Class Descriptions

Mini Movers

2 Years Old

Designed to give confidence to our youngest dancers!  By using familiar music, rhythm and props we encourage the development of basic motor skills and enhance the students imagination.

Dress Code:

Mini Movers students must wear any solid-colored leotard, pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes.  Hair must be neatly pulled back out of the face and off the neck.

Creative Ballet

3-4 Years Old

Our unique creative movement class is designed to introduce dancers to the basics of Ballet along with enhancing gross motor development, nurturing the creative spirit, and improving listening and musicality skills. Our creative movement classes offer an imaginative environment to move and explore dance concepts appropriate for every developmental stage.

Dress Code:

Creative Ballet students must wear any solid-colored leotard, pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes.  Hair must be neatly pulled back out of the face and off the neck, preferably in a bun.

Pre-Ballet

4-5 Years Old

Our Pre-Ballet/Jazz, Ballet/Jazz & Jazzy Hippity Hop combination classes are designed to build the fundamentals of dance with proper posture instruction, alignment and rhythm. Basic Ballet and Jazz vocabulary and technique are introduced through terminology, imagery, rhythmic skills and instructor example. This class is perfect for those who want to try more than one type of dance style.

Dress Code:

Combination Class students must wear any solid-colored leotard, pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes for ballet/Jazz combination classes and any solid-colored leotard, tan tights and black jazz shoes. Hair must be neatly pulled back out of the face and off the neck preferably in a bun.

Ballet

Strong technique and artistry are achieved through focused and committed study beginning at the 2nd grade level. Our upper level classes have a strong focus on terminology, extensive barre training, centre technique as well as choreographed combinations.

Level 1-3 (1st – 3rd Grade):
Students learn the basic positions of ballet and elements of barre, center, and across-the-floor dance steps, which develop grace, balance and coordination.

Level 3-5 (3rd – 5th Grade):
Continues to improve the fundamentals of classical dance, stressing the physical and written vocabulary of steps, with pre- and beginning pointe work. Please see our Pointe Shoe Information page.

Level 6-8 (6th-8th Grade):
Progresses to complex barre work and center combinations, with increased emphasis on technique, pointe work, and performing skills. For the more advanced dancer, the emphasis is on polishing and strengthening all aspects of the art form.

Intermediate and Advanced (9th and up):
Progresses to complex barre work and center combinations, with increased emphasis on technique, pointe work, and performing skills. For the more advanced dancer, the emphasis is on polishing and strengthening all aspects of the art form.

Dress Code:

• Level I – III ballet students must wear any solid-colored leotard, pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes. Hair must be neatly pulled back and in a secure ballet bun.
• Level III – level VII ballet students must wear a black solid leotard, pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes/pointe shoes. Skirts are allowed per teacher preference. Hair must be pulled back in a secure bun with pins and a hairnet.

**Students MUST be enrolled in Ballet to take Pointe levels I-III, Jazz IV or Modern IV
**Levels III-VI & Pointe I-III class are per teacher recommendation

Classes meeting twice a week, for 1.5 hours, will count as 3 class hours/week for tuition purposes.

Jazz

Jazz dance explores the dynamics of style inspired by jazz and popular music. It teaches correct body alignment, the stretch and flex of muscles and creates an understanding of movement and style through progressive patterns of motion.

Level 1-3 (1st-3rd Grade):
Students learn the basic elements of Jazz dance while incorporating rhythm, repetition, movement steps and center combinations.

Level 3-5 (3rd-5th Grade):
Continuing the basics from level I, dancers will continue to learn at the beginning and intermediate level rhythm, repetition, moving combinations and center combinations.

Level 6-8 (6th-8th Grade):
Intermediate level III dancers will begin to explore jazz isolations, stamina exercises, combination steps and center combinations on quicker paced instruction while learning to retain more demanding movement.

Intermediate and Advanced (9th and up):
Our advanced dancers will begin every class with an extensive warm up session including stamina exercises, isolations, turn combinations, leap combinations, center combinations and more! This fast paced class is full of energy and fun!

Dress Code:

• Jazz level I students must wear a solid colored leotard, tan tights and black jazz shoes. Dance shorts are allowed. Hair must be neatly pulled back off the neck and out of the face.
• Jazz level II & III students must wear a solid black leotard, tan tights and black jazz shoes. Dance shorts are allowed. Hair must be pulled back in a secure bun with pins and a hairnet in order to participate in class.
• Jazz level IV students must wear a solid black leotard, tan tights and tan jazz shoes. Black dance shorts are allowed. Hair must be pulled back in a secure bun with pins and a hairnet in order to participate in class.

Please note:
*Students MUST be enrolled in Ballet to take Jazz III & IV

Contemporary/Lyrical

Lyrical is a dance style that embodies various aspects of ballet, jazz acro, modern and sometimes hip hop movements.  This dance form displays emotional moods, fast-moving choreographic musicality, and an emphasis on musical lyrics.

Contemporary is a dance form usually done barefoot with steps and gestures freely based on interpretation of themes. Using the floor for centering and grounding, contemporary is unique in its appearance.

Both of these dance forms will focus on alignment, musicality, vocabulary, and expression.  Classes will also give students the chance to move freely with improvisation dance.

Dress Code:

• Lyrical students must wear a solid colored leotard, tan tights and lyrical shoes. Skirts are allowed per teacher preference. Hair must be pulled back in a secure bun with pins and a hairnet.
• Contemporary students must wear a solid black leotard and black stirrup tights. Hair must be pulled back in a secure bun with pins and a hairnet.

Please note:
*Students MUST be enrolled in Ballet to take Intermediate or Advanced Levels.

Hip Hop

An urban-street form of dance that is fun and diverse.  This is a high energy class that breaks down the current styles of hip hop using the sounds of R&B, Pop and Rap music. Music is closely selected for proper content (i.e., no inappropriate or offensive lyrics).

Dress Code:
Hip Hop students must wear a solid colored fitted tank top, Boys may wear loose fitted solid colored t-shirts. Dance shorts, black leggings or loose fitted pants and tennis shoes or jazz shoes. Hair must be secure out of the face and off the neck.

Tap

Tap dance is a type of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion.  Rhythm tap focuses on musicality and the rhythmic footwork requires concentration and counting.

Dress Code:
Tap students must wear a solid colored leotard, tan tights and black tap shoes. Dance shorts are allowed. Hair must be neatly secure out of the face and off the neck.

Acrobatic Dance

The tumbling fundamentals of gymnastic floor exercise; rolls, cartwheels, handsprings, and more are safely taught by a well-trained instructor with individual participation.

Dress Code:
Acrobatics students must wear a leotard with dance shorts and no shoes or socks. Hair must be secure out of the face and off the neck

Adult Dance Classes

The Creative Outlet feels that dance is to be enjoyed by all, regardless of age. Adults & Teens who are interested in learning to dance or those who wish to return after time off will find several styles of dance are available to them.

Adults can perform in our Annual Recital if they choose but it isn’t required. Our Adult Ballet Stretch class performs every year with their identity masked. They have become known around Fairhope as the “No SEE ‘EMS”.

Ballet, Tap, Modern, Hip Hop & Jazz are offered from August through April. Adults with extensive training are welcome in upper level classes of all techniques. Summer schedules vary. Please contact us or stop by the office for complete details.

Please note:

• The Ballet/Stretch class is on an intermediate level.
• Intermediate & Advanced Levels of Ballet, Modern and Jazz
• Adults with considerable past training may take these classes upon approval.

Dress Code:
Adults-Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes per class style.