BDC Class Levels & Program Structure
Ages 3-6
Dance With Me - 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)
Placement is by age and developmental level not by previous dance experience. Classes 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.
Current BDC Class Schedule
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Ages 6-7: introduction to technique
Introduction to Technique classes include Introduction to Ballet, Introduction to Modern and Introduction to Tap. In these classes students learn fundamental dance steps central to each technique yet 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.
Current BDC Class Schedule
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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 and Tap. 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. Unlike most things in our technological era, dance training requires consistency and focus. True progress is slow but incredibly rewarding.
Current BDC Class Schedule
REGISTER FOR CLASSES
LEVELS 2-8: 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. We honor equally the physical, emotional, and social development of our dancers. For many of them, BDC is their “safe place” and “home away from home” where they build life-long friendships and mentorships.
Dancers in the Pre-Professional Training Program are required to take a certain number of classes a week and this increases in the upper levels. Dance requires significant strength and healthy alignment that is developed through the repetition of daily class.
Level 2: Two classes per week in ballet, modern, tap or aerial.
Levels 3-5: Three classes per week (two ballet classes & one modern class). In addition, students can elect to take tap and aerial.
Levels 6-8: Three classes per week (two ballet classes & one modern class). In addition, students can elect to take contemporary technique, composition, tap, flamenco, aerial, and yoga, stretch & core.
Tap, Flamenco, and Aerial/Circus Arts can be taken independently (you are not required to take ballet or modern). Students in Levels 3-8 can add these classes as electives to their program bundles during registration.
Learning proper dance etiquette creates a professional atmosphere here at BDC and prepares our dancers to continue their training beyond our school. Dancers need to arrive early to class with proper hair and classroom attire. Essential to dance etiquette is showing respect for oneself, for other dancers, for teachers and for the shared space of our school. We ask that dancers commit to a full year of training. Unlike most things in our technological era, dance training requires consistency and focus. True progress is slow but incredibly rewarding.
Attendance is a priority. Missing class is detrimental to a dancer’s technical growth and disrupts the entire class when they are learning and rehearsing choreography. If students miss more than 3 classes in a semester, they may no longer be eligible to participate in the performance at the end of the semester.
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.
Levels 6, 7 & 8: advanced Repertory program
Advanced dancers in Levels 6, 7 & 8 can choose to be apart of our Advanced Ballet Repertory Program. In Repertory classes, dancers experience the a pre-professional rehearsal process learning challenging choreography, practicing rehearsal etiquette, and growing their performance qualities. We provide opportunities for our dancers to interact with professional choreographers to inspire them and prepare them for a professional career in dance.
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).
Dancers in Levels 7 & 8 can choose to be apart of our Modern and Tap Repertory Programs. In these classes dancers learn seminal works by master choreographers. Previous 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. Repertory classes perform these works throughout the year for community celebrations on Bainbridge and at the end of the year performance in June.
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. Dancers who are still growing will be asked to talk with a doctor to assess the growth plates in their feet before starting pointe. If a dancer is too weak or too young when they start pointe, they can permanently damage the bones in their feet.