Dance at CAS
Dance Genres
We offer a variety of dance genres including acro, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, commercial dance, musical theatre dance, and jazz, as well as classes for early learners such as creative movement and pre-ballet. Information about those disciplines can be found below.
Groove and Grow with my Grown Up (ages 1-2)
Designed for toddlers and their grownups to experience the magic and joy of dance together! This high energy class explores motor skills, independence, self-expression, coordination, and most importantly - FUN! Students learn to love the arts while engaging in lively activities with colorful props, exciting music and a celebration of personal accomplishments. In addition to the physical strength, balance and coordination children will develop, students will also be challenged to learn the principles of team work, classroom etiquette, social skills and confidence.
Creative Movement (ages 2-3)
Designed for our youngest dancers, this class focuses on introductory dance skills, motor skills, independence, self-expression, coordination, and most importantly - FUN! Students learn to love the arts while engaging in lively activities with colorful props, exciting music, and a celebration of personal accomplishments. In addition to increased physical strength, balance, and coordination, children will be challenged to learn the principles of teamwork, classroom etiquette, social skills, and confidence.
Intro to Dance (age 3)
The perfect introduction to dance principles, technique, terminology, and coordination, this class provides students with a foundation in proper technique as they develop the motor skills and coordination needed to succeed. In addition to the technical aspects of the class, students will be encouraged to develop positive self-expression, music interpretation, flexibility, strength, balance, and grace. This class places emphasis on celebrating personal achievements, encouraging friendship, and utilizing teamwork.
Pre-Ballet/Tap (ages 4-5)
These young dancers will be exposed to foundational technique across ballet and tap disciplines in their dance training. Students will learn technique, terminology, motor skills, balance, flexibility, strength, and coordination in an environment that promotes personal achievement, teamwork, and confidence.
Pre-Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance (ages 4-5)In this combo class, young dancers are exposed to the hight energy principles of jazz and musical theatre dance. Have you ever wanted to learn dances like you see in your favorite shows and movies? In this joyful study dancers will learn exhilarating choreography in the style of some fan favorite shows including The Descendants, Zombies, Annie, and Wicked! Young dancers will get to explore the stylizations, techniques, and artistic qualities that it takes to pull of these popular dance scenes. BW Community Arts School combines their unparalleled dance education with recognizable beloved shows to create a unique encounter perfect for any star in the making!
Acro dance focuses on five distinct principles: flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering, and tumbling. Acro dance classes combine these principles to teach students elements of contortion, rhythmic gymnastics, and tumbling. Acro dance classes contain a full warm-up of strength-based progressions, development of body positions, balance skills, partner work, and tumbling skills. Portions of acro classes are done with a hands-on spot, or physical manipulation of the dancer's body to ensure safe progression through a skill. Our acro instructors are certified in acro instruction to ensure spotting is done in a safe manner.
Ballet is a classical form of dance which emphasizes proper technique and unique terminology. Ballet technique uses principles of body alignment, turn out, port de bras, adagio, and allegro. Ballet dancers should be able to identify each skill, position, and movement by the correct term and be able to define that term. Ballet artistry focuses on grace, uniformity, power, and precision. Dancers participating in ballet will have a strong foundation in technique, flexibility, discipline, and strength. This foundation will help them not only in ballet, but other genres as well.
Contemporary dance is an expressive dance style combining modern, jazz, lyrical, and classical ballet elements. Contemporary dance focuses on an emotional connection to dance movements. Contemporary dancers are unique storytellers who share their creative self-expression through the dances they present. Modern dance classes contain contract and release skills, improvisation, floorwork, jumps, turns, and a focus on developing each dancer’s personal artistry. Popularized on dance TV shows, these styles allow students to explore their self-expression, build their confidence, and truly feel their dance.
Hip Hop is an upbeat class that focuses on street dance styles. The hip hop style is broad and includes many aspects such as tutting, waving, breaking, popping, afro-beats, locking, and more. Hip Hop dancers have a unique rhythm and connection to music utilizing different beats to accent their style. Hip Hop dance classes contain multiple stylizations of hip hop while encouraging dancers to develop a style all their own.
Jazz is an energetic and exhilarating class of rhythmic movement. This upbeat style combines elements of cultural dance, ballet technique, modern dance, and forms of popular dance. Jazz dance has many unique movement styles and its own vocabulary. In these classes, dancers learn isolation movements, strength-based skills, floor work, jumps, and turns. Jazz dance encourages each dancer to find their own unique style of dance and self-expression.
Tap dance is a high-energy percussive style of expressive dance that uses special shoes to make sounds on the dance floor. Tap dancers work on rhythms and patterns to create music with their feet while they dance. Using taps allows dancers to enhance their artistry and storytelling with increased musicality.
Have you ever wanted to learn dances like you see in your favorite shows and movies? Musical Theatre Dance is the perfect experience for you! In this high-energy and joyful study, dancers will learn exhilarating choreography inspired by some fan-favorite shows, including Aladdin, Hamilton, Mean Girls, Wicked, and Hairspray! Young dancers will explore the stylizations, techniques, and artistic qualities required to perform these popular dance scenes. BW Community Arts School combines its unparalleled dance education with recognizable, beloved shows to create a unique experience perfect for any aspiring star! We invite dancers of all experience levels to join us for this exceptional encounter.
In this fun-filled class environment, students will have the opportunity to explore different ballroom dance styles. We will cover American Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot) and American Rhythm (rumba, cha cha, swing dances), as well as Latin social dances (salsa, bachata, merengue). This is the perfect foundation to explore different styles of movement!
Adult classes at CAS are designed for adults of all experience levels. Classes focus on learning new skills, building healthy habits, making new friendships, and having FUN! Adult classes are inclusive and adaptive to accommodate for any movement restrictions a dancer may have. Adult classes do not follow a strict dress code to allow our dancers to wear clothing that makes them feel comfortable throughout class.
