Classes

Dance Classes/ Lessons for Kids/ Children at Charlottetown & PEI (Prince Edward Island)

We provide the highest professional dance lessons in a variety of genres of dance:

Pre-Ballet
Classical Ballet
Pointe
Tap
Jazz
Modern
Hip Hop

We take pride in teaching and motivating dancers to accomplish their goals. Whether it is to be a professional classical ballet dancer, professional dancer in a Broadway play setting or simply attaining the highest possible knowledge of the art of dance as enjoyment.

Dancers will achieve:

Discipline in mind and body
Improvement in memory and thinking skills
Body strength and control

Our curriculum:

Each year the dance lessons syllabus changes to insure that students returning to their same age group have new material.
Semester ends with an observation dance class or performance.
Each year ends with formal recital.
Number of acts and complexity increases with corresponding dance class level.

Pre Ballet I - Ages: 3 – 5 years old

Does your child love to dance and have fun? Pre Ballet I will provide a strong base of formal dance lessons technique but also cultivate each child’s unique movement style. Your child will also learn social interactive and listening skills through ballet story telling. They will learn to identify different types of music, develop performance skills, and most importantly build a strong sense self-esteem and confidence.

The purpose of the Pre Ballet I class is to help children have a strong technical and improvisational background, have a positive joyful introduction to dance, feel comfortable in their bodies — fully expressing themselves creatively through movement, and, most importantly, have lots of fun while learning to be focused.

Pre Balet II - Ages: 5.5 – 7 years old

The older children are given more advanced dance lessons technique (ballet, modern floor and center work) as well as choreography and improvisational exercises. Pre Ballet II classes are a fun combination of ballet technique and choreography. Students learn all the basic ballet steps. Parents cannot believe the improvement at year's end in posture, poise, and graceful athleticism.

Ballet I, II/Pointe, Intermediate and Advanced

Ballet is a fundamental discipline for all movement styles such as: Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Figure Skating and many others. Understanding the art of movement in dance and building the foundation through ballet exercise makes a compelling difference and adds beauty into performance of movement. Having ballet skills is one of the major differences between good and great dancer.

We follow Vaganova method and philosophy teaching classical ballet to our students.

There are three parts to the Ballet that Dance Stars Academy teaches, Classical, Free movement, and Character.

Classical Ballet is the foundation of all dance styles. In order to become truly proficient in contemporary, modern, jazz, Broadway or partnering the dancer needs ballet training. It is the most formal of the dance styles. Classical ballet is best known for its unique features and techniques, such as pointe work, turn-out of the legs, and high extensions; its graceful, flowing, precise movements; and its ethereal qualities.

Free movement introduces the neo classical side of ballet and dance. It encourages dancing with dynamics and emotion. It can also be used to teach a more difficult combination or ballet movement by first learning it without strict positions. The dancers get "the feel" of the movement first and then perfect the technique.

Character dance refers to special steps and movements that are unique to particular regions and countries. The character dancing introduces students to the character styles used in classical ballet. These Character dances remain in the repertoire of classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Coppelia, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and many others.

Jazz - Ages 7 and up (Elementary Jazz 5.5-7yrs)
Dance classes combine jazz technique and contemporary styles of movement from MTV and lyrical to Broadway and concert dance. Each class consists of a Luigi method warm-up, isolation, traveling across the floor, turns, and a variety of combinations.

Modern - Ages 14 and up
Dance classes are geared to the development of strength, flexibility, mobility and kinesthetic awareness, and emphasize the integration of thinking, feeling, sensing, and doing in the performance of movement.

Tap

Basic combinations of rhythmic, percussive movements of traditional jazz style. This is a wonderful way to expand energy and learn to dance at the same time. These classes introduce students to basic tap dance technique while developing rhythmic skills, precision and musicality.

Hip Hop I (7-9yrs),

This class teaches the fundamentals of hip hop movement which includes rhythm, musicality, coordination, and age-appropriate hip hop choreography with no suggestive music/movement. This is an excellent class for high-energy kids who want to take a fast and fun dance class.

Hip Hop II (9.5-12yrs),

Contemporary hip hop, locking, poppin, and breakin. class that teaches you Hip Hop moves and technique, but also instills rhythm and precision in your muscle memory. No previous hip hop experience is needed. Lots of fun!

Hip Hop III (13-17yrs)

This class will be fast paced, intricate, groovy and most of all fun! This class consists of enhanced focus on building students’ musicality and performance skills in the area of Hip Hop including variety of hip hop styles, breakin, etc.

Please visit our online learning resources here.

Adult Classes:

These drop in classes are not part of Dance Stars Academy curriculum. Classes are held weekly, and taught by volunteer instructors from variety of local dance schools. Generally, these are Modern and Ballet. Sometimes, class content may change to a different style (such as ballroom, jazz, lyrical, etc) to spice things up. There is no registration, and classes are held on the on-going basis. Dance fundamentals are not taught in this class, and previous dance experience is helpful. Feel like dancing? Come and join in. Bring your dance spirit, water bottle, and towel.