BDC Class Levels & Program Structure

Ages 3-6

Dance With Me - Ages 4 and under accompanied by an adult

Tumble & Dance - Ages 4 and under accompanied by an adult

Music & Dance 1 - Ages 3-4

Music & Dance 2 - Ages 4-5 (Preschool)

Music & Dance 3 - Ages 5-6 (Kindergarten)

Classes for ages 3-6 teach fundamental dance technique, body awareness, spatial awareness, patterning, coordination, social skills, musicality, and encourage a child’s love of dance. Dancers in Music & Dance classes must be potty trained. Placement is by age and developmental level not by previous dance experience.

Ages 6-8:  introduction to technique

Introduction level classes include Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Tap. Students at this level are introduced to the fundamentals of each technique while more importantly learning the culture and structure of how to properly take a dance class. All classes are rooted in a developmentally appropriate Creative Movement curriculum that teaches body awareness, spatial awareness, patterning, coordination, social skills, and musicality. Placement is by developmental level not by previous dance experience.

Level 1

Levels 1 is for dancers in 2nd Grade and older. This is a wonderful level to try different disciplines in dance: Ballet, Modern, Tap and Hip Hop. Students can take just one class per week or as many as they would like. We ask that each dancer commit to a full year of training. Placement is by developmental level not by previous dance experience.

 

LEVELS 2-9: Pre-professional training program

Placement in Levels 2-8 is by experience and instructor approval. We consider these levels our Pre-Professional Training Program as we work towards dancers developing the self-discipline, professionalism and artistry that are essential for a professional dance career and, as we see time and time again, applicable to success in any rigorous academic or professional discipline.

Ballet & Modern

Dancers interested in ballet and modern are required to take a certain number of classes a week. Dance requires significant strength and healthy alignment that is developed through the repetition of daily class. We philosophically believe that dancers are best prepared for a career when trained in both classical modern and classical ballet.

  • Level 2: Two classes per week: one ballet and one modern.

  • Levels 3-5: Three classes per week: two ballet classes & one modern class.

  • Levels 6-9: Three classes per week: two ballet classes & one modern class. In addition, students can elect to take contemporary, composition, hip hop, strength training, tap and yoga.

  • Levels 6-9 train as part of our Advanced Repertory Program. Each year the Ballet Repertory Program focuses on a classical story ballet that is performed at the Student Performance in June. Previous ballets have included Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Firebird, Giselle, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, Coppelia and Les Sylphides (an original version created for our dancers by NYC-based choreographer Christopher Williams). Classic modern and postmodern works have included Rainbow Etude by Donald McKayle and Energizer by Molissa Fenley. Students also learn original works by BDC Faculty members many of whom are professional choreographers and performers in the Seattle dance community.

Hip Hop & Tap

Hip Hop and Tap can be taken independently (you are not required to take ballet or modern). Students can add these classes as electives to their program bundles during registration.

We recommend that students new to the school take a trial class before registering so that we can determine proper placement. Please email us at mail@bainbridgedancecenter.com to discuss placement and arrange a trial class.

Pre-pointe & pointe progression

Pre-Pointe (Ages 10-12)

Dancers are invited to start pre-pointe when the have the strength, proper alignment and technique to train safely in pre-pointe shoes. In pre-pointe shoes students do not go “all the way up in their shoes” which would place weight on their toes. This technique is safe for young dancers and helps them build the strength, alignment and articulation they need to be ready for pointe.

Pointe (Ages 12+)

Dancers are invited to start pointe when they have the strength, proper alignment and technique to train safely in the shoes. The decision to start a dancer on pointe is made by faculty with the long term health and safety of the dancer in mind. Pointe is not a requirement for taking ballet at BDC. Being on pointe does not affect placement or casting.