Williams School of Dance

Our Intro-to-Dance Class for ages 2-3. Borrowing from the foundation set by 1-2-3 Dance With Me and Brain-Compatible Dance Education, Tiny Dancers will be introduced to basic dance through creative movement, musicality, and follow the teacher. This is a short class perfect for the attention span of a new, young dancer. Leotard, tights, and ballet shoes are required for class. Parents are encouraged to let their child dance independently or be near-by in the waiting area or outside. We understand that this is the potty-training age for many. Please be mindful of your child’s bathroom needs and encourage him/her to use the bathroom before class. Teachers cannot change diapers.

Acrobatics is offered for students 1st grade and up, as well as a special Pre-K/Kindergarten class for our beginner students (ages 4-6). It is important to note that Acro is not the same as Gymnastics and there is a need to teach Acro skills differently than Gymnastic skills. Dance training is essential for Acrobatics. This style is performed on a floor with mats and include many strength and flexibility drills to allow our students to perform skills safely and correctly. Flexibility is extremely important for Acrobatics, for example skills include: front & back rolls, hand stands, limber work, chest stands and chest rolls. Students will also practice partner skills, balance skills, and more advanced spotted tumbling skills (when they are ready). This class will perform a routine at recital.

Tap is a form of dance by using the shoe, as well as the floor, as a percussive instrument. Students will learn both rhythm tap (focuses more on music and rhythms) and Broadway tap (focuses more on character and performance), as well as musicality and timing.

Hip Hop is offered for students 1st grade and up. There are many forms of Hip Hop usually mixing multiple studies into different styles. WSD focuses on a mix of Commercial, Rhythmic, and Lyrical Hip Hop along with Break Dancing floor work and stalls. This is what you see in music videos, concerts and shows like So You Think You Can Dance. These styles are diverse and infuse other styles of dance including contemporary, lyrical and jazz. Williams School of Dance is committed to use clean and fun music in this class.

Jazz is offered for students 2nd grade and up. Jazz is a rhythmic and upbeat style of dance. It focuses on isolations of the body, proper alignment, leaps, turns, and rhythmic aspects of dancing. WSD offers range in style of classical jazz, contemporary-jazz, commercial jazz, jazz funk, and lyrical jazz, always using ballet as its foundation. Jazz dance encourages dancers to be versatile in their expressions, being able to portray a wide array of movement styles and emotion.

Williams School of Dance offers ballet classes for students 4th grade and up. At the beginner levels is where we start focusing on the vocabulary, proper placement and body awareness. Intermediate levels are where we begin to incorporate the basic movements and steps into combinations, and developing into stronger dancers. At this level we also focus on dancer health, dance history and beginning choreography. The advanced level of our program is an intense focus on technique, combinations, stamina and strength.

Combination Class is our intro to dance class, offered to three and up (must be potty trained & 3 by September 1st). Class is focused on the basics of dance. Learning rhythm, timing, counting, balance, right/left, and proper tap and ballet technique. Every class starts with a Brain Dance; waking up our bodies and brains! Combo Tap focuses on traditional tap terminology, technique, and a weekly “star” step for children to practice at home. Combo Ballet uses music and play to stretch muscles properly, practice ballet terminology and technique, and encourage a strong foundation for all future dance. Tap and Ballet routines will be performed in our Annual Spring Dance Recital!