Ballet
Ballet is the foundation of all dance forms. Body placement, flexibility, alignment, strength, and technique are achieved through barre and center floor work. Ballet teaches strength, discipline & grace. TPDS offers ballet classes from Twinkle Star (ages 3-4) to senior levels. All Ballet classes are taught under the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus. Class levels are as follows; Twinkle Star, Twinkle Kinder, Pre-Primary Ballet, Primary Ballet, Grades 1-8 Ballet, Intermediate Foundation Ballet, Intermediate Ballet, Advanced Foundation Ballet, & Advanced 1 & 2 Ballet.
Jazz
The emphasis in jazz is on the strength and flexibility developed through technically challenging movements such as kicks, leaps and turns. It is dynamic, stylistic & so much fun! Jazz classes from beginner to senior are offered in both our recreational and competitive programs.
Tap
Tap focuses on musical phrasing and the complexity of rhythms with the challenge of making melodies with the feet. TPDS offers Tap for Pre-Primary students to senior levels.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop is evolved out of street and breakdance moves and is characterized by vigorous athletics and a bouncy style. We offer classes to students 6 years and up in both recreational and competitive.
Lyrical
Lyrical is offered to those students enrolled in Jazz and Ballet and for ages 11+ years. While maintaining the rhythmic characteristics of jazz, it incorporates elements of Ballet and Modern Dance to give it a smooth lengthened look with lyrical quality. Lyrical is only offered in our competitive program.
Pointe
For those dancers who have achieved the necessary classical technique and strength. Pointe class concentrates on the transference of ballet steps from demi-pointe to pointe. Admittance to a pointe class with permission of instructor only.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines several dance genres including jazz, lyrical & ballet. Contemporary encourages students to strive to connect the mind and body through fluid dance movements. Contemporary is only eligible to our Intermediate & Senior dancers.
Twinkle Babies
Twinkle Babies is a parented creative movement dance class for children aged 18th months to 2.5 years of age. Parents, Guardians, or Grandparents accompany the child through an introduction to movement through songs, games, & dance in a 30-minute class. This class includes playful, engaging & developmentally appropriate activities for toddlers facilitated by the use of props, musical instruments & acro!
Twinkle Star
Our Twinkle Star class is a preschool based programs for children aged 3-4 years old. The class length is 30 minutes once or twice a week with an introduction to the world of ballet. Twinkle Stars will develop strength and coordination in the body and imagination, musical awareness, and joy of dance. This class incorporates play-based activities emphasizing social skills, learning to follow routines & developing children’s motor skills.
Classes can be chosen for the full-year program with or without year-end show or 10-12 week session.
Twinkle Kinder
The Twinkle Kinder program is for children 5-6 yrs & geared for children in Kindergarten. Building on the basics of each discipline but working to develop a greater sense of body awareness, rhythm, and music.
New for the 2020-2021 season! We have split up our twinkle kinder program into 2 separate classes. Families can choose between ballet, acro, or both classes a week. This class follows the Acrodance Preschool syllabus where students will learn locomotive skills, like jumping or galloping, along with balance and basic acro positions.
The program’s syllabus is built on imaginary play, repetition, and fun and games. Moving to music and following along in unison develops a child’s listening, coordination, and rhythm.
Classes can be chosen for the full-year program with or without year-end show or 10-12 week session.
Ball Class/Jumps & Turns
Ball Class and Jump & Turns classes provide foundational skills used in all dance programs. Students will work on flexibility and strength. Our conditioning ball class is based on the ‘Progressive Ballet Technique’ where students work on their body strength using exercise balls in relation to their basic ballet technique. Both of these classes are only open to students Grade 4 Levels through to senior.
Acro
Our Acro programs are taught under the Acrobatic Arts Syllabus. The syllabus is built for dancers and builds on their ballet technique by helping develop strength and flexibility It incorporates elements of gymnastics, balancing, limbering, tumbling, and basic contortions. Dancers who train in acrobatic arts will find they will be more balanced, stronger, flexible, and fearless. Our younger programs (Twinkle Babies, Star & Kinder) include aspects of the Acrodance Preschool Program. Acro classes begin at Acro 1/2 through to senior levels. (Ages 7+years)
Musical Theatre
The Musical Theatre program involves combining drama, dance, and lip-syncing & singing. The emphasis is on teaching the student how to use their facial expression to add to their dance repertoire, creating a more diverse and complete performer. Classes will be focusing on show tunes, character development, improvisation, mime, and song & dance.