As students progress in their dance training, often students will stay in a particular level until all expected skills are properly executed and fully understood. A student's placement is important for their development and is made according to their skill level and can find themselves in a class with students of various ages.
BALLET: Although there are several schools of Ballet, our concentration is mainly on classical Russian technique with an understanding and awareness of both the Italian and French schools as well.
Integrated into our Ballet program is the use of videos, musicality and dance history, ensuring our dancers a complete and artistic education in Ballet.
TAP: As with all our classes, we follow a progressive syllabus suitable for each level to develop and build upon the intricate layers of tap dancing. A student not only develops keen rhythmic skills but sharp listening skills as well.
Interpretation of traditional tap styles and music is contrasted with eclectic use of contemporary and pop choreography.
JAZZ: Our Jazz Dance classes are built upon exercises that address line placement, alignment, center, lift, flexibility and aesthetics, all of which are important to build a solid foundation in Jazz Dance technique.
Each class begins with a high energy warm-up using your favorite and popular music, followed by flexibility and strength building exercises. Steps and combinations, as well as across the floor exercises are another important part of each lesson. We cover the latest Hip- Hop and Funk as well as Classical and Theatrical Jazz.
MODERN DANCE: Unlike other forms of dance, modern dance allows dancers a considerable amount of freedom in style, interpretation and choreography. Although there are a number of different styles, including the now popular post-modern movement, our focus is on traditional Graham & Hawkin Techniques with the goals of flexibility, strength, endurance, body awareness, self expression and of course, humor.
It has been our experience that the student who has difficulty in other forms of dance finds their "home" in the Modern Dance classroom.
MUSICAL THEATRE/ACTING: Enjoy the spotlight? Dreams of Broadway? Then Musical Theatre/Acting is for you. Learn stage crafts, monologues & scene works, while singing and dancing to your favorite show tunes.
Our Pre-School Program
2 1/2 - Kindergarten
Here at Westfield School of Dance, we feel our younger students are very special people and have created an environment for them to come express and discover themselves in a loving, nurturing and fun environment. Our pre-school dance classes are designed to introduce children to movement, music and rhythm, as well as body discipline awareness and the appropriate developmental skills for the growing child. While we follow a progressive syllabus, emphasis is placed on fun, creativity, imagination and the development of positive self-esteem.
In addition to dancing, a child will learn the concepts of taking turns, following another dancer or leading the way, waiting patiently, working together and sharing. While the use of props, musical instruments, songs & imagination are the basis to our classes that introduce the fundamentals of ballet, tap, jazz and creative movement, our newest dancers will not only learn their technique, rhythm and motor skills, but the sheer love of expressing themselves through dance.
More and more educators are recognizing the benefits in training young children in the concept of movement. Sequencing, patterning and spatial relationships all lay a strong foundation for the later development of reading, mathematics and other educational skills. At Westfield School of Dance we offer you this and more.
- 2 1/2 Creative Movement
- 3yrs (TOTS) Ballet/Creative Movement
- 4/5 Ballet/Tap or Ballet/Creative Movement or Ballet/Tumbling
- (K) Ballet/Tap or Ballet/Jazz or Ballet/Tumbling or Ballet/Creative Movement
