Creative Dance

  • Age 3+
  • Creative Dance introduces the basic elements of dance: space (levels, directions, pathways, size, etc.), force (heavy/light, sharp/smooth, etc.), time (fast, slow, rhythms, etc.) and specific body movements (hop, skip, twist, swing, etc.) through playful and age appropriate song and movement activities and games.  It expands the students’ movement vocabulary through creating and copying activities, folk dances and movement exploration.  Each class incorporates movement themes such as the use of levels, interaction with a partner, movement dynamics or patterns which are then utilized in the dancing of a poem or story.

Dress code: Dancers can wear comfortable form fitting clothing. Leggings, tank tops, t-shirts, tight shorts, or little dancer outfits are acceptable for this class. Please no princess dresses or any other distracting clothing. Please make sure hair is pulled back and out of the dancers face. 

Shoes required: NO SHOES 

*Not a recital performing class. In studio performance for families will be held at the end of the year.

 

A special note from our Creative Dance Teachers: 

So much is learned in early childhood and we are excited to be part of your child’s development. Each child brings different levels of awareness, physical, emotional, mental, social, and verbal skills, as well as prior experience, to the class. We’re introducing the basics of dance – (use of space, time, dynamics/force, body moves) as well as the basics of group activities – (listening, cooperation, taking a turn, sharing your ideas with the teacher/group, paying attention to what is being taught.) The teacher will alternate between active and passive activities to accommodate the attention span of the young student. Parts of the class also include self-focus, teacher focus and group focus. We know that learning styles vary – auditory, visual, kinesthetic (movement), imaginative. The teachers often use songs, poems, and stories that combine all of these approaches.

The age of your child in September determines the class placement for both first and second semester.

Here are a few tips to make the class a success:

  • Speak to your child before class that there will be active sections of the class to move about the space and times to be in place on the carpet squares to do stretches, skills, and dance games.
  • If a child is cautious about dancing, a parent is welcome to come into the classroom until the student feels comfortable on their own.
  • If your child falls, is upset, or is unwilling to engage in the group activity we will do our best to work out the situation within the classroom. However, we may ask you to come in to assist in the classroom or call on your skills as a parent to soothe or redirect your child by bringing them out to you in the waiting room.
  • Your child does not have to be fully potty trained to attend this class, however the teacher will not be able to assist your child if they need help in the bathroom, or if they need a diaper change. Please take your child to the bathroom before class. If there is an emergency to go during class students will be asked to get their adult to help them. Staff are unable to leave the class to assist. Thank you!
  • Let’s keep the lines of communication open. If there is something we should know about your child before the first class, please reach out. During the semester if you have a concern, please let us know.  We will work together to have the class be the best possible learning experience for all.