DANCE ENRICHMENT, Co-Curricular & ECA COURSES

DANCE WITH spotlight

Spotlight’s dance courses offer the four core disciplines - classical ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary dance. We provide students with the opportunity to explore the world of dance and expand their dance vocabulary, creativity and expression through movement.

Students will be taught by professional dancers from the United Kingdom who will share their industry experiences and knowledge. Focus is on improving technique, developing strength and, most importantly, challenging students’ versatility.

Aims

• To learn a variety of dance styles

• Develop musicality and artistry

• Learn how to express yourself through movement

• Gain knowledge of movement practitioners

• Introduce physical theatre

Skills

• Dance technique

• Flexibility

• Physical strength

• Musical interpretation

Classical Ballet

Ballet teaches elegance, pose, attention to detail and physical strength. While our classes focus on technique our ultimate aim is to produce Ballet dancers who demonstrate musicality and artistry when performing. Our Ballet curriculum is carefully devised in such a way to provide students with a holistic understanding of Classical Ballet and the various practitioners that are instrumental to the industry. Alongside the RAD Examination framework students are introduced to Cechetti, Benesh Notation and ISTD styles.

FUNKY JAZz

Students will begin the course by securing their technical foundations including posture, learning basic dance vocabulary and begin to explore musicality. Each week students will learn funky  explore hip-hop routines, touch upon musical theatre jazz dance styles and choreographers and lyrical choreography. At the end of each term family and friends will be invited into the class to watch an informal demonstration to see the work that the students have been covering.

TAP DANCE

Tip tap toe...Tap is probably the most fun dance style for young dancers. It is the perfect introduction to dance for those who have never danced before and allows students to explore movement through rhythm and sound. Each lesson we will explore new styles: classical, jazz, rhythm, funk, and Broadway tap to develop your musicality, while most importantly having lots of fun!

HIP HOP

Hip Hop is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping and locking. Hip hop dancing is very dynamic and helps dancers improve flexibility, develop body balance and coordination. Students will begin the course by securing their technical foundations including posture, learning dance vocabulary and start to explore musicality. Each week students will explore funky hip-hop routines to the most popular, current music. Through this we will encourage students to step outside of the box and bring their own individual style and personality to the movements.

MUSICAL THEATRE JAZZ

Each term industry professionals from CentreStage will teach students a new style of dance, 'Musical Theatre Jazz'. Students will have the opportunity to learn repertoire from West-End and Broadway musicals such as 'Hamilton', 'CATS', 'West Side Story', 'Legally Blonde', 'Guys & Dolls', plus many more.

CONTEMPORARY

Through our contemporary course we will explore the method and choreography of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham and release technique, whilst using improvisational exercises and creative stimuli to develop new physical theatre ideas and challenge movement boundaries. This course is structured around the ISTD syllabus and students will have the opportunity to enter for their ISTD Examination in Modern Dance once per year (the examination is completely optional). Each term concludes in a sharing of work to family and friends.

Choreography

Choreography workshops provide a platform for students to devise their very own choreographic triumphs. We explore the choreography of Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey and many more. Each term concludes in a sharing of work, by our students, to family and friends, to demonstrate the choreographic skills and techniques they have been workshopping.

DANCE EXAMINATIONS

ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE (RAD) EXAMINATIONS

The Royal Academy of Dance Examinations has around 230,000 candidates from all over the world. Their focus is on musicality, creativity and artistry. This is a fundamental aspect of developing interest and passion into a dance discipline for younger students. The RAD syllabus provides a grounding for students of all abilities to develop their technical versatility in Classical Ballet. The RAD syllabus is world-renowned and facilitates a pathway for those students who potentially would like to go on to study vocationally.

ISTD EXAMINATIONS

The ISTD conducts 250,000 assessments annually. We offer a wide spectrum of vocational, recreational and social dance exams to children, students, amateurs and professionals.Our clearly defined structure allows learning to take place in the context of safe dance practice.The examination structure of the ISTD is designed to cater equally for those who wish to progress to making dance their profession, either as a performer or dance teacher, and for those pursuing dance purely as a leisure activity.