2023-24 Classes

 Acro

Acro is a thrilling form of dance where strength, flexibility, and balance are highlighted with daring tumbling and carefully controlled contortions. With a strong emphasis on increasing flexibility through safe stretching practices and developing strength over time, students will experience a challenging yet incredibly rewarding class.

Beginning Acro Dancers will be educated on proper stretching technique and early tumbling skills such as somersaults, cartwheels, backbends, and beginning chest stands will be introduced.

Intermediate Acro (Teacher Permission Required) Upon successful progression from Beginning Acro, students will continue their practice of proper stretching technique and further develop their tumbling skills. Students may work on front and back walkovers, back handsprings, aerials, and chest and elbow stands as well as continue to master previously introduced skills.

Advanced Acro (Teacher Permission Required) Open to those students who have graduated from Intermediate Acro, Advanced Acro continues to build upon previously learned skills. Dancers will continue in their safe stretching practices to maintain and increase flexibility which will assist them in their tumbling. Previously introduced skills will be refined and more challenging tumbling introduced such as back tucks and standing aerials.

Aerial Silks Aerial silks is a specific form of acro dance performed while suspended from the ceiling by fabrics.  Students will practice many of the stretching and strengthening exercises utilized in the above acro classes.  During class, dancers will also utilize hammock silks to wrap, suspend, drop, swing, and spiral their bodies into and out of various positions.

Tumbling Tots Like its name suggests, this class will introduce the basics of tumbling such as somersaults and cartwheels to children age 3-4.

Acro Class Attire To help ensure the safety of the dancer, appropriate attire for acro is required. Options include leotard, tank top, camisole, fitted t-shirt, dance shorts, and leggings. Feet must be bare and hair must be pulled back.

Recital participation is optional for our acro classes, however, many of our students are eager to show their newly acquired skills on stage. Recommended technique classes to accompany Acro are Ballet and Strength and Flexibility.

Ballet

Arguably the most recognizable form of dance, ballet is a highly technical art form steeped in rich history and tradition, requiring years of dedicated study and practice to master. With its focus on proper posture and form, ballet is an excellent foundation to build your dancer’s education upon, no matter which style of dance they pursue. NWDA offers ballet classes for all levels, from beginning to advanced students, taught by patient and experienced instructors intent on helping your dancer reach their full potential.

Beginning/Level 1 Ballet This class provides the perfect introduction to the fundamentals of ballet technique including barre work, combinations, and choreography. Recital participation is required for this class.

Ballet 1/2 This class offers a more formal approach with continued emphasis on proper technique and further introduction of ballet terminology. Students will experience more challenging barre work, combinations, and choreography. Recital participation is required for this class.

Ballet 2/3 (Teacher Permission Required) Upon graduation from Ballet 1/2, this class continues to emphasize the elements introduced previously. More complex barre work, combinations, and choreography will be introduced as well as leaps and turns. Recital participation is required for this class.

Ballet 4/6 (Teacher Permission Required) Open to students who have successfully completed Ballet 2/3, this class advances the dancer’s ballet education with continued emphasis on proper technique and more complex barre work, combinations, and choreography. Recital participation is required for this class.

Ballet Class Attire Students should dress appropriately for ballet in black leotards with pink tights; hair must be in a bun. Pink ballet slippers are required with elastic securely sewn. Ballet slippers are available for purchase at the studio for your convenience but can also be purchased at Payless Shoes, Petticoat Junction, or through various dancewear websites. Students who have been approved to dance en pointe will need pointe shoes.

Recommended technique classes to complement Ballet include the corresponding levels of Leaps and Turns, and Strength and Flexibility.

Ballroom

Currently, our ballroom classes are open to NWDA team members and focus on the basics of cha-cha, rumba, salsa, and swing dance styles.  If you are interested in taking ballroom lessons, please contact us at office@nwdanceandacro.com.

Preschool/Kinder/Elementary Combos

Our combo classes are an excellent introduction to dance in a classroom setting for little ones. Students will get to experience basic ballet and jazz steps as well as some early tumbling with lessons designed to keep their attention in a fun and friendly atmosphere. We focus on creative movement which builds on the necessary gross motor skills needed for primary dance instruction. We use fun, upbeat music to learn basic skills like hopping, skipping, jumping, galloping, and balance coordination. Preschool Combo is designed for students ages 3-4, Kinder Combo is open to students ages 5-6, and Elementary Combo is appropriate up to age 8.    

Free to be Three

This class will focus on creative movement and acro skills.

Policies:  While monthly tuition is free while your dancer is three years old, a $35 registration fee is due for enrollment.

Turning Four – The month after your child’s birthday you have the option to drop the class OR continue in the class, paying normal tuition with the option to participate in recital.

Waitlist– If classes become full and there is continued interest, we hope to open more classes.

Recital– June may look different due to Covid-19 but we plan on having an optional recital and associated recital/costume fees.

Missed classes– We would love as many children as possible to be able to participate in this wonderful free opportunity!  Because of this, we have a strict attendance policy in place where, after two unexcused absences, we will need to remove the child from the roster to provide space for another waiting child.  We realize that there are extenuating circumstances and ask that you reach out and communicate with us via email at office@nwdanceandacro.com — we are always here and happy to help!

Requirements:  Children will be asked to wear masks for the duration of class (45 minutes).  Children should be confidently potty trained or wearing pull-ups. Please have your child use the restroom before class.  The same person that drops off the child must pick up.  Parents will be asked to wait in their cars in the parking lot due to Covid-19.

Class Attire
Please have students’ hair pulled back and secure. Clothing options include leotard with tights, tank top, camisole, leggings, and dance shorts. Ballet skirts and tutus are optional. Pink ballet slippers are required with elastic securely sewn. Ballet slippers are available for purchase at the studio for your convenience but can also be purchased at Payless Shoes, Petticoat Junction, or through various dancewear websites. Please no slipper-style ballet shoes as these present a safety hazard.

Recital participation is optional for our combo classes but they look so darn cute on stage that it’s hard to say no!

Conditioning

These classes are an excellent opportunity for our students to focus solely on dance technique during their lesson as there is no recital associated. These classes typically appeal to the student who intends to pursue dance into the future.  Teacher permission is required for these classes as the teacher is able to most accurately gauge the student’s appropriate level. If your child is interested in these classes, please don’t hesitate to contact the studio for assistance.

Strength and Flexibility As its name suggests, this class focuses on developing students’ strength with strategic exercises and flexibility through safe stretching practices. Core strength, stability, and balance all work to the benefit of the individual as well as the dancer, promoting healthy habits and an active lifestyle.

Class Attire Class attire may consist of leotard, tank top, camisole, fitted t-shirt, dancer shorts, and leggings. Hair must be pulled back. Students must have bare feet for Strength and Flexibility and Extensions and Body Lines.

Hip Hop

Fun, funky, and full of flavor, hip hop street dance has exploded in popularity and innovation with new styles popping up all of the time. This dynamic, fast-paced, and distinct style of dance is both a great time and a great workout. An excellent way to improve stamina, coordination, memory, and performance skills and a fantastic outlet for the dancer’s own personal style. NWDA offers class options for several age ranges and experience levels taught by passionate instructors intent on challenging dancers to leave it all on the dance floor.

Hip Hop Class Attire
Appropriate class attire is required, options include sweats, leggings, shorts, tanks, camisoles, fitted t-shirts, and sneakers. No midriff baring shirts please. Hair must be pulled back.

Recital participation is optional but highly encouraged for our recreation Hip Hop classes as it’s a great opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned as well as build confidence.

Hip Hop Boot Camp classes may be asked to perform in recital at the director’s request.

Jazz

An energetic genre brimming with character, jazz has been entertaining audiences for years. Since jazz encompasses so many different styles, there’s always something new to pique your dancer’s interest and, with it’s strong focus on rhythm, this class provides a valuable opportunity for students to explore and develop musicality. Students will be educated on safe stretching methods and will practice basic leaps and turns as well as combinations and other elements of jazz technique.

Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre teaches jazz-based technique but with an emphasis on performance skills such as acting, facial expressions, and connecting with the audience.  Dancers will enjoy a lively class that challenges their physicality as well as their committment to performance.

Jazz Class Attire
Jazz shoes, paws, or pirouette shoes are required for this class as well as appropriate class attire. Clothing options include leotard, tank top, camisole, fitted t-shirt, dancer shorts, and leggings.  Hair must be pulled back.

Recital participation is optional but recommended as it’s a great opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned as well as build confidence. Recommended technique classes to complement Jazz include Ballet and Leaps and Turns.

Leaps and Turns

Designed to focus solely on dance technique as there is no recital associated, this series of classes is incredibly beneficial to students no matter which style of dance they pursue. Students will be introduced to a variety of skills including split and straddle leaps as well as pirouette, chaines, fouette and coupe turns throughout the progression of these classes. Petite Leaps and Turns introduces the basic elements while Junior and Teen/Senior Leaps and Turns classes provide increasing levels of difficulty, offering more challenging combinations and building upon rotations.

Leaps and Turns Class Attire Class attire may consist of leotard, tank top, camisole, fitted t-shirt, dancer shorts, and leggings. Hair must be pulled back. Paws and jazz shoes are required and available to purchase at the studio for your convenience. Jazz shoes may also be found at Payless Shoes while paws and jazz shoes can both be found online through various dancewear websites.

Lyrical

A highly expressive style of dance, lyrical combines ballet and technical aspects of jazz and contemporary to give us a lovely, fluid, often emotional art form. Students are encouraged to connect with the music and often have opportunities to freestyle dance in an effort to support this. Proper stretching technique will be introduced and students will practice combinations as well as basic leaps and turns.

Lyrical Class Attire
Jazz shoes, paws, or pirouette shoes are required for this class as well as appropriate class attire. Clothing options include leotard, tank top, camisole, fitted t-shirt, dancer shorts, and leggings. Hair must be pulled back.

Recital participation is optional but recommended as it’s a great opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned as well as build confidence. Recommended technique classes to complement Lyrical include Ballet and Leaps and Turns.

Tap

With its fast-paced staccato rhythm, tap is a unique marriage between dance and percussion and can be seen on Broadway stages in New York or street corners around the world. This vibrant, high-energy art form offers a unique chance to highlight the dancer’s own brand of charisma and personal style. Students can expect a fun environment full of challenging steps that will help increase coordination as well as assist in learning future choreography.

Ballet/Tap This class is a perfect introduction to two prominent dance styles, allowing dancers to experience the best of both worlds. Designed to keep active minds both entertained and focused while instilling the basics of both styles, dancers will work on developing coordination, rhythm, and timing in a fun and friendly environment. Recital participation is optional but recommended as it’s a great opportunity for students to showcase what they’ve learned as well as build confidence.

Tap 1 This class introduces the fundamentals of tap by teaching basic steps and combinations. Students will learn about musical timing as well as tap terminology. Permission required.

Tap 2 This class builds upon the basics introduced in Tap 1 and is appropriate for intermediate tappers, providing increasing levels of difficulty in combinations, choreography, and musical timing. Permission required.

Tap 3 Appropriate for experienced tappers, this class builds upon the fundamentals learned in Tap 1 and 2, challenging dancers with increasing levels of intricacy in combinations, choreography, and musical timing. Permission required.

Tap Class Attire Tap shoes and appropriate class attire are required and hair must be pulled back. Clothing options include leotard, ballet skirt, tank top, camisole, fitted t-shirt, dancer shorts, and leggings. Tap shoes may be purchased at Payless Shoes or many of the dancewear websites online.

Tap Technique classes may be asked to perform in recital at the director’s request.

Tuition

Classes are held once a week for one hour and are priced at $70 a month. We do offer a multiclass discount which can be applied to recreation and technique classes. Please note that Hip Hop Boot Camp and Tap Technique classes are not eligible for discount.

Payment is required by automatic debit or credit and is due by the 5th of each month. Your card information is required upon online registration but will not be charged until tuition is due on the 5th of each month. Tuition is not pro-rated but remains the same whether it is a short month (three classes) or a long month (five classes) and is not affected by absences.

Registration

To secure your student’s spot in class, a $35 registration fee per year is required for each dancer. Online registration is fast and easy and is available here, or you may register in person at the studio.

Viewing Week System

Northwest Dance and Acro has decided to switch to a Viewing Week system for both our recreation and competition programs. This system allows our dancers to focus fully while in class and also enables us to offer more classes as we will utilize the lobby as a classroom.

During a typical class, dancers will be escorted to the front doors, and parents will return at the end of class to collect their children. Viewing Week will take place the last full week of each month during the final 15 minutes of class.  At that time, we will invite parents to come into the studio and watch their dancers in all of their respective classes.

Withdrawals and Refunds

We sincerely hope you and your dancer will be satisfied with your experience at Northwest Dance and Acro but we understand that sometimes life does not work out as planned. Because sudden changes in class enrollment can negatively impact the remaining students, please keep the following in mind should you need to withdraw from a class.

• There is a two-month minimum for all lessons.
• One-month notice from the first of the month is required to discontinue any class.
• Withdrawal must be done in person and will not be accepted over the phone.
• Withdrawal must be done at the front desk, not with the teacher.
• To withdraw from classes, a parent or guardian must complete and sign a withdrawal form provided by the front desk.
• No refunds will be given on recital costumes after they have been purchased.

Company

Passion, dedication, and teamwork take center stage for the Northwest Dance and Acro company dancers. With innovative choreography in acro, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical, our dancers perform regionally and nationally and have even been featured on America’s Got Talent! Under the guidance of our award-winning instructors, our students train from 2 to 10+ hours a week to hone their growing abilities. For those new to competitive dance, we do have introductory levels available, making the transition from recreational to competitive dancer a seamless one. We value a positive and respectful learning environment for our students and we are very fortunate as a studio to have a helpful and supportive network of parents to help foster that.

If your child is interested in competitive dance and being part of the Northwest Dance and Acro performance team, please contact the studio for more information. Tryouts are held annually each spring for the following year’s performance season with a parent informational meeting usually held a week or so prior. Watch the Northwest Dance and Acro website for informational meeting and tryout details and we hope to see you there!