Prep Dance Classes
Preparatory Dance
Prep Dance Classes
Students are placed into classes according to age and ability, taking into account the developmental needs of the individual with an emphasis on the health of the whole dancer. Classes are designed to develop versatile dancers with an organic feeling for line, musicality and quality which will allow them to move from one dance technique to another with ease. View class offerings below, then register.
Prep 1
Students at this level take two ballet classes a week, conditioning and creative dance. Focusing on posture, coordination and musicality, students will begin to control the rotation in their legs, articulate through their feet and feel the alignment of the spine.
Prep 1 Classes
| Ballet & Conditioning | Monday 4-5:30 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
| Ballet | Thursday 4-5:15 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
| Creative Dance | Thursday 5:15-6:15 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
Prep 2
Students at this level take two ballet classes a week, conditioning, character, prep for pointe and boys class. Creative Dance is an elective class. Students will sustain their alignment to allow them to strengthen use of rotation in the hip joints. More sophisticated awareness of body directions, feeling for line and development of classical ballet vocabulary is introduced.
Prep 2 Classes
| PBT | Monday | 5:30 - 6:15 p.m. | Studio 607 | A. Dore |
| Ballet | Monday | 6:15 - 7:45 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
| Ballet | Wednesday | 5:30 - 7 p.m. | Studio 298 | S. Brooker |
| Pre-pointe | Wednesday | 7 - 7:30 p.m. | Studio 298 | S. Brooker |
| Ballet | Friday | 4 - 5:30 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
| Character | Friday | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
| Elective: Creative Dance | Thursday | 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
Prep 3
Students at this level take four ballet classes a week, Progressing Ballet Technique conditioning class, character, boys and pre-pointe. Contemporary Dance is an elective class. Students’ posture and alignment should be sustained throughout all exercises and students are expected to take responsibility for personal corrections through awareness of their unique gifts and challenges.
Prep 3B Classes
| Ballet | Tuesday 4 - 5:30 p.m. | Studio 612 | A. Blanco |
| Character | Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Studio 612 | S. Brooker |
| PBT | Wednesday 4:45 - 5:45 p.m. | Studio 607 | A. Dore |
| Ballet | Wednesday 5:45 - 7:15 p.m. | Studio 607 | A. Blanco |
| Ballet | Thursday 4 - 5:30 p.m. | Studio 612 | A. Blanco |
| Pointe | Thursday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Studio 612 | A. Dore |
| Ballet | Friday 5 - 6:15 p.m. | Studio 610 | A. Blanco |
| Elective: Contemporary | Friday 6:15 - 7:30 pm | Studio 610 | T. Griggs |
Prep 4
Students at this level take four ballet classes a week, Progressing Ballet Technique conditioning class, character, contemporary, boys and pointe. An extra ballet class is an elective. Students will be using artistic and musical nuance to develop and enrich quality of movement. The strength to sustain directions of the body en l’air, with a feeling of line in the port de bras is important, together with the ability to coordinate allegro with use of épaulement.
Prep 4A & 4B Classes
| Ballet | Tuesday 5:30-7 p.m. | Studio 614 | A Blanco |
| Pointe | Tuesday 7-7:45 p.m. | Studio 614 | S. Brooker |
| Ballet | Wednesday 4-5:30 p.m. | Studio 398 | A. Blanco |
| PBT | Wednesday 5:45-6:45 p.m. | Studio 398 | A. Dore |
| Contemporary | Wednesday 6:45-7:45 p.m. | Studio 398 | T. Griggs |
| Ballet | Thursday 5:30-7 p.m. | Studio 298 | A. Blanco |
| Pointe | Thursday 7-7:45 p.m. | Studio 298 | S. Brooker |
| Character | Friday 5:15-6:15 p.m. | Studio 614 | A. Dore |
| Ballet | Friday 6:15-7:45 p.m. | Studio 614 | C. Stewart |
| 4B Elective: Ballet | Monday 5:15 - 6:45 pm | Studio 615 | C Stewart |
| 4A&B Elective: Historical Dance | Monday 6:45 - 7:45 pm | Studio 615 | N. Danilova |
Prep 5
Students at this level take five ballet classes a week, Progressing Ballet Technique conditioning class, character, contemporary, boys and pointe. Students in Prep. 5 should be competent in the vocabulary of the previous levels and have the artistry, technique and musicality to develop more complex movement patterns with confidence and performance quality. They should have the maturity to work independently and be self-motivated.
Prep 5 Classes
| Ballet | Monday 5:15-6:45 p.m. | Studio 615 | C. Stewart |
| PBT | Monday 6:45-7:45 p.m. | Studio 615 | N. Danilova |
| Ballet | Tuesday 4-5:30 p.m. | Studio 610 | C. Stewart |
| Pointe | Tuesday 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Studio 610 | C. Stewart |
| Ballet | Wednesday 4-5:30 p.m. | Studio 298 | S. Brooker |
| Character | Wednesday 5:45-6:45 p.m. | Studio 610 | T Griggs |
| Contemporary | Wednesday 6:45-7:45 p.m. | Studio 610 | A. Dore |
| Ballet | Thursday 5:30-7 p.m. | Studio 614 | A. Blanco |
| Pointe | Thursday 7 - 7:45 p.m. | Studio 614 | C. Stewart |
| Ballet | Friday 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. | Studio 615 | C. Stewart |
| Ballet | Friday 6:45 - 7:45 p.m. | Studio 615 | C Stewart |
Elective classes, performance opportunities and additional courses
Elective Classes
Prep 2 Elective
| Creative Dance | Thursday 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. | Studio 607 | S. Brooker |
Prep 3B Elective
| Contemporary | Friday 6:15-7:30 p.m. | Studio 610 | T. Griggs |
| 4B Elective: Ballet | Monday 5:15 - 6:45 pm | Studio 615 | C. Stewart |
| 4A & 4B Elective: Character | Monday 6:45 - 7:45 pm | Studio 615 | A. Dore |
Performance Ensemble: Levels 1-5
Fall: September 17 - December 18
Spring: January 7 - June 10
The Nutcracker Tea Party (Fall)
Prep 1-5
Students have the opportunity to dance in The Nutcracker Tea Party. This Preparatory
Dance program production gives students the chance to expand their performance experience.
As Drosselmeyer recounts the story of the Nutcracker from his book of memories the
Prep. students dance the story to a young audience, many of whom are experiencing
the joy of "The Nutcracker" for the first time.
| Junior Performance Ensemble Prep 1, 2, 3B |
Saturday 1-3 p.m. | Studio 298 | A. Blanco, S. Brooker |
| Senior Performance Ensemble Prep 4, 5 |
Saturday 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Studio 298 | A. Blanco, S. Brooker |
Performance Ensemble (Spring)
Prep 1-5
Performance Ensemble classes give students the opportunity to study age=appropriate
choreography in different dance styles and hone their performance skills. Classes
will be held on Saturday in the Spring, and choreography studied will be performed
in the Spring Festival and during other performance opportunities.
| Junior Performance Ensemble Prep 1, 2, 3B |
Saturday 1-3 p.m. | Studio 298 | A. Blanco, S. Brooker |
| Senior Performance Ensemble Prep 4, 5 |
Saturday 10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Studio 298 | A. Blanco, S. Brooker |
8th and 9th grade Coaching Class
Fall: September 10 - December 17
Spring: January 7 - May 20
This coaching class is designed to prepare students moving from the Preparatory Dance program into the UNCSA High School or other pre-professional dance programs. The focus is on strengthening personal details of artistry, technique and vocabulary. Guest faculty from the UNCSA High School program will be invited to work with students during the Spring session.
NEW! Stomping Ground: Prep Dance Contemporary Program
September 13, 2022 - June 8, 2023
Ages 11 - 15
The UNCSA Preparatory Dance Contemporary program is designed to introduce and develop the technical and creative aspects of Contemporary Dance for the young dancer. Drawing on multiple styles of dance and somatic practices, students will take Contemporary technique class twice a week followed by Dance Composition, Improvisation, or Performance Ensemble.
With an emphasis on finding joy in movement and student driven choreographic explorations, the Preparatory Dance Contemporary program provides a welcoming environment for passionate and creative movers and makers.
Course attire: Contemporary Dance students may wear solid color shirts or leotards with solid color leggings or tights.
| Contemporary | Tuesday 4 - 5:30 p.m. | Studio 607 | T. Griggs |
| Composition & Improvisation | Tuesday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Studio 607 | T. Griggs |
| Contemporary | Thursday 6:15 - 7:45 p.m. | Studio 607 | T. Griggs |
NEW! Open Adult Ballet Class
September 10 - November 12, 2022
Age 16 and older
Saturdays 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Alberto Blanco, Instructor
Mr. Blanco will focus on building classical technique and quality with students of all levels.
NEW! Fall Dance Camp
October 15, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages 3 - 7 (limited to 15 dancers)
Come dance with us to celebrate the beauty of the fall season, through creative movement, storytelling, and craft time.
Private Lessons
Private lessons may be scheduled with faculty members on an individual basis. Contact program director Susan Brooker brookers@uncsa.edu to schedule private lessons.