ballet
pre-ballet
Children ages 5 1/2 to 7 are ready for the pre-ballet & tap program. Creative dance skills are further enhanced at this level as their creativity and self-expression skills become more developed.
More beginning ballet skills are introduced as they learn proper ballet basics such as posture and alignment, arm and feet placements, balance, strength, and flexibility. Halfway through the school year, we introduce the dancers to the ballet barre, where students explore their attributes, develop their kinesthetic sense, access their mental capabilities, and sculpt the body to make it ready for the work in the center.
Tap is also taught along with ballet training where students continue to learn pantomime, singing, rhythm, and coordination.
beginning ballet i-iv
Beginning Ballet I-IV students are children ranging from ages 8-12. In these levels, the children are introduced to a traditional ballet class containing two parts: barre and center work.
At the barre, students learn and practice exercises that are the components for steps in the center portion of class. The physical barre provides the support the beginning dancer needs to acquire basic alignment, balance, bending and rising movements, stretching legs and torso, transfer of weight, and controlled movements or poses.
In the center section of the class, barre exercises connect into steps. The steps combine into ever-changing combinations that expand a dancer's skills and memory. Center floorwork includes exercises to practice classical arm movements, learning spatial directions and classical poses, moving to a slow or fast tempo, and executing small and large jumps, leaps, hopping, and turning steps.
During these precious years, your dancer will really start to blossom and look forward to every year being more and more challenging.
Tap is also taught along with ballet training where students continue to learn pantomime, singing, rhythm, and coordination.
intermediate ballet
The intermediate program offers an all-encompassing curriculum for the serious student who wishes to study dance in a focused and creative atmosphere. Classes are designed to improve the artistic and technical proficiency of each student while providing a positive environment for the exploration of movement and personal growth.
Classes are taught by an experienced and distinguished professional faculty. Additionally, instructors restage choreography and create original works in a variety of styles that showcase students.
The class structure will include a full barre warm-up, turns, great leaps, and advanced combinations in the center. Each dancer will receive individual feedback and personal evaluations to improve artistic and technical development.
Please note: Pointe work and classes will be by invitation and advice of the instructor to ensure each student is ready for the physical rigors of this next level of dance. The structured ballet syllabus at these levels requires special placement in classes according to previous ballet experience and skill, based in part by evaluation of the teacher and the discretion of the studio.
advanced ballet
The Advanced Ballet levels at JMBS create balanced dancers with equal technical and stage confidence who can clearly understand and begin to speak the language of the art of dancing. Advanced dancers exhibit poise and self-control, both in ballet technique and ballet etiquette.
Classes are taught by an experienced and distinguished professional faculty. Additionally, instructors restage choreography and create original works in a variety of styles that showcase students.
The class structure will include a full barre warm-up, turns, great leaps, and advanced combinations in the center. Each dancer will receive individual feedback and personal evaluations to improve artistic and technical development.
Please note: Pointe work and classes will be by invitation and advice of the instructor to ensure each student is ready for the physical rigors of this next level of dance. The structured ballet syllabus at these levels requires special placement in classes according to previous ballet experience and skill, based in part by evaluation of the teacher and the discretion of the studio.
character ballet
Character Ballet is an advanced level class offered in the summer in which students learn folk dance styles from different countries around the world.
Character Dance has advanced barre and center work that blends theatrical acting, tap-like foot work, athletic strength and balletic grace. These character classes prepare the dancers for performing the character dances from famous full length classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker, and Coppelia.
