Dance

Youth Dance Classes

Classes are offered for ages 3-17, including Hip Hop I and II, Ballet/Jazz, the Broadway Stars series including Twinkle Stars, Silver Stars and Gold Stars, Pre Dance. Dance Appreciation, Dance Variations and Irish Dance classes. See Dance Class Descriptions below.

Fall and winter sessions are offered. Fall session classes begin in September and are detailed in the fall brochure: https://www.wpdparks.org/program-guide

Social distancing guidelines will be observed. Masks are required to be worn in the building but not when students are dancing.

The 2021 Dance Recital is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2021. Winter session classes will be detailed in the upcoming winter brochure.

DANCE CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Broadway Stars

This series of classes are designed three different age groups for both new and returning students. Dancers will benefit from progressing in the three levels of Broadway Stars, all taught by the same instructor, but new dancers are welcome.

• Twinkle Stars (ages 3-4) Our youngest dancers will learn the basics of ballet, tap, jazz and dance acrobatics. Children will work on a choreographed dance routine while incorporating various techniques.
• Silver Stars (ages 5-6) Our middle age group is designed for both new students and those who graduated from Twinkle Stars, formerly Broadway Babies. Children will be introduced to or progress further in ballet, tap, jazz, and dance acrobatics and prepare for the recital.
• Gold Stars (ages 7-8) The oldest group of the Broadway Stars series welcomes newcomers and kids who have progressed through the program. Continued work on dance moves in ballet, tap and jazz as well as dance acrobatics is focused on to prepare for the recital.

Pre Dance (ages 3-5) Children learn movement skills while working on their coordination to prepare them for dance classes. Slipper shoes required with leather bottom.

Dance Appreciation (ages 5-7) Children learn the basic skills and movements to several dance mediums, including tap, ballet, and character.

Dance Variations - Beginner (ages 7-9) and Advanced (ages 8-10)

Children will study more advanced levels of tap, ballet, and character work while learning a variety of dances. Techniques of dance will be taught for a variety of areas such as toe, arm, hip and ankle turnout, as well as head placement. Dance Variations classes are for 8-10-year-old dancers as well as 7-year-olds who have been in two years of Dance Appreciation or with instructor approval. Dance Variations-Advanced is for students who have taken Dance Variations-Beginner or with instructor approval.

Ballet/Jazz (ages 11-15)

This class offers a serious and more involved study of ballet. This class will include bar work, center floor work, technique and more advanced ballet steps and dances. Jazz work will consist of warm up, floor and combinations. Character dances taught intermittently.

Hip Hop I (ages 7-10) and Hip Hop II (ages 11-14)

Come on and try this popular street dance that offers kids a non-intimidating approach to rhythm and choreography. Hip Hop classes are grouped based on age. Within each group, the instructor will work with each dancer to develop their skills to progress to the next level.

Irish Dance - Beginner, Continuing and Heavy Shoe

Introduce your child to the dances of Ireland such as the Traditional Irish Jig. Classes are progressive and will move into reels and team dances.

• Irish Dance - Beginner (ages 4-13)
• Irish Dance - Continuing (ages 5-17) - must have completed the Jig and Reel
• Irish Dance - Heavy Shoe (ages 7-17) - must also be enrolled in Continuing

Fall and Winter Sessions are offered. The dance curriculum has been carefully planned to address all ages and levels of development. Students will benefit by taking both fall and winter sessions in preparation for the Spring Dance Recital. All students must be the required age by the first day of class. Some classes require prior training or instructor approval. For the fall session, most classes will have a parent demonstration on the last class of the fall session. Note: There is an additional fee for all costumes for the dance recital.

Dance Attire: All black leotard with pink or white tights. Ballet shoes are required the first day of class. Hair must be pulled back away from the face and tied up off the neck. Certain classes may have specific dance attire requirements detailed by the instructor.

For more information on the Dance Program, contact Nicole Chesak at (708)865-8200 Ext. 326 or nchesak@wpdparks.org