Class Descriptions and Dress Codes
Note that all classes are required to be in basic dance apparel. Dancers who arrive in normal clothes worn at school will be asked to change, dancers who come unprepared will not be allowed to take class. Example: No Jeans. No skin showing above the knee (wear tights ). No stomachs showing unless approved (wear a leotard.) No skirts or bulky clothing. Loose baggy clothing is only acceptable for Hip Hop. Dancers must come prepared and change before class starts. No accessories ( no hats, no jewelry, no sunglasses etc.!!!) Warm up clothing that is not fitting needs to be removed before technique classes start.
You can’t go wrong with a leotard, tights and hair pulled back for all classes.
GET A DANCE BAG: Dancers should have a designated dance bag with appropriate clothing, shoes and hair implements along with first aide items, water and snacks. Dancers ages 5 and up should pack their own dance bag the night before class to ensure readiness after school. It is NOT the parent’s responsibility. Parents are obviously there to help, aide and remind your dancers but ultimately it is the dancer’s responsibility not the guardians. I can no longer accept when dancers say it’s my parents fault and I can no longer accept when a guardian comes up to me directly making excuses for coming unprepared. Dress codes are for all dancers’ safety above all. Safety always comes first. Furthermore dancers who are dressed appropriately are more ready to learn in a positive mental state of awareness which directly also relates to how a dancer mentally and physically grows.
Class Descriptions and Dress Codes A-Z
Ballet Technique - Starts at the age of 8. Classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement. Use of elaborate formal gestures, steps and poses helps improve flexibility and strength along with posture and poise. Ballet is the foundation for all dance forms. All dancers wishing to take ballet must first start in Ballet 1. Dancers will be moved into higher levels depending on their growth in class. Leotard, tights, ballet shoes, and hair pulled back. Note: pony tails whip you in the face… pin them up please. No loose clothing. Tight clothing only.
Character - Must be in a Jazz 2 or higher in order to know basic dance steps. The art of dancing in heels with "character". Often this style of dance is related to jazz but with a theatre outlook. Dances are usually themed and as stated before performed in Character shoes. Black Character Shoes required. Wear appropriate dance apparel…Leotards, sports bras, booty shorts, jazz pants, tights etc.
CREW – Dancers who are registered in at least one technique class, and is of Middle School age and older, is allowed to join CREW for free!!! Fun choreo for everyone, Student Choreographers will be selected to teach. If you wish to audition your own student choreo for the show you must attend CREW weekly and participate in the selected student choreo number(s) being taught during CREW. Audition time and date is on the Calendar. Team members are also allowed to join CREW with permission from Cortney :) Dancers are to come prepared with universal dance apparel to be ready for any style of dance. Leotard and tights are best.
Fundamentals – Teaches Basic Dance Fundamentals in Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop for ages 5-7. Dancers must be able to follow along, memorize simple steps and terms, detach from guardian, and get along with others!!! Leotard and tights at all times. Shoes should match class… ballet, jazz, and sneakers. Hair should be pulled back away from face. Loose articles like skirts are allowed ONLY if the dancer does NOT mess with these articles. Distractions will be removed and not allowed back in class. ***NOTE: will be harder then the fundamentals taught in past years. Focusing on more technique then before.
Hip Hop – Ages 8 and up. Each class will offer conditioning and fun varied leveled choreography aimed towards those in the class. Breaking free of traditional norms with a stylized freedom of expression focusing on rhythm, isolations, strength, spins and more! Beginning classes are open. In order to move up into a higher level a dancer must be asked. Wear appropriate dance apparel. Loose t-shirts and sweats are ok. Knees must always be covered!!! Bring sneakers of some kind to wear, none marking. No jeans, no stomachs.
Jazz Technique – Starts at the age of 8. Any individual interested in taking Jazz must attend the Beginning Jazz and work their way up. ALL dancers MUST be invited to move up into intermediate levels. Jazz is the basic foundation of new age dance styles that improve flexibility, strength and coordination. Use of improvisation, turns, leaps and more! Fun and up beat for all ages! Jazz Shoes required, preferably black and slip on. Be prepared with appropriate dance apparel. Leotard, sports bras, booty shorts, jazz pants, tights etc.
Lyrical – Dancers who would like to take Lyrical Dance must be enrolled in Jazz and Ballet or Ballet and Modern. See Cortney the Dance Director if you are unsure what that means. Lyrical focuses on extensions, layouts, contractions and softness of movement. Jazz Shoes required, preferably skin toned and slip on. Be prepared with appropriate dance apparel. Leotard, sports bras, booty shorts, jazz pants, tights etc.
Mark-E Hip Hop – Ages 8 and up. Mark-E is serving in the United States Airforce and is stationed at Vandenberg Airforce Base. He drives 5 to 6 hours to come back on selected weekends to teach Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Hip Hop. Truly an awesome opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. Dancers need to check online calendar to see what weekends he will be in Big Bear. Furthermore be prepared for dates to change due to military priority. When Mark-E is in town his classes take place on both Saturday and Sunday. Wear appropriate dance apparel. Loose t-shirts and sweats are ok. Knees must always be covered!!! Bring sneakers of some kind to wear, none marking. No jeans, no stomachs.
Pointe - In order to be invited to be on pointe, dancers must seek approval from Dance Director. Dancers who are invited to be on pointe must be registered in Ballet 3 also. – It is a Classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and danced on ones toes using 'pointe shoes'. Use of elaborate formal gestures, steps and poses helps improve flexibility and strength along with posture and poise. Ballet is the foundation for all dance forms. *** Pointe is one class that meets twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Leotard, tights, ballet shoes, pointe shoes, pads, cotton, lighter, medical tape, string and sewing needle, bactine and hair pulled back. Note: pony tails whip you in the face… pin them up please. No loose clothing. Tight clothing only.
Modern Technique - Any individual interested in taking Modern must start in Beginning Modern and work their way up. ALL dancers MUST be invited to move up. Modern is the rebel form of dance against the rigid formalism, artifice, and superficiality of classical academic ballet. This form of dance seeks to inspire audiences to a new awareness of inner or outer realities. Explore a style of theatrical dance that rejects the limitations of classical ballet and favors movement deriving from the expression of inner feeling and reality. Note: dancers should have a background in or are currently taking ballet in order to take Modern. Leotard, tights, foot undiez(or bare feet) No loose clothing. Tight clothing only.
Tap - Starts at the age of 8. Any individual interested in taking Tap must attend Beginning Tap the first. ALL dancers MUST be invited to move up. Tap Dance is a style in which the rhythm is audibly tapped out by the foot. Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by a tapping sound that is created from metal plates attached to both the ball and heel of the dancer’s shoe. These metal plates, when tapped against a suitable surface, create percussion sounds. Tap dance is both a form of dance as well as act of playing a musically instrument. same as jazz or loose t-shirts and sweats. Black Tap Shoes Required. NOT Shinny please.
Team –Open to 4th grade to 12th grade with permission from the Dance Director. Required to take two technique classes a week plus Team rehearsal. Read Team Link for more information. Dancers on team should ALWAYS be dressed appropriately in dance apparel. Leotard and Tights with appropriate shoes for all styles of dance.
Tiny Tots – Ages 2-4. This class is designed to be similar to Fundamentals but more so follow along with a cute twist to learning some basic coordination and social skills. Ideal for the young dancer ready to be on stage!!! Dancers need to be able to follow simple instruction, detach from guardian, get along with others, and have fun :) This class welcomes 5 and 6 year olds too that still are looking to grow. Leotard and tights at all times. Shoes should match class… ballet, jazz, and sneakers. Hair should be pulled back away from face. Loose articles like skirts are allowed ONLY if the dancer does NOT mess with these articles. Distractions will be removed and not allowed back in class.
***all dress codes subject to change
