Dance Attire & Styles

Acrobatic Dance brings together dance technique and tumbling/acrobatic skills in a class that focuses on flexibility & strength. We use the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus.

LEVEL PREREQUISITES:

Kinder

• No Pre-Requisites, but age

Primary

• No Pre-Requisites, but age

Level 1-5

Dancer's need to have completed the levels in order starting with level 1 and completing their skill charts accordingly. Assessments are available for new dancer's who have gymnastics or prior acro training to place them in the correct level.

ATTIRE:

Acro hair & attire is VERY IMPORTANT. Read Carefully!

• Athletic Spandex/Bike shorts, fitted leggings or footless tights

• Leotard (bodysuit) colour and style of your choice or fitted shirt that can be tucked in/will not flip over the face when upside down

• Bare Feet

• All dancer’s hair MUST BE pulled back off the face in a braided ponytail, french braid or secured tight bun (loose hair can get caught when executing acro moves).

ABSOLUTELY NO skirts, dresses, baggy clothes, bell bottoms, jeans or zippers!

This is a parent participation class, which allows for child and parent bonding and assists in developing the child’s sense of rhythm, coordination, muscular control, creativity, social skills and sense of play. Through dance, movement, music, dress-up and stories, parents can watch and aid in their child’s artistic development. This is also a great time to meet other families!

This program is the starting point for both our preschool dance and music programs!

ATTIRE:

• Comfy clothes for both you and your child

• Bare feet or socks/slippers with grip for your child

Ballet is a style of graceful classical dance, focusing on poise, precision, coordination, strength, flexibility and musicality through a fluid and beautiful form of movement. Ballet can be taken alone as an art form or used to build a dancer’s basic technique that teaches dancers how to move their body safely, often complimenting other styles of dance such as acro, jazz, lyrical & contemporary.

ATTIRE:

Hair:

• Hair for Pre & Kinder classes is to be pulled back off the face in a secured fashion (pony tail, braid, bun, pigtails etc.)

• Hair for Kids, Youth, Teen & MDC should be in a braid, french braid or ballet bun (or something similar)

• RAD Ballet classes need to have their hair in a bun or french braid, please no pony tales.

Pre & Kinder Ballet:

• Easy to move in and fitted clothing. For example, tights, leggings, fitted shirt, leotard, tutu, etc.

• Leather Ballet shoes or Bare Feet (DO NOT purchase padded slippers please)

Kids, Youth/Teen, RAD Pre-Primary to Grade 2:

• Leotard colour of your choice

• Ballet tights (Ballet pink or your child’s skin tone are both acceptable)

• Full-Sole, Leather ballet shoes in ballet pink or dancer's skin tone. Male dancer’s traditionally wear black or white ballet shoes.

*A light ballet skirt or tight bike short is allowed but may be asked to be removed to see body alignment

**Male or Sensory Option: Fitted T-shirt/top with leggings, fitted Athletic Pants or Shorts that are not too baggy with leather ballet slippers (males traditionally wear white or black shoes if desired).

RAD Grade 3+:

• Leotard colour of your choice

• Ballet tights (Ballet pink or your child’s skin tone are both acceptable)

• Canvas split sole ballet shoes (ballet pink or your child’s skin tone are both acceptable)

*A light ballet skirt or tight bike short is allowed but may be asked to be removed to see body alignment

**Male or Alternate Option: Fitted T-shirt/top with leggings, fitted Athletic Pants or Shorts that are not too baggy with canvas ballet slippers in your child’s skin tone.

RAD Ballet Attire for Assessments & Exams is provided in the Syllabus Ballet information package: https://docs.google.com/document/d/126NCbILugjqj_1Ig1q36aCtrPp5TIQBkE4ZBWkm-6rs/edit?usp=sharing

The children will gain experience in two different styles (tap, jazz, acro or ballet) while working on coordination, creativity, flexibility and poise. The basics of each style will be touched on and there will be lots of room for creativity, dress-up and play. This is a great foundation and introduction to the world of dance!

ATTIRE:

Check out Ballet, Jazz, Acro, Musical Theatre or Tap's attire to find out what to wear to this class. Most of the time it is just easy to move in, athletic clothing and bare feet or ballet shoes. Please note, combo classes with Tap, student's NEED tap shoes.

Contemporary pulls from ballet, modern and even hip hop to create a grounded form of dance that is both beautiful, raw and shape shifting. The dancer’s core is a main focus in Contemporary and will help connect dancers mind to their body through core specific work, strength, coordination & technical aspects.

ATTIRE:

• Footless tights, leggings or spandex shorts. No jeans

• Leotard of dancer’s choice

• Bare feet

• Hair pulled back off the face in a ponytail, braid, bun etc.

• Male or Sensory Alternative Option - Easy to move in athletic attire that is not too baggy.

Our HELLO! MUSIC & GROUP PIANO programs are specifically designed for young musicians aimed to spark the joy of music in our students. We explore rhythms, different instruments, sounds, percussion and music as a whole through a variety of imaginative, engaging and creative activities.

We are here to prepare your child and set the foundations of music so when they are ready to take the next step onto a singular instrument or private lessons, they can do so with confidence!

ATTIRE:

• Comfy clothes for both you and your child

• Bare feet or socks/slippers with grip for your child

Hip Hop is a dance form focused on high energy, visceral movement, musicality and athleticism. It originated in New York City by African Americans in the 60s and 70s and was also influenced by the Latin American culture in the area. Dancer's will not only learn many different styles of hip hop, but also dive into the history and importance of how this form of dance emerged. There will be both elements of traditional hip hop, street dance and freestyle exploration as well as the non-traditional "Pop Dance" Hip Hop choreography. Come explore the many layers and depths of this amazing and influential style of dance with us in a fun, active and educational environment!

ATTIRE:

• Athletic clothes, no jeans (pants that cover the knees are ideal)

• Clean, indoor, flat-soled sneakers. (MDC Hip Hop White Shoes, MDC Breaking Black Shoes)

• Long hair pulled back off the face

Originating from cultural African dance, Jazz evolved and developed because of the Slave Trade, which saw many Africans stripped of their cultural dances and traditions. However, dance and music persevered and over time developed around the world into the umbrella term we know as Jazz Dance. Jazz takes on many forms from the Charleston and Lindy hop to Ballet-Jazz, Afro-Jazz, Jazz Fusion, and Popular “Pop” Jazz to name a few. Jazz is a high energy dance style that will focus on poise, strength, conditioning, flexibility, coordination and musicality through strong and energetic movement patterning and upbeat music.

ATTIRE:

• Athletic, form-fitted bottoms such as leggings, tights or bike shorts

• Athletic, form-fitted tops such as a leotard, tank top or form-fitted athletic top.

• Boys or Sensory Alternate Option - Easy to move in athletic attire.

• Hair pulled back off the face in a ponytail, braid or bun.

Pre & Kinder Jazz:

• Bare feet

Kids, Youth/Teen Levels:

• Beige slip-on leather jazz shoe (bare feet is OK for the Spring Session only)

MDC Attire is in the Info packages provided for your Stage Division Cohorts.

Dancers will work on coordination, flexibility, strength and poise through the form of lyrical dance. Lyrical is a hybrid of modern, ballet, contemporary and jazz and is performed to slow to mid-paced music with lyrics. It is the dancer's role to portray and emote the feelings and story of the singer through their body. It is highly recommended to take Ballet in conjunction with Lyrical.

ATTIRE:

• Form-fitting bottoms such as leggings, athletic shorts, tights or yoga pants

• Form-Fitting tops such as tank tops, leotards or fitted athletic top

• Boys or Sensory Alternate Option - Easy to move in athletic attire

• Hair pulled back off the face in a ponytail, braid, bun etc.

Kids, Youth/Teen Levels:

• Beige slip-on leather jazz shoe (bare feet is OK for the Spring Session only)

MDC Attire is provided in Stage Division info package.

Students will learn how to dance, sing and act through a variety of engaging vocal exercises, creative theatre activities and dance choreography. Our teacher will guide your student through the class to encourage confidence, imagination and creativity.

ATTIRE:

• Easy to move in athletic clothing. No jeans

• No shoes required (Production Program will likely need beige or black jazz shoes depending on character)

• Hair pulled back off the face in a ponytail, braid, bun etc.

Created in the 19th century, Tap formed when African slaves were stripped of their traditional musical forms and instead created percussive beats and movement with their bodies to help retain their traditions, while also being influenced by the clogging of Irish and Scottish jigs. It has evolved over the years and now takes on many forms and styles from upright and poised ballroom or balletic like tapping to a grounded and relaxed movement. Tap dance will focus on coordination, musicality and rhythm through the utilization of upbeat music to accompany the sounds and percussions created by your dancer's feet.

ATTIRE:

• Form-fitting clothes such as leggings, tights or yoga pants. No jeans.

• Boys or Sensory Alternate Option- Easy to move in athletic attire. No jeans

• Hair pulled back off the face in a ponytail, bun, braid, pigtails etc.

Pre & Kinder:

• Black Mary Jane style tap shoes

Kids & Beginner:

• Black Mary Jane or Oxford style tap shoe

Youth/Teen:

• Oxford style tap shoe