Dance... The team sport where everybody wins!
We know that kids love to dance and, given the proper environment that is encouraging, fun and respectful, your children will learn valuable lessons and skills that will last a life time. To this end we will:
- Offer Burnaby's most comprehensive dance courses with the essentials for years of great dancing
- Maintain age appropriate classes age groups Kids: 7-9 years, 10-13 years and Teens: 14-18 years old.
- Create a fun social environment where kids feel free to express themselves
- Provide the foundation of skills to pursue a professional career in dance, if desired
- Provide teachers who are professionally trained and are sensitive to the unique needs of children
- Provide structured lessons with plenty of review to help the students retain what they learn
- Host recital at the end of the season where your kids shine with their brightest smile as they show off for friends and family
Benefits
- Muscle tone and flexibility is increased and improves coordination and posture
- The mind is thoroughly engaged as the dancers move proactively around the dance floor thus strengthening thought processes
- Dance education cultivates self discipline, motivation and the ability to work in a group which they learn to apply later in life and career
- Dance socialization exposes children to other cultures, increasing self confidence and self esteem. Children become relaxed and confident in front of a group.
- Dance teaches basics of performance
- Culturally dance education exposes them to many styles of music, and cultivates love of music
- Dance gives children a rich experience in self- expression where they find beauty in form, repetition, movement and coordination
- Dance plays a significant role in helping children become happy, confident and well adjusted as they grow into adulthood.
Course Descriptions
Ballroom/Latin Program: Not Your Grandparents Dance Anymore!
Scroll down for dance descriptions then visit our calendar for class dates, fees and registration.
International Standard, Ballroom Dancing:
Ballroom was once an integral part of Canadian culture and has enjoyed a fantastic resurgence in popularity thanks to TV shows like So You think You can Dance and Dancing with the Stars and is enjoyed by all ages. Our course content is specially selected to be relevant to our young students so they can identify with it. Music selections range from classic standards to contemporary beats.
Ballroom encompasses two groups of different social dances. We introduce your children to the dances in a logical and structured manner where they make progress without feeling overwhelmed. Click on links for descriptions.
Standard includes Waltz, Tango, Quickstep and Foxtrot
Latin includes Cha Cha, Samba, East Coast Swing/Jive, Rumba
Youth Ballroom and Latin Program
10-13yrs Beginner program: Introduction to East Coast Swing, Cha Cha and Waltz in a fun and creative atmosphere culminating in a year end recital where they get to show off their talent. Kids learn social etiquette as well as a great skill foundation.
14 -18yrs Beginner program: Introduction to East Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Waltz, Tango, Rumba. Boys and girls learn how to dance together in a fun environment fostering positive attitude and respect toward each other. Year end choreographed dance for recital in June.
14 -18yrs Intermediate program: Picks up where the beginner program leaves off. Students learn to develop better body movement in order to characterize each dance. Introduction to more advanced patterns with emphasis on lead and following skills. Students then delight friends and family with a choreographed dance for our year end recital in June.
Hip Hop
From music videos to TV commercials Hip Hop is everywhere! Styles come from New York and L.A and around the world. Its origins lay in Breakdance and Funk from New York and have evolved to the limitless styles and looks you see today. Danced by kids and adults, boy and girls, solo or in groups, you will never get bored as you busta move.
Youth Hip Hop Program
7 - 9yrs program: Fun and creative learning! Kids explore fundamental elements of Hip Hop and it’s different styles to cultivate their enthusiasm for dance and build strength and flexibility. Hip Hoppers are known for developing their own individual style (craft) so the students will learn to express themselves solo and with a group. The program will culminate in a choreographed number for the year end recital.
10-13yrs program: Kids learn some basic elements of Hip Hop and blending of styles to contemporary music and learn some basic choreography. They will be developing their independent dancing as well as learning to dance with a group. The program culminates with learning a choreographed number for the year end recital.
14-18yrs Program: Teens are introduced from 3 to 8 bars of choreography each lesson in a different style to develop fluency. Lessons begin with warm up and teaching is progressive throughout the lesson. A Choreographed number is performed for Year end Recital.
Salsa/West Coast Swing
Salsa:
With its roots in Mambo and a dash of Cha Cha. Salsa is spicy, fast, playful and is arguably the most popular Latin dance today. It is a highly rhythmical spot dance with a subtle hip action and turns, spins, dips and shines.
West Coast Swing (WCS)
Also known as Funky Swing, is danced to the widest range of styles & speeds of music from Big Band to Top 40 pop, rock, R&B to name a few. It is danced in line or a single spot with an endless list of combinations including spins, slides, pulses and turns.
13 - 18yrs Beginner program: Students are introduced to footwork/hand work, rhythm and the concept of leading and following to dance together. Social skills and etiquette are emphasized as the boys and girls cooperatively have fun together. It all comes together with a fun choreographed performance at our annual recital in June.
13 - 18yrs Intermediate program: Students continue develop musicality, Cuban hip action as well as great leading and following skills. The moves and technique are more intricate with continued emphasis on fostering social skills in a positive and fun environment. Students have a blast performing choreographed dance number for year end recital
Breakdance: BBoYz / BGiRlz:
Break Dance is the most popular style of Hip Hop dancing with power moves, footwork and freezes known as tricks. It is a blend of Martial Arts and acrobatic movements with spins, thrusts, pops and jerks.
Develop strength, balance, posture and confidence as you learn the coolest moves such as 'The Windmill', The Pike', and 'The Freeze'. Taught by Adam McKinnon, he will teach you new moves and choreography while giving you the freedom to practice and perfect your craft. These classes are great for beginners to practiced dancers, ages 12 and up.
Beginner Breaking: Introduction to dance elements and style and technique. Mats are used for basic acrobatic elements and students are encouraged to develop individual style as well as working together in a group. It's not long before they are making friends and start showing off their tricks to their coeds in break dance Battles. The students then Show off there stuff in a choreographed performance at our year end recital in June.
Intermediate Breaking: Intermediate dancers want to explore and work their craft and Adam gives them room to do this with detailed instruction on technique, musicality and new moves. This class fosters working together as a group in a positive and encouraging environment. A bond is created between them as they 'wow' each other with their styles. Year end performance for the recital in June.