Class descriptions
ACCESSIBLE DANCE
We focus on developing movement skills in a fun atmosphere in our classes for our students with intellectual and physical disabilities. Basic concepts like stop-go, fast-slow, high-low, and big-small are emphasized. The focus of the class is for students to experience movement and activity in a positive manner with lively music, games, props, rhymes, and more. Traditional dance technique is not emphasized in this class, but rather body awareness, the joy of physical activity, and the connection of body and mind.
Toddlers and Tutus
This class is designed for our youngest dancers. Students will have fun learning balance and rhythm to popular children's music through singing and movement games. Props such as pom poms, hula hoops, and bean bags are used to enhance the learning experience. Class sizes are kept very small to assure plenty of individual attention for our tiny dancers.
Mini Combo- Ballet/Tap
3-6 years
Dancers will enjoy this interactive class that builds on basic movements. This class includes an introduction to proper warm-ups and stretches for the body. The Tap portion of the class will concentrate on building confidence through mastering patterns and steps. The Ballet portion of class includes an introduction to the ballet barre, beginning ballet technique and terminology.
Ballet Petite
Students will develop a sense of body awareness both working in stationary positions and when moving through space. Every class will begin with floor stretching and strengthening exercises, and then progress to simple barre exercises. Placement is the most important skill taught at this level. Students will learn basic feet and arm positions and begin working with musical phrasing. Students should master pas de bouree, balance, and simple port de bras (carriage of the arms).
Ballet Level 1-Beginner
Children will have half an hour of barre work, focusing on proper form and technique. Proper ballet classroom etiquette is stressed while still having a comfortable learning environment. Dancers will spend the first half of the year with two hands at the barre. Later in the year the one hand at the barre technique is introduced, with the idea of "working" and "supporting" leg, and body directions are introduced. Students will learn center exercises that focus on concepts introduced at the barre. Students will begin to master more complex coordination of the arms and legs and begin working on spotting.
Ballet Level 2-Intermediate
Students will now be doing a solid barre of approximately 30 minutes. The focus is clearly on proper alignment of the body and a focus on the intricacies of proper technique. Students are introduced to the idea of lifting their legs to a 45 degree angle. Introduction of pas de basque, pas de chat, Repetition, repetition, repetition, are what helps students correct any bad habits and learn to hold their bodies with grace. They will also continue to work on adagio, jumps, and on turns including: Piques, chainees, waltz turns and pirouettes.
Ballet Level 3-Transitional
Students have more increased barre work. Exercises are varied and will include slow sustained movements and quick paced tempos with much repetition to increase strength and stamina. Work will include 45 and 90 degree angles with the working leg and more sustained balances.
Center work will include adagio, jumps focusing on a variety of beats, petite allegro including: jete battus, brisees, ballones, ballotays, sissonnes, cabrioles and turns in a circle.
Ballet Level 4-Advanced
Center work consists of adagio, jumps, petite allegro and grand allegro. Steps that should be mastered include the many types of pirouettes, most beating jumps, manage, fouette turns, tour jetes, cabrioles, brisees, brisee volle and many more! They should have a good performance quality and use it during every class! Each class is followed by approximately 45 minutes of pointe work! Most of our upper students also dance a rigourous schedule during their summer months. They generally partake in our many performance opportunites throughout the year.
Tap-Level 1-Beginner
This is our introductory Tap class, where our younger students can learn the fundamentals of Tap. Each class includes center floor work, and across-the-floor combinations. The curriculum will become more complex as the students advance.
Tap-Level 2
This Tap class will continue to develop rhythm, style and sound. Students will learn a variety of tap styles from Broadway to Rhythm tap. Exercises focus on building flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, and speed of movement. The class emphasis is on developing proper tap technique, producing clear tap sounds, and having fun.
Tap-Level 3
Designed for students who have had two to three years of Tap classes. Our technique based training of tap dance ranges from its classical, traditional origin to it's present, more rhythmic, hip hop and improvisational forms. This class will continue to grow and develop students flexibility of the knee and ankles, coordination, speed of movement, proper tap technique and producing clear tap sounds. We encourage the students to improve and have fun as well.
Tap-Level 4
This class is recommended for students with at least four years of Tap experience. We focus on a variety of classical, traditional, rhythmic, Hip Hop, and improvisational forms. Students are encouraged, as they solidify their technique, to step outside their comfort zones, to explore improvisational sounds and syncopation, and to have fun.
Jazz- Level 1-Beginner
This is our introductory to Jazz class, where our younger students can learn the fundamentals of Jazz. Each class includes center floor work, and across-the-floor combinations. The curriculum will become more complex as the students advance.
Jazz- Level 2
This class is wonderful for students who are getting started in the world of dance and want to try out a fun high energy class. Jazz is a fundamental part of dancing, and we highly recommend trying it out! Our students work on flexibility, turning, leaps, arm and hand positioning and core strengthening, all while having fun in this class.
Jazz- Level 3
This Class is recommended for students who have had at least two to three years of Jazz classes previously. Our jazz dance curriculum incorporates many variations, styles and eras of dance and is a fundamental part of our training. This affords our students the unique opportunity to work on connecting to different styles of music, flexibility, other styles of turning, leaps, isolation, arm and hand positioning and core strengthening.
Jazz- Level 4
This class is recommended for students with at least 3 to 4 years of previous Jazz classes. This Jazz class will continue to focus on learning proper dance technique such as isolation of the body, improving performance quality and developing complex rhythms and patterns. Students will be exposed to various styles of jazz such as Broadway, Street and Contemporary to help develop a well rounded dancer. Class curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with traditional jazz movement and includes a proper warm-up, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and combinations.
Lyrical
Monarch's Lyrical class is designed for intermediate to advanced students with previous training in ballet. Students will explore partnering and weight sharing exercises combined with basic techniques and skills from ballet, jazz and modern. It emphasizes interpretation of music lyrics while telling a story with movement that can be fluid or abstract. As students progress through each level, curriculum will become increasingly more complex and intricate. Students must take this class in conjunction with ballet. The level of lyrical class you enroll in should reflect the level of Ballet class you are enrolled in.
Hip Hop-Level 1-Beginner
This is our introductory Hip Hop class, where our younger students can learn the basics of Hip Hop. Each class includes center floor work, and combinations. The curriculum will become more complex as the students advance.
Hip Hop- Level 2
This class is one of our most popular classes! Hip Hop is a great way to show off your individual style and learn some great, core fundamentals of dance as well. Our students work on flexibility , core strength, as well as various techniques from multiple genres and styles.
Hip Hop- Level 3
This course is recommended for students who have had at least two years of Hip Hop classes. This Hip Hop class is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Classes will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements. Hip hop dance requires students to have the strength and stamina to successfully perform moves. Therefore class includes upper and lower body conditioning as well as a rigorous warm-up to help prepare students for more intense movements.
Hip Hop-Level 4
This class is recommended for students with at least three to four years of Hip Hop classes. Our advanced course will work on crumping, animation, isolation, and tricks to help offer a different form of self expression. Popping, locking, and other techniques will continue to be worked on, connecting them to a new and deeper form of attitude and rhythmic connection for performance. This class includes upper and lower body conditioning as well as a rigorous warm-up to help prepare students for more intense movements.
Acro
Learn the basics or work on advancing your skills with our Acro classes! Acro is not the typical tumbling or gymnastics class. Our certified Acro instructor will guide the classes towards increased flexibility, balance, strength, muscle control, discipline and concentration. This class will focus on fundamental acrobatic technique, teaching such skills as handstands, chin stands, elbow stands, cartwheels, back bends, walkovers, balance and contortion tricks; all based on each student's individual level of experience. We offer multiple levels of Acro training from beginner to advanced!