Our Creative Dance classes allow children to explore music, rhythm, and movement. By nurturing their energy, vitality, and imagination, these first dance classes help young students to develop mental, physical, and social skills that will serve them well, no matter what goals they eventually pursue. At the end of class students will complete a take home craft, aiding in the development of their fine motor skills.
Our Classes
Offering Quality Dance Education to the Derry Community
Derry Dance Center
About Our Early Childhood Program
Ages 3-4 (must be 3 by 09/30/2008 and out of diapers)
1 Hour Long
Creative Dance I & II
Class structure for all Creative Movement levels is essentially the same, with the content based on appropriate developmental skills for the specific age. Each class begins with a brief sharing time. Class continues with a center warm-up that includes all of the major muscle groups. From this, students learn correct posture and placement of the body, as well as balance.
Following the warm-up comes stretching. These gentle exercises help with flexibility as the children age and also teach them how important stretching our muscles is.
The next section is based on different monthly objectives geared to the age of the students. Concepts such as classroom etiquette, musical awareness, relationships to others, relationships to the working space, expressing emotions through movement, and pantomime are explored throughout the year. Students will be taught basic ballet steps and terminology and they will take turns moving around the room using age-appropriate traveling steps.
The last portion of class is devoted to developing creative expression. Students participate in a wide variety of free movement exercises that teach them listening skills (responding to tempo and the mood of the music), levels (high, medium, low), and directions (forward, backwards, sideways). Young children who are exposed to this type of activity in class are generally more creative as they mature through life.
KinderCreative Dance
In our third and last year of our Creative Dance Program we continue our creative influence while introducing more elementary dance steps and routines. These classes prepare the student for a smooth transition into our combination classes for the next year.
Ages 5-6 (must be 5 by 09/30/2008)
45 Minutes Long
Tap 1
A tap class for the beginning young tapper. An introduction to basic tap steps and rhythm that is bound to get your little one's feet moving!
Ages 5-7
30 Minutes Long
Combination Ballet/Jazz
This class extends into more ballet structure while introducing jazz dance. Classes alternate with ballet one week and jazz the next throughout the year.
Ages 6 - 9
1 Hour Long
Ballet Levels
In this division, students learn classical technique and the fundamentals of the classical syllabus. Discipline, consistency and commitment are prerequisites for progress in this division. These students are introduced to the rigors of pointe work through preparatory exercises. A complete syllabus of barre, adage, allegro, pointe, and theory is offered. Approximately two years are required at each level.
Ages 7/8 and Up
Two classes a week are minimum for levels 3 - 7. Pointe technique is by invitiation or audition only.
Jazz Levels
This program is offered to students in the Ballet Levels program who would like to continue in the diversity of dance. Students will learn structured Jazz technique and a bit of musical theater. This American dance form gives our students the ability to handle contemporary choreography and is recommended for all students in the Levels Program.
Recommended for Levels 1 and Up.
Modern Levels
Modern Dance is concerned with exploring the communicative potential of human movement and its power to revel moods, feelings, and ideas. It is imperative for dancers to acquire some knowledge of modern dance, as many ballet choreographers make use of modern techniques when choreographing.
Recommended for Levels 4 and Up.
Tap Levels
Tap is offered to all ages from beginner to advanced. Students learn intricate steps while exploring different rhythms. The study of tap is helpful to children in the development of rhythm sensitivity.
Ages 5 and Up
3/4 Hour Long
Hip-Hop
These classes are very popular with young adults looking to try a new dance form. This new phenonmenon of the dance world uses appropriate hip-hop and pop music while learning energized dance movement.
Ages 8 and Up
1 Hour Long
Adult Classes
We offer several Adult classes including Ballet and Hip-Hop. These classes are designed for the beginning adult, or the adult that may have danced as a child. A fun way to get out and get moving.
Ages 15 and Up
We do have regulation dancewear that you can purchase at the Dance Center
"The Derry Dance Center has been a wonderful place for my daughter to be introduced to dance. The instructors are highly skilled and work hard to bring out the best in every child. It is a nurturing and positive environment which gives the students the confidence and encouragement they need to succeed."
~Veronica Cianciulli, Mother
