Tap
Tap - Age 6 thru Adult.
Tap dancing is known by the rhythmic beating of music patterns by dancers with the soles of their shoes. Tap dancing originated combining English clog, Irish step, and African dances. Minstrel shows featured early tap dancing by African-American dancers. Tap dancing evolved into two forms – one fast and excited, the other slow and smooth. The two styles combined with the addition of metal “taps” on the soles of the shoes. Later dancers included balletic and jazz styles into their performances. Famous dancers include Bill Robinson, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelley, and Gregory Hines.
Tap dancing is known by the rhythmic beating of music patterns by dancers with the soles of their shoes. Tap dancing originated combining English clog, Irish step, and African dances. Minstrel shows featured early tap dancing by African-American dancers. Tap dancing evolved into two forms – one fast and excited, the other slow and smooth. The two styles combined with the addition of metal “taps” on the soles of the shoes. Later dancers included balletic and jazz styles into their performances. Famous dancers include Bill Robinson, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelley, and Gregory Hines.
Contemporary - 1st Grade - Adult
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical & classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements.
Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. This dance genre is often done in bare feet or half soled shoes. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music both instrumental and with lyrics.
Pioneers of contemporary dance include Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. These contemporary dancers all believed that dancers should have freedom of movement, allowing their bodies to freely express their innermost feelings.
Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. This dance genre is often done in bare feet or half soled shoes. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music both instrumental and with lyrics.
Pioneers of contemporary dance include Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. These contemporary dancers all believed that dancers should have freedom of movement, allowing their bodies to freely express their innermost feelings.