Choreo Updates for Our Lessons...

Welcome back, dance enthusiasts! With the vibrant autumn season upon us, our virtual dance lessons are blossoming with creativity. From graceful ballet to energetic hip-hop, each class is infused with new techniques and a touch of holiday cheer. Let’s dive into what our talented dancers are experiencing this fall!

Ballet

In our ballet classes, we are currently learning a beautiful combination to "Music of the Night." This enchanting piece fits perfectly with the fall session, and we’re honing essential techniques to enhance our performances.

So far, we’ve been working on rond de jambes, tombes, pas de bourrées, développés, coupe turns, pique turns, and sous-sus. Each of these movements is crucial in building our foundation. For example, practicing rond de jambes helps with leg extension and ease of movement, while pas de bourrées improve our transitions.

For our Baby and Mini ballet dancers, we are focusing on "My Favorite Things" and "Once Upon a December." In these classes, we emphasize arm movements, bourees, and basic progressions like pliés, relevés, and temps levés. It's truly heartwarming to see how our little ones are expressing their joy through dance!

Tap

In tap class, we’re bringing excitement to our feet with some thrilling combinations! Currently, we are working on choreography from the BS chorus, alongside festive holiday routines.

Our tap combos feature slurps, triplets, 4, 5, & 6 count riffs, and classic Broadway steps. Did you know that practicing triplets can improve foot coordination by over 30%? For our younger tappers, we are focusing on marches and various tap sound combinations including digs, toe-heels, shuffle-steps, and paradiddles. It’s all about rhythm and fun as we tap our way into the holiday season!

Musical Theatre

Our Musical Theatre lessons are bursting with energy as we learn a combo variation from "Elf the Musical." This lively routine includes character dance, point-steps, poses, jazz squares, and even a kick line that brings to mind the iconic Rockettes!

We are moving from fundamental steps to more intermediate variations like chasses and additional turns and balances. For instance, incorporating a kick line can enhance our team experience, making it feel like a true performance. This exploration brings storytelling to life in a vibrant way!

Modern

In our modern dance class, we’re diving into Horton Hinges, Graham floor work, and Dunham technique fusions. We are creating a fun and emotional holiday dance combo to "Please Come Home for Xmas."

This combination allows us to explore our movement quality and expressiveness, crucial for conveying the feelings of the season. I am excited to see how our dancers interpret this piece!

Hula Hoop

I’m thrilled to share that we are currently developing a new holiday hula hoop combo! Our focus is on enhancing our on-the-body hoop technique through torso hooping and leg hooping.

We will also work on hand hooping and hoop isolations to build fluid flows. This exploration offers a unique way to incorporate rhythm and movement. We are focusing on our weaves and zig zag tricks, as well as behind the back passes. You may notice a focus on leg work as well.

Belly Dance

In our belly dance classes, we are diving into expressive drum solo dances and exploring footwork to pair with our torso and hip isolations.

We’re honing in on belly rolls and expressive arm movements, which are essential for emoting and storytelling in this beautiful dance form. Research shows that expressive movement can lead to a more profound connection to the music and an enhanced performance. It’s wonderful to see our dancers engaging with the rhythm and expressing themselves!

Hip-Hop

Finally, in our hip-hop class, we're starting with the basics. We will explore the rich history of hip-hop and practice foundational moves like pop and lock techniques.

Our combo will encompass classic movements that are key to the style, enabling our dancers to build confidence and skill. Reinforcing these basics is essential, as it sets the tone for more advanced techniques. It’s all about having fun while embracing the roots of this vibrant dance genre!

A vibrant dance studio filled with colorful mats and hula hoops.

Celebration of Dance

With our virtual dance lessons continuing this fall, I am thrilled to witness the strides our dancers are making across all styles. Each class presents a chance for growth and self-expression through movement.

Whether it is the elegance of ballet, the rhythm of tap, the storytelling flair of musical theatre, or the passionate energy of modern and belly dance, there truly is something for everyone. I encourage all our dancers to keep practicing and embrace the joy of dance.

Let’s keep the energy high and creativity flowing as we embark on this exciting season together! Happy dancing!