Classes are offered in Classical Ballet, Tap and Jazz to students ages 3 & up- Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced levels. (Students must be potty trained in order to begin lessons!!)

 INTRO TO DANCE I,II,III,IV ( AGES 3-6 YEAR OLDS) CREATIVE MOVEMENT/PRE-BALLET/PRE-TAP

New this Year: 3 year olds will now take a 45 minute class consisting of creative movement ONLY ( one recital dance)-starting  in January or February, students will start with tap shoes and do 10- 15 minutes of introductory steps. (also new this year is the 3 1/2-4 year old age group) 3 YEAR OLDS MUST BE FULLY POTTY TRAINED- STUDENTS MUST USE THE RESTROOM BEFORE CLASS. NO EXCEPTIONS!

For  3 1/2 - 6 year old students  , we offer a 60 minute  class combination class ( 30 minutes for ballet-30 minutes for tap) These classes focus on creative movement , introduce students to pre- ballet steps, rhythm, and pre- tap steps. Classes begin with warm up, and then move to the repetition of steps already learned and/ or and introduction of a new step or movement. Students learn to travel across the studio individually and with partners or as a group. Center work is also concentrated on so that students learn to work together. Cooperation, discipline, structure, listening skills, patience and self-confidence are emphasized. Class encourages Free expression and the child’s imagination and self esteem are encouraged and strengthened through dance. Classes are structured so that as the child increases in age, their level  and dance vocabulary progresses according to their ability.

The following classes are offered at a variety of levels for students ages 6 1/2  and older. Length of class will vary depending on the level of instruction.

If a student chooses to take Jazz, it is required that they also take Ballet. Students who do NOT take ballet will not advance as quickly as the students who DO. Students ages 6 1/2 and up are required to take ballet in order to take jazz. * It is not required that a child be in a ballet dance in the dance recital if they take a ballet class soley to take jazz. 

We now offer a class for students who would like to take a jazz based class, and do not wish to take a ballet class. (KidGroovz for ages 8 &up)

We also have a Zumbatomic class for kids, which is a 6 week class for students ages 5-7 year olds who want to move! No recital committments, just fun! Session dates TBA!

 Beginning students who have never studied dance are encouraged to enroll in a ballet class, even if they don't wish to be in the recital for ballet.  Ballet makes dance so much easier and makes a student more flexible and able to learn other types of movement at a faster rate. It even makes them better at sports, gymnastics and cheerleading!!!! 

 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/319617/ballet_training_for_athletes.html

Ballet – (Combination of Vaganova and Cecchetti Methods.)
Classes emphasize the development of classical ballet skills with a focus on proper body placement and alignment. Students will learn ballet vocabulary through barre, center, and across the floor work, while building strength,flexibility and poise.

Ballet’s strong technical basis is the foundation of ALL dance, and is central to a student’s study of any dance form.
Understanding and mastering the skills and discipline that are emphasized in the Ballet class develops musicality, technical understanding of dance movement and it’s vocabulary, body mechanics, and the ability to connect different movements together with ease. A student who studies ballet, will be more confident to pursue other forms of dance.
Between the ages of 10-12, depending upon their level of advancement (in Ballet), students are required to take no less than 2 Ballet classes per week.

Any student who wishes to only take extra classes in order to improve their technique in other classes can do so, and will not be obligated to be in our student performance in June for those classes unless they desire to.

Once a student meets the teacher’s criteria for advancing to pointe` work and completes all required evaluations , they may eventually be required to take no less than 3 Ballet classes per week. (2 technique classes in ballet shoes and one pointe class  and/or Pointe` Preparatory Class)

* A student must take the Pointe Preparatory class in order to advance to pointe. This class ensures that the student strengthens the necessary muscles needed for pointework and  that they understand the physical responsibilities involved. Our goal is to train each dancer to understand how the dancer's body works and how to strive to be injury free.

*Students on pointe` MUST attend a minimum of 2 Ballet Technique classes in ballet shoes per week , in addition to their Pointe class (es) or they will not be allowed to do pointe` at all.

Pointe work will not be taught to a student who does not adhere to, or respect, the technical requirements or discipline involved. 

*ONLY the Ballet Teacher and Director determines when a student should advance to Pointe work. If you would like more information in regards to pointe work, and the anatomical, physical, and technical requirements which must be met to be able to dance en pointe`, contact us and information will be provided to you.

PLEASE DO NOT  PURCHASE POINTE SHOES UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO DO SO! POINTE SHOES CANNOT BE EXCHANGED OR RETURNED AFTER 30 DAYS NORMALLY AND IF YOU HAVE SEWN RIBBONS AND ELASTIC ON THE SHOES THEY CANNOT BE RETURNED OR EXCHANGED AT ALL. (MOST STORES ARE VERY  STRICT ABOUT RETURNS OF POINTE SHOES) Students should never order pointe shoes from a catalog or online dance supply store. ALWAYS go for a professional fitting at a reputable dancewear store such as Ellman's on Cary street in Richmond, Va. Pointeshoe fittings are based on your foot type, this is why you must get them fitted by a professional fitter.

Tap - 
Tap dance focuses on percussive rhythms of the feet and helps develop coordination, balance and musicality. SSofD’s tap program follows the Al Gilbert Syllabus which teaches the students a sense of rhythm, timing and sound accuracy as well as musical appreciation.

Jazz -
An energetic, fast moving, enthusiastic dance form, Jazz is both transitional and traditional. Varied styles of movement are explored with attention to basic jazz technique, terminology and movement quality with an emphasis on proper execution of jazz isolations and flexibility. Our curriculum ranges from Classical Jazz to L.A. stylized Jazz and Hip-Hop.

Any student who wishes to enroll in a jazz class, must also take ballet. Please look at our other classes offered for jazz based classes that do not require ballet.

*It is recommended that  All Beginner students take ballet as a foundation for all dance forms.

NEW THIS YEAR:

KIDGROOVZ; A JAZZ/HIP-HOP FUSION CLASS LASTING ONE HOUR, For students ages 8-12 years old. (8 year olds must already be disciplined and able to follow directions or they will not be able to stay in this class-NO TIME WILL BE SPENT ON TEACHING DISCIPLINE..students are expected to already know how to act in a class setting and be respectful to adults and classmates!) This class will be age appropriate with no suggestive music or movements. Costume will also be appropriate and not suggestive in any way.

JazzFunkFusion : a JAZZ/FUNK/HIP-HOP FUSION CLASS LASTING ONE HOUR. THIS CLASS IS FOR STUDENTS AGES 13 & UP ( TEENS ONLY) This class will be age appropriate and tasteful with no suggestive music or movements. Costume will also be appropriate and not suggestive in any way.

(students taking the above classes that will be in softball, volleyball etc may choose to end their classes in April if they do not plan on being in recital)

ZUMBA- 6 WEEK SESSIONS, Zumba combines Latin and International music for a fun and effective workout! Come Join the party! class sessions TBA

ZUMBATOMIC (ZUMBA FOR KIDS AGES 5-7) -6 WEEK SESSIONS, - JUST EXERCISE AND FUN!

FOR 2011-2012

* We have to have a starting point in determining levels, and age is our starting point. If we did not have age as some type of guideline for level differentiation , classes would be overpopulated with various age levels and students would not progress at the appropriate rate and would be held back. We also do not determine class levels, days and times on parent carpools, or friend associations.Just because your child has a friend in a certain class, does not mean we will put your child in that class. We also do not move a student up based on how long they have been dancing. Your child will be placed in a class according to age and you will be notified if that needs to change. Please do not request to have your child moved up to another class based on how long they have been dancing and/or their additional extracurricular activities such as gymnastics or cheerleading.

Advancement from one class level to the next is not automatic; therefore, students will receive an evaluation prior to the beginning of the new dance season (IF necessary an evaluation will be given out during other times in the year if we feel something needs to be addressed immediately) These evaluations will assess effort, attendance, technical development, strengths and weaknesses, conduct, and attitude. The evaluation will be the main deciding factor for class placement. New students will undergo evaluation at the beginning of the dance season in the recommended class/classes, or if necessary, in private, in order to determine which class/classes at our studio will be appropriate according to their current level of technical ability.

It is recommended that a new student with prior dance training age 8, or those starting at an older age, start in a lower class. It is much easier on the student to start in a lower lower class and move up to a higher level class..and NOT the other way around. A student may be moved to a higher class or a lower class at any time during the season as the instructors and Director see fit. Your child is NOT developmentally slow if they are not constantly moved up a level.

It is not uncommon for students to spend two to three years in a level. It may take that long to accomplish all of the necessary skills needed for advancement. At times, depending on enrollment, students may also be moved to different classes and taught on a more individual level.

Dance progress should not be compared to Academic progress.

* If a student wishes to do a solo as a graduate, or they would like to be eligible for community performances, they must take ballet. Tap students  would be an exception. Students who take ballet excel at a faster rate.

Students who stop and start dance classes and take a few years off etc..cannot come back to us expecting a Senior Solo their Senior year, nor can they expect to be in the same class level that they were in prior to discontinuing classes.

Students wishing to “catch up” to a different class level may have to take an additional class/classes at a discounted price.

Once the student shows that they have mastered the necessary skills, they may not have to continue with the extra classes- This is totally up to the discretion of the teachers.
 

SHANNON'S SCHOOL OF DANCE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE CLASS LEVEL FOR ANY STUDENT WHO IS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE AT THE LEVEL OF THE CLASS THEY ARE REGISTERED IN. SHANNON'S SCHOOL OF DANCE ALSO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISMISS ANY STUDENT WHOSE BEHAVIOR IS FOUND TO BE A DETRIMENT TO THE CLASS.