Modern dance classes 1-3 are structured with a warm up in center followed by time working skills across the floor and finish by learning a combination. We will work on developing strength, flexibility, musicality and spatial awareness throughout the classes.

Student in modern 1 will work specifically on traveling through space, weighted movements and moving with the beat of the music. There will be opportunities for students to create their own movement and games to build partnering skills.

Students entering 6th grade or with instructors permission may join modern 2. Students in this class should be familiar with basic modern and ballet vocabulary, comfortable creating movement and be able to pick up the sequences of movement. We will work on moving in and out of the floor, spinal articulation and continue developing partnering skills.

Instructor approval required for modern 3. Modern 3 students must be able to pick up movement quickly and have good dance etiquette. We will learn longer sequences of movement, inversions and work on dance composition skills.

Theater 1

This class will introduce the young actor to various techniques that are necessary
for stage acting. Topics covered include: body movement on stage, using a
suitable stage voice, character appropriate vocal intonation, exploration of what
makes performances interesting and engaging for actor and audience, stage
directions, pantomime, the difference between an actor’s personality and a
character’s personality, imagination, fantasy, story-telling, concentration, and
more. Learning will take place through the use of theater games, individual
and group performances, a range of interactive activities, and class discussion.
A personalized approach to teaching will support students who are new and
those who are returning to this class for a second year. This class is suitable for
children in Grades 3-5 who are beginners and returning students in grade 4.

Theater 2

This class will introduce actors who have some theatrical experience to the
concepts of script and character study. Students will explore how the script
informs character development and how each character relates to the others.
The interaction between personal creativity, imagination, and “listening and
responding” to other actors in the context of a script will be a major focus. Staged
readings, scene work, short memorization activities, mini-monologues, character
movement, improvisation, and concentration will be incorporated into this
performance-oriented class. This class will culminate in a workshop performance
in December and the annual BDW show in May. It is suitable for students in
Grades 5-6.

Theater 3

This challenging class will build upon the concepts studied in Theater 2 but with
greater emphasis on more in-depth character study and the actor’s personal
process for developing a character. It will incorporate basic Method Acting
techniques (use of the actor’s real life experiences to support acting that is
genuine and believable), delving into the historical and societal elements
that make a script and character real, contrast of superficial characters and
scripts with those that truly reflect the human spirit, and professional audition
techniques. Students will be required to learn, memorize, and perform a 2-3
minute monologue for the December showcase and will culminate in the annual
BDW show in May. This class is suitable for kids in Grades 7-8 who’ve had 1-2
years of previous acting experience.

Class requirement: leotard (any color), footed tights (pink), pink leather full sole ballet slippers( fitted with room for growth). Skirts are permitted as long as they are attached to the leotard, for example a dance dress. Hair must be out of face and if long enough in a ponytail.

Ballet II:
For kids who have taken ballet before, grades 5th-8th. This class is a continuation of Ballet I, but with more work on the ballet vocabulary and time at the barre and center. Towards the end of the year this class will be doing a full traditional ballet class.

Class requirements: leotard (black or pink), footed tights (pink), pink leather full sole ballet slippers (fitted with room for growth). Hair must be up and out of face. If hair is long enough is must be put in a ponytail and preferably a bun.

Adult Ballet:
For teens age 14 to adult. This class is a basic ballet class for anyone whoever wanted to learn but never had a chance. We will start from the very beginning and progress through the year. This class combines the precision of the Russian classical ballet through the Vaganova syllubus with the awareness of body alignment and organization.

Class requirement: no loose fitting clothing. Leotards, leggings, tank tops, tights, are fine. Whatever is comfortable. Ballet slippers; any color. You can find what you need at San Francisco Dancewear 659 Mission St. SF (415) 882-7087.