Academy Classes

Academy is our cherished recreational program, where we strive to create a fun and inviting place for our students to develop a love and passion for dance. Westside Dance provides a complete Academy curriculum below, for students from three years old to pre-professional. We believe that two ballet classes are very important for the Concert level dancer to further grow to his or her highest potential.

Fall Schedule (pdf)

Creative Movement

age 3 - ½ hour

Creative Movement is a ballet/creative movement class. We start with stretching together, move to the center of the room and stand in lines to learn basic ballet steps, go across the floor with movements that develop large motor skills, and end the class with creative activities.

Dress Code: Girls' - Pink leotard and tights; pink Capezio leather ballet shoes

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, and black ballet shoes.


Preschool Ballet/Tap

age 4 - ¾ hour

Additional ballet steps using correct French terminology is practiced. Tap is introduced. This helps students transfer their weight from one leg to the other and start working on rhythm. Students will perform one ballet or tap dance in our recital – one costume.

Dress Code: Girls' - Pink leotard and tights; pink Capezio leather ballet shoes and white tap shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, and black ballet shoes.


Combo I

ages 5-6 - 1 hour

Ballet and tap skills with terminology are expanded. Tap will focus on right and left coordination. Students will perform one ballet or tap dance in our recital – one costume.

Dress Code: Girls' - Pink leotard and tights; pink Capezio leather ballet shoes and white tap shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black tap shoes and black ballet shoes.


Combo II

ages 6-8 - 1¼ hour

Ballet barre is used to work on turn-out and balance. Spotting turns is introduced through chaine turns. Tap skills are expanded. Pre-jazz is offered. Learning basic jazz movements and working on musicality with current popular songs is fun and inspiring for the student.

Extra ballet technique classes are offered to help students who are wanting to further their training. Muscle memory evolves much faster with this opportunity for additional classes. No recital for technique classes.

This class will do a ballet and tap dance in the recital - one costume that will have 2 parts (example: leotard with tutu and fringe skirt)

Dress Code: Girls' - Burgundy leotard, pink tights; hair in a bun or ponytail; pink Capezio leather ballet shoes, Mary Jane tan tap shoes, tan split sole jazz shoes optional

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black tap shoes and black ballet shoes.


Combo III

ages 7-9 - 1½ hour

Ballet, Tap, and Jazz are each 30 minutes. Ballet works on skills such as waltzes, chaines turns, pas de basque, and grand jete. Students will do a routine in all three areas in our recital. They will need two costumes.

Dress Code: Girls' - Burgundy leotard, pink tights; hair in bun; pink leather ballet shoes, tan Mary Jane tap shoes; tan split sole jazz shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black ballet shoes, tan jazz shoes and black tap shoes.


Combo IV, V

ages 8-11 - 1¾ hour

Ballet is the foundation of dance training. In Combo IV and V ballet class is 45 minutes. Jazz and Tap are 30 each. Ballet skills we are introducing are pique turns, petit allegro, and tour jetes. In Jazz we will work on pirouettes, battements, leaps, chaine in plie. Tap time steps are relevant for this level.

A 2nd ballet class is highly recommended for this level. Jazz technique is also a great class to take.

Combo IV and V will do 3 dances in our recital – two costumes.

Dress Code: Black leotard, pink tights; hair in bun; pink leather ballet shoes, Capezio or Bloch tan split sole tap shoes; tan split sole jazz shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black ballet shoes, tan jazz shoes and black tap shoes.


Concert 1

ages 10-12 - 1 hour ballet; ¾ hour jazz; ½ hour tap

Classes are no longer combo where all three areas of dance are packaged and required. Students can start to specialize, if they wish to not take a certain area. An additional ballet technique class is required to take class at the Concert level. Jazz and tap technique classes are fundamental in helping students' muscle strength and flexibility develop do to the consistency of multiple classes during the week.

Pre-pointe will be a part of the 1 hour Concert ballet class. An additional pre-pointe technique class will be offered before the ballet 1 / 2 technique classes. Students who are serious about their ballet training and want to work on full pointe with pointe shoes should take one or two of these pre-pointe classes offered before their 1 / 2 ballet technique class. A faculty evaluation will determine when the student has developed proper technique and strength to proceed to a full pointe class. These evaluations will be in May and July.

Ballet classes will introduce beats inside and outside turns, and sissone.

Jazz will work on double turns, axles, leaps, and isolations. Combinations are important at this level of training.

Tap will work on time steps, pull backs, and wings.

Students will have a recital dance in all Concert 1 classes, except pre-pointe – two or three costumes.

Dress Code: Girls' - Black leotards, pink tights; hair in bun; pink canvas ballet shoes, Capezio or Bloch tan split sole tap shoes; tan split sole jazz shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black ballet shoes, tan jazz shoes and black tap shoes.


Concert 2-4

ages 11+ - Ballet, Pointe, Jazz ¾ hour; tap ½ hour

Students who are placed on pointe will be required to take at least one additional ballet/pointe technique class. Pointe requires a strong foundation in ballet. To dance successfully on pointe, muscles and technique need consistent and more frequent practice and work.

Gus Giordano, Robert Fosse, and many current stars of today have their unique style in jazz. Our jazz classes focus on multiple turns, side leaps, switch leaps, and the development of a strong jazz style.

Our early tap program was Al Gilbert based. Now the students know most of the basics of tap. Getting more sounds out of a step with additional heels, toes, etc and wings are very important.

Students will have a recital dance in all Concert classes, except pre-pointe – may need a costume for each class – up to 4.

Dress Code: Girls' - Black for ballet/pointe; sports bra, booty shorts – jazz and tap; hair in bun; Capezio or Bloch split-sole tap shoes; tan split sole jazz shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black ballet shoes, tan jazz shoes and black tap shoes


Concert 5

ages 15+ - Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Tap 45 minutes

This is our highest level of Concert Class. Students are highly recommended to be dancing a minimum of three days per week. They are proficient in the skills taught in earlier classes. This Concert Class should be for the student who wants to be in class at least 3 times/week to allow for correct muscle and skill development.

Students will have a recital dance in all Concert classes and may need a costume for each class – up to 4.

Dress Code: Girls' - Black or solid leotard for ballet/pointe; sports bra, booty shorts – jazz and tap; hair in bun; Capezio or Bloch split-sole tap shoes; tan split sole jazz shoes.

Dress Code: Boys’ - ballet dress code is white shirt, black shorts/pants, black ballet shoes, tan jazz shoes and black tap shoes


Hip Hop 1-2

ages 5-9 - ½ hour

Hip Hop is a fun, energetic class which has a foundation in street dancing. It has grown to incorporate jazz funk, lyrical, musical theater, and many other styles. Hip Hop is low to the ground (plie) and uses sharp and strong movements.

Dress Code: Girls' and Boys' - Comfortable clothing that can allow for upside down movements and clean tennis shoes


Hip Hop 3-5

ages 9+ - 1 hour

Hip Hop is a fun, energetic class which has a foundation in street dancing. It has grown to incorporate jazz funk, lyrical, musical theater, and many other styles. Hip Hop is low to the ground (plie) and uses sharp and strong movements.

Dress Code: Girls' and Boys'- Comfortable clothing that can allow for upside down movements and clean tennis shoes


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