CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

STUDENT DANCE COMPANY
(Ages 6 and up)
Free weekly repertory classes every Sunday from 2-4pm with faculty and other local choreographers to create dance pieces to be presented in community performances.  Regular attendance is required; dancers are allowed a maximum of six absences for the whole year.
Pre-requisite: All registered students 6 yrs. old and up with one year dance experience at Arts in Motion are eligible to participate in the Student Dance Company
Dress Code: leotard and tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants.

Toddler Toodaloo
(12-36 months with care giver)
Help your child learn to move his/her body purposefully through space. Gross motor movements such as rocking, marching, jumping and skipping will be introduced. Creative movement is encouraged through imaginative play and free dance. Children play with hoops, a parachute, scarves and beanbags to explore the dance space and their movement potential.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: Comfortable play clothes, no dresses, skirts.

Dance Stories 1
Ages 3-5
Children will learn basic dance vocabulary through teacher and student generated dance stories. Class will begin with a teacher directed warm-up that will start with smaller movements and progress to large locomotor movements across the floor. The teacher may read a story to the children or talk about a movement concept that will provide inspiration for that day's dance. Parents will frequently be welcomed into the dance space to watch the students perform.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: Comfortable play clothes (no jeans, skirts or dresses) or leotard and footless tights, bare feet.

Dance Stories 2
Ages 4-5
The class is 45 min. and will focus on ballet terms and specific dance steps.  Students will learn movement patterning and sequencing, and will experiment with spatial awareness and self-expression.
Pre-requisite:  Dance Stories 1 or teacher approval.
Dress Code: Comfortable play clothes (no jeans, skirts or dresses) or leotard and footless tights, bare feet.

Dance and Art In Me
Ages 4-6
Children will explore the world of dance and art as a way of telling stories. The first half of the session will be focused on Dance and the second half on Art. Experimenting with movement concepts and concepts of visual arts, children will delve into the practice of self-expression and group participation. Children will create projects using many different media and will explore the stories of many cultures.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: Comfortable play clothes (no jeans, skirts or dresses) or leotard and footless tights, bare feet.  Smock

Beginning Dance 1 and 2
6-8yrs.
Beginning dancers will take this class that covers the basics of all four fundamental dance styles: Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Tap. Learn what the differences are, and the similarities as well as some of the history behind these three movement practices. Answer the question: What is modern dance anyway?All this in a supportive and friendly environment. Beginning Dance 1 is for dancers new to the studio and Beginning Dance 2 is for continuing students not yet ready to focus on one dance style or for older dancers for whom this is their first dance class.
Pre-requisite: Beginning Dance 1: Dance Stories 2 or for dancers age 6 that are new to the studio. 
Beginning Dance 2: Beginning Dance 1 or for dancers age 7 and up for whom this is their first dance class.
Dress Code: Leotard, tights, leggings or jazz pants, tap shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk). Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants.

Boys Ballet
7 yrs. and up
A class designed for a boy's energy taught by Scott Read. The class will emphasize strengthening and stretching and will reinforce basic ballet concepts in an atmosphere where boys can feel comfortable in Ballet. Great for developing balance and agility.
Pre-requisite: Beginning Dance or teacher recommendation
Dress Code: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts or sweat pants, black ballet shoes (shoes can be ordered at the front desk).

Modern 1
7 yrs. and up
This class will build on the fundamentals of Modern Dance covered in Beginning Dance such as weight shift, dynamics, level, quality and improvisation. The basics techniques of Graham, Taylor, Cunningham, Horton, and Hawkins will be introduced.
Pre-requisite: One year of Beginnng Dance or previous modern dance class.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Jazz 1
7 yrs. and up
This class will continue to build on the fundamentals covered in Beginning Dance focusing on vocabulary specific to jazz dance syncopated rhythm, isolations and large jumps and leaps.
Pre-requisite: One year of Beginnng Dance or previous jazz class.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Tap 1
7 yrs. and up
Beginning Rhythm Tap skills taught in a relaxed fun way.
Pre-requisite: One year of Beginning Dance or previous tap class.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, tap shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk) . Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants, tap shoes.

Parent/Child Tap
All family members are welcome in this multi-age fun approach to learning to tap dance. Children should be at least 5 yrs. old.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: Comfortable clothes, no dresses, skirts or jeans.

Ballet 2
9 yrs. and up
This class will build on the Ballet fundamentals covered in Beginning Dance and Ballet 1 with longer combinations at the barre and more complicated center work.
Students at this level are encouraged to take class two times/week.
Pre-requisite: Ballet 1 or teacher recommendation.
Dress Code: Leotard, tights and ballet shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk). Hair must be up and away from the face and neck. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts or sweat pants, black ballet shoes.

Modern 2
9 yrs. and up
In addition to the technical aspects of Modern Dance this class will begin to explore the concepts of improvistion and composition.
Longer exercises and combinations will prepare the students for learning repertory.
Pre-requisite: Modern 1 or teacher recommendation. Students at this level are encouraged to take class two times/week.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Jazz 2
9 yrs. and up
Students will develop their skills through longer exercises and combinations, continuing to build strength and flexiility.
Arts in Motion focuses on a lyrical style of jazz with roots in the rhythms of jazz music, African dance and the blues.
Pre-requisite: Jazz 1 or teacher recommendation.  Students at this level are encouraged to take class two times/week.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Tap 2
9 yrs. and up
Students will continue to build their repertoire of steps and combine them into longer sequences. Class will emphasize rhythmic awareness and improvisation.
Pre-requisite: Tap 1 or teacher recommendation. Students at this level are encouraged to take class two times/week.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, tap shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk). Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants, tap shoes.

Musical Theatre Dance
ages 9 and up
This class will focus on the two aspects of theatrical movement:
1.Learn to walk and talk at the same time!
Through various acting and movement exercises you will learn to connect with your body and internalize your characters.
Observe and absorb others movement patterns. Discover an ease of moving on stage that will free your mind to tackle the toughest roles.
2. Learn basic dance vocabulary and get in shape for that big audition.
This part of the class will emphasize learning choreography quickly and easily and performing it with energy and focus.
Pre-requisite: One year of jazz experience recommended.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Ballet 3
12 yrs. and up/Adults
Class will focus on placement, alignment, musicality and artistry through a blend of traditional ballet techniques and contemporary movement theroy. Students in the Wednesday class are encourage to register for the one hour character/repertory dance class immediately following and students in the Thursday class are encouraged to register for the one hour pointe class immediately following. Students at this level are encouraged to take class three times/week.
Pre-requisite: Two years minimum of previous Ballet experience or teacher recommendation.
Dress Code: Leotard, tights and ballet shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk).  Hair must be worn in a bun. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts or sweat pants, black ballet shoes.

Pointe
age 11 and up
Class will focus on beginning to intermediate pointe work with an emphasis on placement and technique.
Pre-requisite: Students must be at least 11 yrs. old and have teacher approval to begin pointe work. Students in Pointe must take Ballet III immediately prior to the pointe class.
Dress Code: Leotard, tights and pointe shoes.  Hair must be worn in a bun.

Character
12 yrs. and up/Adults
Learn the performance folk dances of other cultures in this fun, technique based class.
Pre-requisite: Two years minimum of previous Ballet experience or teacher recommendation.
Dress Code: Leotard, tights, knee length circle skirt, character shoes (check our swap box).  Hair must be worn in a bun.

Modern 3
12 yrs. and up/Adults
Fast paced and fun! Learn a more complex way of moving, hone your abiltiy to see and reproduce movement quickly and accurately.
Students at this level are encouraged to take class three times/week.
Pre-requisite: Minimum of two years of Modern Dance or teacher recommendation. Students at this level are encouraged to take class three times/week.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Jazz 3
12yrs. and up/Adults
This class will be a fast paced, technique based class with emphasis on performance energy and self-confidence.
Pre-requisite: Two years of jazz dance experience or teacher recommendation. Students at this level are encouraged to take class three times/week.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Tap 3
12 yrs and up/Adults
Class will be fast paced and will focus on longer combinations with challenging rhythmical patterns.
Pre-requisite: Two years of tap or teacher recommendation.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, tap shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk). Boys: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants, tap shoes.

Adult Ballet
Teens/Adults
For beginning, intermediate and advanced teens and adults to work on technique and performance quality with excellent individualized instruction. Beginning classes focus on placement, alignment and vocabulary.  Intermediate and advanced classes focus on more advanced material with longer more complicated exercises. Some pointe work may be incorporated in the advanced class.
Pre-requsitie:Beginning Ballet: None
Intermediate Ballet: one year previous ballet experience.
Advanced Ballet: two years previous ballet experience and instructor approval.
Dress Code: Leotard, tights and ballet shoes (check our swap box or order a new pair at the front desk). Boys/Men: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts or sweat pants, black ballet shoes.

Adult Modern/Jazz
Teens/Adults
Separate classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced teens and adults to work on technique and performance quality with excellent individualized instruction. This class will build on the basic techniques of classical modern dance and lyrical jazz dance. Both styles borrow from the language of ballet but add weight, syncopation and a more mobile back to the technique.  It will increase your flexibility, stamina, and strength, while you learn dance combinations with weight shifts, and varying rhythmical patterns.
Pre-requisite: Beginning: None
Intermediate: One year modern or jazz experience.
Advanced: Two years modern or jazz experience or teacher approval.
Dress Code: Leotard, footless tights, leggings or jazz pants, bare feet. Boys/Men: plain white or black T-shirt, shorts, sweat pants, or jazz pants.

Hip Hop
Teens/Adults
Learn the latest new moves!  Get comfortable moving your body to the music! Experiment with improvisation! Have fun!
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: leotard, jazz pants, bare feet.  Boys/Men: t-shirt, jazz pants, bare feet.

Afro-Caribbean Dance (co-ed)
with Robin Wilson
and Live Drummers!
Ages 10-100
This exhilarating, energetic dance class with live accompaniment involves dances from Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, as well as standard movement motifs found throughout the Caribbean. Students will learn folkloric and popular dance forms such as Samba, Rumba,Ê Palo, Congo, and Yanvalou.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: full length, 1 – 1 1/2 circle skirts, with appropriate undergarments, for women and girls. Boys/Men: t-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants, bare feet.

Community Drum Circle
all ages welcome
Come get your groove on! Bring a drum if you have one, if not, we have some here for you to borrow. Listen to the sounds around you, find a way to fit in with the general groove, watch the other drummers, feel how the sound in the room grows and subsides in waves, enjoy working together to make great rhythmic experience.
Pre-requisite: All inclusive, no experience necessary.
Dress Code: Comfortable clothes

Pilates
Teens/Adults
Pilates is a form of exercise developed by Joseph H. Pilates nearly 100 years ago, which ultimately desires to improve strength, flexibility, endurance, control, and coordination. There are two methods of study; one is a core set of exercises that are floor-based (called mat work), and the others are performed with an apparatus (such as the Reformer), which utilizes springs to exercise the body. Both forms of exercise utilize the entire body to support the movement process. The core of Pilates exercise lies in strengthening the complete set of abdominal muscles as well as stabilizing the torso. Pilates is a great technique for people of all ages because it is based on total body conditioning and has proven to be useful for injury prevention and correction as well. Pilates works at correcting body alignment and helps to correct imbalances in the body caused by injuries. It is also about controlled movement and allowing your muscles to work harmoniously with your breathing. There is very much a mind-body connection in doing Pilates, and you will find elements of yoga, as well as movements which are akin to todays modern dance. Finally, it is a method of exercise that one can do realistically until they are in their 80's!!
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: t-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants, bare feet.

Dance Exercise
Teens/Adults
You can exercise and enjoy yourself at the same time! Class will begin with a slow stretch and gentle warm up
followed by some body awareness through standing isolations and isometric exercises. Strengthening exercises for the stomach, arms, legs and "buns" are followed by a full range of stretches designed to lengthen and tone the muscles. Then a more aerobic workout to contemporary music (any suggestions welcome) through jazz movements and travelling steps across the floor.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: t-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants, bare feet. If students wish to wear shoes, they must be clean shoes that have not been worn outside.

Yoga: Hatha yoga from an awakened heart
Teens/Adults
This class incorporates the fluid body moving in circular, spiral and undulating wave patterns. It taps into our own body’s wisdom and feed-back systems, so that we can listen to our strengths and our limitations more clearly.  We will enter our yoga practice using somatic applications so we will develop core strength, flexibility, and calm mind through a gentle yet challenging approach. The class will include yoga flows, exploration of poses, anatomical explanations, pranayama and a good dose of humor. 
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: t-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants, bare feet.

Tai Ji (or Tai Chi)
Teens/Adults
Tai Ji is a specialized type of Qi Gong or “Chinese yoga” and is an essential part of Classical Chinese medicine, which is an ancient medical system based on the Taoist view of a universe where everything is interrelated.  It is more than just a form of physical exercise and stretching, it also helps move and nourish the acupuncture meridians and organ systems of the body.  I tell my clients that doing Tai Ji or Qi Gong every day is like doing acupuncture on your self every day.  It can, therefore, effect profound healing and foster a deep sense of well being and inner peace. 

This introductory class will focus on the Wudang style Tai Ji quan mother form, the first eight foundational movements.  Each session will include instruction on the form and how it relates to Chinese medicine and philosophy, including an explanation of 5 element principles and I Ching symbolism.  As well as the corresponding health applications of each portion of the form.

This form and its underlying principles can be used to heal, strengthen and relax all organ and meridian systems of the body.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: t-shirt, shorts, sweat pants or jazz pants, bare feet.

Ballroom Dance

Beginning Ballroom

Waltz
The most elegant of Ballroom dances, the Waltz is an excellent place to start learning to dance. All the basic steps and leads are taught in a relaxed setting. Couples are given plenty of time to practice and lots of individual attention

Foxtrot
Going to a wedding or just want to dance in your own kitchen? Foxtrot is the dance for you! Smooth, graceful and you can swing it too. Expand on what you learned in the Waltz and add some fancy steps to your repertoire.

Swing
Jitterbug, Swing, Jive... The Newest Dance Craze? Not on your life, but don't get left out. Join us as we learn to cut a rug with the best of them. This part of the session will focus on Jitterbug using a double time basic to learn different moves. Then we will try them out using a single time (Jive) and triple time (Swing) basic.

Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: Comfortable clothes that will not restrict movement.  Dancers can dance in bare feet, socks or clean leather-soled shoes that have not been worn outside.

Kids Ballroom
Ages 10 and up
In this class we teach the same material plus a few "line dances" such as the electric slide and the hustle. The class is taught in an informal, fun style. Kids will be encouraged to switch partners and learn to be able to distinguish what dance to do to which music.
Pre-requisite: None
Dress Code: Comfortable clothes that will not restrict movement.  Dancers can dance in bare feet, socks or clean leather-soled shoes that have not been worn outside.

Create your own Ballroom Dance Class!!

Choose the style (Waltz, Fox-Trot, Tango, Latin, Jitterbug/Swing), time and day. Minimum ofthree couples/class. Four consecutive weeks per style is recommended.