Creative Ballet
Ballet
Jazz
Modern
Hip Hop
Northern Lights School of Dance provides a
carefully structured and progressive training program in a variety of
dance forms. The curriculum, offered from the pre-school to the
advanced level, is taught with attention to detail. All programs
provide a well-rounded education in dance, focusing on the development
of strong technique, self-confidence and poise.
NLSD students also have the opportunity to attend special
workshops and to work with exceptional and renowned guest instructors,
who visit annually from around Canada
Creative Ballet
Creative dance introduces concepts of time, space, direction, and
weight through directed play, story telling, improvisation and set
exercises. Through creative and imaginative movement, children between
the ages of 3 to 6 have an opportunity to develop a sense of
musicality, dance and confidence in our pre-school classes.
Ballet
Ballet, one of the most
beautiful and graceful of all dance styles is strongly rooted in
tradition. It is the basis for all other dance forms and develops
musicality, rhythm, coordination, flexibility, strength, poise,
self-discipline and personal confidence. Ballet classes are conducted
using the Cecchetti Method to ensure that NLSD ballet training is
consistent with training at other schools across the continent and to
prepare NLSD students for Cecchetti Society Examinations.
Jazz
Jazz dancing is energetic and
fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick
turns. Jazz dance incorporates elements of ballet and modern dance
technique as well as other dance rhythms and movements to produce
dynamic, high-energy stage dance. Jazz dance celebrates the body’s
physical response to music and often uses contemporary tunes and dance
floor moves to add immediacy to its performance. To excel in jazz,
dancers need a strong background in ballet, as it encourages grace and
balance.
Modern
Modern dance encourages dancers to use their emotions and moods to
design their own steps and routines. It is not unusual for modern
dancers to invent new steps for their routines, instead of following a
structured code of technique, as in ballet. Modern dance is the
communication of emotions or ideas through the medium of movement.
Mobility of the back - employing a three-dimensional usage of the spine
- is a key element in this dance form.
Hip Hop/Street Dance
Hip Hop is one of the most highly energetic versatile styles in
dance today.
A street style of dance, it is a fusion of dance styles developed from
several cultures, including jazz, rock, tap and American and Latino
cultures. It is unique in that it allows its dancers to perform with
freedom of movement, adding in their own personalities. Hip Hop
utilizes all parts of the body from fluid isolation to hard-hitting
power moves
Flamenco
Flamenco exists in
three forms: Cante, the song; Baile, the dance; and Guitarra, guitar
playing. This style of dancing is characteristic of the Andalusian
gypsies; it is vigorous and rhythmic with clapping and stamping. It is
also characterized by forceful, often improvised rhythms.
Adult Ballet/Pilates
This class
contains a wonderful “stretch and strengthen” warm up, and classical
ballet exercises to help ease the mind, and strengthen the body. It is
an innovative system of mind-body exercise. It elongates and
strengthens muscles, improves flexibility and agility and teaches body
awareness.
Ballroom Dancing
In Ballroom
Dance we strive for elegance, flow and quality of movement in a relaxed
and social environment. The International Style of Ballroom Dance is
followed. Contrary to what you may think, anyone can learn to ballroom
dance. Grab a partner and find out how much fun you've been missing.
Choreography/Repertoire
In this
class students will work with a variety of choreographers developing
repertoire to be performed throughout the year. This class is by
invitation only. If you have not received an invitation and are
interested in joining please contact the Artistic Director.
Tap
Tap dancing is an exciting style
of dance in which a dancer wearing shoes fitted with heel and toe taps
sound out audible beats by rhythmically striking the floor or any other
hard surface. The goal in tap class is to produce clear, clean sounds
with various levels of tone. A typical tap class begins with a warm-up
to prepare the feet and ankles. Dancers practice a series of basic
steps adding more difficult and complex combinations as they become
more proficient. Tap dancing is a vigorous form of dance building
aerobic fitness, muscle control, and an “ear” for clear distinct
rhythmic sound.