Our Junior and Senior Dance classes
These classes are for our dancers who are more serious about taking their dancing to a new level.
These classes are a combination of exam classes and competition classes. Here students aged 7 and over follow a specific curriculum for exam work (exams are usually at the end of the year) while building strength and focusing on dance technique
Classes offered:
Acrobatic Arts –
Acro dance combines classical dance technique with the precision of acrobatic elements. It is defined by its athletic character, its unique choreography, which seamlessly blends dance and acrobatics, and gymnastics. It is a popular dance style in amateur competitive dance as well as in professional dance theatre productions.
Acro is an especially challenging dance style for dancers as it requires them to be trained in both dance and acrobatic skills.
At MOD we offer two 1-hour classes per week (per level) and exams are held at the end of the year. We offer classes from the age of 5 years old upwards.
Tumbling –
Tumbling is a gymnastics discipline in which participants perform a series of acrobatic skills. Each series, known as a pass, comprises eight elements in which the athlete jumps, twists and flips placing only their hands and feet on the track. At MOD we use tumbling for strength, flexibility and controlled landings for Acro Dancers.
FreeStyle –
Freestyle Dance is an energetic and expressive dance style characterized by its improvisational nature and fluid movements. Originating in the disco era, it incorporates elements of jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance, allowing dancers the freedom to showcase their creativity and individual style on the dance floor.
It includes Freestyle, Slowdance, Rock n Roll and Foundation.
Hip Hop –
Hip-hop dance is a range of street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It is influenced by a wide range of styles that were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States.
Hip-hop influenced the style of jazz dance called “jazz-funk”. Classically trained dancers developed these studio styles to create choreography from the hip-hop dances that were performed on the street. Because of this development, hip-hop dance is practiced in both dance studios and outdoor spaces.
MOD we pride ourselves on having a strong Hip Hop element in our studio, there are a variety of classes available according to individual dancer capabilities. Our hip-hop dancers are competing locally intending to qualify for international competitions.
Popping –
Popping is a distinctive style within hip-hop dance known for its rhythmic contractions and releases of muscles, creating a popping or snapping effect. Dancers use isolations and quick movements to create visually striking and dynamic performances, often accompanied by rhythmic beats and music.
Exams for our hip-hop students take place at the end of the year and are based on levels.
Modern Dance –
Modern dance is a broad genre of Western concert or theatrical dance that includes dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing. It was considered to have been developed as a rejection of, or rebellion against, classical ballet, and is also a way to express social concerns like socioeconomic and cultural factors.
Modern dance has evolved with each subsequent generation of participating artists. Artistic content has morphed and shifted from one choreographer to another, as have styles and techniques.
Our modern dance teachers are passionate about delivering the essence of modern dance, we focus on technique and expression. Modern exams are also held at the end of the year according to grade.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance is a genre of dance performance that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world.
Originally influenced by and borrowing from classical, modern, and jazz styles, it has come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance. Due to its technical similarities, it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance, ballet, and other classical concert dance styles.
The focus is on technique, contemporary dance tends to combine the strong but controlled legwork of ballet with modern that stresses on torso. It also employs contract release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristics of modern dance. Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used.
Jazz
Jazz dance is a performance dance and style that arose in the United States in the mid-20th century. Jazz dance may allude to vernacular jazz about to Broadway or dramatic jazz.
The term ‘jazz dance’ has been used in ways that have little or nothing to do with jazz music. In the 1990s, colleges and universities applied to the term to classes offered by physical education departments in which students dance to various forms of pop music, rarely jazz.
CECCHETTI Ballet TECHNIQUE –
Cecchetti Ballet Technique At the Ministry of Dance studio, we proudly incorporate the timeless artistry of the Cecchetti Ballet Technique into our curriculum. This distinctive method, pronounced "check-ET-ee," was developed by the renowned ballet master Enrico Cecchetti in Italy as a refined evolution of the French ballet tradition. It is known worldwide for its emphasis on precision, grace, and the disciplined mastery of movement.
What Makes Cecchetti Unique?
The Cecchetti technique is a comprehensive system of ballet training designed to develop dancers into well-rounded and versatile artists. It is structured around a meticulously crafted syllabus, which ensures consistent progress and builds a strong technical foundation. Key principles include:
- Balanced Development: Cecchetti promotes symmetry and even strength in the body, ensuring dancers develop a balanced physique.
- Musicality and Expression: Students are taught to move harmoniously with music, fostering expressive performances. - - - Sequential Learning: Movements are introduced logically, building skills progressively from beginner to advanced levels. - - Focus on Quality: Emphasis on clean lines, precise footwork, and refined port de bras (arm movements).
Whether you are a beginner discovering the joy of dance or an advanced student perfecting your craft, the Cecchetti technique offers something for everyone. Our qualified dance instructor at the Ministry of Dance studio is dedicated to tailoring lessons to suit each dancer's level and goals.
Dedicated Pointe class – at Ministry of Dance we believe that our ballet dancers must be prepared for pointe work as pointe work is an advanced technique and dancers need to avoid injury. It is a crucial and gradual process, therefore, have a dedicated pointe class to ensure
Strong Core Muscles
Ankle Strengthening
Foot Flexibility
Proper Technique
Teacher’s Approval
Properly Fitted Pointe Shoes
Gradual Introduction
Consistent Practice
Proper Warm-Up
Listen to Your Body
Cross-Training
Patience and Persistence