2/3 year old Predance (30 minutes)
Children ages 2 to 3 learn basic movement skills and how to coordinate movement with music through play. They are introduced to dance concepts including tendu, plie, chasse, releve, arabesque, saute and passé. They also begin to learn basic ballet positions. Activities include playing with bean bags, scarves, pom poms, bubbles, sticks and ponies. Pre-dance students also learn tumbling skills. Parents are allowed to stay in the room with nervous 2/3 year olds but we encourage them to watch from the viewing windows if their little dancer is comfortable in the dance room without them. Pre-dance students perform two routines in the recital matinee, a recital piece by themselves and the finale piece with all the classes.

3/4 year old Tap/Ballet/Tumbling (45 minutes)
Children ages 3 to 4 continue learning basic movement skills and how to coordinate movement with music through play. In addition, they are taught basic tap and ballet skills including shuffle, tap steps, heel steps, toe backs, popcorn, ballet positions, tendu, passé, chasse, releve, and plie. These steps are incorporated into the 2 recital pieces that they perform in the recital matinee. They also perform in the finale piece with all the classes. The last 10-15 minutes of class is devoted to tumbling skills.

4/5 year old and 5/6 Tap/Ballet (1 hour)
Children ages 4 to 6 begin to learn more advanced tap steps and combinations as well as begin to work on more structured ballet skills. They also continue with Tumbling skills. They learn one tap routine and one ballet routine which they perform in the recital matinee along with the finale piece. Although the play activities including the sticks, pom poms and ponies are continued to keep it fun for them, they also learn how to participate in a more structured dance class that includes drill and repetition to ensure that technical skills are learned correctly and consistently reinforced. Students in the 5/6 tap ballet class who are eagerly awaiting jazz class are given basic “pre-jazz” experiences during the 2nd half of the year. They will learn how to perform a basic jazz warm up as well as some basic jazz moves. All 6 year olds must have a firm ballet foundation before attempting jazz class. They will get this foundation in the tap/ballet class.

6/7 Tap/Jazz (1 hour)
Students ages 6 to 7 begin to learn basic jazz movements including the Lindy, Jazz Square, Chasse, Grande Jete, Chaine turns, and head, shoulder and hip isolations. They learn the importance of the jazz warm up and proper stretching techniques. Tap skills are continued and are getting more and more advanced. Depending on the level of the class, they begin to learn Irishes, Maxi Ford, Buffalos, Shuffle Ball Change and Time Steps. 6/7 Tap Jazz students perform one tap routine and one jazz routine to age appropriate music with age appropriate costumes in one evening recital. They also perform in a finale piece.

Tap/Jazz 7 and up (1 hour)
We have several levels of tap jazz classes ranging from beginning to advanced. The skills taught in each class vary depending on the level of the students in the class. The teachers tailor their lesson plans to meet the needs of each individual class. Regardless of the level of the class, each tap/jazz class performs one tap routine and one jazz routine in one evening show. The music chosen is fun, upbeat and age appropriate.

Hip Hop (45 minutes)  NOW FOR 4 AND 5 YEAR OLDS!!!!
Hip Hop style of dance is becoming more and more popular with teens. Hip Hop is high energy street movement as seen in your favorite music videos by artists such as Usher and Rhianna to the hottest R&B, pop and Hip Hop music. It emphasizes body movement and rhythm. With its distinctive style, the class also incorporates isolation and stretching exercises, to enhance student’s physical fitness. Students must bring clean comfortable tennis shoes to change into. Street shoes are not permitted in the dance studio in order to keep outside dirt and grit from damaging the floor. Dress code for Hip Hop students is whatever is comfortable and appropriate. All Hip Hop students learn one routine and a final piece that they perform in one evening show of the recital.

Adult Tap (45 Minutes)
This is an easy-going, no-stress class with very fun, nice people.  Students in this class will learn basic tap steps and will progress quickly.  They will learn one tap routine to perform in an evening show in the spring.  Great exercise.

Zumba (60 Minutes)
Zumba fuses hypnotic, exotic musical rhythms and easy, yet tantalizing, dance moves to provide a workout like no other.  It is fun, it is effective and it is no ordinary exercise class.   Each session begins with an energizing warm-up section to safely raise the heart rate and warm the muscles.  Then, the true dancing begins.  You will learn Merengue, Salsa, Reaggaeton, Bachata, Cumbia and more.  Before  you know it, the hour will be over.  You will be smiling.  You will be energized.  You will be hooked.  What do you need?  Wear comfortable shoes and clothing and bring a bottle of water.  Think you have two left feet?  No worries.  Everyone can Zumba.

Company
Please contact Laura at laura@helmerdance.com if interested in finding out more information about our Company performing lines.