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Dance

2017-2018

The Spencer Family YMCA's Studio of Dance strives to teach your children proper technique and form in a relaxed atmosphere in which the students feel like an important part of their class as each child is unique and special. Instructors are dedicated to helping dancers become their best by developing their existing talents and working with them to overcome their weaknesses. We welcome dancers of all ages and backgrounds to the Studio of Dance and who are looking forward to an exciting season. 

Classes and schedules maybe subject to changes due to class size and/or enrollment.  With over 125 students enrolled in the past, the YMCA School of Dance Studio is the place to enroll your child in dance in the Spencer and surrounding areas. We offer a wide variety of classes including ballet, pointe, lyrical, hip hop, tap, jazz, and competition company team! If you have any questions regarding the Studio of Dance, please contact the Director of Dance, Erin Elliott, at eelliott@spencerymca.org or call 712-262-3782

We offer a wide variety of classes for ages 2 to adult!

Class Descriptions

Baby Ballet
2-4 year olds, 30 mins
This is the perfect class for children that have never been in a classroom setting before and are still working towards participating in a dance class all by themselves. Dancers will learn ballet positions and exercises, along with beginner dance terminology. They will begin to develop basic motor skills such as galloping, marching, hopping, skipping, and running. This class will also introduce the young dancers to many new life lessons such as taking turns, listening, following directions, and making new friends!

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, and ballet shoes (pink for girls and black for boys). A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights.

Pre-Dance 1 & 2
4-5 year olds, 30 mins
This is the perfect class to introduce the world of dance to the very young, beginning dancer. Dancers will focus on movement, rhythm, and flexibility. Children will be urged to show their creativity through movement, music, and play. Dancers will do floor work, across the floor drills, and stretches. They will also begin learning basic choreography and dance terminology. This class will incorporate ballet and tap skills.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, and ballet shoes (pink for girls and black for boys). A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights.

Hippity-Hop
4-5 year olds, 30 mins
Hippity Hop is intended to introduce the world of hip-hop dance to the very young, beginning dancer. In this high energy class, dancers will focus on movement, rhythm, and flexibility. Children will be urged to show their creativity through movement, music, and play. Dancers will begin floor work, across-the-floor drills, stretches, and exercises. Dancers will also begin learning basic choreography and hip-hop terminology. We recommend ALL our beginner dancers take Pre-Dance either subsequently or prior to enrolling in Hippity-Hop.

Dress Code: Any comfortable dancewear or athletic wear. Please nothing too baggy so the instructor can still see the dancer’s core for proper alignment and technique placement.

Combo 1- Ballet & Tap
K-1st Grade, 1 hour
In Combo 1, dancers will be taught ballet position for legs and arms, as well as, beginning ballet and tap combos, steps, and terminology. A ballet barre will be introduced for proper learning. This class adds another layer onto dance training. Tap will be incorporated as a fun way to work with rhythm and timing.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, ballet shoes for ballet (pink for girls and black for boys), and tan tap shoes for tap. A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights.

Combo 2- Ballet, Tap, & Jazz
2nd-3rd Grade, 1.5 hours
In Combo 2 each style is taught in 30 minute increments. The ballet barre is expanded upon for use of teaching correct technique, alignment, and placement. Dancers will continue learning ballet terminology, as well as, musical awareness and working with others in a learning environment. Our sequential tap program continues with work on coordination and timing and will expand into combinations used to expand memorization. Ballet barre, stretches, jumps, turns, adagio, and combinations will be taught. Different tap styles and steps continue to develop and enrich the tap curriculum. In addition, the style of jazz will be introduced through across-the-floor drills and combinations.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, ballet shoes for ballet (pink for girls and black for boys), tan tap shoes for tap, and tan jazz shoes for jazz. A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights.

Combo 3- Ballet, Tap, & Jazz
4th-5th Grade, 1.5 hours
In Combo 3, the ballet barre will be expanded upon for use of teaching technique, alignment, and placement. Various barre warm-ups will be taught in order to introduce new movements and increase technique and flexibility. Dancers will apply the movements they have previously learned by performing across the floor combinations and center combinations. Our tap program continues to work on movements and timing. Short combinations, across the floor drills, and simple time steps will be taught that will incorporate previously learned tap movements. Our jazz program is designed to build upon movements the dancers have already learned. A variety of turns, jumps, and leaps will be introduced. Dancers will perform across the floor drills designed to incorporate previous knowledge with new movements, as the dancers begins to develop proper jazz technique.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, ballet shoes for ballet (pink for girls and black for boys), tan tap shoes for tap, and tan jazz shoes for jazz. A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights.

Baton Beginner, Intermediate (1 & 2) & Advance
5-18 years of age, 30 mins
Baton Twirling is a sport involving the manipulation of a metal rod and the human body to a coordinated routine and is similar to rhythmic gymnastics. Baton twirling combines dance, agility, coordination, flexibility, gymnastics and more while manipulating a single baton or multiple batons. It is primarily performed with the accompaniment of music. Fundamental characteristics of the sport include the handling of the baton to create visual images, pictures, and patterns executed with dexterity both close in and around the body and the proper release of the baton into the air. The discipline requires the simultaneous blending of these fundamental characteristics, utilizing time and space to display both technical merit and artistic expression. As a twirler continues to challenge themselves, they will progress from Beginner, to Intermediate, then to Advance.

Dress Code: Form fitting dancewear or athletic wear and jazz shoes. No baggy clothing.

Hip-Hop Beginner (1), Intermediate & Advanced
1st-12th Grade, Beginner (30 mins), Intermediate & Advanced (1 hour)
Hip-Hop is a blend of today’s high energy “street style” movement. Typically, Hip-Hop is performed to popular rap, R&B, and pop music together with movements presented in an age appropriate manner. This style of dance has been very sought after by teens, preteens, and the “young at heart.” Classes include warm-up, exercises, stretches, across-the-floor drills, stalls, and unique choreography. Hip-Hop encompasses movement that has elements of popping, locking, breaking, tutting, and krumping, as well as, freestyle movement to give dancers the opportunity to develop their own sense of style. Dancers are definitely encouraged to get creative in this class!

Dress Code: Any comfortable dancewear or athletic wear. Please nothing too baggy so the instructor can still see the dancer’s core for proper alignment and technique placement.

Pom- Beginner (1) & Intermediate
1st-3rd Grade – Pom 1 (30 mins), 4th-8th Grade - Intermediate (1 hour)
The pom dance classes focus on preparing dancers for high school, college, or professional dance teams. Dancers learn to use sharp, precise technical movements to a fast tempo style of music. Pom dance emphasizes uniformity, precision, and spatial awareness while utilizing poms to create maximum visual effects. Dancers build team spirit while learning routines with basic, counted, precision steps. This class will also include skills that are required by dance teams such as jumps, leaps, and turns.

Dress Code: Fitted athletic wear or dance wear and tan jazz shoes.

Intermediate Ballet, Tap, Jazz, & Lyrical
6th-8th Grade - Ballet, Jazz, & Lyrical (1 hour each), Tap (45 mins)
Recommended for dancers, who have completed Combo 1, 2, and 3. In our Intermediate classes ballet barre will again be used to focus on alignment, placement, and technique. Dancers will learn a variety of barre warm ups, incorporating and adding variations to movements previously learned to increase strength and flexibility. Center and across the floor combinations will be taught, incorporating new movements learned at barre. Advanced leaps, jumps, and turns will also be introduced. In our tap program, dancers will focus primarily on learning new combinations and time steps. Dancers at this level will also begin increasing speed and clarity of sound from their tap shoes. Our jazz program will combine movements previously learned with new movements. Dancers will be taught advanced leaps and turns that will be combined with previous knowledge in across-the-floor drill and center combinations.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, ballet shoes for ballet (pink for girls and black for boys), tan tap shoes for tap, and tan/natural half-sole shoes for jazz and lyrical. A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights.

Advanced Ballet, Tap, Jazz & Lyrical
9th-12th Grade Ballet & Tap (45 mins), Jazz & Lyrical (1 hour each)
Recommended for dancers who have completed Combo 1, 2, & 3 and test out of Intermediate classes. Dancers enrolled in this class should have mastered the skills and techniques taught in the Intermediate level classes. This class will expand on leaps, turns and jumps while providing dancers with more advanced technical curriculum. This class is highly recommended for dancers looking to take their dance education to the next level!

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, ballet shoes for ballet (pink for girls and black for boys), tan tap shoes for tap, and tan/natural half-sole shoes for jazz and lyrical. A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights. DRESS CODE WILL BE ENFORCED. DANCERS NOT DRESSED IN APPROPRIATE ATTIRE WILL BE DISMISSED FROM CLASS.

Company Technique Class
6th-12th Grade, 45 mins
This class is upon acceptance only after audition. All dancers interested in being considered for placement in a solo, duet, trio, or group routines will be evaluated during an intensive audition. Due to the limited number of routines allowed per studio at competitions, we won’t be able to accept all requests. Dancers will perform at various events throughout the year, as well as competitions. We will determine the best placement for each individual dancer based on their audition, behavior, and skill level. Dancers will notice tremendous growth in technique, stage presence, and confidence through the season. Our technique class will expand and perfect basic and advanced skills; emphasizing body placement and posture. This class is a requirement for our company team members.

Dress Code: Black sports bra or form fitting tank top and black booty shorts. Tan jazz or half-sole shoes. No t-shirts/sweats permitted.

Pre-Pointe & Pointe
6th-8th Grade - Pre-Pointe (30 mins), 9th-12th Grade – Pointe (1 hour)
Pointe is only open to dancers who have mastered the necessary level of ballet and have been approved by Erin and Emily. Pre-Pointe is a 30 min class mixed in with Intermediate Ballet. Pointe is a hour class and is run similarly to other ballet classes in terms of focus and discipline. The difference, however, is that dancers wear pointe shoes- ballet shoes with a hard, full soled shank and a boxed toe, so that the ballerina may go fully onto pointe while in relevé. Pointe is for the more advanced ballet dancer and requires two years of ballet and one year of Pre-Pointe, as well as, instructor permission in order to participate. As our young dancers grow, we emphasize the importance of making decisions that will ensure our dancers’ future health. Not everyone is made for Pointe class, so ankle and foot bone structure, stage of growth, and strength must all be considered.

Dress Code: Any color leotard, any color tights, ballet shoes for ballet (pink for girls and black for boys). We recommend being properly fitted for pointe shoes-consult the studio for a recommended location. A ballet skirt or shorts may be worn over tights. Hair must be up and out of the dancers face.

Stretch, Strength, and Flexibility
4th Grade and up, 1 hour
This class is designed to improve a dancer’s range of motion, enhance muscle flexibility, and increase their level of core muscle strength through a variety of exercises and techniques. Students will learn to use their own body weight to increase strength and flexibility. The class will begin with a cardio warm-up to improve conditioning and endurance. Then we will target a specific area of the body each week: core, arms, legs, etc. The last part of class will focus on flexibility with stretching exercises to create the long lean muscles desired for dancing. (This class does not participate in the spring recital.)

Dress Code: Fitted athletic wear or dance wear and barefoot or socks.

If you have any questions regarding placement of your child, contact the Y at (712) 262-3782 or eelliott@spencerymca.org 

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Dance Attire

At the YMCA Studio of Dance, a traditional dress code is followed so that instructors can view body alignment, focus on proper technique, and avoid competition. Having all students dressed to a standard makes it possible for the instructor to more easily notice incorrect positions and movements to make the appropriate corrections before any "bad habits" are formed. Dress codes also promote focus and a stronger work ethic in class to ensure your dancer is getting the most out of his or her dance classes! 

The specific requirements of our Dress Code can be found in the Class Description Summaries above. Appropriate shoes MUST be worn in each class. Sizing kits are available at the YMCA to properpy size and fit your dancer for shoes. Leotards and tights are also available for purchase. You are not required to purchase your dancewear from our studio, however, it is required that the dancer’s shoes be the correct color. According to the Dress Code, Ballet shoes should be pink, Tap shoes should be tan, and Jazz shoes should be tan in color.

© 2013 Spencer Family YMCA, Iowa. All rights reserved.

1001 11th Avenue West | Spencer, Iowa 51301 | (712) 262-3782