Dance

Middle School dance covers creative movement, modern, ballet, jazz, and tap techniques. The goal of each class is to provide a safe environment that helps the student become comfortable with movement in a wide variety of genres. Opportunities for performance are available in the co-curricular dance companies, which meet after school.

5th Grade

Creative movement and basic ballet technique are introduced first semester. Cultural diversity in movement is added, with students exploring global folk traditions. Choreographed dances also incorporate jazz and allow the students to begin work with popular forms of movement. The goal of the class is to allow each student to work in a structured, creative environment and gain an understanding of the pleasures and benefits that dance has to offer. Each student develops a basic vocabulary, builds a base of movement, and learns choreographed combinations from various disciplines and styles of dance.

6th Grade

Using creative movement, modern and ballet techniques are reviewed and expanded. Linking steps, jumps, and turns are covered, with a continuing emphasis on terminology. Cultural diversity in movement is continued, and jazz is introduced as a technique, focusing on isolations, rhythm, and motor coordination. Basic tap dance is also introduced at this level. The goals of this class are to allow the student to work in a structured, reassuring environment at an individual pace and gain an understanding of the value of dance as an exercise and as an art form. Each student will develop more confidence and freedom with a kinesthetic awareness, while building a broader base of movement vocabulary in multiple genres, which will allow her to share this developing talent with her peers or an audience if she so chooses.

7th Grade

Basic Fundamentals of Tap Students are introduced to beginning-level tap vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on basic sounds and how they work together with weight and rhythm. Students work individually and in groups using center work and movement across the floor, as well as improvisation and collaboration to master choreographed sequences. They are allowed to progress at an individual pace while maintaining the basic group structure. Students also learn a choreographed combination/dance sequence for performance opportunities. The goal of this class is to allow each student to work in a nurturing environment, to acquire and utilize tap terminology, to develop the rhythmical and kinesthetic awareness that tap supports, and to appreciate and better understand tap dancing as an American concert and entertainment art form.

8th Grade

Historical Introduction to Jazz and Theater Dance Students learn classic jazz movements from theatrical and social dance in a historical and cultural context. Emphasis is placed on movement vocabulary with an understanding of how the historical, social, and economic cultures combine to influence dance. Students work individually and in groups on creative solutions in choreography and improvisation using character study, movement, pantomime, abstraction, and analysis. They also learn prepared combinations and create their own solos for class performance. The goal of this class is to allow each student to work in a creative, supportive environment, to acquire and develop a basic understanding of combining movement, to create an appropriate style for the movement, and to apply their movement to the processes involved to create a performance.