First through Third Graders

One hour tap and ballet combination classes with appropriate levels of advancement are offered for first through third graders. Second and third grade students have the option of adding a half-hour beginner jazz class to their studies.

By fourth grade, most students are ready to concentrate on one or more areas of study. Classes are separated by genre and generally increase to forty-five minutes in length for each subject. Ballet is continually encouraged as it is the foundation of all the other dance genres and provides the student with proper alignment, coordination and body awareness to excel in tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, gymnastics and many other art forms.

Three-Year-Old Program

Our three-year-old class, developed by director Christine Kohler, consists of pre-ballet and tumbling. This tried and true program has been enthralling preschoolers since the inception of the studio in 1993. Students will learn several basic ballet steps while improving gross motor coordination by working on age appropriate skills such as standing and hopping on one foot, skipping, galloping, jumping and generally having fun. A large part of the class time is devoted to creative movement and structured in imaginative play. Students are challenged to move like different animals, float to places in magic boats, pick beautiful flowers, try out new butterfly wings and much more. The focus of the three-year-old program at Danceworks is to instill in the child a love of dance and movement. Students learn new ways to use their bodies for exercise and fun. Class meets once a week for forty-five minutes from September through the end of May. Students participate in the annual recital.

Kindergarten Program

Kindergarteners will learn additional basic ballet steps and begin to combine them into more intricate patterns. The concept of body alignment is introduced at this time. Many new tap steps are presented at this level focusing on weight change and new rhythm patterns. Class meets once a week for one hour and students perform two numbers in the annual recital.

Four-Year-Old Program

The four-year-old program at Danceworks consists of beginner tap and ballet. Students will expand on the vocabulary learned in the three-year-old program and learn some additional rudimentary ballet steps. They will also learn some standard one and two sound tap steps and basic rhythms. Emphasis is on enjoying the activities presented and learning sound dance technique. Class meets once a week for forty-five minutes from September through the end of May. Students will perform two numbers in the annual recital.