Class Descriptions
Pre Ballet & Tap (ages 3- 4.5)
Pre Ballet and Tap is a one hour combination class divided into a half hour ballet class and a half hour tap class focusing on ballet and tap fundamentals for toddlers. This combination class for preschool age children concentrates on the development of coordination, balance and the teachings of the basic ballet and tap technique suitable for their age and ability level. Although structured, your child will enjoy the fun associated with learning. Toddler based music will be used while learning to express themselves through dance. Our studio provides a warm, safe and family-like atmosphere to ensure the happiness of you and your child.
Dress requirements: leotard, tights, ballet skirt (optional), ballet/tap shoes, and hair in bun or ponytail.
Creative Movement (ages 2.5-4)
This class is for children ages 2.5-4 yrs. This class is an introduction to ballet and tap through creative movement to enhances learning. This class is perfect for a first time little one. This is a 45 minute class. Ballet and tap shoes are required along with a leotard and tights.
Level 1 (Ages 5-7)
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Tumbling, Acro, Cheer, Lyrical & Hip Hop
Level 1 offers the three core dance disciplines of ballet, tap and jazz and the additional subject of intro to hip hop. Each subject is one half hour. This combination class will introduce your child to the basic technique for all four dance disciplines starting with basic ballet barre work ballet, along with the fundamentals of tap, jazz and hip hop technique. You may chose from this array of subjects for your child. Our studio offers a nurturing and family-like atmosphere to encourage and assist your child to reach his or her optimum ability level and enjoyment of dance.
Dress requirements: leotard, tights, ballet skirt optional, ballet, jazz and tap shoes and hair in bun or ponytail. Jazz pants may be worn for jazz portion of the class. For Hip Hop, students are to wear sweapants and flat bottomed sneakers.
Level 2 (ages 5-7)
Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop, Cheer, Lyrical & Tumbling
Level 2 most often is for a student who has completed two years of level 1. Each subject/class is 30 minutes and you may pick which subjects your child wishes to take. At this second level of dance instruction, each class curriculum is enhanced with more structured technique, progression work and more advanced combinations and routines.
Dress requirements: leotard, tights, ballet skirt optional, ballet, hip hop shoes, sneakers and tap shoes and hair in bun or ponytail. Jazz pants or sweatpants with tee or tank shirt may be worn for the hip hop portion of class.
Level 3 (ages 7-9)
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical,Acting,cheer, Musical Theatre, Voice & Tumbling/Acro
Each class is 30 mintues and you may pick which subjects your child wishes to take. This class is mainly for students with at least level one and level two experience at JPSD. In these classes your child will be taught proper technique, combinations, progressions and routines.
Dress requirements: leotard, tights, ballet skirt optional, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop shoes (or sneakers) and hair in bun or ponytail. Jazz pants may be worn for jazz or sweatpants with tee or tank may be worn for hip hop portion of class.
Level 4 (ages 8-12)
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Cheer, Musical Theatre, Acting, Voice, Acro & Contemporary
Level 4 offers the above mentioned subjects at an intermediate level. Each subject is 45 minutes long and is tailored to fit the needs of each dancer's ability level. The classes will focus on technique, progressions and combinations suited at this level of training.
Dress requirements: leotard, tights, ballet skirt (optional), ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop shoes (or sneakers) and hair in bun or ponytail. Jazz pants may be worn for jazz classes, and sweatpants with tee or tank may be worn for hip hop portion of class.
Level 5 (ages 8-12)
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Acting, Cheer, Pre Pointe, Voice & Acro
Level 5 encompasses all of the dance disciplines listed above. Each subject is 45 minutes long and moves at an intermediate to advanced pace concentrating on technique, progressions, advanced combinations suited for an advanced student.
Dress requirements: black leotard, ballet pink tights, ballet skirt optional, pink ballet shoes, jazz, tap, and hip hop shoes (or sneakers) and hair in bun or ponytail. Jazz pants may be worn for jazz or sweatpants with tee or tank may be worn for hip hop portion of class.
Level 6/7 (ages 11-15)
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Pointe & Pre Pointe, Acting, Musical Theatre, Acro & Voice
Level 6 is for the pre teen/teen age level student. All subjects offered above will be taught at an intermediate pace being 60 minutes per subject. Each subject will focus on proper alignment, proper technique along with combinations and progressions suited for this ability level.
Dress requirements: All ballet students are required to wear black leotards (ballet skirt or boy shorts are optional) and ballet pink tights. Pink Ballet shoes are required. For all other subjects please refer to our descriptions above.
Level 8 and Level 9 (ages 11-18) advanced levels
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Pre Pointe & Pointe, Acro, Voice, Cheer, Musical Theatre and Acting
Ballet: This ballet class will focus on advanced ballet barre work, center work, ballet progressions and combinations of the Russian Vaganova and Italian Cechetti methods of ballet instruction. Our studio focuses on correct body alignment, poise, flexibility and technique. There are various levels of teen ballet at our studio based on each student's ability level. Each student's ability level will be determined by the dance instructors.
Dress requirements: Black leotard, ballet pink tights, ballet skirt or boy shorts optional, pink ballet shoes and hair in bun.
Pointe: Pointe class is strictly for our advanced ballet students who have accomplished their studies in all levels of our ballet curriculum. At the discretion of their teacher and artistic director, the student may participate in this class. Ballet class must also be taken simultaneously to partake in Pointe class at JPSD.
Dress requirements: Same as above with pointe shoes.
Tap: Tap at Level 7 and 8 are primarily designed for teens to learn advanced tap techniques. Our studio focuses on the teaching techniques of the great tap dancers and teachers such as Henry LeTang, Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Jimmy Slyde, Dianne Walker, and Savion Glover. Our tap class will consist of tap warm ups, rudiments, tap technique, and learning to shade sounds by using tap shoes as instruments. Traditional and rhythm tap are both used at this level. This class is for the more advanced student. Advanced combinations and routines will be created for the student as well utilizing the techniques learned in classes.
Dress requirements: Leotard and Jazz pants or sweatpants along with tap shoes.
Jazz: Jazz is a class designed to focus on advanced levels of teaching traditional and modern jazz techniques, jazz leaps, turns and leaps. Broadway/traditional, contemporary and funk jazz are JPSD’s main style of jazz teaching. Stretches, progressions, combinations and routines are also included in this class. At least one ballet class is required to be taken to take jazz at JPSD. Level 7 and 8 jazz are for the more advanced student.
Dress requirements: Leotard, jazz pants and tank/fitted top acceptable and jazz shoes.
Hip Hop: Hip Hop is for the advanced teen to learn the hip hop style of dance as seen on television music videos. Hip Hop is a fast paced energetic form of dance dealing primarily with natural rhythm, isolations and fluidity. JPSD focuses also on natural rhythm, hip hop techniques, pop locking, urban and funk styles of dance.
Dress requirements: Comfortable dancewear such as sweatpants, loose fitted dance pants, tank top or tee shirt along with hip hop shoes or sneakers.
Lyrical: Lyrical is the combination of Jazz and Ballet. Ballet is a requirement for Lyrical at JPSD. Although using ballet technique in this class, the emphasis in this class is on fluidity, flexibility and a personal intense expression of the actual lyrics of the music. Lyrical dance focuses on the exuding of emotion of the dancer as well as the execution of the technical aspects of the instructor’s choreography.
Dress requirements: Same as listed for ballet along with foot thongs or barefoot is acceptable. Level 7 and 8 Lyrical are for the more advanced student.
Contemporary/Modern: Contemporary/Modern dance is interpretive dance using modern dance techniques invented and mastered by the great dancers and choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton, Jose Limon, Doris Humphrey and many more as far back as 1900. This form of dance focuses on contraction, release, fall and recovery. It is a form of dance that places emphasis on fluidity, flexibility and rejects the limitations of classical ballet and favors movement deriving from the expression of inner feeling. In addition to a high proficiency in technical skills, students demonstrate a working knowledge of ballet theory, explore musicality, expression and freedom of movement.
Dress requirements: Same as ballet along with dance pants and foot thongs or barefoot.
Adult level (ages 18+) Jazz and Tap
All levels of ability are welcome!