Marin Dance Theatre, Corte Madera Studio

Our Young Dancer Year-End Demonstration is for our tiniest dancers. This year-end performance is their first introduction to getting up on stage in front of an audience. We intentionally hold this in our cozy auditorium on the St. Vincent's campus, with sunlight beaming in and lights on both the performers and the audience, so that the little ones can see their parents.

Summer Showcase is our summer performance opportunity for MDT students. Open to every student that participates in our Summer Intensive program, Summer Showcase is a less formal venue used to showcase and demonstrate a variety of repertories studied during the intensive. Variations, character, contemporary and classical pieces are usually part of this demonstration.

Springfest is a performance venue that MDT provides to its students in their dance education. Performed in a professional theater setting, Springfest brings together the training and dance styles in their curriculum and allows them to strengthen, enhance and enjoy dance in bigger and broader ways. Audiences will experience classical works, contemporary and musical theater pieces as well.

Sophie and Enchanted Toyshop is our holiday ballet filled with color, energetic dance and magic. Created by MDT Artistic Director, Lynn Cox, this performance has been an audience favorite for over 25 years. With a wide variety of roles for dancers of all ages and abilities, Sophie and the Enchanted Toyshop weaves music and choreography to a sweet story of generosity and dreams.

For elite level dancers, injuries are often part of the journey. Having a full Pilates program at MDT means a dancer can continue training and working on individual rehabilitation even when they are not dancing. The value of this is not only continued conditioning but retraining of the technique to avoid further re-injury when returning to dance.

The rigors of classical ballet training are both unique and physically demanding. While supporting better ballet technique, the program also helps to prevent injury. We address concerns on a weekly basis and offer preventative measures to avoid injury. As a part of this monitoring, we are aware of when to refer students to a physical therapist or sports medicine physician as appropriate.

All bodies are different and what is easy for some may be difficult for others. The program is focused on the needs of the individual dancer in regards to their unique physical attributes. We aim to address these differences to support each dancer on their journey and to achieve the best technique available to them.

Classical Ballet is a unique art form that requires a very specific technique to achieve the level expected at each stage of development. The Pilates program at MDT strives to support attainment of this technique by targeting the key muscle groups required to achieve it.

The Pilates program at MDT is founded firmly in the structure and principals of Pilates but offers a full dance conditioning program which aims to support the dancer by strengthening the body in a way that enhances Classical Ballet Technique and avoids injury. MDT has a fully equipped Pilates studio with Reformers, Trapezius Table, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel and other small apparatus.

This program requires 5 days per week and includes Technique, Pointe, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Pilates Mat and Pilates Sessions.

This program requires 4 days per week and includes Technique, Musical Theater, Specialty, Pilates Mat and Pilates Sessions.

This program requires 3 days per week and includes Technique, Character, Pilates Mat, Pilates Sessions and Pre-Pointe.

Our young Junior levels are constructed to facilitate a love for dance while incorporating discipline, technique, and inspiration. Focus is essential to establishing a strong and healthy foundation for future ballet technique and training.

MDT has a thriving Open Division offering morning and evening classes for adults and teens with various levels of experience in dance. We provide an atmosphere of wonderful energy and connection, and one that is inspiring to all ages. Students can choose the class or classes that best fit with their schedule.

At the Elementary 2 level, specialty classes are added to the curriculum and foster a love for dance alongside developing musicality, coordination, and creativity through introductions to other dance styles.

Our upper Junior levels will continue a well-established training regimen and begin the exciting transition to dancing on pointe. Pre-pointe and pilates strengthening is an essential component to further their success in classical dance education.

This may include Musical Theater, Contemporary, or Character.

This program requires 5 days per week with 13 required classes. Classes include Technique, Pointe, Contemporary, Character, Pilates Mat, Small Group Coaching and optional Pilates Sessions. Classes meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday.

This program requires 5 days per week with 12 required classes. Classes include Technique, Pointe, Contemporary, Character, Pilates Mat and optional Pilates Sessions. Classes meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday.

Experience the joy of dance and movement through MDT's Adaptive Dance Program, designed for students and individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other sensory sensitivities or disabilities.

Our Introduction to Ballet classes for children ages 3-4 years provide a gentle introduction to the independence of a class setting alongside an exploration of movement through rhythms, music, and creativity. Our consistent class structure includes stretching, activities to develop coordination and musicality, across the floor work, and creative expression.

Grown-Up & Me classes provide a nurturing introduction to the art of dance and are designed to establish a development of trust in the environment and a foundation in autonomy and joy in movement. Children ages 18-36 months will explore movement through rhythms, music, and creativity of dance, together with their grown-ups. Classes are taught by MDT faculty specializing in early childhood education.

Our Early Introduction to Ballet classes provide a gentle transition from Grown-Up & Me to our Introduction to Ballet classes for our youngest dancers. Class is designed to establish a development of trust in the environment and a foundation in autonomy and joy in movement. Children ages 2-3 years will explore movement through rhythms, music, and creativity of dance, independent from their grown-ups. Classes are taught by MDT Faculty specializing in early childhood education.

Focus is essential to establishing a strong and healthy foundation for future ballet technique and training. Correct body placement, enhanced technical skills and vocabulary progression are all further developed in these levels.

Pre-Ballet level classes provide an encouraging class setting for children ages 5-6 years to discover the joy of dance through rhythmic and spatial patterns, music, and creativity. The Pre-Ballet program includes stretching, introductions to basic technical steps, activities to develop coordination and musicality, across the floor work, and creative expression in movement.

At the elementary levels, students begin to connect a creative foundation of movement to the more technically focused elementary class work while developing initiative and passion for the art of ballet through classical training. Classes focus on joy of movement as well as technique and correct body placement, incorporating more technical work at the barre, and introducing the classical structure of a ballet class in an encouraging and inspiring environment.

MDT's Ballet Foundations class is a beginning ballet class design for students 9 years and older with no previous experience requirements. Ballet Foundations provides a foundation for classical ballet training while incorporating discipline, technique, and inspiration. Correct body placement, development of technical skills and vocabulary progression are developed in this level. In addition to ballet technique classes, the Ballet Foundations curriculum includes a stretch and strength class as an introduction to our Pilates strengthening program.

This program requires 4 days per week and includes Technique, Pointe, Musical Theater, Contemporary, Character, Pilates Mat and Pilates Sessions.