Pictured: Dancers at a ballet barre in a grand plié  in second position.

DANCE CLASS OFFERINGS


HIP-HOP FOUNDATION

In this class you will learn street style fundamentals, a brief history and vocabulary, a strong focus on bounce, rock, and grooves. Experience drills in popping, locking, waving, breaking, house, party grooves and more. This class is the building block to all of our other hip-hop classes and highly recommended for beginners who are interested in hip-hop dance and culture.

*sneakers recommended

 

Hip-Hop

 

To understand Hip Hop, we must first visit it’s past …

“Hip Hop Dance is a style of dance with deep historical and social roots in African culture which started in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York.  The Bronx in the 70’s was a rough, dangerous place to grow up. The youth were surrounded by drugs, crime, poverty, gang violence, and overall struggle.  Yet they, particularly the African American and Latino youth (minority groups), were at best neglected by mainstream institutions. Desperate for a way to escape their everyday struggles, they invented their own art forms.  These art forms, which the youth embodied in the way they dressed, talked, moved, and expressed themselves, soon became a lifestyle. A way to live. This lifestyle and culture became known as Hip Hop. Despite the negativity and tumult in the South Bronx, Hip Hop heads were able to rise above their environment and create a positive form of release.  Instead of substances and violence, their energy was redirected to values like originality, creativity, identity, respect, and community”. Source: Jessie Ma, STEEZY

Modern Hip Hop has evolved, but its foundation remains the same. Dance choreography will include a combination of different dance styles based on the choreographer’s training, experiences and how they interpret the music.

*sneakers recommended

 

GROOVES

A cardio dance class with guided dance movements to an upbeat playlist in styles ranging from hip-hop, jazz funk, and more. No cheesy music. No squats posing as dance moves. Just 45-minute classes feat. energetic, feel-good grooves created in house by your fav choreographers!

*sneakers recommended

 

sweat

Our follow along dance fitness class that will make you SWEAT! This class is designed for all levels to enjoy. Dancers will be introduced to new moves while working on choreography retention.

*sneakers recommended


Jazz funk

 

Street Jazz or Jazz Funk is a fusion of commercial jazz, commercial hip-hop, street and funk. It is a very lively + energetic dance, style can be fierce, funky, cute, powerful, sensual and even diva-like. This genre of dance gives you the chance to release your inner Beyonce and forget everything else!

*sneakers recommended

 

Heels

 

Discover your feminine side with a powerful and sultry class that combines movements from hip-hop, jazz, contemporary and ballet styles. All heels classes are for ages 17 and up.

*Please wear a supportive heel or boot that protects the ankle. Dance specific heels are highly recommended and knee pads for floor work (available at the studio).


LATIN FUSION

Swiveling hips and a sinuous rib cage characterize Latin Dance. Latin music creates a sexy, energetic rhythm with beats and accents meant for those pulse-stopping dips and turns. During each class we will combine Salsa, Samba, Bachata and Reggaetón; all of these rhythms can be best characterized as 'hot and steamy' which creates a sense of playfulness and suggests a flirtatious vibe.

No partner needed.  In order to dance with a partner we must make sure we are confident doing it by ourselves first.

*ballroom shoe or sneakers recommended


BREAKING

In this course, you will learn the foundations of breaking. A deep dive into the history, culture, battle technique, cypher etiquette, and how to develop your own style. Learn toprock, footwork, power moves (such as headspins and windmills), and freezes from some of the top breakers in metro-Detroit. ALL LEVELS WELCOME in a safe learning environment.


TECHNiquE

Guided warm-up and stretch that includes strength and conditioning exercises. Dancers will then do a combination of exercises at center to train their pirouettes and across the floor progressions including battements, leaps and turns.

*dance shoes, bare feet or dance socks recommended


Contemporary

& lyrical


A style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind + body through fluid dance movements, telling a story.

*bare feet or socks recommended


Contemporary Foundations/
technique

Students will warm up the body focusing on proper alignment, technique, balance, stretch, and strength. Short contemporary technique phrases at center, followed by moving across the floor with guided prompts and progressions.

*bare feet or socks recommended


MODERN

The Lester Horton Technique is focused on building strength, dynamic movement quality, and full-body awareness. This class will investigate formal studies, called Fortifications, which lengthen and strengthen different areas of the body as well as exercises that include flatbacks, lateral stretches, leg swings, deep lunges, and T positions. These are structured into longer combinations, that can incorporate turns, jumps and various rhythms to challenge the dancer’s technique while highlighting musicality and dynamics. Through opposition, linear tension and suspension and release, discover why the modern dance technique of Lester Horton is a classic technique uniquely suited for training the contemporary and versatile dancer.

*bare feet or socks recommended


Ballet

The fundamentals of all dance, Ballet is a classical form demanding grace and precision and employing formalized steps and gestures set in intricate, flowing patterns to create expression through movement. In beginner classes, you will learn basic exercises and steps, and perform simple combinations at slow tempos. All classes will consist of several segments, usually: barre, center, adagio, allegro, and reverence.

*ballet shoes or socks recommended


Ballet Barre

 

Our Ballet inspired workout that combines classical barre warm-ups and Pilates exercises to lengthen and tone muscles. Whether you are just getting back into dancing from some time away, or are completely new to Ballet, this class was designed to give you the balance, grace and strength necessary to feel confident in our other dance classes. It will serve as a great conditioning class for trained dancers too!

*please bring yoga mat, bare feet or socks recommended

 

Pilates

 

A method of exercise that consists of low-impact flexibility and muscular strength and endurance movements. Pilates exercises help to prevent injuries by addressing muscular imbalances, incorrect or inefficient movements + over training. It also increases core strength, stability + joint mobility, improves your posture and helps gain relief from aches + pains. All of our Pilates instructors are professional dancers with a certification in Pilates.

*please bring yoga mat, bare feet recommended

 

Yoga

 

A spiritual and energetic discipline, binding the elements of breath, body, and moving meditation is widely practiced for health and relaxation. Far beyond the physical benefits of Yoga, a highly competitive dance industry can have negative effects on our self-esteem, our Yoga classes will bring mindfulness to your practice and help you release inner feelings of self doubt, comparison and fear. A healthy dancer starts with a healthy mind.

*please bring yoga mat, bare feet recommended

 

OPEN STYLE

Dance choreography will include a combination of different dance styles based on the choreographer’s training, experiences and how they interpret the music.


Which class level is right for me?

Our DROP-IN choreography classes are geared toward dancers who have formal dance training. Our DANCE COURSES are geared towards those who are just starting out or for dancers exploring a new dance style.

For those new to dance, please try these courses, in the following order:
1. Absolute Beginner Course
2. Beginner Ballet Course
2. Intro Hip-Hop Course
2. Intro Contemporary Course
2. Intro Jazz Course
2. Intro Breaking Course
3. Intro to Heels Course

For those who have some formal dance training, have taken the previous courses, or are a trained dancer exploring a new style:
SWEAT (dance fitness)
GROOVES
Beginner Hip-Hop
Modern
Beginner Contemporary
Beginner Heels
Detroit Hustle
Latin Fusion

For those who have formal dance training, danced competitively growing up, have taken some time away but are ready to return to the dance floor and be challenged:
BEG/INT Ballet
BEG/INT Jazz
BEG/INT Jazz Funk
BEG/INT Heels
BEG/INT Hip-Hop
Technique (Leaps + Turns)
Theatre Jazz

For those who have formal dance training, danced competitively growing up, are continuing their dance training for personal or professional reasons:
INT Ballet
INT/ADV Ballet
INT/ADV Contemporary
INT/ADV Jazz
Technique (Leaps + Turns)
INT/ADV Jazz Funk
INT/ADV Hip-Hop
INT/ADV Heels
MASTER CLASSES