ABOUT CLASSES
Compass Dance Academy is a dance studio training dancers of all ages in a joyous atmosphere with a variety of styles including Creative Movement, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, and Musical Theater. We are thrilled to offer a variety of classes for every age and skill level!
CREATIVE MOVEMENT & TAP
3 Year Olds: Creative Movement
4-5 Year Olds: Creative Movement/Tap
Creative Movement classes combine stories and music to help students develop motor skills, rhythm, flexibility, coordination, and confidence. Students will be introduced to beginning ballet steps, terminology, and the basics of dance in a joyous atmosphere. Perfect for little ones who are active in body and imagination! Creative Movement classes for 3 year-olds are held for 30 minutes. For ages 4-5, classes are held for 45 minutes and include ballet and tap. Students must be 3 years old by Sept. 1 to sign up for a Creative Movement. To sign up for Creative Movement/Tap class, students MUST be 4 years old by Sept. 1. These age requirements are firm and will provide a learning environment that is developmentally appropriate for all the students.
BALLET/TAP 1
6-8 Year Olds
As our beginning level, Ballet/Tap 1 is designed to establish a basic foundation in ballet and tap. Students develop muscular self-control, basic coordination and expression through beginning ballet and tap steps. Through clear explanations of exercises and introducing ballet and tap vocabulary in a simple, practical way, dancers will begin to build a solid foundation for a lifelong love of dance. Age brackets are designated by each class, so please sign up accordingly. To sign up for a 6-7 year old Ballet/Tap 1, students MUST be 6 years old by Sept. 1 of the current school year. We will be strict on this to ensure a proper learning environment for everyone. Classes meet once a week for 1 hour.
BALLET/TAP 2 AND BALLET/TAP 3
Range of 8-11 Year Olds
Dancers enrolled in Ballet/Tap 2 and Ballet/Tap 3 will grow in their knowledge of proper placement, flexibility, balance, correct alignment, strength, and technique as they build a broader dance vocabulary. Dancers who are 8-11 years of age may also be considered for the level 2 without previous Ballet/Tap 1 experience. Dancers who are 9-11 years old with previous dance experience can be considered for level 3. Each class includes work at the barre to build strength and coordination and is followed by center exercises in ballet and tap. Age brackets are designated by each class, so please sign up accordingly. Classes meet once a week for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
PLACEMENT LEVELS
Range of 8-12 Year Olds
As students progress in maturity of age and technique, the faculty may invite them to participate in our Placement Class for more focused training.
Placement Classes will advance their technique and form through progressing barre and center exercises. Placement levels can begin as early as age 8 and will be evaluated for an appropriate class. Our placement classes include a Daisy Ballet/Tap, Lily Ballet/Tap and Rose Ballet/Tap. Students have been evaluated and invited into these classes.
ADVANCED BALLET
Students in Advanced Ballet must have a minimum of 4 years of dance training and be in the 7th grade or older. Classes will focus on developing a holistic, classical ballet technique with emphasis on understanding correct body placement, proper use of turn-out, and fluid coordination of the upper body through port de bras. We recommend that those in the advanced level take at least three ballet classes per week with one additional class elective. A student evaluation needs to happen before a student can register for this level class.
POINTE
Students that are placed on pointe will have dedicated classes to develop their technique en pointe in addition to ballet class. Placement en pointe is at the discretion of the Compass faculty. Students in the Advanced Ballet level may be considered for pointe if a teacher recommends that the student is equipped technically and physically.
TEENS
Our teen level classes (ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, and tap) are considered beginner/intermediate level and seek to cultivate an encouraging and excellent environment for teenagers who have an interest in cultivating a knowledge of dance. If you have dance experience and are a teenager, please contact us for placement.
CONTEMPORARY
Students enrolled in Contemporary classes will focus on a strong understanding of body placement and fluid execution of movement. An emphasis will be placed on an explanation of terminology, warm-up, isolations, and center work while including turns, jumps, flexibility, and technical execution.
TAP
Ages 4 and up for Tap
Students in tap class will develop a strong understanding of basic tap foundation, terminology, timing, and rhythm. An emphasis will be placed on an explanation of terminology, precise tap sounds, coordination, and technical execution. Tap is included as part of ballet/tap combo classes for students aged 4-11. Tap may not be taken alone when part of a ballet/tap combo class, ballet is required. Age 12 and older, tap is offered for teens and adults as a stand alone class.
MUSICAL THEATER
8 Year Olds & Up
Students in Musical Theater will learn musical theater dance technique and lots of fun choreography. Students will dance to popular songs from different musicals. This class is offered for ages 8 and up, please sign up for the appropriate age bracket. Must be the correct age by Sept. 1.
DANCE AS WORSHIP
Seeks to teach the heart of a true worshipper through dance. With an excellent heart, dancers can participate in God's call upon their lives, whether that be in the professional dance world, personal worship, or overseas in missionary endeavors. Worship dance is always included in the ballet portion of class for Creative Movement and Foundational level students as well as in our contemporary classes.
ADULT
Our adult level classes (ballet, contemporary, and tap) are considered beginner/intermediate level, with the exception of one adult intermediate/advanced ballet class offered for those with previous dance experience. Our classes seek to cultivate an encouraging and excellent environment for those who have an interest in dancing in a safe environment.
PROGRESSING BALLET TECHNIQUE
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative program developed to help ballet students use muscle memory to understand core stability, weight placement, and alignment. PBT uses fusion and exercise balls, which are continually mobile under a student’s body, to give students a sense of posture and weight placement while feeling each correct muscle group. Dancers of all skill levels ages 8 years and up can benefit from this unique approach to ballet training.
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PRIVATE LESSONS
Compass offers private one on one 30 min-hour long lessons for children and adults (8 years an up). Cost varies depending on teacher and genre so those details will need to be discussed while setting an appointment. Usually its a range of $45-$60 per hour. Contact us to learn more and set up a lesson. Teacher availability is usually during the day (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.), but we can seek out other time options as well.