DANCE STYLES

BALLET

Ballet is the foundation for dance technique and provides insight into many other styles. Ballet will give any dancer increased body awareness, technical finesse and elegance on the dance floor. Ballet is a disciplined art form which will significantly improve posture, alignment, grace and core stability. Techniques practiced include ATOD and curriculum inspired by the Bolshoi and Royal Ballet.

JAZZ

Jazz dance is an up-tempo, athletic style originating from the 1950’s by founders such as Jack Cole and Bob Fosse. Today, jazz has changed with popular culture and now includes a wide variety of styles such as Broadway, Commercial and Jazz Funk. A jazz class would include, warm up, strengthening and stretching, progressions, technique and choreography exploring one of the many genres within jazz dance.

HIP HOP

Hip Hop dance began in the 1970’s in New York from three foundations: popping , locking and breaking. Hip Hop classes at MAPA are representative styles seen in music videos, movies and television such as "America’s Best Dance Crew” and the style often chosen by artists such as Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. A class will include a cardio warm up and a routine specialized by the instructor. Hip hop is not about the movement but also the culture and style where it originates from.

TAP

Tap is a speciality style incorporating rhythm, using the sounds of tap shoes as a percussive instrument. Tap teaches musicality , coordination and showmanship. This style of dance has been featured in movies such as “A Chorus Line” , “Happy Feet” and street derived styles as “Tap Dogs” and “Bring in the Noise and Bring in the Funk.” MAPA provide education in both subsets of tap: Broadway and Street.

CONTEMPORARY

This free-form style is a fusion of ballet, modern and jazz technique. Our contemporary/lyrical classes will encourage children to find inspiration from their life experiences and convey this through their movement and performance. A class will include warm up, conditioning, progressions and choreography.

D4DANCE

D4Dance covers all three of the basic dance elements: Ballet, Jazz & Tap for ages 4-6 years (Kindergarten & Prep). The wonderful world of dance is introduced in this age level through the 3 main styles at 30 mins each. You are more than welcome to do 1, 2 or all three classes. As they are only 30mins each we generally encourage you to participate in more than one.