The Jennifer Prete School of Dance Class Descriptions

Pre Ballet and Tap 1 and 2       (ages 3 - 4 ½)

Pre Ballet and Tap is a one hour combination class divided into a half hour ballet class and a half hour tap class focusing on ballet and tap fundamentals for toddlers.  This combination class for preschool age children concentrates on the development of creative movement, coordination, and the teachings of the basic ballet and tap technique suitable for their age and ability level. Although slightly structured, your child will enjoy nursery rhyme and toddler based music while learning to express themselves through dance.  Our studio provides a warm, safe and family-like atmosphere to ensure the happiness of you and your child.

Combo 1                                  (ages 5 – 7)

Combo 1 is a one and a half hour level one combination class which covers the three core dance disciplines of ballet, tap and jazz. Each subject is one half hour. This combination class will introduce your child to the basic technique for all three dance disciplines starting with basic ballet barre work ballet,  tap, and jazz technique and dance combinations. Our studio offers a nurturing and family-like atmosphere to encourage and assist your child to reach his or her optimum ability level and enjoyment of dance.

Combo 2                                  (ages 8-10)

Combo 2 is a two hour and fifteen minute combination class that devotes forty five minutes to each dance discipline of ballet, tap, jazz and or hip hop. At this second level of dance instruction, each class curriculum is enhanced with more structured technique, progression work and more advanced combinations and routines.

Combo 3                                  (ages 10-13)

Combo 3 is a two hour and fifteen minute combination class at level three for pre-teens devoted to forty five minutes of teaching for each dance discipline of ballet, tap, jazz and or hip hop. This class is mainly for students with at least level one and level two experience from JPSD.  This combination class moves at a rapid pace of teaching technique, advanced progression work, advance combinations and routines.   

Teen Ballet                                (ages 13-15)

Teen Ballet is for beginner/intermediate level students. This ballet class will focus on the introduction and reinforcement of ballet barre work, center work, ballet progressions and combinations of the Russian Vaganova and Italian Cechetti methods of ballet instruction. Our studio focuses on correct body alignment, poise, flexibility and technique. There are various levels of teen ballet at our studio based on each student's ability level. Each student's ability level will be determined by the dance instructors.

Teen/Adult Ballet                     (ages 15-adult)

Teen/Adult Ballet is for the more advanced dancer. Our Russian and Italian based ballet lessons are taught at a rapid pace for students who have already completed beginner and intermediate ballet levels. Our studio concentrates primarily on advanced barre work, advanced center work along with intense combination work and ballet routines utilizing advanced ballet technique.

Pointe                                      (ages 13-adult)

Pointe class is strictly for our advanced ballet students who have accomplished their studies in all levels of our ballet curriculum. At the discretion of their teacher and artistic director, the student may participate in this class. The Teen/Adult Ballet class must also be taken simultaneously to partake in Pointe class at JPSD.

Teen Tap                                 (ages 13-15)

Tap 1 and 2 are primarily designed for teens to learn the beginner and then intermediate tap techniques. Our studio focuses on the teaching techniques of the great tap dancers and teachers such as Henry LeTeng, Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Jimmy Slyde, Savion Glover and Debbi Dee. Our tap class will cover the basic tap warm ups, tap technique, learning to shade sounds by using their tap shoes as instruments.  Combinations and routines will be created for the student as well utilizing the techniques learned in classes.

Teen/Adult Tap                     (ages 15-adult)

Teen/Adult Tap 3 is for our more experience tap student. Teen/Adult Tap focuses in tap technique in traditional tap as well as contemporary tap. Our classes offer rhythm tap styles as well as Broadway tap styles from the great tap dancers and teachers listed in TeenTap in the above class description. Advanced time steps, flash tap tricks and “in the floor” hoofer styles will be taught as well.

Adult Beginner/Intermediate Tap                            

Adult Tap is designed for the beginner to intermediate student who wishes to learn tap technique, exercise and get in shape. Our gentle yet structured class suits any woman who wishes to learn and have fun when tap dancing to current and jazz music by artists such as Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Michael Buble', Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman and more! No experience is necessary!

Teen Jazz                                 (ages 13-15)

Teen Jazz is a class designed to introduce young teens to beginner jazz and then move forward to an intermediate level. Jazz 1 focuses on teaching basic jazz techniques, jazz leaps, turns, high kicks, Bob Fosse style dancing.  Broadway/traditional and funk jazz are JPSD’s main style of jazz teaching. Stretches, progressions, combinations and routines are also included in this class.  At least one ballet class is required to be taken to take jazz at JPSD. There are several levels of teen jazz at JPSD. The instructors and director will determine which level best suits each student.

Adv. Teen/Adult Jazz                       (ages 15-adult)

Teen/Adult Jazz is an advanced version of Teen Jazz. Teen Jazz is a prerequisite in order to take Teen/Adult Jazz at JPSD. The technique in this class will be for the advanced student who has already successfully accomplished the beginner and intermediate levels of jazz.  The leaps, turns, progressions and combinations in this class are designed to challenge the advanced jazz dancer. Ballet is also a prerequisite to take Jazz at JPSD.

Adult Beginner/Intermediate Jazz     

Adult Beginner Jazz is a great way for beginner and intermediate adults to increase their flexibiltiy, learn traditional and modern jazz techniques and enjoy the combinations of dance choreography designed for learning in a fun atmosphere! No experience necessary!

Pre Teen/Teen Hip Hop 1          (ages 12-14)

Hip Hop 1 is for the beginner pre-teen and young teen to learn the hip hop style of dance as seen on television music videos. Hip Hop is a fast paced energetic form of dance dealing primarily with natural rhythm and fluidity. Popular and Hip Hop music are used in this class.

Teen Hip Hop 2                         (ages 14-16)

Hip Hop 2 is for teens who wish to learn hip hop dancing focusing on natural rhythm, hip hop techniques, pop locking, urban and funk styles of dance. Choreography and combinations using hip hop techniques will be done to music of hip hop music artists such as Missy Elliot,

Flo Rida, Chris Brown, Beyonce, Joe Buddens. T-Pain, Busta Rhymes and more.

Teen/Adult Hip Hop 3               (ages 16-adult)

Hip Hop 3 is for advanced students who have already fulfilled the requirements of Hip Hop 1 and 2. The approach that JPSD takes when teaching Hip Hop 3 includes fast paced instructions in advanced combinations and choreography. Hip Hop 3 is the most advanced level of Hip Hop at JPSD.

Lyrical                                      (ages pre-teen, teen and adult)

Lyrical is the combination of Jazz and Ballet. Ballet is a requirement for Lyrical at JPSD. Although using ballet technique in this class, the emphasis in this class is on fluidity, flexibility and a personal intense expression of the actual lyrics of the music. Lyrical dance focuses on the exuding of emotion of the dancer as well as the execution of the technical aspects of the instructor’s choreography.

Contemporary/Modern                         (all levels available)

Contemporary/Modern dance is interpretive dance using modern dance techniques invented and mastered by the great dancers and choreographers such as Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton, Jose Limon, Doris Humphrey and many more as far back as 1900. This form of dance focuses on contraction, release, fall and recovery. It is a form of dance that places emphasis on fluidity, flexibility and rejects the limitations of classical ballet and favors movement deriving from the expression of inner feeling.