Class Descriptions

PRESCHOOL

BABY CLASSES (2-3 Years)

Totally fun based class. Designed to nurture a love of dance and movement for children aged 2-3 years.  The class is made up with a variety of exercises and little dances using various props.   Parents are welcome to join in to encourage children to dance.

PRESCHOOL (3 & 4 Years)

Still very much fun based. This class is split into a little bit of ballet jazz and tap.   With a warm up exercise for each followed by a little dance that we rotate over the term.   While this age group is still not structured we encourage the children to stand at the barre, stand in lines and follow instructions.

BEGINNERS

BALLET

While still fun based in this age group we start to focus on basic ballet discipline i.e. standing still, standing correctly and following instructions.
The children will learn basic ballet steps and have individual corrections.
They will also learn exercises and little dances teaching them to dance individually or working in a group.

TAP & JAZZ

A fun based class of 15 mins jazz and 15 mins tap.   The children will start to learn basic jazz and tap steps. Teaching them co-ordination, working in a group or following on and musicality.

TAP

B.A.L TAP

Classes are suitable for children 8 years and older, or those with previous experience in tap or those who have previously sat tap exams. Classes are exam based where a syllabus is taught and the exam may be sat later in the year. This is good for children as technique can be corrected helping them to improve their dancing. Children participate in exam dance competitions which are fun and good for their confidence as well as this all children participate in the end of year concert.

NZAMD TAP

NZAMD Tap is a modern and fun syllabus with choreography that develops an exciting rhythmical array of beats throughout the levels. If you are looking for a relaxed style of tap but still learning great foundations of tap dancing then NZAMD Tap is the class for you.

OPEN TAP

These classes are perfect for kids that want to be involved in a fun after school activity! In this class we encourage fun and unstructured dancing. There is something different to learn every week! The tap class is a great way for your child to start with the basics of tap dancing.

Senior classes are suitable for advanced level tappers for those that have finished exams and want to carry on with tap or those in senior exam classes that want an extra tap class.

BALLET

B.A.L BALLET

Classes are suitable for 5 year olds and up. Classes are exam based where a syllabus is taught and the exam may be sat later in the year. This is good for children as technique can be corrected helping them to improve their dancing. Children participate in exam dance competitions which are fun and good for their confidence as well as this all children participate in the end of year concert.

NZAMD BALLET

Classes are suitable for senior students who have passed Grade 5 B.A.L Ballet or students from other syllabuses wishing to try another syllabus of ballet.

OPEN BALLET

Classes are suitable for those Approx. Grade 3 level and above to supplement their exam classes or for those in Jazz Grade 4 and above to help with their technique. Also suitable for those that do not want to sit an exam.

JAZZ

NZAMD JAZZ

Classes are suitable for children 8 years and older, or those with previous experience in jazz or those who have previously sat jazz exams. Classes are exam based where a syllabus is taught and the exam may be sat later in the year. This is good for children as technique can be corrected helping them to improve their dancing. Children participate in exam dance competitions which are fun and good for their confidence as well as this all children participate in the end of year concert.

OPEN JAZZ

These classes are perfect for kids that want to be involved in a fun after school activity! In this class we encourage fun and unstructured dancing. There is something different to learn every week!

CONTEMPORARY

NZAMD CONTEMPORARY

The NZAMD Contemporary syllabus, choreographed by Ann Dewey, draws from the lineage of the modern and postmodern dance pioneers of the 20th century.

It provides an excellent, thorough training of the fundamentals of contemporary dance, including use of weight, flow, momentum, and gravity.

The syllabus also includes guest choreography from some of New Zealand’s iconic contemporary choreographers, anatomy and dance history from Level 1 upwards to deepen the student’s understanding of the movement, and the chance for senior students to explore their own creative interests through self-choreographed solos.

Contemporary dance is a wonderful style for dancers to gain a sense of freedom and flow within their movement, while also building strong technical foundations. Introductory level is aimed at students of 9 years of age.

OPEN CONTEMPORARY

Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of modern jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. In contemporary we strive to connect the mind and the body through expressive and abstract movements.

These contemporary classes will be enjoyable for all, it includes all aspects relating to dance, such as contemporary technique, safety, choreography, performance and more. The classes will be a pressure-free zone as there are no exams, so students are free to enjoy the movement.

LYRICAL

Lyrical is a dance style which draws from jazz, ballet, acrobatics and modern dance techniques, and is characterised by a strong emotive connection to the music, and fluid and expansive choreography. Lyrical is generally performed to music with lyrics which inspire movements that express strong emotions, and is most seen within competition dance settings. Our open classes consist of a warm up, technical progressions across the floor, and learning a new combo every week or two. A wonderful way for dancers to express themselves and let go, without the pressure of having to work towards an end result such as an exam.

HIP HOP

Want a fun, active, pressure-free dance class? Then Hip-Hop is for you. Hip-Hop has taken the world by storm, it’s everywhere! So come and try it for yourself, there is no experience needed all you will need to bring is your high energy and willingness to learn. In these classes, we will be learning adrenaline-pumping dance moves, that you can show off anywhere anytime.

NATIONAL DANCING

A few classes are offered in national character dancing. These classes are exam based and the B.A.L syllabus is taught with a different country for each grade.

DANCE ACROBATICS

This is one of our most popular classes. Students will be learning flexibility, tricks and strengthening.   This is a great class for encouraging confidence and also to add to your skills within dance.   We have a variety of levels and age groups to suit for all.

MUSICAL THEATRE

Open Classes to learn singing and acting to current and past musicals.

CABARET

Whether you dance for leisure or are pursuing a career in commercial performance, lessons in Cabaret are a fantastic way to add to your repertoire of genres! Our lessons range each week from technique drills to choreography, providing students with the opportunity to both secure basic movements and explore their own dance ability. Focusing on poise, style, technique, movement in heels and musicality, Cabaret promotes a sense of maturity and performance that can be taken with you into all other fields of dance.

ADULTS

ADULTS TAP & JAZZ

Calling all those adults that want to come and have fun learning to tap and jazz dance, improving on basic knowledge or just want to come boogie and meet new people. We are a social and friendly bunch of adults. We dance to a mix of modern music and some good old songs! Whether you’ve danced before as a child and keen to get back into it, finished your exams and don’t want to stop, or have never danced before but have always been keen to try this is the class for you… come meet our friendly teacher and pupils and have a good laugh with us.

ADULTS BALLET

You need not have danced to participate in these classes. We have classes for those with no experience in tap dancing to those who have had years of tap dancing. Classes are offered both for fun or for those of you who prefer something a little more structured exam classes may also be taken.

IDT – International Dance Technique

Created by Lucy Ellis Dance Coaching and Kylie Norris in 2019. International Dance Technique is an exam Syllabus created to develop plyometric agility, strength, fitness, flexibility and strong jazz technique in dancers.

Although this can be an exam syllabus you are not not required to sit the exams. It is however a good supplement to all Jazz Exam classes.