Class Descriptions | Ann Arbor Dance Classics

CLASS OFFERINGS

Ann Arbor Dance Classics offers classes for dancers of all ages, experiences, and commitment levels. Whether you're interested in taking one dance class a week, or hoping to join our Youth Dance Ensemble and Competition Team, we have a class for you!

Recreational dancers are automatic members of our Stars Program and may enroll in as many or as few classes as they wish. All classes run from September through June and, with the exception of Graded Ballet, Competitive Technique, and Adult classes, all classes perform in our end-of-season recital in June.

Dancers who are interested in joining one of our levels of Youth Dance Ensemble, may read more about them here, and should contact Studio Director, Deena Fournier, with any questions.

CLASS LEVELS

Our classes are broken down into the following general levels. When determining these levels, consideration is given to the progressive difficulty of dance syllabi; the anatomical, emotional, and intellectual development of dancers at each age; and the studio's expectations for ability and achievement. We find that these age groupings are typically helpful in guiding your decision on which class to pick. However, during registration periods, our Studio Director is available to help you determine which level is most appropriate for your dancer.

Preschool/Creative Dance (ages 3 & 4)

Young Elementary/Primary Combo (ages 5 & 6)

Rising Stars (6 & 7)

Mini (ages 7 & 8)

Petite (ages 8 & 9)

Junior (ages 10 & 11)

Pre-Teen (ages 12 & 13)

Teen (ages 13+)

Senior (ages 15+) [Competition Team Level only]

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS & DRESS CODE

Dress codes are enforced by the studio for the benefit and health of the dancer and their teammates. Instructors are better able to evaluate a dancer's body placement, positioning, and lines when the dancer is wearing appropriate clothing for the class they are in. Effective evaluation by the instructors supports injury prevention, advancement of skill, and precision routines.

Ann Arbor Dance Classics is aware of the traditionally gendered nature of dance uniforms. As such, we invite all our dancers to follow the dress, hair, and shoe codes in a manner that accords with their gender identity and expression. If dancers or families have concerns about the dress code, please contact the Studio Director.

Please click on the name of the class you are interested in to view the class description and attire requirements for each class.

Creative Dance (ages 3 & 4)

Fostering a love of movement in your child with this fun and energentic dance form. Lessons consider students' attention spans and keep them happily engaged while learning to translate music to movement.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard (attached skirt is acceptable) with dance tights OR a solid color, fitted shirt with fitted athletic/dance leggings or shorts.

Shoes: Pink or black leather ballet slipper.

Hair: Hair must be away from the face and up, off the neck. For dancers with long hair (shoulder-length or longer), a hair-pinned ballet bun is recommended.

Primary Combo (ages 5 & 6), Rising Stars Combo (ages 6 & 7), Mini Combo (ages 7 & 8), & Petite Combo (ages 8 & 9)

Combo classes are an amazing experience for slightly older movers to venture into brave new styles and taste the joy of multiple styles in ONE class!

Primary Combo: ballet & tap
Rising Stars Combo: tap & jazz
Mini Combo options: tap & jazz, jazz & lyrical, tap & hip hop
Petite Combo: tap & jazz

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard (attached skirt is acceptable) with dance tights (pink or skin tone) OR a solid color, fitted shirt with fitted athletic/dance leggings or shorts.

Shoes: Ballet -- pink or black leather ballet slipper, Jazz -- black or tan slip on or tie jazz shoes, Tap -- black or tan velcro, buckle, or tie tap shoes, Lyrical -- bare feet or half soles, Hip-Hop -- clean athletic or dance sneakers.

Hair: Hair must be away from the face and up, off the neck. For dancers with long hair (shoulder-length or longer), a hair-pinned ballet bun is recommended.

Ballet (ages 5 to adult)

A classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement. Ballet is a lifelong discipline and is considered the foundation of all dance. Classical ballet is performed to music using precise and highly formalized sets of steps and gestures.

Pre-pointe & Pointe (by invitation only)

Also known as pointe-work, pointe is the act of standing on the tips of the toes, using hard-toed and stiff-shanked pointe shoes, while performing ballet steps. For pre-pointe, a softer shank pointe shoe is used while on demi-pointe. Dancing on pointe requires proper body alignment, consistently sustained turnout, and maintaining one's weight using correct ankle support, so permission from the director is required before students begin taking pointe classes.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights (pink or black) OR a fitted shirt (white or black) with solid color leggings or fitted shorts. Ballet skirt optional. Dance warm ups (ie. legwarmers, wrap cardigan) permitted in winter.

Shoes: Pink or black ballet slipper, leather or canvas permitted. Pointe shoes required for students who have been invited in pointe classes.

Hair: Hair must be away from the face and up, off the neck. For dancers with long hair (shoulder-length or longer), a hair-pinned ballet bun is recommended (required for Junior to Senior level-dancers).

Jazz (ages 7 to adult)

Combines techniques of classical ballet and modern dance with the current forms of popular dance. Jazz also has its own movement vocabulary ranging from the isolation of certain body parts to the movement of the entire body with the accents of musical rhythms.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted dance shirt with leggings or fitted shorts, or combination. Dance warm ups (ie. legwarmers, wrap cardigan) permitted in winter.

Shoes: Black or tan slip-on or tie jazz shoes.

Tap (ages 5 to adult)

Its own distinct technique and style, tap incorporates rhythm and movement using the metal taps on the heels and toes of a dancer's shoes and transforms the dancer into a percussive musician. Tap dance emphasizes the flow of movement by teaching the dancer to find rhthyms and beats not only in music but in their own bodies. Tap is an essential form of movement which aides and strengthens other dance forms such as ballet, jazz, modern, and lyrical/contemporary.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted shirt with leggings, fitted shorts, or athletic shorts, or combination.

Shoes: Primary to Petite levels - black or tan buckle, velcro, or tie tap shoes. Junior to Senior levels - black lace-up tap shoes.

Hair: Hair must be away from the face and up, off the neck.

Modern (ages 10 to adult)

A dance style specifically created to reject many of the strict rules of classical ballet, focusing instead on the expression of inner feelings. Modern dance is considered a rebellion against classical ballet, emphasizing creativity in choroeography and performance.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted dance shirt with leggings or fitted shorts, or combination. Dance warm ups (ie. legwarmers, wrap cardigan) permitted in winter.

Shoes: Bare feet or half-sole shoes.

Lyrical & Contemporary (ages 7 to adult)

A slow, expressive type of dance that incorporates ballet, modern, and jazz technique. This dance style's main goal is to interpret the lyrics of the song through movement.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted dance shirt with leggings or fitted shorts, or combination. Dance warm ups (ie. legwarmers, wrap cardigan) permitted in winter.

Shoes: Bare feet or half-sole shoes.

Hip Hop (ages 7 to adult)

A "street" dance style, usually danced to hip-hop or rap music, that evolved from the hip-hop culture. Hip-hop includes various moves such as breaking, popping, locking, and krumping, and even house dance. Improvisation and personal interpretation are essential to hip-hop dancing. It is a high energy style of dance that is often done in street clothes and sneakers.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted shirt with leggings, fitted shorts, or athletic shorts, or street clothing (preferred).

Shoes: Clean dance sneakers or athletic shoes. Athletic shoes should be worn only inside the dance studio. Outdoor shoes are not permitted.

Hair: Any hairstyle is accepted.

Musical Theater (not offered 2023-2024, private lessons may be requested)

Acting, vocals, and broadway/theater jazz movement techniques are brought together and performed to songs from popular musicals.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted dance shirt with leggings or fitted shorts, or combination. Dance warm ups (ie. legwarmers, wrap cardigan) permitted in winter.

Shoes: Black or tan slip-on or tie jazz shoes. Teen and Senior level dancers may wear black or tan heeled character dance shoes.

Hair: Hair must be away from the face and up off the neck. For dancers with long hair (shoulder-length or longer), a hair-pinned ballet bun is recommended (required for Junior to Senior level-dancers).

Acro (ages 7 to adult)

A dance form that combines acrobatics and gymnastics with dance.

Attire

Attire: A solid color leotard or unitard with tights, fitted dance shirt with leggings or fitted shorts, or combination. Dance warm ups (ie. legwarmers, wrap cardigan) permitted in winter.

Shoes: Bare feet. No shoes are permitted for safety reasons.