Dance Programs

• DANCE FOR THE VERY YOUNG

Happy Dancin' Feet™
This program is offered in three age groups Level 1 for ages 3 -5, Level 2 for ages 4 -5 and Level 3 for ages 5 - 6.   Happy Dancin' Feet™ is an introduction to dance and movement to music. It incorpoates Tap, Ballet, Gymnastices and Creative Movement into a fun-filled one-hour class.  The primary goal is to foster a love of movement. The creative component is quite large. Several fun or special activities happen in each class. For example, a scarf or flag dance at the end can facilitate the dancer’s own physical expression. Taking part in dancing out a narrative helps children to understand that dancing is expression. It means communicating feelings and actions. Classes focus on small and large motor skills and work to they build self-confidence.  Students learn Ballet and Tap vocabulary along with specific dance movements and technique.  As students progress throughout the year and level to level more dance movements are introduced. By the end of the year the students can dance set work independent of the teacher, memorize simple exercises and sequences forming a dance. .

Hip Hop Youth
This energetic class is for children who are age 6  to 8.  Hip Hop is a fast paced, high energy type of dance similar to that seen in music videos and commercials. All moves taught are always age approriate and conservative in nature.  It is a fun type of dance for both boys and girls. It prepares students to move on to Jazz or Hip Hop Youth Beginning, focusing on an introduction to jazz and Hip Hop helps develop students coordination, strenght and flexibility. This class is one hour, 1 time per week.

Jazz Youth
This class is an early introduction for the young dancer to jazz.  This is a very fun and creative class for the beginning dancer. Classes focus correct terminology and technique. This class is for students ages 6 to 8 and is one of the most popular classes in the school. Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week. This class teaches fundamental jazz steps set to contemporary music. Students learn the basic elements of jazz which require balance and coordination. Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week.

Ballet Youth This class is for students ages 6 to 8.  Class starts with warm-up and students first steps at the ballet barre.  All movement is taught complete with proper vocabulary and body positioning.  It teaches the basics of ballet which serves as a foundation for all other dance types.  Fun age appropriate dance combinations and routines are taught.  Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week.

Tap YouthThis class starts is a high energy class which teaches coordination and rhythm to fast paced upbeat music. This class is for students ages 6 to 8. All movement is taught complete with proper vocabulary and body positioning.   Fun age appropriate dance combinations and routines are taught.  Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week.

• TAP
Tap requires a great deal of coordination and can be a challenging style of dance. Between the ages of 6 and 8 our tap classes are traditional tap. Classes for ages 9 and older are taught a combination of Broadway style tap and traditional style. Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week

• JAZZ Jazz style of dance is what is seen in many Broadway type shows such as “Cats”. It is a more structured, stage style of dance.  Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week

• HIP HOPHip Hop is a fast, high energy type of dance seen in music videos and commercials. Dance moves seen in performance by artists such as Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and J Lo would be typical examples of Hip Hop.  All movement taught is age appropriate and conservative in nature.   Class length is 1 hour, 1 time per week

• BALLET
Our Ballet Program is a combination of French & Russian methods. Basic ballet training is essential to all derivative styles and develops in students poise, grace and presentation. Emphasis is put on purity of technique, physical strength, stamina as well as developing the aesthetics required for the aspiring professional. The classes offered begin with beginning ballet for children aged 6 and older and include beginning, intermediate and advanced classes for youth (6-9 years), pre-teens (10-12 years) and teens (13+). Our office staff can assist in selecting the proper class for a beginning ballet student.

• MODERN
Modern dance uses contemporary technique without the restrictions of ballet. You will explore different dynamics of movement, lots of level changes, and original choreography that will really get you moving.  Modern is traditionally danced barefoot.

• LYRICAL
Lyrical dance takes the technique of Ballet and adds the freedom of Jazz and flowing movements with spiritual emotion. Dances are normally choreographed to music with lyrics.

• COMPETITIVE CLASSES
Each year our teachers invite students with talent, commitment and good team spirit to participate in a variety of competitive classes. The student participates in performances and competitions held both locally as well as nationally.

• DEXTER ACADEMY PLAYERS
This is our acting program for ages 8 to 18.  This is a two-hour class which teaches acting skills as well as develops the use of the voice.  This class assists students with stage presence, self confidence and speaking skills. Each semester this class will learn a different performance piece.  All students have a part in the play.

• ADULT CLASSES
All of our adult classes are ladies only. They are geared for beginning recreational students. Classes for more advanced adult students are listed on our schedules as intermediate. Adult classes offered are Tao, Cardio Boot Camp, Pilates and Ballroom. 

 • IRISH FOLKDANCEIrish Folkdance a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish performance dancing is traditionally referred to as step-dance which was popularized in 1994 by the world-famous show "Riverdance". It is notable for its rapid leg movements, body and arms being kept largely stationary. This class focuses on performance style of Irish Folkdance.