Dance Classes and Lessons
Premiere Dance Academy has been offering dance classes to recreational students and competitive dancers for over 30 years. We have programs for children and adults at all ability levels, ages 3 and up, and a wide variety of dance styles are taught at our studio.
For information on the dance styles we instruct, please make a choice below:
- Preschool Dance
- Ballet
- Tap
- Jazz
- Lyrical
- Musical Thaetre
- Hip Hop
- Breakdance
- Contemporary
- Dance Acro
- Stretch & Conditioning
Preschool Dance
Preschool dance is an ideal way for kids from 3-5 to develop their spacial, body and directional awareness, while learning basic dance skills and exercising their imaginations.
Dancers are directed through dance-related activities that are age-appropriate and fun! The focus starts with body awareness, balance and coordination in an environment that is filled with fun and action. Many of the exercises are set to music to make them easy to remember.
As students progress they will learn "preparatory dance": the basics of placement, posture, form and rhythm through introductory ballet and tap movements.
Contact us now to register for preschool dance classes.
CollapseBallet & Ballet Pointe
Ballet is a technique of dance that is strongly rooted in tradition and discipline. Emphasis is placed on lines of the body, precise footwork, and artistically expressive positioning of the arms. We follow the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet syllabus for graded levels (recognized worldwide), and also teach the Vaganova Technique for children 12 years and up. Students who have trained for many years may also register for Ballet Pointe classes.
The Vaganova technique aims at teaching dance with the whole body, acquiring harmonious movements and widening expressive range. It results in more graceful and powerful performances through more lyrical upper body movements and increased strength, precision and agility.
In our ballet classes, students will improve alignment, strength, flexibility and musicality. The vocabulary of ballet is written and spoken in French, and we use French terminology from the start.
Contact us now to register for ballet classes.
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Tap dance focuses on rhythm and intricate footwork, with the dancer's feet becoming percussive instruments marking out musical patterns on the floor.
Our classes teach the development and strengthening of tap technique, introduce terminology and build musicality and rhythm within the students. Tap is a great way to introduce these attributes to children. Students are taught a repertoire of technical elements, rhythmic footwork and creative combinations.
Improvisation and a Capella dancing (dancing without musical accompaniment) are also taught. These are a great way for dancers to better hear and understand rhythm.
Contact us now to register for tap classes.
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Jazz dance is an energetic and physical dance form that focuses on exaggerated movements, unique personal expression and fast, accurate footwork. It's a style that's full of passion and life!
Jazz follows fast-paced choreography set to popular music styles. It can be powerful and percussive, or expressive and lyrical, and is an ever-evolving dance form.
The classes taught at Premiere Dance Academy cover all of the latest styles of jazz and encourage individual expression! Students will explore rhythm, syncopation, broad stretching movements and the body isolations of the head, shoulders, torso, feet and arms.
Contact us now to register for jazz classes.
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This is a dance style that combines elements of ballet, jazz and modern dance forms. It is an expressive movement class that's commonly set to popular music with or without vocals. Students draw inspiration from the music to create movements and show expression, "painting the words" with movement.
Lyrical is a beautiful and expressive style of dance that appeals to many teenagers with or without a background in ballet. It demands intermediate to advanced technical skills and emotional focus, though it doesn't possess the exactness of other forms like ballet, jazz and modern. Dancers are taught and also require great strength, stamina, control and ease in their movements.
Contact us now to register for lyrical classes.
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Musical Theatre
This program provides an introduction to the popular style of musical theatre, which combines singing, dancing and stage / theatre performance.
Classes at Premiere Dance Academy will teach the skills and basic techniques that are necessary for musical theatre. Drama activities will play an essential role, and students may also sing in a group setting.
Contact us now to register for musical theatre classes.
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Hip Hop
This is a popular, high energy dance style that teaches freestyle movements as well as elements of locking, popping and breaking. It is accompanied by the latest hip hop, rap, R&B and pop music and has movements inspired by today's top music video choreographers.
It is a very expressive and individual dance form where students are encouraged to develop their own sense of style. As an art form, it is diverse and forever changing and our instructors always keep up with the latest styles and interpretations.
Contact us now to register for hip hop classes.
CollapseBreakdance
Breaking is a core element of hip hop dancing. It's an acrobatic style of solo dancing that includes footwork and involved body spins done on the ground. This dance style was developed on the streets of New York and popularized in the 80s through movies like Breakin', Beat Street, and Flashdance.
The breakdance instructors at Premiere Dance Academy will teach this exciting dance form starting with the basics, such as the top-rock and six-step, which are movements one does before hitting the floor. Spins, freezes and other floor moves will be taught and students will get experience battling with a partner. Dancers will improve their flexibility, strength and sense of rhythm.
Contact us now to register for breakdance classes.
CollapseContemporary
Contemporary dance was developed in the early 20th century and integrates methods found in modern and post-modern dance and classical ballet. However, it gets its roots in the rebellion against ballet's rigid styles and techniques.
It is a departure from classical dance techniques and their structured form and movement, and instead draws on modern dance techniques and newer philosophies of movement. It focuses on broader, heavier movements than ballet and works with the natural alignment of the body, allowing for a wide range and fluidity of movement.
One of the most notable pioneers of contemporary dance is Martha Graham.
Contact us now to register for contemporary classes.
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Dance Acro
The focus of this class is on acrobatic floor and mat skills, but in contrast to gymnastics our Dance Acro classes combine dance movement with acrobatics. Most dance movements are founded in ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern dance styles.
Students will develop basic coordination, body awareness, general flexibility and improve their strength while progressing from basic to advanced techniques.
Contact us now to register for dance acro classes.
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Stretch & Conditioning
In this class dancers will improve their understanding of body alignment, positioning, and the physical movements involved in dance. This will help them improve their form and ability through a better understanding of dance.
Beyond that, dancers will see an improvement in their flexibility, stamina, core and overall strength, and this will help to keep them injury-free.
Contact us now to register for stretch & conditioning classes.
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