and technique develop, stability and competence are realized. In upper levels, mastery of style and variations become the focus.

Pointe

It should be emphasized that pointe work is a result of serious systematic training. Only level 5 students 12 years of age or older will be considered for pointe work. Applicants will be evaluated and placed at the discretion of the instructor. Because of the nature of pointe work and its demands, all pointe students are expected to study ballet a minimum of 3 hours a week. This is a world standard and insured the safety of each young lady.

Jazz

With its technical base in classical ballet, this exciting expressive dance form has its roots in many cultures. While many of its movements have come from ragtime, vaudeville and other popular dances, jazz draws deeply from the African-American culture. Jazz dance has become international in its growth and appeal, but its true nature is typically American. At each level, body awareness through proper alignment and conditioning is stressed.

Tap

Tap is an exciting performance art and an excellent addition to any basic dance education experience. In addition to learning the dance steps basic to tap instruction, we encourage a full body approach which encompasses all forms of dance as a means of enhancing overall technique.

Modern

Modern dance focuses on strengthening a student’s understanding of universal movement principles, including a key emphasis placed on center of gravity, correct alignment, range of motion, spatial precision and self expression. Common modern terms such as contract, release, suspend, rebound and recovery will also be explored. Major modern dance techniques will be introduced including Hawkins, Horton, Graham, Limon and Taylor among others.

College Prep Program

An advanced program for the serious dancer who is interested in pursuing a career in dance or the field of dance education. Students who are sophomores in high school are eligible. In this intensive program, students are required to take four or more ballet classes per week, plus a combination of three classes in modern and jazz. Students who are interested in musical theater are strongly encouraged to take tap. College prep dancers will also participate in a special educational program that will meet once a week during the fall. At this time, students will study dance history, LMA, notation, different techniques and choreographic principles. Preparation for college auditions, applications, and guidance on where to attend, will also be a component of the program. Since it is important for a dancer to understand all aspects of dance, students will spend the second half of the dance year, producing, choreographing, and designing their own concert. This included: lighting and costume design, rehearsal scheduling, program design and choreography of their own piece. Students interested in a dance career will benefit a great deal from experiencing the many aspects of the world of dance.