CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

RECREATIONAL CLASSES

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Classes are separated by age: 

Ages 2-3 // Creative Movement 

Ages 3-5 // Tiny  

Ages 5-6 // Petite 

Ages 7-8 // Mini 

Ages 8-12 // Junior

Ages 11-14 // Teen 

Ages 14 -18 // Senior 

Ages 18 + // Adult 

 

Ballet

Ballet is the basis for all genres of dance and is highly recommended for all dancers. It is the foundation of dance. Red River Dance & Performing Company follows a combination of the French and Cecchetti methods and techniques.

 

Ballet Technique and Skills

Ballet Tech focuses on the posture and placement needed to correctly execute ballet moves, improving overall technique for all styles of dance.

 

Pointe

Dancing en pointe is a form of ballet in which the dancer balances on the tips of the toes with the assistance of pointeshoes. Students must receive Studio Director approval to enroll in pointe class, as it can be harmful if the dancer’s feet and ankles are not fully grown or strengthened properly.

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Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance students' technique by focussing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. It is a unique training system using ballet-technique specific exercises to train skill acquisition in a graded and progressive manner from junior through to advanced levels. PBT helps teachers around the world prepare their students to receive the strength they need to achieve their personal best.

The program helps with injury prevention and rehabilitation and enhances the ability of athletes to perform at their best. It can be difficult for students to feel which muscles initiate the correct alignment in training. However, with the use of an exercise ball, the students gain a great sense of posture and weight-placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group working throughout each exercise, which then stays with them when whilst performing in dance or their chosen field of sport

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Creative Movement

30 minute class designed to encourage all children to participate. They will explore movement through music, develop physical skills, run off some energy, and stimulate their imaginations to promote creativity. These classes are for young children ages 2-3.

 

Tiny Ballet/Tap (Ages 3-4) 

The main focus of Ballet/Tap 3-4 is to combine music, movement, and the imagination to introduce children, ages 3-4, to the basic skills in these styles. Dancers will do half the class in ballet shoes and half in tap shoes.

 

Petite Ballet/Tap (Ages 5-6) 

Like Ballet/Tap 3-4, the focus of Ballet/Tap 5-6 is to combine music, movement, and the imagination to introduce children, ages 5-6, to the basic skills in ballet and tap. Dancers will continue to learn the fundamentals of dance and build on what they have already learned. Dancers will do half the class in ballet shoes and half in tap shoes.

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Ballet/Jazz

Designed for the beginning dancer, Ballet/Jazz classes offer a combination of classical ballet and popular jazz dance, making the class a great foundation for all forms of dance.

 

Jazz

Jazz dance combines classical and contemporary styles of choreography. It is resembled by popular music combined with quick movements, strength, flexibility, and fluidity. Additional study in ballet is highly recommended for advanced levels of jazz dance.

 

Tap

Tap is a form of dance characterized by a tapping sound created from metal plates attached to both the ball and heel of the dancer’s shoe. Precision and speed of sounds increases in difficulty at each level.

 

Lyrical

Incorporating ballet, jazz, and modern styles of dance, lyrical dancing puts emphasis on the freedom of expression through movement and interpretation of music. Additional study in ballet is highly recommended for advanced levels of lyrical dance, since ballet-based technique is an essential component to this advanced style of dance.

 

Hip Hop

Hip Hop dancing is characterized by fast, high-energy moves of present day hip hop and pop culture. Basic styles and up to date moves are incorporated into upbeat routines to popular music.

 

Beginner Acro

A class for beginners, ages 5 and up. This Class works on acrobatic technique including beginning tumbling, conditioning, flexibility, proper form and strengthening. Specific skills for this level include forward and backward rolls, straddle forward roll, head stand, cartwheels and bridges.

 

Intermediate Acro
Must have teacher’s recommendation.  This class is for beginners entering the intermediate level.  Skills from Beginner Acro must be mastered. Beginning intermediate level technique is emphasized . Specific skills for this level include handstands, one-handed cartwheel, round-off, bridge walking, back-bend kick-over, handstand forward roll and front limber.

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Flexibility

Dancers will push their bodies to the limit to improve natural range of motion. Through greater flexibility, dancers can improve in all areas of dance.

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Musical Theater

Musical theatre dancing is less of a particular style, and more of a description of dancing that is rooted in the diverse history of Broadway musicals. Relying heavily on a knowledge of ballet, tap, and jazz, musical theater dancers are, first and foremost, actors and place a high focus on musical interpretation.

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Prepointe

This class is geared for students preparing for pointe shoes, but can be beneficial for all dancers! This class is for dancers looking to improve their pointe and strengthen their feet and ankles.

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Turns, Leaps, and Technique (TLT)

Alongside a ballet, jazz, or lyrical class, this class is geared to enhance a dancer's skills training, specifically focusing on turns, leaps and the technique behind them.