Arabesque School of Dance
 

Dance Styles

Ballet 2 1/2 yrs - 16yrs
Pre-school Dance Curriculum
The Pre-school Dance Curriculum aims to capture and nurture young children’s instinctive joy of movement and freedom of expression. It is designed to enable children to participate in dance activities that are developmentally appropriate, helping to facilitate the learning of dance skills at a later age.

The goals for the Pre-school Dance Curriculum are:

  • To enhance children’s movement abilities and physical fitness
  • To aid children in becoming physically and spatially aware
  • To stimulate children’s listening skills
  • To encourage children to move expressively
  • To build children’s confidence and self esteem
  • To encourage children to become co-operative and sociable

The content of the class is therefore non prescriptive, i.e. there are no set exercises to follow. To help stimulate the creative process, themes are provided within each level along with the use of props.

Ballet shoes are a requirement for safety reasons – pink for girls and white for boys, Royal Academy of Dance uniform is required.


Pre-Primary and Primary
At this stage the children will learn to dance in many different ways, sometimes with a partner, as part of a group and sometimes on their own. They will start to build knowledge of some ballet steps along with the terminology. Mime and props are still used to enhance their imagination. Royal Academy of Dance uniform is required.

Grade 1, 2 and 3
From Grade 1 upwards, classes start to get more technical and full ballet phrasing is used. Incorporated within these levels are Character steps which are simplified dances from Poland, Hungary and Russia. Along with this there is also a Free Movement section where the children are allowed to express themselves more freely through travelling steps and relaxation exercises.

To distinguish these children from the younger group they have a different coloured uniform.

Most children are prepared for taking Royal Academy of Dance grade exams. However, this is not compulsory and other arrangements can be made.

Grade 4– Advanced Level 1 please call for information and details


Adult Classes
These classes are for anyone seeking to learn the broad spectrum of ballet movements, which will improve, posture, fitness and suppleness all in a fun and friendly atmosphere, where great technique is taught with a touch of humour.


Modern Jazz / Street Jazz 6-11 yrs
Just about every dance student will learn jazz as it is the most popular form of dance.

Jazz consists of slower movements which strengthen the body and improves balance and posture with strong, sharp movements which can cross over into the different styles of dance such as lyrical and contemporary. Jazz is often highly influenced by street dance.

Jazz is presented in many different venues and different forms and it thrives in dance schools across the world whilst it remains an essential part of musical theatre. It is sometimes interwoven with other dance styles as appropriate for a particular style of show.

This style of dance can even be seen in the music videos of today, but more commonly jazz dance is the dance style most associated with West End musicals such as Chicago, Fame the Producers and 42nd Street.

Teenage & Adult Classes including Contemporary These classes are for every one that wants a great work out and learn how to express emotion through the performance of different dance routines whilst at the same time increasing your versatility as a dancer, cardiovascular fitness, strength, co-ordination, flexibility and physical form.


Dinky Disco 3-5yrs
Has been adapted from the Freestyle Disco programme to encourage and nurture your child's natural instincts to boogie. With the latest pop music and dance routines aimed at this age group you will not be able to stop them grooving to the beat. They will learn the fundamentals of the Freestyle Disco programme whilst having fun fun fun.


Freestyle/Disco 5-10yrs with High School Musical Routines
Freestyle/disco is the trendiest and most popular form of dance in the UK today. It involves runs, spins, kicks and leaps as well as many other diverse steps and movements with lots of different arm and hand actions. The music can be fast and 'beaty' or slow and sensuous, allowing dancers of all ages to use freedom of expression to enhance their style. This class will also be learning the routines from the Disney Classic High School Musical.