Classes
- Dance Magic
- Dance Sing Play
- Classical Ballet and The Classical Academy
- Jazz
- Tap
- Contemporary
- Hip Hop
Dance Magic
3-5 years
Click here to learn more about Dance Magic
In the Dance Sing Play class you and your child will explore different ways of moving and responding to music, as well as singing songs and finger plays.
Children of all ages can benefit from learning dance and movement: they have a natural energy, a natural rhythm and a natural desire to move to the beat of music.
Each session is designed to take into account the ability and attention span of the age group and the structured classes often follow simple pre-school themes such as animals, transport, colours, numbers, etc. By following the same theme and repeating exercises over the term, children have the opportunity to develop and refine their skills. The classes also provide an opportunity for you to learn new songs and activities that you can then use with your children throughout the week. We incorporate old favourites and new songs along with a variety of interesting visual aids and props to hold the children’s attention and to aid learning. Many props are used to enhance the learning and discovery including a parachute and balls, streamers, feathers, bean bags, soft toys, picture boards, pom-poms, and bubbles. Musical instruments are also used such as shakers, drums and bells. Dance Sing Play classes are a special time to spend with your child, without any distractions of home. In these classes parents and grandparents are vital to the program, and often enjoy the experience as much as the children do. As well as classes being great fun, experts agree that music and movement is hugely beneficial to a child’s development. Singing, dancing and playing musical instruments encourages children to develop their language and numeracy skills, improve physical co-ordination, confidence and social skills.
Classical Ballet
From 5 years +At Jane Grech Dance Centre we stress the importance of classical ballet training.
Classical ballet provides the foundation for all other dance forms. It is the most demanding, most disciplined of all dance forms; but also the most rewarding. With a solid ballet foundation, classically trained dancers can transfer their skills into jazz, modern dance, or any other dance form they might decide to pursue. Accomplishing a solid ballet foundation is crucial to becoming an outstanding dancer in any dance form. Simple exercises are repeated each week, but students will also retain an element of the self expressive freedom through creative exercises. Our program incorporates teaching to the ‘whole child’ and therefore also includes the study of dance history, famous ballets, ballet terminology and body awareness – all which are taught in an age appropriate manner. Assessments are optional.
The Classical Academy
The Classical Academy is run on Saturdays at our Highbury Studio. We recognise not all families or students wish to partake in an assessment, however it is very difficult to teach half a class of ‘assessment kids’ and half a class of ‘non assessment kids’. As a result, The Classical Academy classes are only for students who wish to complete an Assessment in June of each year. Assessments are non threatening (Please refer to FAQ page for more information on assessments) but do require a good attendance record, a keen student, supportive parents and also cost an extra fee of approx. $60. The same programs / syllabus is followed in all ballet classes. If you do not want your child to participate in an assessment, they will not be disadvantaged. For example: the only difference between a student attending Beginner Ballet at Greenwith on a Wednesday or Saturday instead of at Highbury would be the fact that they do not participate in the Assessment at the end of Term Two. Classical ballet students from Level One onwards who wish to be assessed will need to attend two lessons per week for Term One and Two in the lead up to assessment. From Level One onwards Assessments are nationally recognised and lead to a an accredited qualification (Certificates I-IV in Dance Performance Studies.
Jazz
From 5 years +Energetic and expressive, Jazz is a modern form of dance and is often associated with musicals and music videos. Since the early appearance of Jazz dance in the minstrel shows of the early 19th century, Jazz dance has seen many changes as popular music and the development of stage musicals have helped influence the way Jazz dance has been presented. With the development of Broadway and it’s highly successful musical stage shows including Oklahoma!, Chicago, West Side Story and more recently popular musical movies including Mary Poppins, Fame and Moulin Rouge, Jazz has evolved into a variety of styles. Our Jazz classes encourage students to discover and develop Jazz through a range of styles including the most widely recognised form of Broadway jazz with powerful body movements, isolations and flair, as well as earlier forms of Jazz dance such as the Charleston and Lindy Hop and the more recent Funk Jazz style. Classes include a variety of strength and technical activities using a variety of kicks, turns, jumps and isolations and progress to short and long dance combinations.
Tap
From 5 years +Make music with your feet! The name ‘tap’ comes from the tapping sound made when the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch a hard floor creating a variety of rhythmic actions and creating many different beats and sounds in syncopation with the music. This tapping makes the performer not just a dancer, but also a percussive musician: like mastering a highly visual percussion instrument. JGDC’s rhythmical tap classes will challenge your feet & co-ordination with tapping concepts inspired by the traditional choreography of Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire & the Broadway musicals, through to the diverse funky styles of the more recent ‘Tap Dogs' & ‘Stomp’ phenomenon’s. New techniques are introduced progressively to develop and challenge the dancers. Classes guarantee to be a wonderful workout, are full of fun & always very noisy!
Contemporary
From 8 years +Expressing yourself through dance is one of the greatest pleasures in life for many dancers and Contemporary dance is one of the most expressive styles of dance due to its versatility and freedom in movement choice and dance concepts. Contemporary dance covers a great variety of movement and is greatly influenced by its resistance to strict technical forms and the many other forms of dance it “borrows” movement from. BASIX Contemporary helps to develop strength and co-ordination through a variety of focussed exercises. As the classes progress more complex combinations are taught culminating with learning a full dance piece.
Hip Hop
From 8 years +Cool moves to hot music! Hip-Hop has the leading edge in popular dance. Video clips and reality dance shows have turned Hip-Hop into a phenomenon. It’s a rhythmic, high energy and total electric style of dance! JGDC’s very exciting, very funky, & very popular hip hop & funk classes are offered to girls & boys from age 8......no experience necessary. Hip-Hop culture was born in the Bronx, New York during the 1970's while at the same time a separate Funk culture was developing on the U.S. West Coast. In the 1980's Hip-Hop and Funk were grouped together under the label of break-dancing. What's generally referred to today as Hip-Hop is a hybrid of Funk, popping, locking, b-boying, b-girling, uprocking, boogaloo, crumping, and lyrical.
