Dance Classes

Ballet originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed in France and Russia. It has since become a highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary and is widely agreed to be the foundation of all other dance styles.

Some examples of classical ballets are The Nutcracker, Swam Lake and Cinderella.

 

Ballet at Dragonfly starts from age 2 in our Tiny Dragonflies class.  Students follow The Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and have the option to take exams. 

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Tap is an exciting, percussive, rhythmical dance form.  The dancer uses their feet whilst wearing tap shoes to strike the floor beating out a melody.  Tap dance is a theatrical art form often seen on stage and screen in musicals.  Famous tap dancers include Fred Astaire, The Nicholas Brothers and Adam Garcia.

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Tap at Dragonfly starts from age 4 in Primary tap.  Students follows the ISTD syllabus and have the option to take exams.

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Modern Theatre is a rhythmic dance style rooted in musical theatre which originated in America.  It is often seen in musical productions and is known for its dynamic theatrical qualities.  Modern uses travelling steps, kicks, leaps and turns and incorporates jazz, lyrical and contemporary dance styles.

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Modern at Dragonfly starts from age 5 in our Little Dragonflies Combination Class.  Students follow the ISTD syllabus and have the option to take exams.

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Jazz dance is a social dance style that emerged at the turn of the 20th Century when African American dancers began blending traditional African steps with European styles of movement.  Jazz dance is energetic, grounded and exciting.  Famous jazz choreographers include Jerome Robbins (West Side Story) and Bob Fosse (Chicago).

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Jazz at Dragonfly starts from age 9 in Bronze Jazz.  Students follow the ISTD syllabus and have the option to take exams.

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Acro dance is a mixture of classical dance techniques and acrobatic movements.  Acro dance is characterised by a smooth transition between the dance and acrobatic elements, combining flexibility, strength, balance and tumbling.

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Acro at Dragonfly is from age 6 - 12.  Students follow the Acrobatic Arts method of teaching and have the option to take exams.

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Contemporary dance stems from the use of the core and incorporates elements of contract and release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation.  This evolving style has fast become one of the most dominant genres for dancers throughout the world.  Famous contemporary choreographers include Mathew Bourne, Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey.

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Contemporary at Dragonfly is a non-syllabus class.  Students must have dance experience of at least grade 4 ballet or modern to attend this class.

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Pointe work is a branch of classical ballet which arose from the desire for dancers to appear slylph-like.  Pointe work requires good technique and a lot of strength.  Dancers wear pointe shoes which must be professionally fitted in order to protect the feet whilst dancing en pointe.

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Pointe work at Dragonfly is by invitation only.  Students will normally be invited to attend a pre-pointe class before progressing onto pointe once strong enough.  This is usually when students reach Grade 4 Ballet.

Commercial combines elements of hip hop, street dance and jazz making it fun, unique and entertaining.  

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Commercial at Dragonfly is a non-syllabus class in which dancers learn exciting routines similar to those you would in pop videos or on TV.  The class keeps on trend with the latest artists and styles of the moment.  Junior Commercial age 6 - 10.  Senior Commercial age 11+

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This class is designed to help students support their dance technique and unlock potential. 

To be an all-round dancer flexibility and strength are key to achieving high standards, both in exams and in performance. Each dancer will gain a greater understanding of their physique and work to improve all areas of their body in a safe and structured way.

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Conditioning & Stretch at Dragonfly is for students aged 12+

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