Dance Styles
Which style of dance is perfect for you? CBSOD offers creative and classical dance genres for ages 1.5-102 that are graceful and sustained, weighted and choreographic, rhythmic and powerful, dynamic and fun!! If you don’t see the class you’re looking for on the schedule, email Program Director Alice Jennison at programs@dancecrestedbutte.org and we will create a custom class for you and your friends!
Aerial
Aerial dance is the art of performing various acrobatic movements while on an apparatus suspended in the air. Students gain physical and mental strength while learning to be graceful; they gain trust within themselves and confidence as they move through the air. Check out our Aerial Dance page for more information about our aerial program.
Creative Movement
Age 3-5
Creative movement is the introduction class for all other dance classes! This class explores the elements of dance in a developmentally appropriate context. Instruction builds movement skills, self-esteem, social/emotional growth, and love of dance.
K/1 Ballet & Tap
Kindergarten & first grade
In this combination class, students will learn developmentally appropriate movement skills and foundations of ballet and tap dance, including terminology and technique. Dancers will practice simple spatial patterns and play dance and dramatic games while fostering a love of movement. Students have two performance opportunities each year: winter and spring.
K/1 Jazz & Hip Hop
Kindergarten & first grade
In this combination class, students will learn developmentally appropriate movement skills and foundations of jazz dance and hip hop. Dancers will practice simple spatial patterns and play dance games and dramatic games, all while fostering a love of movement. Students have two performance opportunities each year: winter and spring.
2/3 Ballet & Tap
Grades two & three
In this combination class, students will learn developmentally appropriate movement skills and foundations of ballet and tap dance, including terminology and technique. Instruction will focus on coordination, the elements of dance, fine motor skills, musicality, and choreography and performance. Students have two performance opportunities each year: winter and spring.
2/3 Jazz & Hip Hop
Grades two & three
In this combination class, students will learn developmentally appropriate movement skills and foundations of ballet and tap dance including terminology and technique. Instruction will focus on coordination, the elements of dance, fine motor skills, musicality, and choreography and performance. Students have two performance opportunities each year: winter and spring.
4/5 Ballet
Grades four & five
A one-hour ballet class is the first step in a child’s dance education toward advanced movement, including leaps and turns. Instruction builds strength and flexibility, muscle development, and knowledge of anatomy, prioritizing safety. Class structure includes barre work, center work, and across-the-floor movement. If a child has a dream of pointe, this is where the training begins.
Ballet I, II, III & IV
Grade six & up
Traditional classical and contemporary ballet techniques with professionally trained ballet teachers. Students must dress appropriately, practice self discipline, and learn, know, and use proper ballet terminology. Teachers will focus on alignment for safety while pushing dancers to find their edge with flexibility, strength, movement quality, musicality, and advanced movements such as leaps and turns. This is where training for pointe continues. The ballet teachers and the executive director will determine the appropriate level for students based on skills checklists, teacher evaluations, and student self-evaluation.
Pre-Pointe & Pointe I & II
Grade six & up, student eligibility must be determined prior to registration
Traditional pointe classes with professionally trained ballet and pointe teachers. Pointe training is scaffolded from pre-pointe forward. Sometimes we offer a separate pre-pointe preparation class, and sometimes we combine pointe beginners with the pointe I class. Readiness for pointe work is determined by each student’s strength and physical development as well as by their age and should be discussed with the ballet teacher and directors. If you are interested in pursuing pointe training, please contact Alice Jennison at programs@dancecrestedbutte.org.
Jazz
Grade six & up
The defining characteristic of jazz dance is “an aesthetic of cool.” Jazz technique is based on ballet technique and uses similar terminology. Students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of styles, including classical jazz and current trending styles. Depending on the development of the student population and the Block schedule we are in, we offer classes split by middle school and high school or by level I/II/III.
Lyrical Jazz
The lyrical class combines elements of jazz and ballet. Dancers will explore a realm of musicality and movement that relates specifically to song content and the emotion of lyrics. It is an intricate, technical, dynamic, and emotional dance genre.
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop dance is a vibrant form of dance that combines a variety of freestyle movements to create a cultural piece of art. Elementary classes play dance games and learn to improvise and experiment with strength and balance. Middle school and high school students practice improvisation and choreography in a relaxed, fun environment.
Tap
Grade six & up
Tap falls under the dance genre of jazz and trains dancers in musicality. Tap technique builds coordination, dexterity, and strength in the lower legs and ankles and references ballet and jazz technical terminology.
Musical Theatre
Musical theater is a jazz based class to music from new and old Broadway shows. Students learn and practice foundational musical theater steps and then put them together into choreographic combinations and full dances.
Modern / Contemporary
Dancers will explore the traditional framework of modern dance from a contemporary perspective. Each class includes a warm-up, technique, and movement phrases. The class emphasis will be on developing alignment, increasing strength and flexibility, developing a range of organic movement qualities, exploring new vocabularies and phrasing styles, and encouraging individual investigation and embodiment of purposeful movement.
Adult Ballet
Adult dancers will experience a differentiated ballet class appropriate for all levels of students. This is a full 75 minute class that includes barre work, stretching, center practice, and choreographic ballet movement phrases across the floor and in the center.
African
This class will embrace a variety of movements, dances, and traditions from multiple countries of Africa. We will study and explore the differences and similarities of the rich cultural elements and meanings behind the moves, as well as touch on a range of rhythms and their relation to dance with live drum choreography and stomp percussion. Fun and friendly, engaging and educational!
Belly Dance
Based on belly dance styles worldwide, this class will focus on basic belly dance techniques, combinations, and choreography.
