Curriculum

Creative Movement- age 3-4
This class is designed as an age appropriate introduction to the exciting world of dance. Students learn the basic elements of movement through storytelling, imagery, rhythmical patterns, improvisation and direction in using space.
Faculty: Camille Lewandowski

Pre-Ballet- age 4 - 5
In this class, the young dancers explore fundamental movement using sensory awareness exercises and improvisation. Students learn how to follow direction, use space, count music, stretch gracefully and dance with poise. Children are introduced to basic ballet terminology.
Faculty: Camille Lewandowski

Child Ballet- ages 5 through 10
These classes are progressive in structure introducing the discipline of classical dance. Students learn the basic positions, the use of turnout, and the importance of proper posture. Children develop coordination and footwork skills through barre work and center exercises. They continue to learn ballet terminology and slowly begin to put steps together.
Faculty: Kirsten Lane

Pre-teen and Teen Ballet
Teachers build from the child ballet syllabus and strengthen the exercises at the barre to increase student’s physical strength and ability. At this level instructors attempt to improve flexibility in crucial muscle groups, strengthen the dancers’ lines, work on technique expression and basic performing skills.
Faculty: Yucari Kobayashi, Kirsten Lane

Intermediate/Advanced Ballet- Teen and Adult
As students continue their education in classical dance, the focus is on technique, perfecting lines, refining their movement and gaining more control and mobility at the barre and in the center. Exercises are more demanding and footwork is more complicated. Performing skills are also emphasized.
Faculty: Yucari Kobayashi
Master Teacher: Dariusz Hochman

Children, Pre-teen and Basic Adult Jazz
Students begin to learn the mathes technique with our trained professional faculty who work with roberta mathes. The mathes warm-up embodies a strong ballet and modern foundation with an emphasis on abdominal muscles and includes a series of torso exercises, contractions and release, stretching, isolations and floor work. Dancers repeat progressions across the floor (grand battements, turns, leaps) and learn to put the steps together in different sequences done to all types of popular and contemporary music. At the end of each class the students will learn a combination, varying in style but sometimes working on one routine for several weeks.
Faculty: Tabitha Boulding, Kelli Gautreau, Yucari Kobayashi, Camille Lewandowski         

Intermediate/Advanced Jazz- Teen and Adult
In a more professional environment, roberta continues the mathes technique training system. Abdominal strength, and endurance are emphasized through body alignment and placement exercises. At this level students gain more muscular control while increasing flexibility, and learn how to sustain movement with more ease - linking one step with another and forming artistic expression. Progressions are more challenging and choreography is more diversified including latin, lyrical, soulful, or theatrical jazz.
Faculty: roberta mathes and guest teachers 

Contemporary- Teen and Adult
Horton, which is the training system of Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in NYC, is a grounded and structured modern technique which allows dancers to strengthen their core muscle groups. This class is done barefoot and includes weight shifting, use of gravity, and balance and control while strengthening leg extensions and tilts. Our contemporary class draws on a more aggressive way of moving and builds strong, athletic dancers.
Faculty: Ashani Kiner

Ethnic Fusion- Teen and Adult
This class encompasses a multitude of styles, combining comtemporary dance, ethnic, hip hop, and musical theatre. The warm-up includes a series of stretching, isolations and floor work. Progressions across the floor using different rhythmical patterns and various torso isolations will challenge the more advanced students.
Faculty: Ashani Kiner

Hip Hop- Children through Adult
This class emphasizes urban and street movement using isolations and popping and locking along with jazz and new style reggae techniques all done to the beats of contemporary, hip hop music. The warm-up includes stretching and isolations. BOYS classes are available too.
Faculty: FranKey Rodriguez

Urban Street- Children through Adult
This class is a unique blend of hip hop styles and street techniques, using accents and phrasing that are fresh, smooth, yet challenging. The warm up includes basic stretching, isolations and power exercises. Center work and combinations integrate animation and robotic movement, with popping, bodywaving, and floor work.
Faculty: Millie Cepeda, Kelli Gautreau

Tap/Rhythm Tap- Children through Adult
There are different techniques and a range of styles that cover the basics of tap dancing: soft shoe, hoofing, and Broadway tap. At beyond dance we cover the fundamental use of musical patterns with footwork (heal toe) and the shifting of weight. These classes are also progressive in difficultly beginning with simple relaxed footwork, across the floor exercises and then with rhythm tap developing separation of sound, use of swing rhythms and singing rhythms in challenging patterns done acapella or to music.
Faculty: Tabitha Boulding, Kelli Gautreau, Camille Lewandowski, Donna Starobin

Theatre Dance – Children, Pre-teen and Teen
The main focus of this class is to teach students how to sing and dance at the same time while expressing themselves through set choreography. Performers in this class will study different musical theatre dance styles from 1920’s swing to present day choreography. This unique program is specifically designed to give dancers the confidence needed to learn how to express themselves in class as well as in performances. The warm up is jazz based and across the floor exercises change depending on the style of the show being studied. This is a great class for shy students as well as those who like to perform. Become a “triple threat!”
Faculty:  Tabitha Boulding, Kelli Gautreau 

Yoga- Children through Adult
These are hatha yoga classes that focus on correct alignment, adapting poses for individual needs and levels, and building skills for more advanced practices. Combines powerful flow sequences (vinyasas) with challenging postures and Pilates-based mat work.
Faculty: Kirsten Lane

Classical Pilates Mat- Teen and Adult
This class centers on the core area of the body-using abdominal muscles effectively and working its way out to the arms and legs. A set series of exercises is all done on the mat with little or no equipment. These exercises are designed to build strength, elongate muscles and get toned.

Audition Workshop- Pre-teen and Teen
This 4-6 week intensive workshop, directed by roberta mathes, offers a unique opportunity for those students wishing to pursue a career in dance or the performing arts. It includes assistance with pictures and resumes, auditioning skills, both for stage and on camera as well as “The business of show business”.

BALLET IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED WHEN TRAINING IN JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, ETHNIC FUSION, HIP HOP, AND TAP

ALL STUDENTS WHO JOIN THE beyond dance ensemble ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE FOUR TECHNIQUE CLASSES A WEEK: ballet, contemporary (horton) or jazz (mathes technique).