Curriculum

It is important that our students are enrolled in classes that are appropriate for their skill level. With this in mind, we have carefully scheduled classes for all age groups and levels of ability.  Classes vary from those which meet one time each week to classes that require four nights of attendance weekly.  The higher the skill level of the dancer, the more hours a dancer must train to obtain and maintain their skill.  It is our goal that every student is successful. 

If you would like to schedule a private class for your playgroup, mothers-day-out, or pre-school; please contact our office.

Class Descriptions:

Early Development (meets only once per week):

Creative Movement (ages 3-4) Rhythm skills and short dance sequences are introduced as children learn to follow and move to music in a fun setting.

Pre-Ballet (ages 4-5) Basic ballet steps and positions are taught along with rhythm skills and short dance sequences. Creative concepts are incorporated into class structure.

Ballet/Tap Combo (ages 4-5) introduces basic Tap skills, steps and rhythms as well as the Beginning Ballet I curriculum.

Recreational (meets only once per week):

Ballet/Tap Combo (ages 5-7) beginning tap program, combined with ballet I.

Jazz/Tap Combo (ages 5-7) beginning tap program, combined with beginning jazz.

Recreational Ballet (ages 6-8) courses build on the classical technique and language established by the Cecchetti Ballet method. These courses will prepare dancers for the more rigorous requirements of our graded courses. Meet once per week.

Recreational Jazz (ages 6-8) Jazz is fundamentally popular dancing that has been stylized while adhering to the basic principles of correct placement and technique.

Recreational Tap (ages 6-8) involves manipulating the feet to create sounds and spell out rhythms. Students at this level will progress from beginner to more complex steps and combinations. Emphasis is placed on developing style as well as technique and FUN!

Upper School:

Primary Ballet Program - Gillman's Ballet Program is a carefully designed curriculum that takes the student from Ballet III through Intermediate and Advanced levels of instruction.

Pre-Pointe and Pointe - Pointe work is introduced after the student has strong basic technique and after the legs are sufficiently developed. In all the advanced classes, students with the requisite physical and technical ability are encouraged to wear pointe shoes in order to make dancing en pointe feel and look natural and effortless.

Cecchetti Syllabus: Recommended for all ballet students, this ballet training is based on the method developed by Maestro Enrico Cecchetti, renowned dancer and foremost teacher of the artists of the Imperial Russian Ballet and Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. Graded levels with appropriate examinations offered by the Cecchetti Council of America provide stimulus to the progress of the serious student. Cecchetti syllabus classes are offered in concert with ballet classes.

Jazz Program - Jazz is fundamentally popular dancing that has been stylized and polished to a theatrical brilliance. It allows the teacher and the student a wide range of movement while adhering to the basic principles of correct placement and technique.

Tap Program - In tap the emphasis is on foot work and the expression of rhythm through sound. In our tap program students will progress from basic technique and traditional forms such as soft shoe, waltz, clog and military tap to more advanced combinations and routines. Emphasis is placed on developing style as well as technique and FUN!

Modern Dance Program – Modern is an expression style of dance that allows dancers to free the constraints of classical ballet and use the body to show feeling through movement.  In the modern program students will learn to use the space of the room, floor work and contraction of the body through different styles and techniques of free dance. 

Adult Dance - A high energy program for adult students who want to improve flexibility and balance, exercise and have fun. No previous dance experience needed. A variety of disciplines are covered including tap, ballet and jazz.