Warner Mountain Dance Center

Improvisation is for students of all ages who are curious to explore dance further than learning techniques. During the class the students are given leads by the instructor (rhythms, verbs, adjectives, and other cues) to help the students create movement, expanding beyond the basics. The goal of improvisation is to assists the students understanding of the choreographic process: how a choreographer develops choreography. As well as developing a creative mind.

Lyrical is used as a translation of emotion into movement. Lyrical is fluid and utilizes aspects of ballet, jazz, and contemporary. Class is given at center. Dancers are challenged to find meaning behind the music and connect that to the choreography. Dancers are taught to use smooth transitions between movements and incorporate breath into their dance. The technique is a combination of ballet and contemporary so fundamentals in strength and alignment are taught to prevent injuries.

As an ever changing art form, jazz encompasses many forms of technique from contemporary to musical theatre. The entire class is given at center. The technique focused on developing a dancers sense of isolating the body and portraying characters. Classes seek to develop flexibility, strength, and the turns and leaps of jazz technique. The technique had the dancer turning in the limbs of the body versus ballet’s turning out. Jazz is specifically used to teach personal expression and help dancers find their personal style and voice as well as body control and awareness. These topics relate to body image, self esteem, respect, courage, and team work.

Contemporary dance is a combination of developing strong technical ability and an exploration of movement. The technique taught at Warner Mountain Dance Center is a combination of Martha Graham (Contract and Release), Doris Humphrey (Fall and Recovery), and Lester Horton (Strong center and asymmetrical movements of limbs). The class is given at center. The focus of contemporary classes is to develop the strength of a dancer, carriage of the body, and spacial awareness. Instead of classical music to direct the class, contemporary allows the use of new age music. Contemporary helps dancers explore new ways to move the body and expands technical foundation that provides a basis for all forms of dance. *Dancers must have completed a minimum two years of ballet, and approved by the studio owner prior to enrollment in a contemporary class.

Pre-Pointe is designed for students whom are seeking to advanced to Pointe work. Pre-pointe takes dancers back to the very basics of ballet, but significantly intensifies them. In order to adequately develop the muscles in the lower half of the body and particularly the feet and toe muscles. Pre-Pointe is an invitation only class for dancers whom have expressed interest in progressing to Pointe and have come to the appropriate age (11). Some of the requirements for younger dancers 10-11, is getting an X-Ray to ensure certain parts of the foot are strong enough to withstand the training of Pointe. It is a preliminary class with students earning Pointe shoes 6 or 12 months after enrollment depending on the growth and development as individuals and as a class.

The classical ballet technique taught at Warner Mountain Dance Center derives from a combination of Russian and French styles. The focus is on body alignment, proper placement, and posture. Barre is given at the beginning of class to warm up the body, develop strength, gain flexibility, and learn the fundamentals of ballet technique. Following barre is center work where combinations are given to teach musicality, rhythm, coordination, core strength, and the movement associated with ballet. Ballet provides a strong technical foundation that provides a basis for all forms of dance and conditions for injury prevention. Ballet is encouraged for all dancers, as well as athletes, wishing to gain better body control, alignment, and strength. Beyond the monthly physical developments, ballet teaches discipline, self control, respect, and self awareness.

Acrobatics is a more advanced version of tumbling. Dancers are taught Primary - Level 6 of the Acrobatic Arts Training program. Dancer's accomplishments in this program is based on their work ethic in class. As dancers must be at least 9 to attend this course, it is required that dancers also attend 1 additional hour of dance classes - in accordance with the Acrobatic Arts "Age and Training Estimates." Acrobatics takes an enormous amount of discipline. It is recommended that these students remain patient with themselves as they follow the detailed course outline. *Please do not expect students to pass more than two levels in a given year, and for those in the higher levels that it may take the full year to pass the exam.

The tumbling class is designed to prepare students for acrobatic training. This is accomplished by teaching proper technique through appropriate strength and flexibility exercises. Dancers are taught Primary - Level 2 Acrobatic Arts Training by a certified teacher. Tumbling students are required to have been enrolled in the WMDC for a year, or be enrolled in an additional class - if it is their first year. The WMDC is not a training facility for gymnastics. Tumbling is to be viewed as a supplementary course to their dance education.

The class will explore movement through music, stimulate students' imagination and promote creativity. Unlike pre-ballet where students are given the basics of ballet vocabulary. Creative Movement introduces students to the basics of Contemporary, Jazz, and Improvisation. The purpose of this class is to get children moving and sparks innovative thinking. It will also give them an understanding of the classroom community, improve social skills and develop fine motor skills all while having fun!

These classes will introduce younger students (ages 3-5) to basic ballet vocabulary and technique in a structured yet fun setting. Simple coordination, musicality, rhythm and concentration will be emphasized. Students are encouraged to explore space and enjoy dancing. It will also give them an understanding of the classroom community, improve social skills, and develop fine motor skills.

Mommy and Me is a class designed to create cooperative learning with parent and student. This class is designed to be an introductory course to the older Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement Classes (and eventually the plethora of 6 and up classes). Students will learn basic movement and motor skills as well as learning to follow directions and work cooperatively with the teacher and other students. It is a great place for students and parents to come together and learn dance.