Upper Division

Is geared toward the dancer with experience. The Upper Division begins to take the student into more complex curriculum and challenges the student through technique and performance.

Class Levels

Advancement by recommendation of instructor only.

Level 1: Little to no previous class instruction in this dance form.

Level 2: Emphasizes further development and mastering of skills learned in Level 1. Please consult class teacher for proper counseling on students progress, development and placement.

Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of one year of training at Level 1 in dance form. Please note, two years of Level 1 may be recommended prior to moving to Level 2. 

Level 3: Geared for dancers with a sound knowledge of dance technique and terminology within the discipline and ability to execute movements with ease. Dancers are challenged with increasing complexity in movement and skills.

Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of one year of training at Level 2 in dance form or permission of instructor.

Level 4, 5, 6: Classes are geared for the intermediate/advanced level dancer and provide instruction on perfecting skills and performance technique. Classes emphasize complex combinations and mastering dance as an art form.

Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of two years of training at Level 3 in dance form or by permission of instructor.

Forms of Dance technique - Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Hip-Hop

Ballet 1-6

When students enter the upper division, our staff offers two pathways to fit the dancers’ needs.  We want to continue to nurture your child’s love for dance.  This will offer your child to choose how intensely they want to study the art of ballet.  Dancers who want to continue serious study of the art will be required to take multiple ballet classes per week (see below). This will enable the dancer’s technique and coordination to progress on a faster level. Dancers will be exposed to complex vocabulary as they progress through each level. This requires the dancer to be consistent in their technique.  Therefore it is important to remember that all students progress at different rates as in an academic setting.  Many levels may be expected to cover more information than others. Please be patient and remember that some students may take a minimum of two years to progress through each level.  TADA will only allow students to move to the next level when they feel that the student has the right level of understanding technically in order to move to the next level. We strive to know each child not only as a team player, but as an individual dancer.

Ballet 1-3 – minimum two or more classes per week

Ballet 4 – minimum three or more classes per week

Ballet 5 – minimum three or more classes per week

Modern Dance 1-6

Modern class is designed to build a technique balanced by correct alignment, strength, flexibility, coordination, musicality and proper articulation of the joints, which are developed through warm-up exercises, center floor work and larger locomotor combinations. Elements of movement improvisation and basic structures of composition are introduced. Students begin to explore the process of movement abstraction and the development of performance skills. Dancers will discover the connections between: breath, core to distal, head to tail, fall to recovery and homolateral and cross lateral movement. These connections are necessary for freedom and ease in creative outward expression. Through playful interaction with gravity, dancers study dynamics of energy that are the support and motivation for all movement. Creativity is encouraged in modern dance at every level.

Jazz Dance 1-6

Like the musical form for which it is named, jazz dance uses the complexities of rhythmic syncopation and translates it into isolated movement of the torso and limbs. Jazz class focus will be on the development of coordination, rhythm, strength, flexibility, alignment, balance, technique, and basic dance steps and movement combinations. Jazz dance emphasizes the development of body awareness, creative expression, and cultural and historical awareness. Dance develops a student's ability to communicate in a way that is different from the written or spoken word. This increases self-awareness and an understanding of others and the world in which we live. Dance provides an experience involving the mind, emotions and the body.

Tap 1-3

Tap dancers will concentrate on refining the technique principles introduced in the beginning levels. Emphasis will be placed on having a better understanding of tap terminology, stronger technical execution, learning various rhythmic styles, accenting and shading, and a broader knowledge in presentation and performance. It is strongly recommended that students in intermediate levels of the tap program also take classes in other dance techniques to assist in creating a well rounded-dancer. Children must be proficient at a certain technical level, have a grasp of the required artistic concepts and have a determined level of understanding of tap technique before they move to the next level. This is determined at the discretion of the artistic director and tap instructor.

Tap Int & Adv
Tap dancers in the advanced levels of tap are technically proficient, obtain a vast knowledge in rhythmic style, are experienced in the areas of performance and presentation, and have developed a sense of individualized style and pride of accomplishment in his or her tap ability. Students will be exposed to a broader range of tap technique, focusing more class time on choreography, style and presentation. Students will also have a greater opportunity to experience class from guest teachers, attend tap festivals and possibly take more than one tap class a week.

Acro 1-4 - by faculty placement level 2 and up (Ages 5 & up)

Acrobatics teaches flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline & concentration. Acro is not the typical tumbling or gymnastics class. This class is great for students looking to enhance their agility, flexibility, & strength. Students should always come to class in dance/tumbling attire (preferably a leotard under a tank top and shorts to cover the belly). Baggy clothes are not acceptable. Student’s hair should be pulled back out of the face. In the beginners class we will focus strongly on stretching and flexibility. In this class we will start learning the basic acrobatic movements to start your students foundation to learning more advanced tricks. In this class we will focus on somersaults, cartwheels, head stands, standing backbends, front and back overs and round offs.

Acro 5-7 - by faculty placement (Ages 6 & up)

The intermediate/advanced class will be taking skills the student might already know and expanding them too more difficult tricks. To be placed in the intermediate/advanced class a student should be able to do a standing backbend and be able to stand up from the backbend, front overs and round offs. It is helpful to have these skills already so we can move on to focus on more difficult tricks. In this class we will focus on elbow stands, one-handed front walkovers, Valdez, back handsprings, aerials and many more advanced tricks.

Hip Hop (Ages 6-9)

Hip Hop (Ages 10+)

Hip Hop MS/HS (Ages 11-14)

A high-energy class that uses the latest sounds in Rap, Hip Hop, R&B and pop music together with movements influenced by some of today’s hottest video choreographers.  Hip hop encompasses movement that has elements of poppin', locking, and breaking as well as freestyle movement to give students the opportunity to develop their own sense of style.  Hip hop is urban, it’s street, it’s diverse and forever changing. 

Adults/Teen Classes

Beg/Int Ballet

This ballet enrollment class introduces the fundamental principles of Ballet and will build week to week. Basic positions of the feet and arms, proper alignment, ballet vocabulary, barre exercises and center work will be taught and reviewed in depth. This class will break down the steps and provide students with exercises that build strength, increase flexibility and provide a foundation that can be applied to all dance styles. Classes focus on overall body alignment and awareness with emphasis on proper usage of feet and legs and execution of turnout. Carriage and usage of upper torso and arms are also stressed. Traditional barre work, center work and combinations are included in all classes.

Beg/Int Jazz

Jazz is an exciting and ever evolving dance form full of rhythm, syncopation, passion and life.  Steeped in the rhythm of jazz music, a true American art form, jazz dance brings energy and life to all those who dance it.   Classes explore body isolations of the head, shoulders, ribcage, feet and arms and encourage individual expression and the development of personal style. Jazz can be powerful and percussive or expressive and lyrical.  Ever evolving, jazz dance is taught with the music of today together with the classical jazz of yesterday.

Beg/Int Tap

Tap dancers will concentrate on refining the technique principles introduced in the beginning levels. Emphasis will be placed on having a better understanding of tap terminology, stronger technical execution, learning various rhythmic styles, accenting and shading, and a broader knowledge in presentation and performance. It is strongly recommended that students in intermediate levels of the tap program also take classes in other dance techniques to assist in creating a well rounded-dancer.

Theatre Program

Pre-Theatre (Ages 4-6)

Theatre 1 (Ages 7-9)

Theatre 2 (Ages 9-11)

Theatre 3 (Ages 11-13)

Theatre 4 (Ages 13 & Up)

This is an introductory course of theatre basics in technique and terminology. The course material includes improvisational theater games, skill building exercises, and related acting exercises. Students will expand and perfect age-appropriate acting techniques such as voice and body development, group dynamics, stage movement, character development, memory and concentration. Within this course, students will be exposed to musical theatre by learning and performing a scene from a Broadway show. Students will apply their techniques through performance opportunities in the studio and in the community.