Academy of Performing Arts: Curriculum: Offerings

offerings

Age 3-4	30 minute classes
Creative Movement - 6 week sessions This is much of the same material as Creative Movement, but is set up in 6 week sessions rather than full year commitment. Some students do make it through the entire year, and participate in a demonstration at the Saturday 1:00 Mini Show at recital time. This allows these very young students the freedom to “come and go”, if they are not ready for a full year commitment, or “need a break”.

Kindergym - 6 week sessions Basic tumbling – stretch, balance, coordination, bean bags, hula hoops, body rolls (log, forward, back), cartwheels, balance beam, etc.

Age 4-5	30 minute classes
Creative Movement - Students work with music, and the concepts of dance movements, dance steps, coordination exercises, balance and fun dance! Use fun things like scarves, bean bags, ribbons, hula hoops.

Age 5-6	30 minute classes
Contemporary Dance - This is the “next step” after Creative Movement for 5-6 yr old students. Not a repeat of Creative Movement, but not yet Ballet technique. Working toward basics needed to start Ballet. Students begin to work more on spatial awareness, patterns of movement, skipping and other dance steps.

Age 6-8	30 minute classes
Pre-Ballet - Dancers start learning ballet barre exercises and continue working on dance steps: ballet walks, runs, hops, jumps, leaps, skips, prances, gallops, chasse’s, polka and moving these dance steps around the stage in more complicated patterns.

Pre-Tap - The first year of tap! Students ready for “Pre Ballet” are usually also ready to add another :30 min class to begin tap.

Musical Theater - Combines some Pre-Ballet and Pre-Jazz movement to music from stage musicals. Age appropriate beginnings for Jazz.

Ballet
Levels I - VI; The technique of classic ballet. APA teaches Cecchetti technique, primarily, while exposing older dancers to additional techniques used in Royal Academy and Russian.

Pointe
By approval only. Ballet students must have completed at least one year of Ballet V, at least 12 years of age, and technically advanced, physically strong enough, and with growth plates sufficiently closed to be prepared for Pointe.

Tap
Age 6 + up; Tap shoes, rhythm – what more can we say!?

Jazz
Age 9 + up; Classic jazz style.

Hip Hop
Age 9 + up; Hip Hop style jazz.

Boys Only
Age 7 + up; These classes are meant to interest and challenge boys to dance. Classes are styled to fit the boys enrolled, and will incorporate classic jazz, musical theater styles, and hip hop styles, as the boys are ready for various movements and techniques.

Lyrical Jazz
Level III Jazz or Ballet, or higher; Balletic styled jazz, using more lyrically styled music with movements using more ballet or modern technique.

Musical Theatre Jazz
Age 9 + up; This class will use music from the stage musicals, and be more theatrically staged dance, perhaps even incorporating some singing (or at least the feeling of singing)!

Clogging
No prior tap necessary for beginner class; rhythm footwork, percussive dance, Appalachian style with originations in Irish and Scottish traditional dance. Both a new beginner class this year in addition to a continuing intermediate class.

Adult/Beginner Teen Ballet
We have 2 levels of Adult Ballet, Beginner for those with little or no experience, and Intermediate for those with prior experience. Adult students with more advanced level experience are encouraged to take upper level teen classes, if appropriate.

Adult/Beginner Teen Tap
Adult classes are on Tuesdays, with 3 levels, Beginner, Intermediate, and Intermediate/Advanced.

Adult/Beginner Teen Hip Hop
Beginner Hip Hop for adults or older teens, for fun & exercise!

Zumba
A fun new exercise class! The newest craze! For adults and teens.

Conditioning
Body conditioning class for teens and adults; ab work, full body strengthening, toning.

Multicultural Folkdance
Movement traditions from varied cultures and American history; open to all skill levels; multicultural experience, moderate exercise. Will include authentic music.

Modern Improvization
Various workshop sessions throughout the year; set up a class for a group of your friends! Teen classes, wedding preparation classes and private classes are also available.

Ballroom
Various workshop sessions throughout the year; set up a class for a group of your friends! Teen classes, wedding preparation classes and private classes are also available.

Francis Performing Arts Company


Age 8-11	30-45 minute classes
Ballet I - little or no previous experience, although above experience is beneficial
Tap I - little or no previous experience
Jazz I - ballet experience preferred, age 9 & up
Ballet II - need Pre-Ballet or Ballet I
Tap II - need Tap I
Jazz II - need Jazz 1

Ages 9-13	45 min to 1 hour classes
Ballet III - Elem/Intermediate
Tap III - Elem/Intermediate
Jazz III - Elem/Intermediate
Hip Hop III/IV
Clogging

Ages 13-Adult	1 to 1-1/2 hour classes
Ballet IV - Intermediate
Jazz IV - Intermediate
Tap IV - Intermediate
Ballet V - Advanced Intermediate
Beginning Pointe - Readiness for pointe determined by instructor. Must be accomplished at Level V Ballet
Jazz V - Advanced Intermediate
Tap V - Advanced Intermediate
Ballet VI - Advanced Ballet
Intermediate Pointe - Must take Ballet VI
Jazz VI - Advanced
Hip Hop V/VI
Clogging
Adults with previous dance training are encouraged to join classes at their appropriate level of training.

Boys Musical Theatre Jazz	30 to 45 minute classes
Level I - ages 7 + up
Level II/III - ages 8-13

Adult/Beginner Teen	45 min to 1 hour classes
Beginning Adult Tap
Intermediate Adult Tap
Adult Ballet
Ballroom
Hip Hop
Zumba
Folk Dance
Modern Improvization

Guest Teacher Workshops by announcement

Highland Dance
Contact Christie Freestone, Director of Mid-Michigan Highland Dancers Kay Starkweather at (989) 681-5162 for more information.