Classes at Elite

At Elite Dance Academy ballet is the foundation for dance training. Our certified Royal Academy of Dance instructors teach the syllabus in the summer at our annual ballet intensive and then continue to perfect the work until the student is ready for examination. Exams are are a wonderful way for students to feel accomplished and a great way to measure success through the RAD’s detailed grading system. There are two paths of ballet examinations to take : Graded and Vocational. Graded exams range from Pre-Primary-Grade 8 and Vocational examinations range from Intermediate Foundation-Advanced 2 Ballet. Many students choose to do both in combination for well rounded training.

This class is for students that are preparing for pointe shoes and consists of strengthening exercises for the entire body. Usually, but not always students prepare for pointe work at the age of 11, however, each child’s body develops at a different rate. Dancers are encouraged to be patient during this process as it is very individual in nature. Once a dancer has passed a pre-pointe assessment the teacher then gives approval to purchase pointe shoes.

Elite Dance Academy has certified faculty in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing syllabus. The ISTD is one of the largest dance institutions in the world with examinations being held in 40 countries each year. Modern dance is a contemporary and expressive form of dance that breaks away from the traditional rules of ballet. It emphasizes freedom of movement, self-expression, and experimentation, incorporating a diverse range of techniques and influences. It encourages individuality, improvisation, and the exploration of emotions and themes. Each year students learn the syllabus and then work towards an examination in April or May. These examinations are always fun and most children come out wanting to go back in again. Tap

Elite Dance Academy has certified faculty in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing syllabus. The ISTD is one of the largest dance institutions in the world with examinations being held in 40 countries each year. Tap dancing is a lively and rhythmic form of dance characterized by the creation of percussive sounds through the use of metal plates attached to the dancer’s shoes. Originating from African and Irish dance traditions, tap dancing combines intricate footwork with syncopated rhythms, producing a unique and infectious beat. Each year students learn the syllabus and then work towards an examination in April or May.

Jazz is a technical form of dance that is closely related to ballet in technique, however Jazz incorporates sharp, strong movements and is generally danced to upbeat, fast paced music. Elite Dance Academy jazz classes start with a warm up that involves conditioning the progresses into across the floor, turns and leaps, and combinations to age appropriate music.

Contemporary dance is a fluid and expressive form that blends various dance styles. It encourages individuality, experimentation, and artistic exploration, embracing abstract choreography and pushing boundaries. It values freedom of expression and continues to evolve with the changing artistic landscape. This class will also give the dancers the opportunity to improvise giving them full artistic and creative control over their bodies.

Musical theatre is a vibrant and captivating form of live performance that combines acting, singing, and dancing. It brings together storytelling, music, and choreography to create a dynamic and immersive theatrical experience. In musical theatre, narratives are conveyed through a combination of dialogue, songs, and dance numbers. The songs serve as a means of expressing characters’ emotions, advancing the plot, or highlighting important moments in the story. The choreography in musical theatre ranges from elaborate dance sequences to simple movement that enhances the storytelling. It helps convey the mood, energy, and character development, adding another layer of visual spectacle to the production.

These classes are energetic and dynamic dance sessions that focus on the popular urban dance style known as hip hop. Rooted in African American and urban culture, hip hop dance incorporates elements of street dance, breakdancing, popping, locking, and freestyle movements. In hip hop classes, students learn a variety of foundational steps, grooves, and techniques that are characteristic of the style. These may include body isolations, footwork, slides, freezes, and various rhythmic patterns. Students also explore different styles within hip hop, such as old school, new school, and contemporary hip hop. Hip hop classes foster creativity and encourage individuality, allowing students to express their personal style and interpretation of the music. They often incorporate freestyle sessions where students can improvise and develop their own movements and combinations.

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is a training method developed by Marie Walton-Mahon that focuses on enhancing a dancer’s strength, alignment, and muscle memory. It utilizes specific exercises and equipment to target the muscles used in ballet technique, helping dancers achieve greater precision, control, and stability in their movements. PBT utilizes various tools such as stability balls, resistance bands, Pilates balls, and balance boards to provide added support, resistance, and feedback during training. These tools help dancers develop a deeper understanding of their body alignment and engage the correct muscles for proper technique. The method emphasizes core stability, alignment, and muscle control, which are crucial aspects of ballet. Through a series of exercises, PBT aims to strengthen the core muscles, improve turnout, increase flexibility, and enhance balance and coordination.

Open ballet classes provide a non-competitive and encouraging environment, where participants can focus on their individual technique and enjoyment of ballet. They offer an opportunity to improve physical fitness, posture, coordination, and grace while fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty and discipline of ballet.

In the more advanced levels open ballet classes will be required in order to be considered for a ballet examination or ballet solo choreography.

Acrobatic Arts is a comprehensive training program that combines classical dance technique with acrobatic elements. It aims to develop strength, flexibility, balance, and control in dancers while incorporating acrobatic skills seamlessly into dance routines. Acrobatic Arts classes focus on teaching safe and progressive acrobatic skills, tailored to the abilities and age of each student. Dancers learn a variety of skills such as cartwheels, handstands, backbends, aerials, and more. These skills are then integrated into choreographed routines, blending dance movements with acrobatic elements. The program emphasizes proper technique, body alignment, and injury prevention. It uses conditioning exercises and drills to help dancers develop the necessary strength and flexibility to execute acrobatic movements safely and effectively.

Acrobatic Arts contortion and flexibility training focuses on developing exceptional flexibility, strength, and control in dancers, allowing them to achieve impressive contortion poses and movements. It combines elements of gymnastics, dance, and specialized contortion techniques to enhance the dancer’s range of motion and ability to execute extreme and challenging positions. Contortion training within Acrobatic Arts emphasizes safe and progressive methods, ensuring that dancers gradually and safely develop their flexibility and contortion skills. This includes a combination of targeted stretching exercises, conditioning drills, and gradual progression of contortion poses.