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Classes We Offer

Berkeley Center for Dance offers classes for ages 2 to 18, by professional instructors with degrees in dance.  Classes begin in September and will end with a spring performance in June. Placement for classes is based on age, experience and availability.  Teachers will use their discretion in the placement of students to the proper class to prevent injury.

Story Time Dance/Creative Movement/Pre Ballet (Ages 2-4)

 The class introduces students to the basic elements of dance in a nurturing environment.  Children will work on locomotor movements (hopping, skipping, jumping), beat and time, musical rhythm, simplified ballet steps, limbering exercises, coordination skills, left and right discrimination and patterns of movement. Integrated with these physical concepts are the intellectual concepts of self-awareness, creative expression, teamwork, and self-confidence. Students will also learn the basics of classroom behavior and manners.

Story Time students will have the option to perform in the spring performance.

Pre Ballet (Ages 4-6)
Introduces the fundamentals of ballet in a fun environment.


Tiny Tappers (Ages 4-6)

LET'S MAKE NOISE!  Learning basic steps in a lively setting.

 

Ballet (Ages 5-18)
A classical form of dance (Cecchetti Method) that provides a strong, solid technical base for all other dance forms. These very technical classes consist of barre, center floor, and progressions across the floor. 

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Tap (Ages 4-18)

 Offers a mix of Rhythm and Broadway style tap technique to provide students with a well-rounded dance program.  Students will work on different steps, various rhythm patterns and group routine work each class. In addition, children and teen students also work on improvisational movement and choreography for performance.

Jazz  (Ages 5-18) 
Fun, upbeat style of dance that stems from ballet and combines today’s stylish moves with energetic, popular music. Our jazz classes take many forms from classical to theatrical to hip hop. Classes usually begin with a warm-up, followed by technique, across the floor combinations and choreography. 
*Must be registered for ballet.

Pointe

Placement is based on availability, age and experience.

*Must be registered for ballet.

Modern

 A form of theatrical dancing that traces its beginning to the 1900’s. It uses ballet technique, use of fall recovery, contraction, release, locomotor movements, movements that convey a message or tell a story, use of irregular meter, music, sounds, electronic music and contemporary music.
*Level placement is based on availability, age and experience.  
* Must be registered for ballet

Junior Lyrical

 Lyrical dance is the fusion of ballet and jazz technique. Expression from the inner emotion is a primary factor in choreographing and interpreting this art form. Lyrical dance interprets music or words, showing the audience the emotion of the particular piece. A strong emphasis on stage presence is encouraged.

* Placement based on availablity, age and experience. 
* Must be registered for ballet


Senior Contemporary

Placement based on availablity, age and experience.

* Must be registered for ballet

 

Hip Hop (Ages 5-18)

 Placement based on availablity, age and experience.

 

Acro Dance (Ages 5-18)

Classic dance technique and the precision and athleticism of acrobatic elements. Acro dancers seamlessly blend musicality, emotional expression, line and extension with acrobatic movements in a dance context. Must be enrolled in a ballet technique class to take acro. 

Placement Guidelines

Due to the wide variety of curriculums taught from school to school, please refer to the General Guidelines listed below to help understand our levels of progression.

Please note: These are approximate level progressions; children may progress at different rates. Levels do overlap slightly, depending on how much training students have had each year.

Story Time Dance classes are not counted as years of experience.

Placement will ultimately be determined by directors in the best interest of your child.

General Guidelines for Level Progression and Approximate ages
* I = Beginner = 0-3 years experience (ages 5-7)
* II = Beginner / Intermediate = 3-6 years experience (ages 8-10)

* III = Intermediate = 6-8 years experience (ages 11-13)
* IV = Advanced = 8+ years experience (ages 14-18)

 

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