The Level III, IV and V programs at BDT are for the serious student, who has completed the required training in previous levels. All placements in these levels are by teacher recommendation only. Students must maintain a minimum of four classes a week (determined by individual programs). Continued Ballet study is essential to development and maintenance of advanced technique and skills, as well as performance quality.

 Advanced students are encouraged to diversify their dance program within the school, as well as seek enrichment activities outside of the studio. Upper level students are given the opportunity to work at a pre-professional level, whether or not they plan to pursue a professional career in dance. Many students participate in area dance and theatre performances, school musicals and summer dance intensives.

 

Ballet III/IV/V

Designed for: qualified returning students; new students must be skill tested
Class length: 75 minutes
Class description: At this level students learn advanced core and barre work.  A higher level of difficulty is given to combinations in the centre which include turns, jumps, batterie, adagio, petite allégro and grand allégro. Students also learn the essentials of musicality as well as the accenting and contrasting of movement.

 

Pointe (Advanced)

Designed for: qualified returning students at BDT or by permission of the teacher
Class length: 60 minutes
Class description: Wearing pointe shoes is the dream of young Ballet dancers. It is extremely important that students who begin Pointe work have developed strength and stretch of the feet and legs as well as proper placement and alignment of the body. Students at the beginner Pointe level will learn how to tie their pointe shoe ribbons, how to rise up onto pointe and how to balance in their pointe shoes. As students progress to intermediate and advanced pointe work, students will practice many of the same positions and steps they learned in technique class but will execute them on pointe. Pointe students will work at the Ballet barre, in the center of the room as well as across the floor in their Pointe shoes.

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Tap III/IV/V

Designed for: qualified returning students; new students must be skill tested

Class length: 60 minutes
Class description: Tap is another American invention studied and performed throughout the world. While developing a strong sense of rhythm, students work toward the control of weight distribution in the foot along with a pleasing style in the arms, head and torso. Students continue working on developing clarity of sound and precise movements while advancing footwork and speed.


Class requirements: Teacher recommendation.


 

Jazz III/IV/V

Designed for: qualified returning students; new students must be skill tested

Class length: 60 minutes
Class description: Created in the U.S. as a synthesis of African and European ethnic dance styles, jazz dance has become the predominant form of American musical theatre dance. jazz allows students to express themselves using isolated movements of the body combined with jumps and turns set to contemporary music. As a student advances within our program, the necessity of ballet training increases in order to progress.


Class requirements: Teacher recommendation. Students must also be enrolled in two ballet classes.


 

Modern III/IV/V

Designed for: qualified returning students; new students must be skill tested

Class length: 60 minutes
Class description: Modern dance is a style of western concert dance which began loosely in the late 19th century and early 20the century. Modern dance, which has birthplaces in the United States as well as Germany, was a direct response to ballet as the primary form of concert dance. Through movement phrasing, style and improvisation our students explore the many facets of modern dance which enriches existing genres and builds appreciation for movement as a means of communication and self-expression.


Modern III/IV/V requirements: Teacher recommendation. Students must also be enrolled in two ballet classes.

Hip Hop III/IV/V

Designed for: qualified returning students; new students must be skill tested

Class length: 60 minutes
Class description: Hip-Hop levels III, IV and V are the expansion of advanced movements and vocabulary. Advanced ”step“ dancing and rhythmical body percussion is integrated. As always, age appropriate music and themes are selected.

 


Choreography

Designed for: qualified returning students; new students must be skill tested
Class length: 60 minutes
Class description: This class will explore dance composition utilizing the basic elements of theme, variation, and energies. Dancers will delve into the use of several music genres along with the creation of their own accompaniment. In addition, the dancers will investigate possibilities for communication through dance. The class will culminate with larger projects that will be presented at an informal showing of their work.
Class requirements: Dancers must have at least 2 years of dance technique or permission of instructor.