Open Contemporary Overview
The Open/Contemporary program offers classes in multiple disciplines and styles. A diverse and experienced faculty will help prepare the student for endeavors in theater, dance, competition dance, and poms. In addition to a well-rounded dance education, students will establish a respect for commitment and hard work, foster creative thinking skills, and develop self-discipline and confidence. Students choosing this track need not audition but will be placed according to their ability and age and can create their own schedule based on their class level placement.
Classes
Jazz includes various styles characterized by the use of improvisation and influenced by the rhythms and techniques of jazz music. Jazz is an upbeat and energetic style of dance derived from the roots of ballet technique. See schedule for class times.
The Open/Contemporary ballet classes work directly with the A&A Ballet syllabus. The classes focus on building a proper technique and a strong foundation that can be utilized in all other dance disciplines and interests.
An American art form, tap is making music with your shoes. It is percussive, rhythmic, and can be improvisational or musical theater based. See schedule for class times.
Hip Hop includes a wide range of styles such as breaking, popping, locking, krumping, and even house dance. It features isolating body movements with specific rhythms and dynamic contrasts of sharp and relaxed qualities. See schedule for class times.
Stretching, strengthening, Pilates based exercises, yoga inspired exercises, and cardiovascular endurance will be covered during each quarter. These classes complement a strong jazz/ballet background and are a way to work on increasing flexibility and core strength.
Contemporary dance is a very interpretive style that focuses on unconventional movements. It is considered unconventional because it shifts away from classical ballet and lyrical dance forms. Unlike classical ballet, contemporary dance does not have fixed movements but instead searches for new forms and dynamics. It focuses on oppositional movement, alignment, raw emotion, and systematic breathing. Students must be taking a concurrent ballet or jazz class to enroll. See schedule for class times.
By combining elements of ballet and jazz techniques, you can express yourself with inspirational movement through lyrics. Lyrical classes must be taken with concurrent jazz or ballet technique classes. See schedule for class times.