Acro Tots
Fridays 4:30pm - 5:15pm
Ages 3-5 yrs. This Program is for the Young Acro student learning the fundamentals and beginnings of Acro Dance. Strength and stretch along with repetitive instruction is taught in a safe and fun environment.
Tiny Tot 3 Years
Saturdays 10:00am - 10:30am
Classes in the Tiny Tot Program are grouped into age-specific levels. These classes meet once a week and last 30-45 minutes, depending on age. Class structure for all levels is essentially the same, with the content based on appropriate developmental skills for the specific age. Each class begins with a brief sharing of time. Each student will have his or her own “House” (name tag on floor). Class continues with a center warm-up that includes all the major muscle groups and is the basis for barre work taught in ballet classes at a later date. From this, students learn correct posture and the placement of the body over the legs. (this is very important for both dancers and non-dancers!) The exercises in this section also teach balance, Port de bras (arm movement), and include various types of jumps that are building blocks for the allegro (jumping steps) of dance. Following the center warm-up comes stretching. These gentle exercises progress in difficulty as students gain flexibility over the years.
The next section of the class is based on different monthly objectives geared to the age of the students. Concepts such as classroom etiquette, musical awareness, dance relationships to others, relationships to the working space and stage, expressing emotions through movement, and pantomime are explored during the year. The fourth section of the class develops loco motor skills that form the basis for all dance steps that travel. Students are given a series of technical steps, which are to be executed moving across the floor. These steps are repeated throughout the year for the student to gain expertise.
During the later months in the dance year we begin choreography. Each class is given a combination to execute for the Year-End Show. Each class we will review the dance and help the students become familiar with the steps.
Three year olds are quite new to learning how their bodies move, as well as how to behave in a classroom. Children in this program are gently introduced to the classroom environment. Because this age child loves and needs repetition, the same class is repeated several times before being changed. Some of the concepts taught are the stretching of the feet, balancing, weight transfers, jumping, simple arm movements, stretching, and moving across the floor.
