Summer Saturdays

This class is designed to introduce our youngest dancers to the ballet studio, whether they are completely new to group classes or have had experience in Colburn’s Early Childhood Creative Arts Program. The instructor leads the dancers through creative storytelling, patterns, and fundamentals of posture, arm movements, stretching, traveling steps, all with a focus on musicality. Class is 55 minutes in length and may feature live piano accompaniment.

This class serves as an introduction to the setting and structure of a ballet class. The 55-minute session begins with a series of warm up exercises to emphasize posture, correct alignment, coordination, and musicality.  The use of the barre is introduced for basic ballet steps like plié and tendu, and students begin to learn the meaning of French terminology. Center work and across the floor exercises develop spatial awareness, balance, artistic expression, and joy of movement. The class may feature live piano accompaniment.

This class is designed to prepare young dancers for Colburn’s sequential ballet levels. There is continued emphasis on posture, alignment, coordination, musicality, and more vocabulary is introduced. The class features introductory barre work, conditioning, stretching, and center work/ traveling exercises. Music and imagination go hand in hand with learning ballet technique fundamentals.  The class is 55 minutes long and may feature live piano accompaniment.

Ballet I is the first level in Colburn Youth Ballet’s sequential program. Students learn the proper fundamentals of ballet technique with focus on body placement, correct shaping of feet, activating turnout, and developing musicality and a sense of artistry.

Summer Saturdays: 

Students taking this class during our Summer Saturdays program are given an introduction to Ballet I in a 60-minute class for four Saturdays. Dancers aged 7 are encouraged to continue taking Ballet I during the year-round after school program. 

Year-Round Program (Late August through May):

Students must be 7 years of age by the start of fall classes to join Ballet I. The level includes one 90-minute technique/repertoire class and one 60- minute technique class per week. Male dancers may take the 1-hr Friday Boys’ class in lieu of Saturday technique class. 

Students in the year-round program have the opportunity to perform in the Spring Dance Festival. Their repertoire is taught during the level’s rehearsal time. 

In Ballet II students progress on the basic technique fundamentals from Ballet I and add more use of the head and arms with exercises at the barre and in the center. All elements of class emphasize musicality, proper alignment, and development of artistry.

Summer Saturdays: 

Students taking this class during our Summer Saturdays program continue progressing from their Ballet I experience or are introduced to our ballet program in a 90-minute class for four Saturdays. Dancers are encouraged to continue taking Ballet II during the year-round after school program. 

Year-Round Program (Late August-May)

This level includes two 90-minute technique classes with weekly stretch and rehearsal time included. Male dancers may take the 1.5-hr Friday Boys’ class in lieu of Friday’s technique class.

Students in the year-round program have the opportunity to perform in the Spring Dance Festival. Their repertoire is taught during the level’s rehearsal time. 

Our Creative Dance curriculum is designed for nurturing physical and cognitive growth, combining these goals with fundamental dance skills and joyful, creative expression. These classes can be a child’s first introduction to dance or a transition from Colburn’s Early Childhood Creative Arts Program.

Our creative dancers work with partners and small groups exploring key concepts – relationships, energy, space, time, and body awareness –learning to invent movement from within their own skills and movement history in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Auditions are not required. Classes recommended by age.

Our Creative Dance curriculum is designed for nurturing physical and cognitive growth, combining these goals with fundamental dance skills and joyful, creative expression. These classes can be a child’s first introduction to dance or a transition from Colburn’s Early Childhood Creative Arts Program.

Our creative dancers work with partners and small groups exploring key concepts – relationships, energy, space, time, and body awareness – learning to invent movement from within their own skills and movement history in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Auditions are not required. Classes recommended by age.

Modern I introduces the dancer to the fundamentals of modern dance with an emphasis on developing body alignment and musicality. Focusing on creating physical and cognitive growth together with coordination, balance, and spatial awareness, the dancers experience the joy of physical, creative expression. All classes have a percussionist from our music faculty.

Modern II continues building on the fundamentals of a Horton based technique, adding spinal articulation and continuing the development of their movement vocabulary. Phrases of movement across the space, with use of different levels are added to continue building physicality, musicality, and
spatial awareness. All classes have a percussionist from our music faculty.

Early Tap is an introductory tap class for children ages 5-6. Students are introduced to tap technique and the proper use of legs and loose ankles for accurate sound production. They will learn the basic rudiments, weight placement and tap terminology. 

Introduction to tap technique and the proper use of legs and loose ankles for accurate sound production.  Students will learn the basic rudiments and weight placement. Terminology is emphasized.  Using basic rudiments, students are asked to dance and understand the value of quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes.  This class meets once a week.

More advanced steps, flaps and time steps are introduced. While continuing to review established skills and terminology, the class will practice the connection of the steps to the music for clarity of sound. Sixteenth notes and eight note triplets in 4/4 time are introduced. Turns, arm placement and more movement are emphasized. At this level, students are challenged by more advanced combinations and dances. 

Two years of previous tap training is required for this class.  This class develops clear technical and terminology skills as well as focusing on presentational performance skills.  Emphasis is placed on students’ ability to pick up combinations and steps and apply them to their overall performance. Listening skills help students to improve their musical time and associate more closely with the music they play with their taps. 

This technique course explores the core elements of Hip Hop dance practice. Students will learn the internalization of the groove and how it’s integrated within Hip Hop dance vocabulary from old school party dances to social media trends. 

This technique course explores the core elements of Hip Hop dance practice. Students will learn the internalization of the groove through bounces, rocks, waves and rolls, and how they’re integrated within Hip Hop dance vocabulary – from old school party dances to social media trends. 

This class is designed for young students who want to deepen their dance skills for Musical Theatre, Ballet, Modern and Tap dance. Luigi, Horton and ballet techniques are used to provide strength and develop strong alignment and versatility of movement. Each week a set warm up leads to across the floor and combination. This class meets once weekly. 

This class is designed for students who want to deepen their dance skills for Musical Theatre, Ballet, Modern and Tap dance. Luigi, Horton and ballet techniques are used to provide strength and develop strong alignment and versatility of movement. Each week a set warm up leads to across the floor and combination. This class meets once weekly.