Dance Upstairs

Academy of Performing Arts

Our Classes

DANCE & TUMBLE PROGRAM

At Dance Upstairs Academy of Performing Arts we offer Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Clogging, Hip-Hop, Tumbling, and Martial Arts Classes.

Our combination classes are: Ballet/Tap  & Jazz/Hip-Hop

We also offer: Tumbling, Martial Arts, and Clogging!

We do require an audition for new students in 5th grade & up  for entry into our dance school for Ballet & Tap Classes.  Jazz/Hip-Hop, Tumbling, and Clogging are open to anyone wishing to take these classes. 

For those who want a more in-depth and concentrated dance classes you may audition in May for our Diamond Classes. You must have taken dance with us for an entire year or have permission from the director to audition for these classes.  These students take separate Ballet and Tap Classes, as well as Jazz/Hip-Hop Classes.  They perform Nutcracker selections at our Holiday Performance, compete at three regional competitions, attend two conventions, and compete at a national championship in the summer.  Auditions for 2009-2010 will be held May 4th, 5th, & 6th.

We look forward to an exciting 2008-2009 dance season and look forward to you and your dancer being a part of The Dance Upstairs Family in our 32nd year of dance and performing arts training in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina. 

Description of Some Dance Forms offered 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

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 seven) of careful and skilled ballet  instruction.  The dancer should be at least 10 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. 

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. 

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. 

Tumbling (Gymnastics/Acrobatics)

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,

Modern

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. 

Lyrical

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. **NOTE: At the academy we do not teach a separate class for lyrical, it is incorporated into Jazz or Ballet Classes at our Junior, Teen, & Senior Levels.

Clogging

Clogging is a traditional type of percussive folk dance which is associated with a number of different regions across the world. Originally, it wasn’t even necessarily called "clogging". but was known variously as flat-footing, foot-stomping, buck dancing, jigging, or by other local terms. What all these had in common was emphasizing the downbeat of the music by enthusiastic footwork. In the U.S., the Appalachian style of clogging, as well as many distinct styles, have developed. The modern competitive clogging style incorporates aspects of the English and Irish step dances, as well as American Appalachian clogging, French-Canadian step dance, tap and more. The high-energy style has opened the form to a wide audience, and the traditional styles also continue to flourish, with hundreds of workshops and competitions every year. Clogging is the official state dance of Kentucky as well as North Carolina.

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.