PROGRAMS

Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop dance refers to dance styles primarily dance to hip-hop music or have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. This includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans. What separates hip-hop dance from other forms of dance is that it is often freestyle (improvisational) in nature and hip-hop dancers frequently engage in battles-formal or informal freestyle dance competitions. Informal; freestyle sessions and battles are usually performed in a cipher, "a circular dance space that forms naturally once the dancing begins. These three elements - freestyling, battles and ciphers - are key components of hip-hop dance. The dance industry in particular responded with a studio based version of hip-hop - sometimes called new style – and jazz funk. These styles were developed by technically trained dancer who wanted to create choreography for hip-hop music from the hip-hop dances they saw being performed on the street. Because of this development, hip-hop dance is now practiced at both studios and outside spaces.

Ballet

Ballet is a highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. It is primarily performed with the accompaniment of classical music. Ballet has been taught in ballet schools around the world, which use their own cultures and societies to inform the art. It is a poised style of dance that incorporates the foundational techniques for many other dance forms. This genre of dance is very hard to master and requires much practice.

Ballet emerged in the late fifteenth-century Renaissance court culture of Italy as a dance interpretation of fencing, and further developed in the French court from the time of Louis XIV in the 17th century. This is reflected in the largely French vocabulary of ballet.

The most well-know styles of ballet are the Russian Method, the Italian Method, the Danish Method, the Balanchine method or New York City ballet method and the Royal Academy of Dance and Royal Ballet School methods, derived from the Cecchetti method, created in England.

Contemporary

Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and body control using abdominal strength from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines or turnout set forth by school of ballet technique. Many of its concepts come from the ideas and innovations of 20th century modern dance, including floor work and turn-in of the legs. this style is generally danced barefoot.

Lyrical

Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet with jazz and contemporary dance techniques. A solid, ballet-based technique is an essential component of this advanced style of dance. Lyrical is based around choreography and the interpretation of the music.

Jazz

Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance - Modern Jazz dance - emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance.

Modern jazz dance continues to be an essential element of musical theatre, and it can often be seen in music videos and competitive dance.

Modern jazz dance is frequently influenced by other dance styles such as acro, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and hip-hop. In turn, many other dance styles are influenced by jazz dance.

As in most forms of dance, technique is the foundation for all modern jazz dance movement. In particular, jazz dancer benefit from a sound working knowledge of ballet technique.

Tap

Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using one's shoes, as well as the floor, as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a musical form as well. Two major variations on tap dance exist, rhythm (Jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the dance side, and is widely performed as a part of musical theatre. Rhythm tap focuses instead on the musical side, and practitioners consider themselves to be a part of the Jazz tradition.

Tap dance has it roots in both Irish step-dancing and black slave dances.

This is the origin of tap and what later evolved to (what most people know as tap now) "show tap" because it uses more arms and tricks and less technique. This form evolved because overall, show tap was thought to be more exciting to watch and became famous when show tap was put on Broadway. Rhythm tap is not well known although the history of it is important to know as rhythm tap is the father of show tap.

Breaking/B-boying

Breaking was crated in the Bronx, New York during the early 1970s. Breaking includes four foundational dances: toprock, footwork oriented steps performed while standing up; down rock, footwork performed on the floor using the hands to support your weight; freezes, stylish poses done on your hands; and power moves, difficult and impressive acrobatic moves.

Acro

Acro dance is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. It is defined by its athletic character, its unique choreography, which seamlessly blend dance and acrobatics. Acro is an especially challenging dance style for dancers as it requires them to be trained in both dance and acrobatic skills.