Class Offerings
Our class offerings at Lighthouse will continue to grow through out the year! Read on to discover what your young artist can jump in to now and what is to come.
Please note: included in all dress codes is the “no jewelry” rule. Stud earrings are ok; all other earrings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, rings etc. should be removed before entering class.
DANCE COMBO (ages 3-5)
Our dance combo class introduces our youngest dancers to dance terminology from ballet and jazz, as well as dance concepts like musical rhythm and spatial awareness. Dancers will also do light mat work, including front rolls and age appropriate strength and stretch exercises. Class will include fun music, props, and lots of giggles!
Dress Code: Girls-solid leotard (black or pastel color preferred; attached skirts ok), pink or skin toned tights, pink ballet shoes. Boys- plain white undershirt, black athletic shorts or pants, black ballet shoes. All students with long hair should have it secured in a ponytail.
DRAMA/JAZZ COMBO (grades Kindergarten-1st)
Our Drama/Jazz Combo class introduces the best of both acting and dancing to our students who are bound for the stage! Basic Jazz Dance technique will be taught, including isolations, common steps in choreography, and foundations for harder steps in the future. Then students will dive into drama improvisation games that help them think quick on their feet, perform confidently and work together as a team!
Dress Code: Girls-leotard, tights and shorts; or, leotard and leggings. Boys: well-fitted t-shirt (not too blousy), athletic shorts or pants. All: tan jazz shoes, long hair pulled back into a ponytail.
DRAMA TECHNIQUE (grades 5th-12th)
Drama class includes improvisation warm-ups and games to get students thinking on their feet and working together as a team. It can also include monologue work and script work with partners to learn how to deliver lines and develop characters, and more. Note: Our Junior class is for students grades 2nd-6th; our Senior class is for students grades 7th-12th.
Dress Code: Comfortable clothing that is easy to move in and not distracting. No skirts, low cut tops, mid-drift tops or pants tight enough to inhibit movement. Dance shoes optional, socks ok. Long hair should be secured in a ponytail.
BALLET (grades Kindergarten-12th)
Ballet technique shows up in all theatrical dancing and solid ballet training is a must for all performers! Ballet teaches performers poise, control, grace, strength, the importance of body lines, proprioception, musicality, and more. It is exciting for students to learn and master new steps and skills!
Our level B Ballet class (kindergarten and 1st grade) will follow the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum guidelines to not start barre work before the age of 8, to allow proper physical development of the abdominal core through posture work. Instead, this age focuses on quality of movement, learning terminology, bringing imagination into performances and learning spatial awareness.
All of our ballet classes follow ABT NTC curriculum and guidelines, and future seasons will include opportunities for graded exams from ABT examiners. For more information, click here.
Dress Code: Girls-Solid leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes. Hair in a bun or other neatly pinned do. Black or pink ballet sweater, black ballet shorts or solid color ballet skirt optional. Boys- plain white t-shirt (under-shirt style), black athletic shorts or black opaque dance tights. Black or neutral colored ballet shoes. Long hair secured back.
PRE-POINTE/POINTE
Pointe dancing is the progression into advanced ballet training (typically for woman, but also sometimes for men). It requires tremendous strength, control and technique. However, when done well, the results are beautiful, graceful dancers who are strong and confident!
All students at Lighthouse who wish to go on Pointe will start in our Pre-pointe class, to learn the proper technique and build up their ability. When dancers are ready, the instructor will conduct an exam to let the students prove they are ready for Pointe shoes!
Dress Code: Girls-Solid leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes. Hair in a bun or other neatly pinned do. Black or pink ballet sweater, black ballet shorts or solid color ballet skirt optional. Required Equipment: theraband medium strength, racquetball.
JAZZ (grades 2nd-12th)
Jazz Dance has roots in African vernacular dancing as well as ballet. Class is taught to fun, upbeat music as dancers learn to isolate, stretch, and texturize their movement. Flexibility and strength is a big part of progressing as a jazz dancer, and our students will progress in both!
Dress Code: Girls-leotard, with tights and dance shorts -or- leggings. Boys-well-fitted t-shirt, athletic shorts or pants. All-tan jazz shoes, long hair secured in a ponytail and away from face.
LYRICAL (grades 2nd-12th)
Lyrical is a blend of ballet and jazz, with emphasis on emotion to tell a story. Lyrical is a popular dance form because it offers the students the ability to be expressive, often to songs they know and love. It is recommended (but not required) for lyrical students to also enroll in ballet and jazz.
Dress Code: Girls-leotard, with tights and dance shorts -or- leggings. Boys-well-fitted t-shirt, athletic shorts or pants. All-tan jazz shoes, long hair secured in a ponytail and away from face.
CONTEMPORARY (grades 5th-12th)
Contemporary is based in modern dance, which is related to ballet technique but breaks all the rules! Focus is on being able to move off the body axis and find it quickly again, creating interesting shapes, textures and movement through breathe and natural momentum. Contemporary is often heavily crossed over with Lyrical, and for our inaugural season they will be taught in conjunction with one another in our levels D & E.
Dress Code: Girls-leotard, with tights and dance shorts -or- leggings. Boys-well-fitted t-shirt, athletic shorts or pants. All-tan jazz shoes, long hair secured in a ponytail and away from face.
DANCE CONDITIONING (grades 5th-12th)
Dance conditioning uses various techniques to help dancers strengthen the specific muscle set needed for dance, especially the core and rotator muscles, and the ankles and feet. This includes mat work, exercises on yoga balls, the use of fusion balls, therabands, loop bands, and implementing curriculum from Progressing Ballet Technique and Alixa Flexibility.
Dress Code: Girls-Leotard, leggings, bare feet. Hair in low ponytail or side ponytail (for ease of laying your back). Boys: well-fitted t-shirt, athletic shorts or pants, bare feet. Required Equipment: Yoga mat, theraband, racquetball.