Pre-Dance

Designed for 3-5 year olds, pre-dance classes are typically 45 minutes in length and include instruction in ballet, tap & creative movement. Dancers learn and practice the seven loco-motor movements; walking, running, hopping, jumping, skipping, galloping and leaping that are such an integral part of all dance. In addition, basic ballet and tap steps, as well as associated terminology, are taught and practiced in many fun ways throughout the dance season.

Tap/Ballet Combination

Tap/Ballet combination classes are one hour in length and most appropriate for 5-7 year olds, however, we occasionally offer Tap/Ballet combination classes to children up to 8 years old who still enjoy the combination class format. Students in a Tap/Ballet combination class will learn a wide variety of ballet & tap steps as well as combinations. Students typically learn one ballet and one tap routine to perform at the annual recital.

Tap/Jazz Combination

Tap/Jazz combination classes are one hour in length and most appropriate for 5-7 year olds, however, we offer occasionally offer Tap/Jazz combination classes to children up to 8 years old who still enjoy the combination class format. Students in a Tap/Jazz combination class will learn a wide variety of jazz & tap steps as well as combinations. Students typically learn one jazz and one tap routine to perform at the annual recital.

Ballet

When a child is seven, or close to seven years old, they may enroll in Ballet class at Step By Step dance. Students enrolled in Ballet class attend either once, twice or three times a week, depending on their level and/or teacher recommendation. Each class includes barre work, center floor, progressions and combination work with a focus on learning not just the steps and skills, but the associated terminology as well.

Jazz

Beginning at age seven, SBSD students may enroll in Jazz class. Jazz classes include a warm-up, center floor technique, progressions and combination work. Students interested in taking Jazz class are encouraged to also enroll in Ballet.

Tap

Beginning at about age seven, students can enroll in Tap class. Tap classes include warm-up, center floor technique , progressions and combination work. Students in tap class learn to use their feet to create sounds and rhythms as they dance. Good quality Tap shoes are recommended for the best results.

Hip Hop

Hip Hop classes are offered at Step By Step dance beginning at age 6. Beginning Hip Hop for 6-8 year olds is a 45 minute class. All other Hip Hop classes are one hour in length. Most Hip Hop classes include a warm-up, and may also include progressions, but some more advanced levels move immediately into combination work.

Lyrical

Students who are at least 10 years old and have the appropriate amount of previous dance experience, in both ballet & jazz, may enroll in Lyrical at Step By Step dance. In some instances concurrent enrollment in Ballet is also required. Lyrical dance combines the elements of ballet, jazz and modern which is why previous dance experience is so important. Lyrical classes begin with a warm-up and may include center floor technique and/or progressions as well as combination work.

Stretch and Strength

Stretch & Strength is a conditioning class great for dancers as well as any person interested in increasing their body strength, stamina and flexibility. Stretch & Strength classes are one hour in length and include a wide variety of exercises and drills including, but not limited to, running, sit ups, push-ups, agility drills, etc. Some weeks the class may focus more on strength training and other weeks more on increasing flexibility through many unique and effective stretching exercises.

Acro

Acro is short for Acrobatics and is, in essence, a Tumbling class. Offered currently to students 6-10 years old, the Acro class focuses on teaching all basic tumbling skills (rolls, cartwheels, back bends, hand stands, etc) as well as increasing each student’s flexibility and strength.