West Coast Dance Complex, Carmel Valley

Pointe work is one of the hallmarks of classical ballet technique, and a milestone for many young dancers. For the health and safety of all students, participation in pointe classes is by promotion only. Generally, dancers are considered candidates for pointe between the ages of 11 and 13. Each year, dancers are evaluated based on age, technical ability, and maturity, among other criteria, to determine whether they are candidates for pointe work. Beginning pointe classes introduce the fundamental techniques for dancing en pointe. As students progress, they begin to incorporate more elements of the classical ballet vocabulary into their pointe work.

Variations classes are an essential aspect of adolescent ballet training. In these classes, students learn solos excerpted from full-length ballets, rehearsing them and receiving coaching on both technical and performance aspects from their teachers. These classes are a great way to learn about the stories and characters of famous classical ballets, and to become part of the tradition of hundreds of thousands of professional dancers who have learned and performed these pieces of choreography for generations.

Tap is one of the oldest forms of dance that uses the shoes and floor as a percussive instrument. It focuses on intricate footwork and musicality. Dancers will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement.

Pre-Pointe classes are designed to prepare young dancers for dancing en pointe, a skill that requires a high degree of strength - especially in the feet and lower legs - a strong understanding of classical ballet technique, and a sophisticated sense of vertical body alignment. In these classes, dancers focus on exercises that build strength and articulation in the feet, ankles, and calves, as well as general body conditioning, balance training, and reinforcement of certain elements of their ballet vocabulary that are essential for safe and beautiful pointe work.

Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is a cross-training program designed specifically to enhance students’ technical awareness and ability. PBT exercises are focused on building muscle memory and strength, as well as increasing body awareness and mental focus. Exercises are ballet-technique specific, and are guided by an instructor certified in the PBT method of training.

Modern is a form of contemporary theatrical and concert dance employing a special technique for developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas. This class will encourage dancers to express their own creativity and grow their movement vocabulary through the use of improvisation.

Our Stretch & Conditioning class is a perfect addition for our dancers training. The stretch portion is designed to help students increase flexibility and the conditioning portion allows dancers the opportunity to strengthen their bodies and core muscles to support their technical and stylistic dance training and prevent injuries after all.

It emphasizes interpretation of music lyrics while telling a story with dynamic movement. It is an extension of ballet that expresses and showcases emotion, while using its creative patterns and timing to stimulate and challenge the dancers. This style is shown through long extending beautiful movements and flexibility.

This is a technique class designed to help dancers in strengthening and improving the skills of different turns and leaps that uses to perform in other style of dances such as Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary. Through this class, dancers will develop greater control, technical understanding and strength to not only help them execute more advanced skills, but to also do them safely.

Emphasis of this style of dance will be placed on learning performance skills such as connecting with the audience and telling a story through dance and facial expressions. Class curriculum is based on Broadway style jazz movement and technique includes stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and combinations. The wonderful thing about musical theatre is that every musical has a different style, a different energy and character that we get to portray through dance. Students will get to explore and learn the history of many musicals through the ages while dancing to famous hits and portraying popular characters.

Emerging in the 1980’s, Jazz Funk is a fusion of Hip Hop styling with classical Jazz technique and has become increasingly popular in the entertainment industry in the recent years. If your dancer love the Pop-Hip styles performed by the latest music artists then you can’t go wrong with enrolling them in this class!

Jazz is an upbeat, sassy style of dance. Isolations of the chest, hips, arms and flexibility are used to cultivate this unique and fun style. It also focuses on leaps, turns, and rhythmic aspects of dancing. In this class, students will work on developing a strong fundamental technique along with flexibility, styling, and a charismatic stage presence.

Hip Hop is a street dance style primarily performed to Hip Hop music or that have evolved as part of Hip Hop culture. It’s a high energy class that teaches rhythm, coordination, athleticism through age-appropriate movements set to fun, upbeat music. Students will be exposed to multiple styles of hip-hop dance. Original choreography will be taught, allowing students to discover their own style in a fun environment. This class is simply great for boys and girls who love to move and who love to have lots of fun!

As the dance world continues to evolve, virtually every classical ballet school and company in the world is moving towards training that includes contemporary work. Contemporary ballet classes incorporate the vocabulary of classical ballet steps and many of the classical techniques, while introducing students to the concepts of individualized movement expression, creative interpretation of choreography, and intuitive movement systems. Students will be encouraged to use their classical technique as a vehicle for creative movement, encouraging them to make choices and grow as performing artists.

Contemporary is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including classical ballet, modern, lyrical, and jazz. Growing over popularity in the last decade, this versatile style of dance gets dancers to think outside of the box and strive to connect their mind and body through fluid dance movements.

A wonderful introductory class for our young dancers. These classes are great for those who are just starting out and want to learn the basics of Ballet, Tap or Jazz. Overall emphasis is on having fun while learning coordination, balance, rhythm, music counting, self-confidence, following directions and many more. It also allows children the opportunity to explore multiple dance styles in one class and help establish a solid foundation for years to come in their dance education. Our young dancers also perform in our annual recital and they always steal the show!

One of the strongest traditions of classical ballet is the use of regional folk dances in ballet performances. Many classical ballets incorporate dances native to Poland, Hungary, the Ukraine, and Russia, among others. Character classes are designed to introduce students to these many regional styles of dance. In these classes, students will strengthen their sense of rhythm, increase their knowledge of European dance styles, and develop a strong bravura performance quality.

Ballet is the foundation of all forms of dance. In a classical ballet technique class, students will be taught a full range of exercises, both at the barre and in the center, that are designed to encourage vertical posture, long lines of the legs and arms, and dexterity of the hands and feet. Students will build body awareness, flexibility, and strength through these classes, as well as building a deep knowledge of the vocabulary of classical ballet steps. These classes are a great way to learn and refine many of the techniques used throughout different genres of dance. Offer in Youth Division, Ballet Academy, and for adult students.

In this class we will focus on giving students all the basic tools they need to dive into the world of acting. From stage, TV, commercial, drama, comedy, auditioning, and improv, our goal will be to understand and apply basic techniques and principles to these forms. Class will be built around finding confidence, ensemble building and having fun with many games, exercises and creative exploration.

This class will focus on fundamental acrobatic technique, teaching various tumbling skills such as aerials, handstands, chin stands, elbow stands, cartwheels, back bends, walkovers, balance and contortion tricks that can all be applied to other dance styles. Students will develop flexibility, agility, balance, strength, and contortionist skills. And needless to say, it’s fun too!