CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
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BALLET
Ballet is a time-honoured classical performance art, and it’s Caelia‘s personal favourite! We have 4 different classes of Ballet to choose from this summer which are explained more below. All Ballet classes at DAS have a unique syllabus created by Caelia to suit the needs of adult dancers, which loosely follows the curriculum of the Royal Academy of Dance. Our Ballet classes begin with a short full body warm-up, followed by set exercises at the barre, and finish with centre exercises covering areas of Port de Bras, Turns, Adage, and Allegro. Exercises are repeated from week to week, but a review is always given to catch everyone up to speed. Many different options are given for each step and exercise so that everyone can enjoy this beautiful art form at the level they’re comfortable with!
Beginner (0-1 years experience) — Designed for first time Ballet dancers but everyone is welcome!
Novice (2-3 years experience) — Designed for beginning Ballet dancers who have some experience but still require instruction on basic technique & elements and need more support arranging steps into combinations
Intermediate (4-5 years experience) — Designed for more experienced Ballet dancers who have a good understanding of the basic technique and steps; working on multiple turns, large jumps, and more complicated combinations
Advanced (5+ years experience) — Designed for very experienced Ballet dancers who have mastered the basics and have a good understanding of complex Ballet steps; working on fouetté turns, split jumps, and complex challenging combinations
Silver Linings Ballet (age 50+, all experience levels) — The Silver Linings Series is designed for dancers 50 years and older, although it is open to anyone who wants to join! The focus in this series will be on enjoying dance for the sake of movement and expression and not necessarily athletic progression. This class has more progressive Warm-Up & Cool-Down periods, and generally moves at a slower pace. Barre & Centre work are still taught, but the steps and combinations chosen will be low-impact with less focus on jumping and turning, and more focus on musicality, flowing movement, and artistry. *Designed for ages 50+ but also an excellent fit for anyone choosing a more gentle, restorative, and relaxing experience while dancing!
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of our Ballet classes!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
POINTE
Pointe is the only subsection of ballet that is not included in our Ballet classes. It requires its own course of strength and balance training and can be quite strenuous on the foot and ankle. Adults are welcome to train in pointe class regardless of their experience, but must be patient about progress – pointe shoes may only be purchased and practiced in once the teacher deems it safe. Besides the prospect of dancing on pointe, these classes offer a great opportunity to strengthen the knees and ankles, activate the core, and improve body awareness and alignment. These benefits make Pointe Training a great complement to Ballet Training, or fantastic exercises classes on their own!
Pre-Pointe (0-1 years experience) — It is IMPERATIVE that dancers have adequate training in soft shoe before dancing in hard Pointe shoes, even if you have danced Pointe before. Pre-Pointe Training is available for dancers wanting to try Pointe for the first time, and for dancers wanting to get back into Pointe after time off. See the description of our Bunions & Balance class for more information.
Beginner/Novice (0-2 years experience) — Designed for dancers brand-new to Pointe Work or only having worked en Pointe for 1 year; focus on strengthening and technique on the most basic of steps
Intermediate (3-4 years experience) — Designed for more experienced Pointe dancers who are comfortable en Pointe with rises, 2-foot relevés, pas de bourrées, chainés, courus, and simple combinations
Advanced (5+ years experience) — Designed for very experienced Pointe dancers who are comfortable en Pointe with all Intermediate steps plus 1-foot relevés, posés, pirouettes, and complex combinations
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of our Pointe classes!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
BUNIONS & BALANCE
Bunions & Balance is Dance Alive’s innovative solution to the world of adult dance conditioning! Dancers use their feet A LOT and unfortunately, our feet do not get the best treatment in the outside world. Things like poor shoes, arch support, orthotics, frequent sitting, and artificial urban surfaces end up reducing the strength and mobility of our feet over our lifetime, which can lead to chronic foot issues like bunions, plantar fasciitis, and weak arches. Did you know many of these conditions are treatable with plain old movement?? This class teaches students how to hold their bodies for proper movement mechanics (the Balance), and leads students through a progressive leg & foot strengthening protocol to improve foot health & dance ability (the Bunions!). While it is designed for dancers, anyone with an interest in foot and ankle wellness is welcome to join. The exercises are simple & easy to follow, and can be practiced easily at home for lifestyle integration!
If you’re interested in dancing on Pointe someday, this class is where you start. Pre-Pointe training can take up to 1 year before being ready for Pointe shoes, so please be patient. This class is designed for progressive training but still Drop-In Friendly, so goals for Pointe training will be assessed as progression occurs. We are working on developing a Pointe Readiness Assessment for Adult Dancers which will help the process onto Pointe become more straightforward! In the meantime, please contact us with any questions.
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of Bunions & Balance!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
FUSION
Fusion is Dance Alive Studios’ very own combination of Jazz, Lyrical, Contempory, and Modern dance, all in one convenient class! While each of these dance styles is unique and rich in its history, technique, and execution, there are common elements among all 4 that allow us to provide an exciting experience for dancers who want to try it all! Jazz dancing is a powerful, fast-moving style filled with isolations and theatrics. Lyrical dance is essentially any movement that tells a story through body expression and feeling, drawing on technical elements from Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. Contemporary dance combines strength and flow in a mastery of movement dynamics that plays with music in novel and exciting ways. Modern dance is grounded in the body and soul and experiments with shapes and movements that break free of classical technique. All of these styles (and more!) inform the rich experience of dance as we commonly see it today, and this class allows dancers to explore all the different styles in 1 hour a week!
Beginner/Novice (0-3 years experience) — Designed for dancers who are new to any of the styles mentioned above, who may have some experience but still require instruction on basic technique & elements and need more support arranging steps into combinations
Inter/Advanced (4+ years experience) — Designed for dancers who are experienced in any of the styles mentioned above, who have a good understanding of technical elements and movement dynamics, and can learn new steps and combinations quickly
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see day and time of our Fusion classes!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
T A P
Tap is a vigorous and upbeat dance style based on rhythm and sound. This style requires a unique way of moving when compared to other dance styles (Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, etc.). Ankle mobility, weight placement, and glute activation are key components. We approach Tap from a fundamental movement approach with proper conditioning and biomechanical techniques, while weaving in the history and rhythm of the steps.
Beginner/Novice (0-3 years experience) — Designed for dancers who are new to Tap dancing or have had some experience but still require instruction on basic technique & elements, and need more time and support arranging steps into combinations
Inter/Advanced (4+ years experience) — Designed for more experienced Tap dancers, who have a good understanding of rhythm, steps, and technique, and can learn new steps and combinations quickly
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see day and time of our Tap classes!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
STREET STYLES
Previously called “Hip Hop”, our classes are now called Street Dance to show respect toward Hip Hop culture (which includes dance, community, music, clothing, and more!). This class, Street Styles, explores many of the different styles of Street dance, such as Dancehall, House, Krump, Animation, and Hip Hop. A common theme through all these styles is to feel the music and get your groove on – the way the music feels in your body and the way you demonstrate the rhythm in your movement is foundational to Street dance! Everyone can feel the beat, so these classes are a ton of fun for Beginner and Advanced dancers alike. Street dances are also fundamentally SOCIAL, so we focus on dancing with the group and vibing with your friends! This class starts with a general Warm-Up, goes through some Exercises for grooves and movement, and leads dancers through short combinations to explore different styles and expression. Freestyle is also encouraged through specific activities that help you loosen up and get down! Music suggestions are welcome and bringing a friend makes it double the fun!!
Check out the Weekly Schedule see days and times of Street Styles!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
THEATRE DANCE
Theatre Dance takes you on a journey through the history of dance in movies, musicals, and theatre! This class focuses on concepts of performance, style, audience engagement, and musicality – it may even include a little bit of prop work! Picking dance pieces from popular culture, we will make a character and play it up together. All styles are included and no experience is required. Suggestions are encouraged and we will try to give as much notice as possible before each class so you can even bring some props and costume pieces from home. It’s so easy for dancers to pour hours into their technical training and still feel unsupported in the performance side of the art. This class will include a Warm-Up and a single piece of relatively simple choreography (Novice/Intermediate level) with lots of modifications offered so that dancers can focus on their expression and character portrayal. Filming and sharing on social media is encouraged and an important aspect of showing off for our audience!
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of our Theatre Dance class!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
BODY BREAK
This class is a part of our Body & Mind Program at Dance Alive, where we take special care to stretch, strengthen, and connect with both our bodies and our minds. Our Body & Mind services teach you how to develop an empowered mindset by building the knowledge and confidence necessary to make your own decisions about health and wellness instead of simply following outside influences. When you learn to listen to your body cues and respond to what it needs, you become an unstoppable force in your pursuit of dance, athletics, or just general life!
BODY BREAK is our new combined body-care class, where we alternate between working on our flexibility and strength each week. This class includes elements from Yoga, Pilates, Functional Range Conditioning, Progressive Ballet Technique, Neurokinetic Therapy, Sugarfoot Therapy, The Roll Model Method, Sports Science & Conditioning, and more. We pride ourselves on staying up-to-date on the current best practices, while also retaining tried & true methods of bodywork. We also pride ourselves on HAVING FUN, and although we work very hard to build the content for this class, we don’t take ourselves very seriously once we’re there! Play & community is such an important part of our studio, and those values shine through in this class. Come try some hard things, learn to listen to your body, and laugh with friends each week as we implement a regular practice of self-care and self-improvement!
**This is a hybrid class, where students can join in-person at the studio OR through Zoom from home. Please give us at least 24 hours notice if you plan to join via Zoom so that we can properly prepare you with at-home props & options.
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of Body Break!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
EMBODIED MIND
This class is a part of our Body & Mind Program at Dance Alive, where we take special care to stretch, strengthen, and connect with both our bodies and our minds. Our Body & Mind services teach you how to develop an empowered mindset by building the knowledge and confidence necessary to make your own decisions about health and wellness instead of simply following outside influences. When you learn to listen to your body cues and respond to what it needs, you become an unstoppable force in your pursuit of dance, athletics, or just general life!
EMBODIED MIND focuses on mental and emotional health by learning about chakra energy centres, our nervous system, and that’s all connected to our physical bodies. Classes consist of a short lecture with slides, followed by either a Guided Meditation or a Group Discussion. Sometimes the Meditation and Discussion are shortened and combined in one class, sometimes they are alternated week to week to allow us to go even deeper! Some gentle stretching & movement is often included in the Guided Meditation to help the body contribute to the mental practice. Students will leave this class feeling relaxed and recharged, with a deeper understandig of their own inner worlds!
**This is a hybrid class, where students can join in-person at the studio OR through Zoom from home. Please give us at least 24 hours notice if you plan to join via Zoom so that we can properly prepare you with at-home props & options.
Experience some of our Guided Meditations on our YouTube channel!
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of Embodied Mind!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
SILVER LININGS
Brand new to Dance Alive, the Silver Linings Series is designed for dancers 50 years and older (although anyone is welcome to join!). The focus in this series will be on enjoying dance for the sake of movement and expression and not necessarily athletic progression. This class has more progressive Warm-Up & Cool-Down periods, and generally moves at a slower pace. The movements and exercises taught will be low-impact with less focus on jumping and turning, and more focus on musicality, flowing movement, and artistry. This class is not only fantastic for older dancers, but also for anyone coming back from an injury, experiencing chronic illness issues, or just someone looking for a more restorative and relaxing dance experience.
We are starting out with a single Silver Linings Ballet class and we will add other styles as interest grows! Currently this is also being offered as an All-Levels class so that the focus is not on progressing through levels, but instead, just enjoying the movement and company of others. These classes are also generally scheduled earlier in late morning or afternoon, since some of our older members find they have more flexibility during the day time. We are still in the beginning phases of this program, so we would love to hear from you if you have questions or suggestions about the styles and times being offered!
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of our Silver Linings classes!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!
DANCE LAB
Brand new to Dance Alive, Dance Lab a space created just for dancers to EXPERIMENT and CREATE! This class pulls back the curtain on the choreographical process, and also works on elements of improvisation and intuitive movement to help students develop their artistic skill. Anyone can bring ideas to this class and hone their group choreo skills by teaching combinations or playing with formations. If students don’t have ideas or projects for the session, then Caelia will use the time to create and play with her own work, or help facilitate creation through group activities and movement prompts. This class is all about PLAYING in dance and exploring the world of movement!
We are still in the beginning phases of this program, so we would love to hear from you if you have questions or suggestions about what can be included in this class!
Check out the Weekly Schedule to see days and times of our Dance Lab!
Ready to register? Visit our Contact & Registration page to sign up today!