EARLY CHILDHOOD

Our programs are especially designed to provide children between the ages of two and six years with a strong foundation in dance and movement. Gotta Dance is dedicated to making sure our youngest dancers have fun and look forward to coming to class. Our goal is to inspire the love of dance in all our dancers beginning at the preschool age. The curriculum includes specially selected music for the young dancer. Props are used to introduce rhythm and group integrated activities teach the skills necessary for following directions. Shoes required for these classes: pink ballet shoes and black tap shoes.

Our First Steps and Tippy Toe, Tap, & Tumble classes will explore the world of creativity, dance movement, music, imaginative play, and emotional expression. All this and dance too!

First Steps

2 years of age

What a great experience for the youngest dancer! Introduction of dance in the form of group activity. Basic steps in tap and ballet are taught while offering the opportunity to join with friends. Lots of fun, music, and movement. A joy for the dancer.

Tippy Toes, Tap & Tumble

3 to 4 years of age

Tumbling is added for upper body strength and flexibility. Integrated with these physical actions are intellectual concepts of body awareness, creative expression, and basic body/health awareness.

Tippy Toes, Tap & Jazz

4 to 6 years of age

Jazz is added to begin forming a dancer’s individual style and originality. Jazz teaches new techniques consisting of unique moves, high energy movements, fancy footwork, big leaps, and quick turns.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Through research, educators now know training a child in the concept of movement, sequencing, patterning, and spatial relationships lays a strong foundation for the development of reading, mathematics, and other educational skills. We strive to educate the whole child.

Rising Stars I

6 to 8 years of age

Rising Stars II

7 to 9 years of age

Both these programs are designed to continue to challenge our dancers preparing them for more advanced techniques and routines. These classes have longer time allotted to include the additional instruction in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for the students to continue to advance their dance education. Schedule by age and/or by teacher recommendation. Shoes required for this class include black tap shoes or black tap oxford, and pink ballet shoes.

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL

Ballet

Ballet is highly recommended and extremely beneficial for teaching poise, grace, rhythm, along with self-discipline and self-respect. Ballet technique is an integral part in all other forms of dancing and should be a basic for all dancers. Tap and jazz fundamentals are rooted in ballet. It is our recommendation for all dancers.
Ballet improves flexibility, posture, and poise. Good techinque is beneficial to all dance forms.

Pointe

Pointe, which means “on the tips of the toes,” is a division of classical ballet technique and is danced with specially reinforced shoes called pointe shoes. Pointe is only suggested for the serious student who is willing to devote time for daily practice. It takes considerable strength in the feet, ankle, leg, knee, and abdomen. Shoes required for this class are pink pre-pointe or pointe shoes. A teacher recommendation is required for this class.

Jazz

Jazz as an art form is the perfect blend of mind and body foundation built on a firm technical base. Jazz dance is energetic and fun, and consists of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps, and quick turns. This form of dance showcases a dancer’s individual style and originality by allowing each one to interpret and execute the movement in his or her own way. For the dancer nine years of age and older, black jazz shoes are required. Pink ballet shoes for those eight years of age and younger are acceptable.

Tap

Tap dancing is a series of regulated and controlled movements of the body, feet, and ankles set to the rhythm of music or danced a cappella. Tap teaches a sense of rhythm, coordination, and a new form of self-expression. Shoes required for this class are black tap shoes. Oxford tap shoes are preferred for the older student.

Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop is known for its improvisation style, but stems from many of the elements found in jazz. Hip-Hop is a great workout with lots of floor work, fast paced steps, and intricate balancing movements. Hip-Hop dancing is inspired by the “hip-hop culture” and music and has sprouted new styles such as jazz funk, in which more jazz elements, such as quick turns and leaps are incorporated. Appropriate music is selected. Shoes required for this class are black jazz shoes or black jazz sneakers.

Lyrical

Lyrical is a dance style that combines elements of ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dance techniques. The name of this style comes from the word “lyrics” because dancers use the lyrics of a song or instrumental music to inspire them to do certain movements or show expression. The goal of lyrical dancers is to use gesture, facial expression, and controlled movements to execute their articulate movements and gestures. Shoe recommendations vary by instructor. Lyrical is often done in bare feet, with foot thongs, or ballet shoes.