Dance Genres

Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School offers classes in a variety of genres including acro, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap and jazz, as well as classes for early learners such as pre-ballet and pre-jazz. Information about those disciplines can be found on this page.

*For more information about the specific dance styles please see genre descriptions below.

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 the physical strength, balance, and coordination children will develop, students will also 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 both ballet and tap disciplines while experiencing variety 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.

Pee-Wee Acro (ages 4-5) Acro dance is a fun, exciting style based on five distinct principles: flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering, and tumbling. Peewee acro will have your little one exploring movement, developing motor skills, and building the strength needed for a healthy lifestyle. This active class utilizes multiple props and varied activities to keep little ones engaged and excited to learn. Portions of acro classes are done with a hands on spot, or physical manipulation of the dancers body to ensure safe progression through a skill. CAS acro instructors are certified in acro instruction to ensure spotting is done in a safe manor. Dancers will be taught in an environment that promotes personal achievement, teamwork and confidence.

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. CAS acro instructors are certified in acro instruction to ensure spotting is done in a safe manner.

Ballet is a classical form of dance with a codified syllabus and unique terminology. Ballet technique uses principles of body alignment, turn out, port de bras, adagio, and allegro. A ballet dance class will emphasize on proper technique and terminology. 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 the ballet genre, but other genres as well.

Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet and focuses on an emotional connection with the choreography. Contemporary dancers are unique storytellers who share their creative self-expression through the dances they present. Contemporary dance classes employ contract and release skills, improvisation, floor work, jumps and turns, all while developing each dancer’s personal artistry.

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 much 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.

Have you ever wanted to learn dances like you see in your favorite shows and movies? Commercial Dance is the perfect experience for you! In this high energy and joyful new study dancers will learn exhilarating choreography in the style of some fan favorite shows. Young dancers will get to explore the stylizations, techniques, and artistic qualities that it takes to pull off these popular dance scenes.

Musical Theatre Dance is an exciting and engaging class that teaches the techniques used in popular stage and Broadway plays. This class will teach both jazz and tap techniques exposing students to multiple genres. Musical Theatre Dance combines BW Community Arts School’s unparalleled dance education with the energetic fun of musical theatre ensuring that all dancers will be creating a solid dance foundation while learning to express themselves in an exciting new way! This exceptional experience is the perfect way to introduce your child to dance, or to expand their horizons into a new genre!