Dance Lessons

Our ballet classes are strongly encouraged for all school aged students. Through ballet dance lessons, students learn ballet terminology, positions, steps, combinations, stretching and ballet dances. The student gains an understanding of balance, grace and freedom of movement through proper body alignment and placement. All forms of western dance taught at the studio - jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and Mexican Folkloric - require knowledge of basic ballet technique and terminology.

Pointe class is the part of classical ballet technique that concerns training "sur les pointes," supporting all the body weight on the tips of fully extended feet in specially crafted  pointe shoes. Only advanced ballet dancers 12 years of age or older, who pass a readiness test, and have the instructor's permission are eligible to take pointe class.

Contemporary dance is considered an independent discipline that melds jazz, ballet, and American modern dance together. It is usually performed to instrumental music and also makes greater use of the floor to diversify the movement. Lyrical is contemporary dance performed to music with lyrics so that it inspires expression of strong emotions the choreographer feels from the lyrics of the song. The dance can tell a story or not, be an pure exploration of movement, or be a combination of patterns that evoke a certain feeling in the dancer, and ideally also in the audience. 

All jazz hands on deck for this return to the old school theatrical jazz dance techniques of Broadway choreographers Jack Cole and Matt Mattox. These jazz dance lessons focus on isolations, floor stretches, port de bras, kicks, turns, and combinations across the floor.

"I'll be tapping on the street, I'll tapping with my feet! I'll be tapping here and there, I'll be tapping everywhere!" Moving your feet to different rhythms is not only fun, but a good form of exercise. When you're tapping, you use your entire body - not just your feet and legs. From a simple time step, to the more complex combinations and routines, you'll find you just can't stop once you start tap dancing!

Students will grow their abilities in both smooth and hard-hitting Hip Hop styles and develop their rhythm, coordination, and attitude! Learn to dance the greatest grooves to the latest beats in Hip Hop dance lessons. These powerful, high energy classes are great for kids who love to move and have plenty of drive. Group classes are available for students aged 6 and up. We use clean music. 

Dancers are athletes and just like other athletes, deal with the risk of injury. Conditioning students in functional strength and flexibility while teaching them the appropriate way to use their bodies, decreases the chance of injury. As leaps, acrobatics and balancing tricks become more integrated into dance choreography, students need time and space to build the core strength to execute these movements, and to learn and practice these challenging yet fun techniques on mats with proper spotting. Recommended for hip-hop and contemporary dancers, in addition to ballet technique. 

Ever been so happy you wanted to do backflip? Learn how here! Acrobatics is tumbling and much more! Our students are taught skills and movement on a professional mat along with balance beam work and other equipment skills. From the time children start to crawl, they are using their muscles and learning coordination. Our students learn the importance of agility, concentration, coordination, and strength in order to use their muscles properly to perform acrobatic skills.

Mexican Folkloric Dance showcases the Mexican culture and heritage in the traditional dance, music, song, dress and history of Mexico. Mexico's modern folk dance tradition is a blending of elements from its Indigenous, African, and European heritage. Mexican Folkloric dance has had an important impact on the culture of the United States, especially in Mexican American communities such as Berwyn, Cicero, and Chicago's Little Village and Pilsen neighborhoods.

Learn to play piano on our beautiful grand piano!  Piano lessons will not only teach students to read music, but they will learn the progressive finger techniques involved in playing the piano.  The piano pieces studied are a mixture of popular songs, folk songs and dances, and classical pieces. The student learns basic music theory such as the major and minor scales, and how to build  arpeggios into chords and harmony study.  Please contact us to specify voice or piano.  Piano and voice students perform at the studio recitals.