Classes

Hinton School of Dance utilizes two streams of dance:

1. Fundamentals

2. Foundations

Fundamentals

The following are our non exam, non competitive, no travel for festival levels:

Children ,Teen & Adult Recreational Dance

We put the FUN in Fundamentals . All levels are teacher assessed.

Dancers assessed in any level in ballet will be automatically placed in equivalent level in other disciplines they have registered in then assessed appropriately.

Preparatory: Pre- Ballet/ Pre- Dance Fundamental Programs

For ages four through eight, our pre-ballet program builds your child's confidence, posture, coordination and flexibility, while nurturing a joy of dance. Skills such as cooperation with others and following directions are developed as concentration is increased. The pre-ballet program prepares young dancers (both boys and girls) for the challenges of our pre-professional training

program.

Fundamental Course Descriptions

Prima/Primiére Fundamentals 1, 2 & 3 - Ages 3-6

30 minute classes  once a week

Pre-ballet classes nurture your child's interest in dance, while increasing coordination, concentration levels, cooperation, flexibility and ability to follow instructions. Students are given individual attention and guidance. Classes often incorporate free dance to give children the opportunity for self-expression, but the building blocks that prepare children for the structure of a

ballet class are foremost in the class syllabus. 

Jazz/ Tap Combo Fundamentals - ages 4-5 & 6

• Age 4-5, 30 minute class once a week

• Age 6,  45 minute class once a week

This is a wonderful way for children to experience the rhythm & sounds of tap & the movements in Jazz. Dancers will only perform one of the two dance styles in the recital but they will require both tap shoes and ballet slippers (for jazz).

Primary Ballet / Primary Jazz / Primary Tap Fundamentals - Ages 6 - 7 - 8

• Primary Ballet, 45 minutes once a week

• Primary Tap, 45 minutes once a week

• Primary Jazz, 45 minutes once a week

Primary classes build upon the concepts begun in Pre-Ballet. Students are challenged to meet criteria that build coordination, and physical fitness. Attention span is increased, as is spatial awareness and cooperation with others -- all in a fun learning environment. Music plays an important role in learning exercises. The basics of dance technique are introduced when the

class is ready.

Ballet Fundamentals

45 - 60 minute classes once a week

Always dreamed of dancing? This program is for you! No experience necessary. Our professional staff takes the same care in developing skills in older dancers or students who wish to study on a recreational level. Enjoy learning and perfecting the exacting details of classical ballet technique, including posture, core strength, alignment, flexibility, grace, and coordination in a positive and professional atmosphere. Teens who are interested in pursuing acting, singing, or other forms of dance are encouraged to learn the basics of all dance forms: classical ballet.

Beginning/ Novice Teen-Adult Ballet Fundamentals

60 minute class once a week

The beginning student with little or no experience in ballet training is introduced to the history and concepts of classical ballet. Barre work incorporates learning and mastering ballet alignment, core strength, muscle strength and stamina, flexibility and working with music. Exercises are built upon in center floor work, incorporating coordination and musicality. As students progress, moving combinations include turns and jumps across the floor as well as increasing coordination between arms and legs and eventually head positions.

Intermediate/Advanced Teen-Adult Ballet Fundamentals

60 minute classes once or twice a week

The intermediate/advanced classes are appropriate for any student who has reached an intermediate level of study, even if it was many years ago in childhood. Classes progress from barre through stretching and center floor work, challenging and rewarding students with diverse backgrounds in dance. Some students are pre-professionals taking extra classes, some are teens and adults who have studied in our beginning class for a year or more, others are retired dancers or people who studied in their youth. This class builds upon concepts and technique studied in the beginning class, and allows for a range of abilities to develop.

Jazz Fundamentals: 

45 minutes - 1 hour per week

All Recreational Jazz classes include a warm up, progressions and technique and of course Jazz choreography.

Tap Fundamentals:

45 minutes - 1 hour per week

Rhythm and sounds of the feet are combined to create this dance form. Centre exercises as well as progressions across the floor will strengthen technique

and improve musicality.

Lyrical Fundamentals: 

60 minutes once a week

An interpretive dance style including elements of Jazz and ballet telling a story. Although being registered in ballet is not a requirement for lyrical dance, it

is highly recommended.

Hip Hop Fundamentals:

60 minutes once a week

Learn how to move like the dancers you see on MTV or in music videos. We’ll show you how to transform the rhythm and energy of hip hop music into the latest urban street dance moves like street funk, popping, or krumping.

Intro to Acro and Conditioning Fundamentals: 

45 minutes once a week

Combines the strength from Gymnastics along with the artistry of dance. Conditioning work will assist them in their other dance styles. Learn Acro and conditioning at a softer entry level for dancers attending 0- 3 hours of dance a week.

Lil’ Tumblers Fundamentals - ages 5-7: 

30 minutes once a week

Combines the foundation and introductory movements from Gymnastics along with the artistry of dance.  Fun and new

Additional Information about the Fundamentals ( Recreational) Stream:

• Dancers not permitted to do solos or duets in the fundamental stream

• Sometimes, dancers want to switch streams from fundamentals to the foundations program after a couple years in the recreational stream. When this happens, the child must take one full year of pre-requisite classes, without competing before being able to attend festivals or competitions.

• Regular attendance is expected, dancers follow the HSD dress code

• Dancers perform in the local annual year end recital

• Although ballet is not a requirement in the fundamentals programming, it is recommended.

Foundations

The following is the exam, competitive, and festival stream

 All levels are teacher assessed

Dancers assessed in any level in ballet will be automatically placed in equivalent level in other disciplines they have registered in then assessed appropriately.

Foundations Course Description:

Ballet Foundations Level I & II

60 minutes once a week

These levels serve as a starting point for both our Foundations and Fundamentals programming.  The Level I & II syllabi encompasses the basics of alignment, coordination of arms and legs, working with music (counting phrases and recognizing different meters), how to be prepared for class, protocol in the studio as it relates to classical ballet training, stretches, strengthening exercises, how to focus on the instructor and the work at hand, as well as the execution combinations of steps that increase memory and understanding as well as physical skills. Level I requires two years of study for a good student with excellent attendance, commitment, and the ability to understand the basic concepts required. Barre is introduced and centre work is also practiced.

Dancers in levels I & II are still only required to take 1 ballet class / week but are invited to attend the introduction to Acro class for conditioning.

Ballet Foundations Level III, IV, & V: The following levels prepare towards exam/festival/competition work

Level III, 2 hour per week

Levels IV & V, 2.5 hours per week

Acro/Conditioning class is mandatory

The Level III syllabus increases work on the barre, begins adding additional steps to their vocabulary. Level IV Increases difficulty with exercises on the barre with one hand, adds head positions with simple exercises and begins to challenge the students further. Challenges in coordination, strength, alignment, understanding of new concepts, musicality, length of exercises, and retaining corrections from one lesson to the next. Level III - V students work further on flow between movements and carriage, and demands are placed on

them to retain their basic alignment and technical skills as combinations of steps increase in difficulty. Students are introduced to reversing steps and combinations of steps. Each level progresses from the next and students must complete each foundation level prior to moving to the next. 

Ballet Foundations VI & VII: Intermediate Levels

Level VI, 1.5 hour classes twice a week

Level VII, 1.5 hour classes twice a week

Acro/Conditioning class is mandatory

Pointe and exam preparation classes as required

Level VI,  pre intermediate, students are challenged further by preparation for pointe work. Boys begin working on men's technique, which differs in its demands from women's technique. Concepts mastered in the formative levels are built upon. A greater range of musicality and physical precision is developed. Emphasis is placed on work ethics. Students  become familiar with retrograding combinations of steps and work on increasingly difficult coordination challenges. 

Level VII, intermediate, girls increase hours of pointe training. Boys increase the amount of male-specific technique training. Further elaboration of exercises with difficult technical demands, musical choices and nuance, presentation, continuity, strength, flexibility and all manner of challenging skills already mastered are at hand in the classroom. Modern

dance training is introduced. The Level VII syllabus requires work on consecutive turns, multiple pirouettes, and beats in different manners.

Ballet Foundations  8 , 9 & 10: Advanced Levels

Level VIII, IX, & X,  Several classes per week

Acro/Conditioning class is mandatory

Pointe and exam preparation classes as required

Level VIII & IX - Any and all idiosyncrasies of individual alignment or weakness are attended to with great detail and effort. Pointe work catches up to work in technique shoes for

girls. Boys continue training on tours en l'airs, large jumps, and turns. All students study several days per week, two classes (of varying disciplines) on many days. Further work on everything built in basic and Intermediate levels continues. Students are held to a high standard of work ethic and concentration.

Level X - The final touches are added to a strong mastery of classical ballet technique. In Level X, intellects are challenged to act quicker, bodies are challenged to move slower, faster, and with more aplomb. Phrasing and approach is paramount. Presentation, breath, finish, levels of extension, and technical mastery of all difficult concepts and challenges is nurtured. A great level of detail is encouraged and coached in every student. Graduating students with the work ethic, discipline, and physical attributes required will find themselves ready to enter the career/professional path in dance. Individuals are given advice on auditions and applications for college/university dance programs and/or professional ballet companies uniquely suited to each dancer if the student is pursuing that direction.

Jazz Foundations:

60 minutes once a week

Foundations Ballet & Acro/Conditioning are mandatory for festival/competition levels.

One of the most fundamental dance forms in the performing arts. Strength and style are an important part of learning Jazz and each student will benefit from the technique learned in each class. All Jazz classes include a warm up, progressions and technique and of course Jazz choreography.  

Tap Foundations:

60 minutes once a week

Acro/Conditioning are mandatory for festival/competition levels.

Foundations Ballet strongly recommended 

Rhythm and sounds of the feet are combined to create this dance form. Centre exercises as well as progressions across the floor will strengthen technique and improve musicality.

Contemporary Foundations:

60 minutes once a week

Foundations Ballet & Acro/Conditioning are mandatory for festival/competition levels.

Contemporary is offered after level III

A style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. There is no defined structure. The dancer's body movement is intended to convey their interpretation of the music. This free form is very popular amongst dancers . 

Acro/ Conditioning Foundations:

Must be 10 or older

Before 10 or under 3 hours of dance, students attend Lil' Tumblers or Intro to Acro/Conditioning

Combines the strength from Gymnastics along with the artistry of dance. Conditioning work will assist them in their other dance styles. All Acro students will learn the fundamentals of gymnastics skills as well as how to combine those skills into dance choreography. Students will also learn the importance of strength and flexibility needed in Acro. 

Hip Hop Foundations:

60 minute classes once a week

Acro/Conditioning are mandatory for festival/competition levels.

Foundations Ballet strongly recommended 

We transform the rhythm and energy of hip hop music into the latest urban street dance moves like street funk, popping, or krumping.

Pointe Work:

Pre Pointe is 30 minutes at level IV

Pre pointe is a 45 minute class at level V

Pointe runs 45 minutes to 1 hour in length depending on level

Students must take a Pre- Pointe class prior to their Pointe class. 

Teacher must approve students for Pointe class.

Pointe is a specialized part of ballet that requires years of preparation and buildup to the actual act of going ‘en pointe’. The decision to go onto pointe is not a light one and many factors must be taken into consideration; including the student’s basic ballet technique, specific strength and mobility of the feet and ankles, turnout and core control, maturity and bony development. Students should be already taking at least 3 ballet classes a week for at least a year before starting en pointe, so this is a great time to see the commitment of the students who are serious about it, and those that are not! Students will undergo a personalized assessment by their dance teacher who will also require an “OK” from a health professional who specializes in working with dancers. This process is also a great learning experience for students already en pointe to highlight any areas that need attention, or to improve aspects of their technique.

Switching from Fundamentals to Foundations:

• Sometimes, dancers want to switch streams from fundamentals to the foundations program after a couple years in the recreational stream. When this happens, the child must take one full year of pre-requisite classes, without competing before being able to attend festivals or competitions.