Dance Classes Winter/Spring 2012

 
Click here for a complete schedule of Dance classes. Click here for the Children's Dance Class Dress Code.
  

Children's Dance Classes

NEW! Mommy and Me Music and Movement  2 - 3 YRS
This class is designed to enhance children’s motor, listening, and rhythmic skills through fun music and movement oriented activities (an adult is expected to actively participate with their child). Play games, sing songs, and get creative with your little one!

Dancing Tots   2 1/2 - 3 YRS
Children develop creativity in movement, coordination and self-esteem in a non-competitive environment. Learn the fundamentals of movement in a fun way.

NEW! Theater Tots   3-4 YRS 
This class introduces basic theatre concepts through games, storytelling and imagination. Children get comfortable moving and using their voices to creatively express themselves. Your child can have fun gaining new friends, confidence and creative problem solving skills in a comfortable and encouraging environment!

Dancing 3s   3 YRS
Dancing 3s is a gentle introduction to movement with music for three-year-olds.  Students begin to develop skills needed to work in a group dynamic, listen actively and follow directions.  Classes are designed as structured play, using imagery and imagination to explore movement and develop gross motor skills.

Dancing 4s    4 YRS
Dancing 4s is for children who are four years old. Students continue to develop the group dynamic skills in the Dancing 3s curriculum. Gross motor skills such as marching, galloping, skipping and leaping are expanded.  Exercises for coordination and rhythm are introduced through creative games and dances.

Creative Dance  4-5 YRS
This class introduces young movers to basic dance elements through a mixture of creative play and structured exercises. Students explore rhythm, dynamics, balance and more through games, songs and other movement activities.

Creative Dance/Tap  4-5 YRS
A progressive, preparatory program with emphasis centered on the development of rhythm and coordination while introducing the child to creative movement and tap. Students engage in games, creative activities and problem solving exercises involving movement to explore their creativity and practice their gross motor skills. For boys and girls.

Pre-Ballet/TapA   K-2 GR
For kindergarteners or first graders. Students continue to develop classroom etiquette and body and spatial awareness skills. Classes balance work with fun as rhythm studies, folk dances and exercises for balance are added to the curriculum. Age appropriate pre-ballet exercises and positions are introduced, promoting body alignment, posture and age appropriate stretching. Basic classical positions are taught and an increased focus is expected in the preparation for Level I.

Pre-Ballet/TapB   K-2 GR
For kindergarteners or first graders. Students continue to develop classroom etiquette and body and spatial awareness skills. Classes balance work with fun as rhythm studies, folk dances and exercises for balance are added to the curriculum. Age appropriate pre-ballet exercises and positions are introduced, promoting body alignment, posture and age appropriate stretching. Basic classical positions are taught and an increased focus is expected in the preparation for Level I. Prerequisite: Creative Dance/Tap or Pre-Ballet/Tap A.

NEW! Ballet I   2 - 3 GR
New Houston Ballet/JCC Satellite Program. Students progress through a designed curriculum that provides comprehensive dance training and lays the foundation for further study of classical ballet. No experience necessary. Click here for the brochure.  

NEW! Ballet 2  3 - 5 GR
New Houston Ballet/ERJCC Satellite Program. This class is designed to increase the level of technical proficiency for barre and center floor work. A continuing emphasis is placed on musicality, joy of movement, body alignment and overall strengthening. Click here for the brochure. 

Level I Ballet/Jazz   2-4 GR
A progressive, preparatory program with emphasis on formal classical ballet and jazz technique. Must have 2 years previous experience in Pre-Ballet/Ballet. Placement by director.

Level I Tap   2-4 GR
Enjoy fun dance routines featuring tap with emphasis on balance, rhythmical awareness and coordination. Prerequisite: must be enrolled in Level I Ballet/Jazz.

Level II Ballet/Jazz/Hip Hop/Tap   2-4 GR
A progressive, preparatory program with emphasis on formal classical ballet technique and musicality while introducing the basic elements of jazz/hip hop vocabulary. Prerequisite: 2-3 years previous training in ballet/jazz and placement by director. 

Level II Ballet/Jazz/ Hip Hop   2-4 GR
A progressive, preparatory program with emphasis on formal classical ballet technique and musicality while introducing the basic elements of jazz/hip hop vocabulary. Prerequisite: 2-3 years previous training in ballet/jazz and placement by director. 

Level II Ballet/Tap   2-4 GR
A progressive, preparatory program with emphasis on formal classical ballet technique and musicality while introducing the basic elements of jazz/hip hop vocabulary. Prerequisite: 2-3 years previous training in ballet/jazz and placement by director. 

Level I Jazz/Hip Hop   2-4 GR
Jazz/hip hop technique and vocabulary will be taught through class work and choreography. For boys and girls.

Level II/III Jazz/Hip Hop   3-6 GR
Jazz/hip hop technique and vocabulary will be taught through class work and choreography. Prerequisite: 3-4 years previous training in jazz/hip hop and placement by director. For boys and girls.

Hip Hop for Boys   3-6 GR
Hip Hop for Boys is a dynamic mix of hip hop technique, break dancing and more designed for boys. 

NEW! Stage Kids I  K-1 GR
This creative class introduces basic theatre concepts including voice, music theory, acting and dance through a range of engaging and entertaining activities. Your child can have fun gaining new friends, confidence and creative problem solving skills in a comfortable and encouraging environment!

NEW! Stage Kids II  2-4 GR
This creative class introduces basic theatre concepts including voice, music theory, acting and dance through a range of engaging and entertaining activities. Your child can have fun gaining new friends, confidence and creative problem solving skills in a comfortable and encouraging environment!

Creative Broadway Kids   3-6 GR
This exciting, creative jazz/tap experience introduces young children to dance styles at the heart of the Broadway musical. Basic jazz isolations and tap steps appropriate for young children help them develop rhythmic coordination and a sense of "pizzazz." 

The "J" Crew   5-9 GR
Audition for this exciting repertoire by various ERJCC staff and guest artists! Students are provided several performance opportunities throughout the year.
  

Teen/Adult Dance

Intro to Ballet  
This is the ideal level for first time students, adult beginner students, or those who would like to return to the dance studio after many years and are looking for a refresher course. Barre exercises will focus on developing a foundation in ballet technique and vocabulary. Center exercises will include elements from barre work, as well as the introduction of concepts of croisé, effacé and écarté and the introduction and/or review of basic turns and jumps.

Ballet IA  
Students are expected to be familiar with all barre exercises, including simple balances, concepts of croisé, effacé and écarté, and basic turns and jumps. Centre exercises combine elements of the above material into movement phrases of two to four different steps and emphasize increased proficiency.

Ballet II  
Students are expected to be familiar with all barre exercises, including balances, concepts of croisé, effacé and écarté, as well as turns and jumps. A greater understanding of centre exercises, which combine elements of the above materials into movement phrases, is necessary with an emphasis on increased proficiency.

Bhangra N' Bollywood  
Enjoy a fun-filled class that will give you a taste of some unique dances, keep you movin' to energetic South Asian music and provide a great workout! Bhangra is a traditional North Indian folk dance that has recently penetrated into the mainstream because of its pulsating drumbeat and exhilarating rhythm. Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai-based Hindi language film industry in India. Wear comfortable clothing and get ready for an exciting class.

New! Masala Bhangra Workout 
This is an Indian-inspired dance fitness program, designed for people of all ages and fitness levels. It introduces high energy Bhangra and Bollywood dance movement in an easy-to-follow fitness format. Created by expat Sarina Jain, the hour-long cardio workout incorporates sliding steps, squats, jumps, turns and lots of hand and wrist movement. 

Intro to Contemporary/Modern  
Including exercises based in Cunningham and Graham styles mixed with release choreography, this class offers a well-rounded base for the beginning/intermediate dancer.

Hip Hop Fusion  
A social-based dance which is rooted in jazz danced to popular music. It is seen today in clubs and music videos.

Intro to Tap  
Learn beginning tap technique in the Jazz/Tap style in warm-ups and combinations.   

Tap III
This tap class concentrates on the low to the ground and precise style of tap called "rhythm tap", largely made infamous through the old masters of tap such as Eddie Brown. Tap dancing is a dance of strong rhythms and relies almost totally on footwork. The feet become musical instruments marking out complex rhythm with the heel and the toe. Placement and advancement of any student is at the sole discretion of the dance director.

X-Dancing   
This is a blend between two worlds: the structured, disciplined world of the technical dancer and the unrestricted, free form world of the street dancer. X-Dancing takes the joy of free social and street dancing and blends it with the strength and control of ballet and jazz. X-Dancers can do a little of everything - hip hop, jazz, pop locking, ballet, break dance, salsa and more.

Zumba!
Dance your way to a fitter you even without knowing how to dance. Learn exciting unique Latin moves and rhythms. No dance experience is needed.

Zumba Gold
A series of fitness programs specifically designed to take the exciting Latin and International dance rhythms including meringue, Salsa, Cha Cha, Cumbia and Rock and Roll created in the original Zumba and bring them to the active older adult, the beginning participant, and other special groups that may need modifications for success. Created to emphasize the basics this explosive program is so easy to follow that everyone at any age can do it. 
  

Adult Dance

Intro To Ballroom  
Learn the basic steps and techniques of dancing with a partner in this introductory class, which covers waltz, fox trot, tango, swing, rumba and cha-cha.

Cardio Dance
Shape up with this action-packed high-energy fusion workout to strengthen and revitalize the cardiovascular system through dance movements.

For All Ages

Israeli Folkdancing - Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced  
These open dance sessions include instruction and review of classics along with today's most popular Israeli folk dances, including couples and line dances. Requests are honored. No need to pre-register, just come and pay at the door. Children are welcome.

Flex Card Variety Special
Enjoy a variety of the following classes: Zumba, Cardio Dance, Ballet Barre/Flexibility/Strength-building, Pilates Mat. This card, purchased from the ERJCC, may be used beginning the week of Jan 15 through the week of March 4. While the card is not refundable or transferable, there are no class prerequisites. Limit of 10 classes. Call 713-729-3200, ext. 3223 to pick up your card at the Front Desk. 

Click here for a complete schedule of Dance classes.  For more information, please contact Maxine Silberstein at msilberstein@erjcchouston.org or 713-729-3200 ext. 3223.