Dance Classes At Hillsdale
Beginning Dance
BEGINNING DANCE 1
This course explores classic and contemporary jazz, Ballet, modern, musical theater and hip hop styles as incorporated in concert and commercial realm. Technique is strengthened with thorough warm ups emphasizing correct alignment, isolations, musicality and complex rhythmic patterns. Students explore personal expression through dance, incorporating various jazz and contemporary idioms. Beginning students are instilled with the fundamentals of dance protocols, core strength, correct alignment and a basic command of dance vocabulary of all styles.The beginning class will explore coordination, musicality and movement in small and large groups. Students will improve in confidence and self-expression through increasingly challenging technique. Students will study the introductory modern dance techniques of Graham and Dunham and focus on achieving sustained control, refinement and movement versatility. This will increase confidence and self expression through movement possibilities within this modern dance vocabulary. Students will be exposed to health and wellness for the dancer, the historical and cultural foundations of this modern dance form, and its influence on current dance culture.
This course may be taken more than once.
BEGINNING DANCE 2
Students build upon the foundation gained in Dance I to enhance their technical skills, personal artistry and performance capabilities. Across the floor progressions, detailed improvisation exercises, and choreography phrases are delivered at an intermediate pace. Students in Dance II engage with dance history literature, anatomy and injury prevention and perform in Spring Dance Concert.
Intermediate Dance
Intermediate students build upon the foundations gained in Beginning Dance 1 & 2, however focus shifts to one based on performance/choreography. Intermediate class will showcase original works within the campus, local, digital and international communities at rallies, football games, competitions, and special events. Students develop and refine their choreographic & teaching skills, participate in community events, and serve as ambassadors to the Hillsdale High School community.
Advanced Dance
This course will cover dance technique in the styles of ballet/lyrical, modern/ contemporary, jazz, hip hop and a variety of partner dancing. Also, students will explore improvisation, choreography, and dance history. The focus of this course will be on technique, performance and choreography. Additionally, students will be required to work with guest choreographers in various cultural and contemporary dance forms. For more information regarding auditions, visit the auditions tab under “Dance Ensemble”