Classes

Chester Valley Dance Academy offers classes in the following styles of dance; Ballet, Contemporary & Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Irish Step, Pre-School dance classes, and Adult Fitness classes. All students are placed according to ability, age and training. Promotion is considered on individual achievements. These descriptions are to be used as a guide for the placement of students in classes. Exceptions and changes may be made as the director or instructors deem appropriate.

Pre-School Classes are designed to introduce students to the art of dance. These classes enhance a student’s creative ability, attention span, physical mobility and musical comprehension. Students also learn classroom etiquette, cooperation skills, and memorization. The class length is forty-five minutes long with an emphasis on ballet and an incorporation of tap. Please see our Combo Class Page for the  Combo Class Schedule and information on the end of year performance.  

Ballet is fundamental to the education of any dancer. Using exercises at the barre as well as center combinations that are both adagio and allegro, students learn the classical art of ballet under various Russian methods. While learning technique, students build proper posture, carriage, and, perhaps most importantly, self-confidence. Classes are offered for all ages and a student’s level is determined by the teacher based on a student’s individual ability. Ballet classes also improve a student’s ability and performance in all other forms of dance.

Pointe Classes & Pointe Policy

The time a ballet student advances to Pointe is determined by the Instructor and the Director and is based on a student’s individual strength and ability. Students must take a minimum of two ballet classes to be considered for Pointe.

 

Jazz is a form of dance that is most prominently seen on Broadway, television and the movies. Each class consists of stretches, warm-ups, isolations, center work, turns and jumps. In all exercises, students develop muscle strength, flexibility, and discipline. In addition to learning technique, students also learn dance combinations to the most popular music. Classes are either 45 minutes or an hour, depending on the student’s level.

Hip Hop is based on street dancing and African dance and gives students an aerobic workout that is both fun and invigorating. Students learn rhythm, coordination, isolations and techniques such as popping, locking, and braking.

Modern dance explores movement, space, rhythm and a dancer’s creativity. Students start out learning basic technique and improvisation. As they continue, students receive more intense instruction in Graham, Limon and Horton techniques. Some modern classes focus heavily on Lyrical dancing. Lyrical dance is essentially a dance of emotion. It combines the grace of ballet with the fluidity of modern and the classic stylization of Jazz to create a form of dance that allows students to express emotion through movement of the body.

The Academy offers two types of tap: Broadway and rhythm. Students start with Broadway tap to learn technique, speed, clarity of sounds, tempo, combinations and the basic moves of tap such as standard time steps, clogs, shuffles, flaps, etc. Once students advance, they may take rhythm tap. Rhythm tap utilizes more intricate movements to create a polyrhythm of sounds. (For example, rhythm tap is “Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk”; Broadway tap is “Singin’ in the Rain.)

Sometimes referred to as “Irish Dance”, is a type of recreational and competitive folk dance that has been recently popularized by the world-famous “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance”. As the name suggests, the dance form has its roots in Ireland. When performed as a solo dance, it is generally characterized by a stiff upper body and the quick and precise movements of the feet. As a dance form, Irish dance has very precise rules about what one may and may not do when, but within these rules there is almost infinite room for variety and innovation. Thus, Irish step Dance is a vibrant and constantly evolving art form.

Calling all teenagers looking to try something new this year!  Our Teen classes are perfect for students who are looking to have some fun while being physically active.  We offer hip hop, jazz, ballet, tap, and musical theater for teenagers who are looking to explore dance for the first time.  Find a friend and register for a dance class this school year!

 

Join us for Yoga at CVDA! No membership or registration fee!  Call our office for more information 610-594-2771!