About the Dance Styles
Northeast Dance Center focuses on Ballet and Musical Theatre-style (think Broadway) dancing. We want our students and their dancing to be technically excellent, musically accurate, age appropriate, and artisictally entertaining.

We firmly believe that ballet builds a strong foundation for all the other styles of dance, and additionaly teaches the students to properly use the body to gain muscle strength and control. Ballet is not just a slow moving, systematic, and lifeless art form, but is dynamic and versatile and, when done correctly, evokes emotion and brings joy to the dancer and the audience. We strongly encourage all our students to try ballet, particularly before starting jazz, modern, contemporary, or lyrical dance.

In addition to ballet, we think Musical Theatre dance can build a repertoire and skill set that students can take with and use forever in high school, college, community theatre, as well as professional opportunities. We incorporate foundational jazz and tap dance technique to depict stories from movies, Broadway shows, books, and our own imaginations.

We hope our audiences will be able to follow the story line that each dance creates and that the stories we tell are consistent with whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).

 

Short Term Classes
Not ready for a full year of dance classes? A few times each year we offer short-term classes for students to just get a taste dance for 6 weeks. More information is available on the Short-Term Classes page.

Please click on the links on the left side toolbar for the schedule, calendar, dress code/policies (including tuition), and performance information.

Dance Track Classes

Creative Movement/Mini Pre-Ballet For dancers ages 3–5, introduction to basic ballet, movement and music concepts. Students will learn basic dance concepts such as patterns, shapes, sequence, rhythm, and musicality. Basic ballet and jazz steps (and terminology) will also be introduced to help students grow in balance, coordination, and motor skill development. Class meets for 30 min/week. Dancers will perform one dance in the year-end performance.

Pre-Ballet Beginning ballet for ages 4–6 or students with previous dance experience, this 45 minute, short-term class serves as a transition from creative movement to the structure of a ballet class. Students will gain confidence in ballet terminology and musicality. Students will perform one ballet dance in our year-end performance.

Beginning Broadway and Ballet Beginning-level ballet and tap for ages 5-8. Dancers will learn the basic structure of a ballet class including barre and centre work in a creative and age-appropriate environment as well as the basics of musical-theatre style tap. This 45-minute class meets 1 time/week and students will perform one dance in the Year-End Performance.

Level 1 Ballet Beginning ballet class for students 6 & up, which introduces students to the structure of ballet in addition to beginning ballet technique, musicality, and performance concepts. This 45-minute class meets 1 time/week and dancers will quickly grow their ballet vocabulary. Dancers will perform one dance in the year-end performance.

Beginning Musical Theatre Dance

Beginning ballet and theatre jazz dance technique (minimum age 12). For students who wish to learn beginning dance technique,especially great for performing in Musical Theatre productions, this 45 min class meets 1 time/week. Dancers will learn basic theatre dance skill and terminology along with foundational ballet technique and beginning music and performance concepts. Ballet & Jazz shoes required. Dancers will perform one dance in our Year-End Performance.

Level 1 Musical Theatre Dance Beginning jazz and tap technique as well as basic ballet terminology and skills. For students who wish to learn beginning Musical Theatre dance technique, this .75-hour class meets 1 time/week. Dancers will learn basic jazz and tap skill and terminology along with foundational ballet technique and beginning music and performance concepts. Jazz and tap shoes required. Dancers will perform at least one dance in the year-end performance.

Level 2 Musical Theatre Dance Advanced Beginning - Intermediate jazz and tap technique as well as basic ballet terminology and skills (typically ages 9 and up). For students who wish to learn advanced beginning jazz and tap technique, this .75-hour class meets 1 time/week. Dancers will learn basic tap and ballet skill and terminology along with beginning music and performance concepts. Jazz and tap shoes required. Dancers will perform one tap and one jazz dance in the year-end performance.

Level 2 Ballet Advanced Beginning-Intermediate ballet class which builds on the basic ballet skill and terminology. Students should have at least 1 year of ballet experience to join this class. This 1-hour class meets 1 time/week and dancers will perform a ballet dance in our Year-End Performance.

Level 3 Ballet At the Intermediate level, the ballet class increases in complexity so students can gain greater knowledge and skill. Approximately 15 minutes of this class time will be dedicated to learning choreography during the second half of the year. In order to begin Pre-Pointe, students must be invited by the instructor and must take 2 ballet classes per week. Dancers will perform at least one ballet dance in the year-end performance.

Level 3 Musical Theatre Dance (Jazz & Tap) Students continue to grow in their Intermediate tap and jazz technique and vocabulary. This class meets for 1 hour, 1 time/week. Students should have at least an Advanced Beginning jazz and tap skill level or have completed Level 2 to participate in this class. It is strongly recommended that students take ballet before or while beginning jazz. Students will be invited to perform in additional formal and informal performances through out the year (however, participation is not mandatory). Dancers will perform one jazz and one tap dance in the year-end performance.

Open Ballet (ages 13–Adult) This class follows Level 3 ballet in the studio progression for students who do not wish to participate in the Performance Track Program and also includes adult students. This 1-hr class builds on a basic ballet vocabulary and skill set learned in Level 3 Ballet and meets 1 day/week. College students are welcome! This 1 hour class meets 1 time/week. Participation in the year-end performance is optional.

Adult Musical Theatre Dance We will spend 1 hour/week going over all you need to know to dance in your favorite broadway show! Classwork will include foundational ballet, jazz and tap technique to help you grow in strength, coordination, balance, flexibility, and of course learning routines set to favorite showtunes. High school and college students are welcome to join us for the full year or on a week to week basis (College students welcome!). Participation in the year-end performance is optional.

Level 4 Musical Theatre Dance (Jazz and Tap) This class follows Level 3 in our Dance Track and is for Advanced Intermediate and Advanced Dancers. Students should be enrolled in ballet (Teen and Adult Open Ballet or Level 3/4) before or while taking this class. 
 

Performance Track (PTrack) Classes
Prior to each fall, students are required to attend an audition class for placement in the Performance Track (PTrack) Program. Placement in the PTrack program is dependent on classroom conduct and work ethic, in addition to skill level. Attendance is mandatory in the PTrack program and if you and your student are not able to commit to the class schedule for the PTrack level in which your student is assigned, we invite your student to grow in the Dance Track Program.

Level 2 (accelerated) – For students who wish to deepen their study and skill in ballet, students may take two Level 2 ballet classes each week. This advanced beginning ballet class builds on the basics learned in level 1 Ballet. This 1 hour class meets 2 times/week and dancers will quickly grow their ballet vocabulary. Dancers will perform in 2 ballet dances in the year-end performance.

Level 3 Ballet – Students are required to attend two 1-hour ballet classes and a .5-hour repertoire class each week for a total of 2.5 hours/week. Students will build on an intermediate level knowledge of ballet technique. Students will perform 1 ballet dance in the year-end performance and will also be provided with a mid-year informal performance as well as community performances through out the year. Pre-pointe study will begin during Level 3 PTrack Ballet, however not all students will begin pointe at the same time. It is expected that students will take at least one year of Dance Track Level 3 before joining the P-track.

Level 4 Ballet – Students are required to dance 2 days/week and attend two 2 hour ballet/pointe classes and a .5-hour repertoire class each week for a total of 4.5 hours/week. Students will build on a basic knowledge of ballet technique and will also learn basic modern technique. Students will perform 2-3 dances in the year-end performance and will also be provided with a mid-year informal performance as well as community performances through out the year. Students in Level 4 PTrack Ballet who are en pointe will work en pointe a minimum of 1 day/week.
 

Level 5 Ballet – Students are required to dance 3 days/week and attend two 2 hour ballet/pointe classes, and a .5 hour pointe/repertoire class each week for a total of 4.5 hours/week. Students will build their ballet technique to include more complex steps and combinations. Students will perform 2 dances in the year-end performance and will also be provided with a mid-year informal performance as well as community performances through out the year. Students in Level 5 Ballet who are en pointe will dance en pointe a minimum of 2 days/week. Students will also be introduced to modern, lyrical and contemporary ballet technique.