Southern Performing Arts Academy

Our Step Aerobics is a fun and high energy class that will get you moving and dancing. This class is a high-intensity cardio exercise that combines both dance and a stationary step to give you a great and fun workout.

A combination class of ballet and tap is offered for students ages three through six. Basic ballet and tap terminology, rhythms, gross motor skills and muscle awareness are taught through the use of children’s song and dance routines. Youngsters benefit from this overall learning experience while preparing to advance to the next level of dance.

Modern Dance was born in the early 20th century from the rebellion of dancers against traditional structured technique. Modern dance is a style of dance that is centered more around the dancer’s own interpretations of the music instead of using traditional technique. When you are in a modern dance class you are encouraged to dance through your own emotions and moods to create the movement. It is typical to see a modern dancer create their own step when dancing to a particular piece of music, if any(music), instead of being limited to a more structured technique. Modern dance has a technique that is based on weight, strength control, breathing, balance and movement, and contractions and release.

Hip-hop is a form of expression; hip-hop allows you to create intricate movements to music that portray how you are feeling in that particular moment. Hip-hop has many different styles which allows the teacher to express their own individuality during their classes. Hip-hop includes styles such as breaking, popping, locking, krumping, as well as freestyle movement to give students the opportunity to develop their own style. You will see hip-hop in music videos, commercials, and throughout the entertainment industry. Our teachers provide high energy classes that focuses on using different styles of music whether it is fast or slow, old school or new. Students will learn some of the latest steps and choreography, which will allow them to put their own personality and attitude with the instructor’s combination. The more comfortable the student becomes they will begin to hit the accents in the music and make the combo come alive with their musicality and attitude.

Tap is an art form in itself that teaches rhythm, timing, and balance using the dancer’s feet. Tap dancers learn how to use their feet like a drum to create rhythmic patterns and sounds. Tap, like hip- hop has many different styles but a lot of times you can categorize it into a couple of different styles. Broadway style is a lot more “showy” because you will use your arms and upper bodies as well as your feet to blend it in with the tap routine. The other style is called rhythm tap. Rhythm tap is based more on the rhythms that you are making with your feet than on using your arms and upper body. A lot of times rhythm tap dancers are considered “hoofers.” A “hoofer” tries to use every part of the tap shoe to create as many different and unique sounds with their feet as they can think of. Tap is a terrific way to enhance one’s coordination and rhythm. Tap dance is a particular dynamic art form where dancers continually to mold and shape it.

Jazz is a popular form of dance used in the different performance industries such as musical theatre, concert work, and the commercial industry. Students are introduced to specific jazz techniques throughout the year using specific warm-ups, center exercises, progressions, turns and combinations. Musicality, rhythm, and performance skills are stressed through a series of dance combinations using different genres of music such as classic oldies, hip hop, and pop culture music.

Celebrated for its’ beauty, Ballet is the traditional form of dance that evolved from the court dances King Louis XIV in the 1600’s. The word ballet is French but comes from the Italian word ballare, which means, “to dance.” Over time it has been refined to the skilled and artistic vision we see today. We recommend all of our students to study Ballet. A sound ballet technique provides an easy transition into other forms of dance. Ballet trains the body carefully, developing strength, control, coordination and line.

Yoga Trapeze inversions counteract gravity, creating space and length in the spine through simple, gentle, bodyweight traction. Trapeze work also includes functional pulling and grip strength often missing in a mat-based yoga practice to create a full-body fitness routine. Silks: Discover the artistry of aerial movement in our Silks class, designed for anyone seeking to build overall strength and body awareness. This dynamic class introduces the foundational practices of aerial dance, focusing on technique and vocabulary as the class progresses through movement each week! Participants will spend ample time exploring inverted positions, enhancing their aerial skills and confidence in a supportive environment.

Celebrated for its’ beauty, Ballet is the traditional form of dance that evolved from the court dances King Louis XIV in the 1600’s. The word ballet is French but comes from the Italian word ballare, which means, “to dance.” Over time it has been refined to the skilled and artistic vision we see today. We recommend all of our students to study Ballet. A sound ballet technique provides an easy transition into other forms of dance. Ballet trains the body carefully, developing strength, control, coordination and line.

Hip-hop is a form of expression; hip-hop allows you to create intricate movements to music that portray how you are feeling in that particular moment. Hip-hop has many different styles which allows the teacher to express their own individuality during their classes. Hip-hop includes styles such as breaking, popping, locking, krumping, as well as freestyle movement to give students the opportunity to develop their own style. You will see hip-hop in music videos, commercials, and throughout the entertainment industry. Our teachers provide high energy classes that focuses on using different styles of music whether it is fast or slow, old school or new. Students will learn some of the latest steps and choreography, which will allow them to put their own personality and attitude with the instructor’s combination. The more comfortable the student becomes they will begin to hit the accents in the music and make the combo come alive with their musicality and attitude. Hip-hop evolves each and everyday so each combination could be different from day to day, week to week, or class to class.

Adults must have one year of ballet before taking pointe and staff approval. Must also be enrolled in ADULT BALLET THURSDAY. No drop-in’s allowed

Our Bungee Fitness Class is a great way to get moving. Our Bungee class features high intensity interval training, low impact cardio, and plyometric exercises. Improve your agility, increase your speed, strengthen your balance, and have a blast while performing tricks that defy gravity!

Join Southern Ballet Theatre, SPAA's resident non-profit dance company, and some of the best guest teachers around for this intense 4 weeks focusing on all areas of dance!

This hip hop camp is for ages 6-12 years old! Each day dancers will have a hip hop class, snack time and learn choreography. Please bring a snack and water bottle. Dancers may wear comfortable athletic clothes with tennis shoes. There will be a camp presentation at the end of the camp for families to attend! More information will be emailed 1-2 weeks prior to the camp.

This Teen Beginner Dance Camp is for ages 11-17 years old. Each day dancers will have a ballet class, jazz class, snack time and learn choreography. Please bring a snack and water bottle. Dancers may wear a leotard, tights, ballet shoes and jazz shoes. For summer camps only, if you do not have these items, your dancer may wear comfortable clothing with ballet shoes and jazz shoes. There will be a camp presentation at the end of the week for families to attend! More information will be emailed 1-2 weeks prior to the camp.

This Summer Dance Camp is for ages 6-8 years old. Each day dancers will have a ballet class, jazz class, snack time and learn choreography. Please bring a snack and water bottle. Dancers may wear a leotard, tights, ballet shoes and jazz shoes. For summer camps only, if you do not have these items, your dancer may wear comfortable clothing with ballet shoes and jazz shoes. There will be a camp presentation at the end of the week for families to attend! More information will be emailed 1-2 weeks prior to the camp.

During the Princess Camp, the dancers will become a new princess everyday of the week. Each of our princesses will have ballet class, arts/crafts and snack time every day. Please pack a snack and a water bottle. Must be potty trained. Dancers may wear a leotard, tights and ballet shoes with hair in a pony tail. For summer camps only, if you do not have these items, your dancer may wear comfortable clothing with ballet shoes. There will be a camp presentation at the end of the week for families to attend! More information will be emailed 1-2 weeks prior to the camp.

This a beginner tap camp is for ages 6+. Each day dancers will have a tap class, snack time and learn choreography. Please bring a snack and water bottle. Dancers may wear comfortable athletic clothes with tap shoes. There will be a camp presentation at the end of the camp for families to attend! More information will be emailed 1-2 weeks prior to the camp.

Rising Star Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Modern Intensive for ages 8-12. (***Highly recommended for Ballet III, Pre Pointe. Required for SBT Demi-Apprentice dancers). Please bring a snack and water bottle. Dancers need to wear a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes with hair secured in a bun or pony tail. They may pack jazz pants or shorts for jazz, modern and hip hop. Please bring tennis shoes for hip hop. Dancers may also bring jazz shoes if they have them. There will be an intensive presentation at the end of the week for families to attend! More information will be emailed 1-2 weeks prior to the camp.