Classes & Schedule - Season 7

 Ballet and creative dance class for 3 and 4 years olds. “Doll Baby” is a nickname we have given this group of dancers because they are just too cute! They will learn the basics of ballet and creative dance in each class and will increase strength, stamina, flexibility, and coordination. These classes are tailored to their young age by teaching the very beginnings in ballet technique, along with fun and creative ways of exploring movement through creative dance. We feel creative dance is very important to incorporate at this young age as dancers learn through play and imagination.  Not only will they learn dance steps, but they will learn to stand in a line, wait their turn, and follow and react to the teacher's movements and verbal instructions.  Dancers will also get to experience the joy and accomplishment of learning and performing. There will be 3 Doll Baby Ballet and Creative Dance classes offered throughout the week. Dancers can take one of them. One ballet dance from each class will be performed in each of our recitals in Dec. and May.   

 Ballet and Creative Dance Class for 5 and 6 year olds.  “Tiny Toes” is a nickname we have given this group of dancers as their “Tiny Toes” learn new things in dance class. These classes will be more advanced than Doll Baby classes due to age, but classes are structured the same. Dancers will learn the basics of ballet and creative dance in each class and will increase strength, stamina, flexibility, and coordination. These classes are tailored to their young age by teaching the very beginnings in ballet technique, along with fun and creative ways of exploring movement through creative dance. We feel creative dance is very important to incorporate at this young age as dancers learn through play and imagination.  Not only will they learn dance steps, but they will learn to stand in a line, wait their turn, and follow and react to the teacher's movements and verbal instructions.  Dancers will also get to experience the joy and accomplishment of learning and performing.   There will be 3 Tiny Toes Ballet and Creative Dance classes offered throughout the week. Dancers can take one of them. One ballet dance from each class will be performed in our recitals in Dec. and May. Tiny Toes dancers have the option to take ballet alone or with Tiny Toes Pom class.  

 In ballet class, dancers will learn a mixture of ballet technique and methods commonly used throughout the United States.  Steps and level of difficulty will be tailored to each group progressing through age and experience corresponding technique, choreography, and goals. Starting class at the barre and progressing through center and across the floor ballet combinations. Dancers will increase strength, stamina, flexibility, coordination, dedication, artistry, and grace. Various choreographed dances will be taught. Contemporary Ballet will also be integrated into the Level D ballet class. Dancers will perform one ballet dance in each of our recitals in Dec. and May. Requirements: Jazz or Jazz/Lyrical is required to take with ballet levels B, C, and D. Level A is not required to take jazz with ballet.  Level A can take ballet alone or with any other Level A class. Level C dancers are required to take Pre-Pointe.  Level D Ballet meets 2x a week and D dancers also take Pointe.  

 Jazz is a very fun, upbeat, and stylistic form of dance. Music is to clean pop music. Jazz dance takes ballet technique and adds a different style and flare to it.  Starting in Level B, lyrical dance is also incorporated into jazz classes. In these classes, dancers will learn 3 different styles of dance: Jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance. Lyrical and contemporary dance is slower, more expressive, and a beautiful mix of jazz and ballet. From taking these classes, dancers will increase strength, stamina, grace, coordination, flexibility, style, and artistry. Dancers will perform one jazz or lyrical/contemporary dance in each of our recitals.  Requirements: Ballet is required to take with Jazz or Jazz/Lyrical class in Levels B, C, and D. Level A is not required to take Jazz with Ballet.  Level A Jazz can be taken alone or with any other Level A class. 

 Hip Hop dance is influenced by a wide range of styles and street dancing that has evolved to a very fun and popular form of dance today.  Music is to CLEAN hip hop, pop, or rap depending on the song. Classes and choreography are structured for each age group.  Dancers can take this class alone or with other classes of their level.    

Offered to dancers ages 8 and up. Ballet Folklorico is traditional Mexican folk dance.  This style is danced to traditional Mariachi music.  Folk dance expresses the life, traditions, and spirit of a culture through its movement, style, costumes, and music.  Traditional Ballet Folklorico skirts will be used in both class and performances.  Dancers can take this class alone or with other classes.   

 Pom dance is a fun, high energy mix of cheer and jazz dance. The style is mainly jazz dance while holding poms in hands.  Big schools and universities have talented pom squads that perform at half-time during basketball and football games.  Pom is also popular at dance competitions. Each pom class will perform a dance in our recitals in Dec.and May. Requirements: Tiny Toes and Levels A and B can take this class alone or with any other class of their level. The more advanced levels, C and D, are required to also take Level C or D Ballet and Jazz, as Jazz is the foundation of Pom dance.  

 Pointe class for experienced ballet dancers learning and performing in pointe shoes.  Dancers must have teachers' approval to enroll.  Dancers are approved to take pointe class when they are individually ready and need to have previously danced en pointe the year(s) before. Dancers will use what they have learned in ballet technique class to beautifully dance en pointe. Combinations are specifically tailored to strengthen pointe work and stability while safely and correctly dancing en pointe. Dancers learn how to sew and take care of their pointe shoes and perform en pointe. They will also learn how to care for their feet, arches, and toes that comes with being a pointe dancer. Dancers in pointe class are held to our highest expectations and are dedicated and committed. Pointe dances will be performed separately from ballet dances in each of our recitals. Requirements: All Pointe dancers are required to take Level D Ballet and Jazz.     

 This class will focus on ballet steps and muscle strength training to prepare a dancer to go en pointe or help them as they are first learning to dance in their pointe shoes. Some dancers will be taking this class in their ballet flat shoes (regular ballet shoes), and other dancers will be taking it in pointe shoes. Dancers need at least one year of taking pre-pointe in their ballet shoes before they are considered for going en pointe.   Dancers will have a separate dance in both recitals from their ballet class dance for this class. Requirements: Level C Ballet and Jazz are required to take with this class.     

 It is very important for dancers to be strong and flexible.  Flexibility is something that is practiced and achieved individually. Strength and Stretch meets once a week and is a conditioning accessory to other classes. Dancers will also learn proper stretching techniques to stretch at home. This class is highly recommended for all ballet and jazz dancers Level B, C, and D. Dance team members are required to take this class. Other level B, C, and D dancers have the option to take this class, but it is not required. It is no longer required to take Stretch and Strength as a prerequisite to audition for the performing and competition dance teams. Taking Ballet and Jazz classes remain a requirement in order to audition for teams.  

  Dance Team is for dancers that want more performing opportunities and experiences in dance outside of our normal classes and 2 recitals. To join the dance team, dancers from levels B, C, or D ballet and jazz must audition.  After auditions, dancers are put into groups by age and ability.  They meet twice a week to work on specially choreographed dances. Dancers get to perform a ballet dance as guest artists in the Las Cruces Chamber Ballet's annual full-length production of "The Nutcracker" on the NMSU campus with a live orchestra and professional guest artists.  In the spring they will take different group dances (in ballet, contemporary ballet, jazz, lyrical, or contemporary) to dance competition(s) in Texas. Dancers will also perform locally at community events. In addition to their group dances, next season team dancers will have the option to compete in duets and trios. Duets and trios can choose their style of dance to compete in (ballet, contemporary ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, pom, and hip hop). If competing in pom or hip hop, dancers are required to take Pom or Hip hop. Team dancers are held to our highest expectation in their dedication and commitment in pursuing dance. All team dances are also performed in our 2 recitals. Requirements: to audition dancers must have taken ballet and jazz in levels B, C, or D. Team dancers are required to take ballet, jazz, stretch and strength, team rehearsals (2x a week), and commit to all the standards expected for being on the team. All other classes in addition to these are optional. 

Acro Dance is a mix of dance and tumbling. This class is offered to our Doll Baby (3 & 4 year old) and Tiny Toes (5 & 6 year old) levels. The focus will include learning the acro positions, locomotive skills (jumping, hoping, etc.), balance skills, strength building, and cooperation/social skills; all paired with the benefits from movements taught in beginning dance classes. You will find skills like: Pike Position, Skipping, Marching, Pre-Cartwheel, Pre-Handstand, Bridge, Plie, Tendu, and more.  The magic is in the repetition, the report cards, coloring pages, imaginary play, fun, and games. Our teacher is trained and holds a certification in elementary aged acro dance through Acrobatic Arts. Acro Dance classes will perform in our two annual dance recitals. 

Private lessons are available upon request.

A dancer must be an En Pointe Dance Academy student to schedule a private lesson.