Northern Michigan Dance Academy

Ballet Barre fuses Pilates, yoga and resistance training with ballet barre work and dance; appropriate for all ability levels. Uses inspiring music and various props, keeping the workout fun, motivating, and continuously moving.

Dancers will develop their classical ballet skills in a required two classes per week for one and a half hours each class. Demi III ballet training includes more challenging combinations emphasizing flexibility, precision, and attention to detail, musicality, increased artistry, and correct classical technique. As dancers develop finesse in incorporating multiple facets of their training, the difficulty increases.

It is often the dream of young girls to dance en pointe. It is truly an exciting time when this training begins, but it must be looked upon as a serious endeavor. Dancers will progress through a series of levels where they initially learn how to execute proper pointe work at the barre, with simple exercises in the centre. As they progress in their training, they will be promoted to more difficult exercises and choreography when teachers deem they are ready. In Grande, dancers will develop their classical ballet skills in a required two classes per week. Grande ballet training includes more challenging combinations emphasizing flexibility, precision, and attention to detail, musicality, increased artistry, and correct classical technique. As dancers develop finesse in incorporating multiple facets of their training, the difficulty increases. Grande dancers focus on pointe work and learn to appreciate the many styles of ballet enhancing their knowledge of the art.

Dancers will develop their classical ballet skills in a required two classes per week for one hour and 15 minutes each class. Demi IV ballet training includes more challenging combinations emphasizing flexibility, precision, and attention to detail, musicality, increased artistry, and correct classical technique. As dancers develop finesse in incorporating multiple facets of their training, the difficulty increases. Demi IV dancers are preparing for pointe shoes.

Barre Intensity combines Pilates, dance and functional fitness training. We incorporate small isolated movement to fatigue the muscles, large range motion to elevate the heart rate, and sequencing that incorporates upper and lower body to make every minute count.

As dancer’s bodies and physical body awareness mature, they begin to build upon their basic ballet curriculum in Demi II. Demi II focuses on perfecting fundamental skills and enhancing their ballet muscle memory and strength in preparation for pointe shoes someday. Dancers at this stage are able to deepen the sophistication of their dancing with more challenging class combinations and stage choreography. This class meets one day per week, one and fifteen minutes each class.

The goal of all Petite classes is body and simple muscle awareness, posture, strengthening of locomotive skills, musical awareness and learning very basic ballet technique and terminology all done in a fun, supportive, and creative way. Ballet class discipline and tradition is an important part of this program. This includes classroom etiquette, attire, hair, and preparation and finish of exercises.

The goal of all Petite classes is body and simple muscle awareness, posture, strengthening of locomotive skills, musical awareness and learning very basic ballet technique and terminology all done in a fun, supportive, and creative way. Ballet class discipline and tradition is an important part of this program. This includes classroom etiquette, attire, hair, and preparation and finish of exercises.

Demi I develop their classical ballet skills building upon fundamental skills learned in Petite. Demi I dancers learn to count music, develop skills through basic ballet barre and center exercises and expand their French ballet terminology. This class meets one day per week, forty-five minutes each class.

Creative movement is movement that reflects the inner state of a child and encourages them to act on what they are learning and express their individuality, while learning the basic elements of dance. This program is based on creativity, musicality, imagination, and basic dance elements. This level helps children develop body control, learn how to respond to music and rhythm, and gives them a different way of expressing themselves. Children gain coordination and balance through varied movements. By listening to the music and learning how to move in time with the beat children begin to hone their senses and learn how their bodies can work in harmony with the stimuli around them more finely.

As dancer’s bodies and physical body awareness mature, they begin to build upon their basic ballet curriculum in Demi II. Demi II focuses on perfecting fundamental skills and enhancing their ballet muscle memory and strength in preparation for pointe shoes someday. Dancers at this stage are able to deepen the sophistication of their dancing with more challenging class combinations and stage choreography. This class meets one day per week, one and fifteen minutes each class.