Dance Upstairs

Academy of Performing Arts

"The Yadkin Valley's Premier Dance School"

Our Classes

Photo by Capturing Memories Photography

About Us

Dance Upstairs was established in 1977 by newlyweds James & Nanette Shover.  They has a dream to open a dance school here in Yadkin Valley.  They both came form strong dance and theater backgrounds and were egger to share their passion for the arts with a growing community.  They first opened Dance Upstairs right on Main Street in Elkin over top of the Rainbow Barrell Bookstore (hence where the name came from) When they outgrow that location they moved to State Road and then again to Jonesville for many years.  In 1995 they moved back to their roots on Main Street in Historic downtown Elkin to their current location 246 East Main Street (which was formally the old Smithies Department Store) Over the years thousands of young people have come though the doors of Dance Upstairs.  Some for only a year or two, others spent all of their grade school years, and some have gone on to make a career of the arts.  Former students have gone on to perform on Broadway in New York, in national touring companies, Philadanco, Spindle City Ballet, Boston Ballet, have toured the world performing, some are now even Directors of College dance programs and have their own studios.  Dance Upstairs has been home to several national championship winners, choreography awards, and national title winners including America�s Miss Dance 2007 Erin Bledsoe and America�s Miss Dance 2009 Lindsay Peele.  But most students that go through Dance Upstairs will tell you that dance taught them so much more than just the technique, but that is made them more confident, made them comfortable in front of large groups of people, helped them to learn discipline, time management, and that their best friends, that they still keep in contact with today were the ones they met at dance. 

At Dance Upstairs our students learn the proper techniques of the various forms of dance while enjoying the performing aspects of dance in a loving caring Christian Atmosphere encouraged by the teachers, students, and parents of our school.  Everyone is important and recognized for their individual accomplishment. 

We offer classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Musical Theater, Tumbling, and have been recognized nationally for our Preschool Dance Program.  Every member of our faculty is well trained in all areas they teach.  Those teachers instructing higher level classes are nationally certified instructors through Dance Masters of America and/or America�s Dance Council. 

Below you will find an explanation of our class levels and descriptions of the dance forms we offer.

CLASS AGE GUIDE

Discovery (1st year 2 & 3 year olds)

Class Options: Ballet/Tumbling

Tiny (2nd year 3 year olds)

Class Options: Ballet & Tumbling

Mini (Pre-K & K )

Class Options: Ballet-Tap-Tumbling

Petite (1st & 2nd Grade)

Class Options: Ballet-Tap-Jazz/Hip-Hop, Lyrical

Junior (3rd-5th Grade)

Class Options: Ballet-Tap-Jazz/Hip-Hop, Lyrical

Senior (6th grade & up)

Class Options: Ballet-Tap-Jazz/Hip-Hop, Lyrical

We look forward to an exciting 2009-2010 dance season and look forward to you and your dancer being a part of The Dance Upstairs Family in our 33rd year of dance and performing arts training in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina.  We have been family owned and operated by the Shover family since our founding in 1977. 

Description of Some Dance Forms taught at Dance Upstairs

Ballet

Ballet is a highly technical form of dance.  The basis of all dance forms are derived from Ballet.  Because of the sometimes unnatural ways and positions a dancer is expected to move and use their bodies, it is extremely beneficial to study ballet in order to best execute all other forms of dance and acrobatics/gymnastics.  Ballet through its discipline, grace, balance, and body control provides the dancer with basic skills to successfully learn any other dance form. 

Pointe (Only for Advanced Ballet Students)

Pointe is the dancing on the toes.  It is sometimes inaccurately referred to as "toe dancing."  Pointe work should not be given until a student has had at least three years (after age eight) of careful and skilled ballet  instruction.  The dancer should be at least 11 years of age before such consideration is made.  Pointe work is only for the serious dance student who is willing to devote time for practice.  Failure to take these precautions can result in serious injury immediately or in a gradual weakening of back and knee muscles resulting in bad posture, back trouble, and foot problems in later years.  It is imperative that students going into Pointe work have good posture, body placement, balance, and ballet technique.  Only a qualified dance teacher can effectively access a student and advise them of their readiness to begin Pointe work. 

Tap

Tap has its origins in blues and Irish dancing. Tap is mostly American and bases its technique in the use of the foot in several intricate movements.  Being a rhythmic form of dancing it is often more challenging at first. through proper technique, training, and body development tap can prove to be an exciting, enjoyable, and audience pleasing form of dance. Like many other forms of dance there are many styles in tap. 

Jazz

Jazz is a stylized theatrical form of dance.  It was conceived in America and changes with the times.  Regardless of its changes Jazz dancing still requires a learning of basic jazz moves, technique, and styles.  It is through the understanding of Jazz basic movements that the student learns the adaptability to be able to perform any style of jazz. 

Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop is developed form street dancing.  It incorporates Pop & Lock technique with Jazz. This is an everyman's dance form.  Hip hop dance can be divided into old school and new school, but the separation between the two is somewhat ambiguous and thought to be evolving with the passing of time.  Hip-Hop came from Break Dancing of the 1980's. 

Tumbling (Gymnastics/Acrobatics) (Offered for Ages 3 through 1st Grade Only)

Acrobatics dancing is the artistic use of movement and tricks.  Strength, flexibility, and control are necessary to successful execution of acrobatics.  Acrobatics can be simple or complex. The more complex the greater the demands on the students strength, flexibility, and control.  Some students are more suited to advanced acrobatics than others, however the study of acrobatics at younger ages proves to be beneficial to the students development and success in other forms of dance.

Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, and forward rolls. It developed from fitness and beauty practices used by the ancient Greeks,

Lyrical & Modern

Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet and jazz techniques. Lyrical dance challenges choreographers and dancers to use motion to interpret music and express emotion. A lyrical dancer's movements attempts to show the meaning of the music. Choreographers use connected and flowing movements to tell the story of the music and express inner emotion. This emotional expression is a critical element of lyrical dance. Lyrical dance lines are on a central axis, usually centered. When running, dancers lead with toes and connect with the floor with a light quality. The costume is also very important, playing an essential part in the dance expression and explanation of the music.

Modern is not jazz or street dancing. Modern is a unique form of dance in which the dancer pulls from within to create a theme, idea, or present a concept.  Dancers in younger modern classes are introduced to creative movement and "self" expression.  As the dancer advances in modern dance study the influences of jazz, ballet, and tap become exceedingly valuable.  Modern dance provides an opportunity for the serious dance student to grow from the mind through body expression.