Dance Classes
Little Leapers Grown Up & Me Movement
ages 20-32 months
Whether flying in outer space, going to the circus, playing in the park, dancing like the animals in the zoo, or growing a magical garden, each child will be captivated when they attend a Little Leapers class with River Oaks Dance. Grown-ups will be amazed at how useful each lesson is to their child’s development and love every second of class as they share many smiles and giggles with their little one.
Ready, Set, Leap!
ages 2 1/2 – 3
Ready, Set, Leap! is designed for young dancers to progress from their Little Leapers Grown + Me class to an independent class when they are 2 1/2 to start our spring semester. We’ll follow the same program that they are comfortable with but these dancers are ready to take the leap into an independent class!
Leap N Learn Toddler Ballet
ages 2 1/2 – 4
Leap N Learn A – 30 minute creative movement based class will introduce your child to the wonderful world of movement and music. Studies show that stimulation in the form of movement and sensory experiences during the early developing years is crucial. Listening to music and developing awareness of the body and basic motor skills, learning to listen and follow instructions and developing imaginative dance play are the focus of this class.
Leap N Learn B – 45 minute class beginning to build a strong foundation in dance with a focus on pre-ballet and continuing creative movement concepts. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum creates a fun and encouraging environment where children excel and are prepared to begin Pre-Primary Ballet.
Pre-Primary Ballet
ages 4 – 6
Pre-Primary classes are 45 minutes and separated by age. These classes educate young children in dance focusing on flexibility, balance, rhythm, musicality and spacial awareness in a positive, fun and imaginative environment while learning to express themselves in a creative way through music and movement. Students will gain a solid foundation of basic ballet technique gaining greater understanding as they progress through this age group.
Primary Ballet
ages 6 – 8
Primary students are ready to begin a more structured ballet class. The fundamentals learned in the pre-primary level are continued and further developed in this level. Quality of movement and coordination will increase with the addition of more complex movement while keeping imagination and fun in the class. Students will learn ballet terminology and be able to remember and perform short dance sequences independently.
Level 1 & 2 Ballet
ages 8+
Level 1 students are ready to build strength, stamina and confidence in their movement. They will build on their skills acquired in pre-primary and primary ballet but with a higher expectation. They begin joining steps to create more complex movements. Imaginative expression doesn’t stop here and in fact we believe it’s even more important to allow student this age to express themselves. Dancers will have an opportunity to use pantomime, expression and their ballet steps to act out different classical ballet stories at the end of class and as they prepare for larger roles in their end of year performance.
Level 2 students have completed Level 1, are ready to be challenged and put forth more effort to discover the dancer they will become. Level 2 dancers attend class twice per week in order to build strength, stamina and confidence in their movement and prepare for future pre-pointe class.
Hip-Hop
Ages 5+
We approach hip-hop class teaching fundamental and core values of hip-hop dancing including: popping, locking, breaking, freestyle, etc. and building on these concepts so dancers have the foundations to create choreography. From warming up with rhythms and grooves to free styling with cyphers and dance battles, students will develop their hip-hop style in this high energy, upbeat style of street dance. Participants will also learn some of hip-hop’s original social dances and how they are born directly from the primary prerequisite of the relationship between rhythm and music.
Tap Class
ages 6+
Does your child have an interest in musical theatre? Are they already in theatre but just need to fine tune their dance skills to snag those lead parts? In this class, we’ll learn the fundamentals of theatre movement, including classic chorus style combos and basic tap steps. Focus will be on performance, expression, storytelling through song and dance, and dancing cleanly together as an ensemble. Class will be broken into segments of theatre dance and tap with the goal of meshing everything together for a fun Broadway musical number at the end of the session.
Jazz
Jazz is the perfect class for your dancer who loves upbeat, energetic movement! This class begins with lots of strengthening and flexibility to perfect the leaps, turns, and sharp movements your dancer will need for this dance style. Combinations traveling across the floor will build your dancer’s technique, while fun end of class combos will piece those steps together to work on transitions between steps, and performance quality. Your dancer is sure to love this exciting class with music they recognize and the steps they’re dying to learn!
Contemporary
Contemporary dance is a style of interpretive dance that embraces innovation, blending techniques from various genres, including classical ballet, jazz, modern and lyrical dance. Think fluid movements and floor work, creating beautiful lines and movements but less structured, strict and technical than ballet. Contemporary is for the dancer that loves the elegance of ballet but is seeking more freeform movement and expression.
Our Dance Program
Our children’s dance program is specifically designed to provide boys and girls ages 2 to 12 with a strong foundation in dance and movement. Our focus is on the basic elements of:
- Physical space and how we relate to it as an individual and a group member
- Locomotor and non-locomotor movements
- Musical awareness
- Opposites, directions, and pathways
- Positions and movements of ballet
In addition to these physical elements, we integrate the intellectual concepts of:
- Self-awareness
- Teamwork
- Creative expression
- Imagination
- Basic body and health awareness
The program also helps children learn the basics of classroom behavior and manners, which include learning how to take turns, following another dancer or leading the way, waiting patiently, working together with others, and having a positive attitude.
Concepts are explored throughout the year such as classroom etiquette, musical awareness, relationships to the working space and the stage, expressing emotion through movement, and pantomime.
Our Class Structure
There are four basic sections to each class
- Beginning – Each class begins with a brief sharing time followed by strength and stretching exercises.
- Center – Center includes all major muscle groups and is the basis for the barre work taught in ballet classes at a later date. From these exercises, students learn correct posture and the placement of the body over the legs (this is important for both dancers and non-dancers). They also learn balance, arm movements, and various jumps which aid in the development of locomotor skills.
- Across the Floor –These traveling skills provide the foundation for ballet movement to be learned in the future.
- Creative Expression – Students participate in a variety of free movement exercises that teach listening skills, levels, and directions. Young dancers who are consistently exposed to this type of activity are generally more creative and consistently freer in their movement and styles as they develop. Besides, it’s just plain fun.
