Classes & Curriculum
Arabesque Academy of Dancing
"Motivating Young Minds To Be The Best They Can Be"
Widely recognized as the most appropriate dance experience for young children, pre-ballet classes explore the basic elements of movement such as the body awareness, fine motor skills, rhythm, basic coordination, and use of space.  Classes also emphasize the utilization of each child's individual imagination and creativity as well as teaching them how to express themselves within a group.  Our Pre-Ballet Program is great preparation for early socialization as our children learn many skills that they will need to operate effectivetly in various environments.  Some of these skills include taking turns, understanding a structured classroom setting, interpreting instructions, and easing the anxiety of parent-child separation.
It is the philosphy of Arabesque Academy of Dancing, as most dance professionals, that classical ballet training provides the best foundation for all forms of dance.  This discipline develops beautiful and strong bodies through its emphasis on good posture and balanced development of strength and flexibility.  It also builds confidence, poise, and strength of character while instilling an appreciation for the art of dance.  Classical ballet training provides a sound technical foundation upon which to further dance studies can be built, and it offers an aesthetic form of exercise through the use of barre and center work.  Finally, this dance form provides the dance technique, the vocabulary, and terminologies used by other dance styles such as jazz. lyrical, and even tap, while providing the discipline and structure within which all dancers can express their individuality.
Basic/Combo Classes
(Ages 3 - 9)
These classes combine either Ballet & Tap (Basics) or Ballet, Tap, & Jazz (Combo) into one class.  Each discipline is broken into 30 minute segments so that the students can become exposed to the different dance forms before selecting which they would like to focus on in the future.  These classes keep the students interested and engaged, and since all of their classes will be held during this one time block, they are a popular option for busy parents.
Traditional Tap training is designed to build coordination, rhythm, and style.  Students learn the fundamentals of Tap technique.  As they progress, students will utilize their fundamental technique while learning to execute steps of increased intricacy and speed.
Jazz is an exciting dance form characterized by intense & high-paced movements to music from both past and present.  Students will work on improving their flexibility, strength, balance, and style while concentrating on developing proper dance techniques.  Jazz class will also help students learn progression skills by introducing the use of kicks, turns, jumps, and leaps as part of their regular Jazz dance curriculum.
Pointe
(Ages 11 & Up)
After the age of 11, students may study Pointe on recommendation of the director.  Most students will naturally progress to this area of Ballet, and it will be incorporated into their weekly class.  Students who are not prepared to progress to this level of dancing or those who are not permitted to do so by their parents will be placed in an appropriate class where they can continue to further their knowledge of Ballet and learn to execute more advanced steps and footwork without the use of Pointe shoes.
Lyrical is a cross between Ballet and Jazz set to music lyrics and notably different in the manner by which the tempo and mood vary throughout the piece.  Lyrical dancing has soft, expansive, and sustained movements that tell a story or express various feelings.  It is a style of dance which encourages dancers to use their innermost emotions coupled with their personal style to become very expressive through movement.
Hip-hop dance refers to social or choreographed dance styles primarily danced to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. This includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were developed in the 1970s. What separates hip-hop dance from other forms of dance is that it is often freestyle (improvizational) in nature and hip-hop dancers frequently engage in battles—formal or informal freestyle dance competitions.
Hip Hop
(Ages 10 & Up)
Acting
(Ages 5 & Up)

This fun class is a great introduction to the magic of theatre.  Lessons in concentration, direction and story telling are conducted through fun and easy Theatre Games that help students work on expressing themselves within a give story in their own unique way. Older students will work on cold readings and monologues to help them become comfortable with the auditioning process, as well as furthering their unique creativity.  This class is developed mainly for stage productions but lessons in On-Camera will be included to make it a well rounded and balanced program for each student to use in any area of acting focus.
Zumba
(Ages 18 & Up)
The Zumba program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life! The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you've got a Zumba class!   Our Zumba class has a pay as you go policy meaning you just pay the $5 flat rate for just the classes you attend.


This new program is for students who are interested in beginning to learn how to share the gift of dance with younger students.  Upon acceptance into the program, the Artistic Director will place the apprentice teachers in a class where their level of proficiency and age is appropriate to work with the children.  Each candidate for the program will be assisting the Artistic Director and/ or an experienced instructor, and they will be learning the skills necessary to effectively share their joy of dancing with younger students. 

Students who are interested in the possibility of becoming a future teacher at Arabesque Academy of Dancing, or those who think they may wish to pursue a career in dance are highly encouraged to apply for acceptance into this program.  Apprentice teachers will receive a one class deduction from their yearly tuition bill as well as other studio “perks” as appreciation for the extra time that they will be dedicating to the studio.
Acro
(Ages 6 & Up)
Acro is a combination of Modern Jazz and Gymnastics.  Students first learn gymnastics in a safe and positive environment from our highly qualified gymnastics and dance instructor, Hilary Nelson.  They are then taught dance moves separately the two are combined together to form this highly energetic and exciting form of dance.  If you love gymnastics and dance this is the best of both worlds.