Louisville Academy of Dance

Pre-Ballet Class (Ages 3-5)
Combining Creative Movement and the fundamentals of Ballet,  students develop an appreciation and knowledge of dance.  Class etiquette is introduced that will help prepare them for the more advanced classes.  Their creativity and interaction are also nurtured in movement sessions where they will be asked to portray characters from ballet stories.  The students are exposed to ballet classics such as Swan Lake and Cinderella. 

Beginning Ballet 1 (Ages 5-7)
Combining the basic elements of Ballet and Tap, this class is more focused and basic dance elements are expanded upon.    The students’ vocabulary of steps builds along with their proficiency and confidence.

 
Beginning Ballet 2 and 3
These classes are for students who have shown a readiness to incorporate a more serious ballet curriculum into their classwork.  The ballet barre becomes integral to the class and students become more familiar with ballet terminology, body placement, musicality, and class etiquette.  The fundamentals of Tap are also expanded upon.
 

Ballet
Ballet is the foundation of all dance.  Rather then relying on one particular syllabus or style of teaching, LAD combines the best of the French, Russian, Italian, and Royal Academy of Dance systems.  Focus is placed on body alignment and placement, and on proper technique.  The artistic development of the students is carefully nurtured. 

Jazz 
This class introduces and builds on the basic skills of jazz dance with emphasis on general body technique and development, using classic jazz styles for rhythm awareness and line.  Always a popular dance style, jazz utilizes popular dance forms such as hip hop and funk with Broadway and musical theater dance to engage students in a vigorous and challenging class.  Dancers also learn the structure of a jazz class, which includes center floor warm-up and technique, moving across the floor, and ending with the learned skills applied in a combination.

Tap
This class introduces and builds on the basic skills and vocabulary of tap dance.  Tap class develops rhythm and sound coordination skills.  Students will learn technique, rhythm, and timing in combinations at the barre, center, and across the floor.

Modern
This class will focus on the body as an articulate intrument of creative expression with special focus on the interplay with spatial tensions and support as well as the use of weight qualities, time qualities, and phrasing.

Pre-Pointe 
Utilizing ballet shoes or specially designed pre-pointe shoes, this class aids students as they improve their strength in preparation for dancing on pointe.
 
Pointe
Because of the strong physical demands, this class is offered only to those students who have reached a sufficient technical capability and strength by taking multiple classes a week.  In this class, the students learn to rise onto the end of their toes and dance with the aid of pointe shoes.

Variations
This is a class where more experienced dancers learn and rehearse classical repertoire, usually on pointe.

Strengthen and Stretch
In these classes, the students participate in exercises  to strengthen their core (abdominal area); develop leg, back, and foot strength; and stretch to improve their flexibility and elasticity.

Private lessons 
These are offered by appointment for those dancers choosing to work on a specific goal one on one with an instructor.

Adult Ballet
These classes are for dancers age 14 and up.  Classes are on-going during the Academy's sessions, and observe the LAD vacations.  Dancers are not assigned to a particular class, but may attend classes as they wish.  Attendance is open and can be paid for by the class or by purchasing a class card which gives 10 classes at a discount rate.  The card expires after six months.  Adult Division dancers must pay the yearly registration fee to maintain active status.