Performing Arts Program

Performing Arts (PA) classes are designed for the more serious student looking for a higher level of commitment to their growth as a dancer. In our more disciplined program we offer Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, and Sacred Dance with numerous performing opportunities. Performing Arts students are required to take a minimum of 3 classes per week. Students may participate in this program by audition only (auditions take place in August). Dancers accepted in to Performing Arts will be placed in their appropriate PA Level 1-8.

Performances

Events typical of a year in
our PA Program include:

• PA Christmas Show (Dec.)

• Showcase Show (Feb.)

• Spotlight Show (Feb.)

• Cathedral Dance Festival (May)

• Spring Recital (June)

• Dance In Worship opportunities

• Community performances

PA Ballet & Pointe

Ballet is the foundation of dance.  It is the architect for the dancer’s body to become strong and beautiful for all dance disciplines.  Ballet strengthens the body, increases flexibility and creates agility and grace of movement.

All Performing Arts students are required to take Ballet. Levels 4 and up are required to take a Ballet Technique class to supplement their Level’s Ballet class. All levels are encouraged to take additional Technique class to improve their all-around dance ability but this is optional for Levels 1-3.

Pointe classes are offered for students in Level 4 and up with teacher approval.  Students are assessed for Pointe shoes in the Performing Arts Pre-Pointe Intensive in August.  It is imperative that students have proper alignment, strength, and consistent attendance to safely thrive in Pointe class.  Pointe is very beneficial for building strength and poise for all genres of dance.

PA Jazz & Tap

Performing Arts dancers are required to take weekly Jazz & Tap as part of their core dance curriculum.

Our Jazz classes for Performing Arts students focus on building strength, flexibility, body awareness, and correct alignment for leaps and turns. Jazz dance is defined as dancing that responds to music.  Every jazz dance is choreographed uniquely to the style of music chosen by the Performing Arts teacher.  Our jazz dances range from lyrical/contemporary jazz, Broadway jazz, Hip-Hop jazz, to “dance team” jazz.

Our Tap classes for Performing Arts students are focused on the rhythmic style of tap.  We challenge students mentally and creatively in their ability to learn choreographed tap combinations as well as learn how to confidently improvise rhythms.

PA Technique

Performing Arts Technique Classes are not accompanied with a recital dance, choreography or performance.  These classes are designed to provide students with consistent weekly classes strictly focused on proper technique.

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle

Ballet Technique classes are taught traditionally with class beginning at the ballet barre, moving to center floor, across the floor, and ending with a reverence – all to classical music. There are many methods for teaching ballet.  We primarily teach from the Vaganova method focusing on very precise movements and clean lines with an underlying softness.  We teach students to maximize their abilities in a healthy manner.  Turn-out is not forced or strained.  Ballet strengthens the body, increases flexibility and creates agility and grace of movement.

Our Adv. Ballet Technique class has live accompaniment once a month for a truly traditional and rich ballet class experience.

Jazz Technique & Acro class is taught to build strength, flexibility, endurance, body awareness, and correct alignment for leaps, turns, and tricks. Class begins with a warm-up, across the floor progressions, and often concludes with circuits or short jazz dance combinations. 

PA Sacred

Sacred dance is the expression of one’s faith through dance. It is encouraged but not required for Performing Arts students. We teach Christian Sacred Dance to express our faith and encourage young women in their own.

Although any style of dance can truly be “set apart” as worshipful, we primarily use modern dance technique in our Performing Arts Sacred classes. Modern dance is a contemporary dance form that focuses on parallel positions (where Ballet focuses on turn-out), expressive use of the torso (contractions and extension), surrender to gravity (deep plié and movement in and out of the floor), and use of partnering (sharing weight with another dancer).  Modern dance is a wonderful template for expressing the deep emotions of the soul.

Depending upon the teacher, students dance to classical music or current Christian music. Dances are choreographed with a sacred theme determined by the teacher.  Sacred dance classes also include devotional and prayer time that helps deepen our Performing Arts dance community.  It is our hope that our Sacred dance students become better dancers while discovering an exciting new way to worship.