classes
our Curriculum
Richie School of Dance offers a complete curriculum of recreational level classes for Pre-School students to Teen. In addition to these core classes, we offer Classical Ballet, Hip Hop and Adult Jazz. For students interested in being a part of a competition dance team, there are 4 recreational level competition dance teams as well as Lyrical/ Contemporary, Jazz and Hip Hop Company teams.
pre-ballet 1 & 2
“Approximately 99% of the children in a pre-ballet class will never be professional dancers; however, 100% of them will benefit from a pre-school dance class.”
Benefits of a Pre-Ballet Program
Enjoyment, socialization and listening skills, coordination, posture, confidence, and self-discipline are rewards of a dance program. Pre-school dance plays an important part in forming personalities. Approximately 99% of the children in a pre-ballet class will never be professional dancers; however, 100% of them will benefit from a pre-school dance class.
Strength, balance and coordination are gained by simple exercises based on running, jumping, hopping, skipping and walking. Hand control is improved which will benefit children when writing, drawing or playing a musical instrument. The practice of eye/hand coordination is of particular value. Through the Pre-Ballet class, knowledge will be acquired and experience gained.
Goals of Our Program
The first 4 to 6 weeks are an adjustment period. Our goal is to have all students staying in the classroom for the entire class of one hour. It is very important that the child be taken to the restroom prior to class so there will be no interrupts during the class period. Restroom calls become very contagious and the attention and flow of the class will be lost.
Do not worry if your child refuses to participate. Generally, children dislike being left out of a group. However, those who are more timid can learn a great deal by watching and often surprise parents by demonstrating some movements at home. Our goal for the 2nd and 3rd months of class is to have ALL students participating in ALL classroom activities.
In Pre-Ballet I, both ballet and tumbling are taught. 45 minutes will be spent on ballet and 15 minutes on tumbling. Pre-Ballet I students will perform a ballet dance in the Recital. Pre-Ballet I is for 2.5-4 year old students (dancers must be potty trained).
During Pre-Ballet II classes, ballet and tap are taught, with 30 minutes being spent on each. Pre-Ballet II students perform both a Ballet and tap routine in the Recital. Pre-Ballet II is for 4-5 year olds.
Beginners I, II, and III
The Beginner Level expands on the skills learned in Pre-Ballet. Students continue to learn basis technique, as well as musical rhythm. In the Pre-Ballet Level, students learn routines by listening to verbal clues. In the Beginner Level, students learn to count music. This teaches them musical rhythm and timing.
Beginner I classes participate in three routines: ballet, tap, and jazz, with 25 minutes of class time being spent on each. Beginner I students will do a Recital dance for each of those 3 genres. Beginner I is for 5-7 year old students.
Beginner II/III classes also participate in ballet, tap and jazz, with 30 minutes being spent on each. Beginners II and III participate in ballet, tap and jazz dances in the Recital. Beginner II/III is for dancers who are 7-10 years old.
Intermediate I-V
The Intermediate level continues to expand on basic technique. New technique is introduced in each level and routines advance in degree of difficulty. Students learn to work together as a group, taking cues from each other.
Intermediate I/II will spend 45 minutes of class time on ballet, 30 minutes on tap and 45 minutes on jazz, and will perform 3 Recital dances.
Intermediate III/IV spends 45 minutes each on ballet, tap jazz, and will also participate in 3 Recital dances.
Intermediate V is divided into 2 classes (early and late) and each concentrates on 1 hour of ballet, 45 minutes of tap and 1 hour of jazz during each class, and also performs 3 Recital dances.
Core classical ballet, recreational level competition jazz and auditions for the Company dance teams are an option to students from these levels up.
TEEN
The Teen class offers tap, ballet and jazz. This class spends 1 hour each on ballet and jazz, and 45 minutes on tap. This class will also be in 3 Recital dances. Core classical ballet, recreational level competition jazz and auditions for the Company dance teams are an option to students.
Adult Jazz
Adult Jazz is open to dancers 18 years of age and older at all levels of experience.
This class will be in 1 Recital dance.
Classical ballet levels 1, 2 & 3, Teen Soft Shoe Ballet
These hour long special ballet classes provide dancers with dedicated Ballet training. Classical Ballet Levels 1, 2 & 3 will participate in a combined dance in the Recital. Teen Soft Shoe Ballet will be in its own Recital dance.
hip hop
To take Beginner Hip Hop, students must be enrolled in Beginner I or Beginner II/III (regardless of age); for students only taking Beginner Hip Hop, they must be between the ages of 5-7.
To take Hip Hop Junior, students must be enrolled in Intermediate I through IV (regardless of age); for students only taking Hip Hop Junior, they must be at least 8 years old.
To take Hip Hop Teen, students must be enrolled in Intermediate V or Teen (regardless of age); for students only taking Hip Hop Teen, they must be at least 13 years old. Each of these levels will be in 1 Recital dance.
dance teams
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Advanced Jazz Dance Teams are competitive teams geared for the more seriously dedicated students who enjoy performing and competing. Dance Teams are an option offered to students who dance at the Intermediate I level and up. It is required that anyone on a Dance Team be registered for a core level class, as well as the corresponding Classical Ballet class.
There are 4 levels of recreational Dance Teams. Level 1 is for dancers registered in Intermediate I/II, Level 2 is for dancers registered in Intermediate III/IV, Level 3 is for dancers registered in Intermediate V first and second year, and Advanced is for dancers registered in Intermediate V 3rd year and Teen.
Dancers may also audition for the Junior, Pre-Teen and Teen Company ballet and jazz teams. Dancers who make these teams are required to enroll in their corresponding Classical Ballet classes. There are also 3 levels of Company Hip Hop teams: Lil' Crew, Beast Crew and Teen Crew. Dancers who make these teams are required to take the corresponding core level Hip Hop class. There is also a Company level Production Number jazz team.
All dance teams are required to participate in a yearly Convention, 3 regional competitions and a Nationals competition. Besides competing, each Dance Team level will perform their dance in the Recital.