Dansville Dance Academy

Interpretive dance that embraces innovation, blending techniques from various genres, including classical ballet, jazz, modern dance, and lyrical dance; focuses more on floor work over leg work and pointe, isn’t restricted by the rules that govern traditional dance forms. Instead, it relies on improvisation and versatility and is characterized by freedom of movement and fluidity.

The phenomenon known as the “hip hop culture” was identified in the early 1980’s when DJ Afrika Bambaataa named the dynamic urban movement “hip hop”. Some movements associated with hip hop are popping, locking, bounce walk, robot, slow motion, sliding, among many others.

This expressive form uses an applied technique that borrows from the techniques of ballet, jazz, modern, and fuses other world dance forms. The quality of movement is closely connected with the quality of the music and the interpretation of the lyrics. This dance form possesses a fluid quality, but also uses the dynamics and accents of the music to convey the emotions of the song and communicate the story to the audience.

Style of American theatrical dance, distinguished by percussive footwork, that marks out precise rhythmic patterns on the floor. The sources of tap dancing include Irish and African Dance Movements.

Broad term for American social and stage dance employing jazz or jazz-influenced music. It emphasizes body line and flexibility, fast, accurate footwork and exaggerated movements of individual body parts known as isolations.

Form of theatrical dance that began to evolve in Western Europe during the Renaissance. Ballet technique consists of stylized movements and positions that have been elaborated and codified over the centuries into a well-defined, though flexible, system called academic ballet. Ballet dance is usually accompanied by music, scenery and costumes. Because the steps were first named and codified in France, French is the international language of Ballet.

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