Brattleboro School of Dance

Also known as jazz tap, rhythm tap focuses on musicality and is often danced to traditional jazz music. Close attention is given to the tap sounds and how they fit on the musical phrase, with frequent use of syncopation. Choreographic patterns can be complex and tend to incorporate percussive toe and heel drops fairly close to the floor. In this class, attention is also given to tap history and traditional dances and choreography passed down by the tap masters of the past and present.

This class introduces the teen and adult tapper to the basics of rhythm and technique in tap. Students will learn different styles within the genre of tap and will enjoy building on tap combinations that are designed specifically for the levels present in the class, all to fun and funky music. All are welcome as long as you are willing to try something new and have a fun time while you’re at it!

This class introduces the beginning child tapper to the basics of rhythm and technique in tap. Students will learn different styles within the genre of tap through the use of games, fun music, and interesting exercises.

Start where you are and end up a star in your own eyes: Patty Cake leads you on a journey to amplify your confidence, smooth out your sexy skills, and dive into the character of your dreams. Open and accepting of all people. This class series will begin where you are and give you a base, a springboard, for further exploration of burlesque as a dance form, as a character study, as act creation, and as implementation.

This class focuses on Joseph Pilates original methods. These sessions focus on flow and are geared towards giving each participant a true workout. Stressing proper alignment and moving from the center of the body, this class will help students find their core strength, while lengthening and strengthening muscles.

This class offers students the basic building blocks of movement education in a fun, hour long workout set to ever changing music. Proper alignment, balance, flow, use of space, strength, groundedness, rhythm, and carriage are learned and practiced through a combination of dance styles, yoga postures, general exercise, floor work, improvisation and breathwork. This eclectic class embraces both the relaxing and energizing aspects of movement and imagery. Mats are provided but you may bring your own if you prefer. Students may choose footwear options to maximize comfort. A jazz sneaker, socks, ballet shoe or the equivalent, and bare feet are all fine. Some students will find they need more than one of these options in each class as you move through different movement modalities. All levels welcome. Come join!

These classes are designed to help the young student (age 3-6 in September) explore and expand large motor movements. Students learn flexibility exercises and beginning concepts of music with emphasis on creative movement and imagination.

For walking toddlers and their parents, this is a class where both generations can experience the joys of movement in a safe, fun, and creative environment. We will play games, dance with props, stretch our bodies, play with parent-child partner balances, and create imaginary worlds where we can explore all the different ways our bodies can move! Dancers should come with comfortable clothing and bare feet.

Dunham Technique is a vibrant fusion of Haitian dance, jazz, modern and ballet. This class will introduce the fundamentals of the technique, created by dance pioneer Katherine Dunham. Dancers will be empowered by a philosophy that encourages accessing self-knowledge through dance. We begin with a yoga warm up and core conditioning, followed by center floor, barre, and progressions. The focus will be on the joy of dancing, alignment, strength, flexibility, energy, rhythm and moving as a collective.

Over the course of the semester, students will learn a variety of maneuvers into, out of, across, and around the floor using different targeted tasks and exercises, eventually combining these to develop longer movement sequences. An emphasis will be placed on cultivating and improving the ability to move smoothly between different and unexpected areas of the body, including hands, knees, shoulders, forearms and feet, and balancing moments of surrender and support. Students will learn to navigate shifting levels while staying grounded and accomplishing weight shifts in a safe and energy-efficient manner. Some movement experience is preferred, but this class is suitable for teens and adults of all ages and movement backgrounds.

This class draws on some of the basic tenets of modern dance: weight, momentum, fall and recovery, direction changes, and expression. We will incorporate combinations that build throughout the weeks, to challenge dancers to pick up choreography with confidence.

These classes introduce the student gradually to the important elements and new strength needed to do pointe work. Variations from classical ballet are often used to enhance the student’s strength and grace in higher levels. Prerequisite: instructor approval.

Pre-Pointe is the first class students will take when they are approved by the instructor to begin pointe. This class focuses on developing the very specific and important muscles needed to support dancers in their future years of dancing en pointe. Students will learn stretching and strengthening sequences, sewing techniques, and will begin simple exercises en pointe at the barre. Students must be enrolled in at least two ballet classes in order to do pointe. Prerequisite: instructor approval.

Each of these classes expands the dancer’s knowledge of ballet steps by developing longer combinations that require more strength and coordination.

This class always begins with delicious cups of coffee, and is for dancers of all levels and ages and is meant to both challenge and uplift in a gentle and supportive environment. The class moves at a slower pace to provide dancers the chance to find the organic beauty of dance.

For the adult or teen who has a basic understanding of Ballet technique, or for the dancer who wants to get back to basics. Building on the positions and concepts taught in Beginning Ballet, this class will string together slightly more complex combinations that will encourage further development of coordination, musicality, and dynamic artistry.

For the adult or teen who has no previous experience with ballet. This class is taught with a focus on inclusivity, where all shapes, sizes, and genders are welcome to come explore this beautiful art form! Bring your friends, bring your husbands and wives – all are welcome!

Ballet I-IV classes take the student through a careful syllabus of ballet steps starting with simple barre exercises and progressing to intermediate work. Students in the first and second year of ballet also explore modern dance and improvisation.

For the young dancer (age 5-6) who is ready to graduate from Creative Dance and learn the foundations of ballet. We will focus on learning the basic ballet positions of the arms, legs, feet, and head, as well as correct placement through stretching and strengthening. Each week, we will learn music and steps from a different classic or romantic ballet. Musicality and artistic expression will be emphasized throughout.

We will begin the day with an hour-long improv-based warm up where students will explore different ways of moving and expand their physical limits.

This variation is from the ballet Don Quixote. It is a graceful and elegant variation, requiring strength and balance. Dulcinea is a beautiful and perfect vision that appears to Don Quixote, turning his heart away from Kitri.

This variation is from the ballet La Bayadere. It is an energetic and joyful variation with lots of grande allegro . It is danced before Gamzatti’s wedding in Act II of La Bayadere.

If you are curious about improvisation, honing your creative voice, and expanding your choreographic “tool belt”, this class is perfect for you! This will be a movement (80%) class with dialogue (20%). Class will present improvisation practices that were developed during the post-modern dance era (1950-1990). Historical connections to modernism, progressivism, surrealism, beat and funk will further contextualize this tremendously fertile ground out of which emerged the dance, music and art of our own time.

This variation is from the ballet Coppelia. It is a lively variation danced with a Spanish fan. It includes quick jumps, turns, and Spanish flair. The Spanish Doll is one of the many dolls accidentally set in motion by Swanhilda after she sneaks into Dr. Coppelius’ shop in search of Coppelia.

Join us for this annual event that brings our dance community together in remembrance of Colleen and celebration of dance. This is a time for BSD alum and the dance community at large to memorialize Colleen’s spirit with one of her favorite things in life – Ballet. Join in the class, taught by our beloved Carrie, or observe from a chair, or start at the barre and wind up in a chair…all are welcome.

Igor Gayenko is originally from Ukraine where he started international Ballroom and Latin training at the age of 5. It wasn’t too long before he became a successful competitor around the world, becoming a 3 times junior Blackpool finalist and United States youth National bronze medalist. Ana Milan is originally from Cuba and has been dancing since the age of 5. Ana dance journey started from Danzon and Mambo at a very early age. Her background extends to styles such as international Latin, Salsa, Bachata and international Ballroom.

This workshop is meant for dancers of all ages and levels to explore and expand their creative voices. We will begin every day with guided improvisation and a modern dance class. We will learn about different choreographers and their approaches to creating, and we will develop a “choreographic tool belt” that helps us to be effectively inventive and articulate in our work.

Los Little Guys is a physical dance theatre collaboration initiated in 2017 by Erik Elizondo and Dimitri Kalaitzidis after studying at the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria. In this workshop, Los Little Guys will focus on components of physical research through the study of improvisation, floor techniques, and structured material in order to discover the complexities and range of our movement potential.

We invite you to join us for a 3-day contemporary dance creation workshop for dancers age 9 and up. Each day will be structured as follows: We will begin the day with an hour-long improv-based warm up where students will explore different ways of moving and expand their physical limits. The second hour will consist of a choreography and composition class where dancers learn choreographic tools and methods.