School of Dance Course Offerings
To register and save a spot in class, please complete either the online registration at a link provided below or request and turn in a paper copy to the dance office. Your place in class is reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Those seeking a place in classes that sell out early may be asked to pay a registration fee to reserve a place in class.
The school of dance office will process registrations as they are received and will close classes as they reach capacity. To ensure a slot in a class, we recommend that you register at your earliest opportunity. Welcome back to our returning students and welcome to the new members of our dance family!
Early Education
Ages: 18 Months - 7 Years Old
Early Education classes at the Sangre de Cristo School of Dance use a syllabus based on the National Professional Teaching Standards for Dance Education. Students learn different kinds of coordination and begin to understand the use of space, timing, and energy with age-appropriate instruction for each class level.
“Dance is a powerful ally for developing many of the attributes of a growing child. Dance helps children mature physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. The physical benefits of dance are widely accepted, but the emotional, social and cognitive attributes have only recently begun to be appreciated.” -National Dance Education Organization
Dance With Me: (Ages 18 months to 3 years old) This class focuses on early coordination and motor skills, musicality, and balance. Class duration: 45 minutes.
Fridays 10:15 -11:00 am
Pre-Ballet 1: (Ages 3-4) Students learn basic forms of movement through creative games, songs, music and rhythmic patterns. Class etiquette is reinforced.
Mondays : 4:00 -4:45 pm or Fridays : 10:15-11:00 am
Pre-Ballet 2: (Ages 4-5) This class focuses on simple coordination and beginning concepts of ballet, coordination, spatial awareness, and class etiquette.
Mondays: 4:45 -5:30 pm or Saturdays: 10:15 -11:00 am
Pre-Ballet 3: (Ages 5-6) This class focuses on forming the bridge between early education and formal ballet training. Students will continue to develop their coordination and musicality, and also start to develop focus and self-discipline.
Tuesdays : 4:00 -5:00 pm or Saturdays: 9:15 -10:15 am
Open Division
Open division classes are designed for children, teenagers, and adults who are trying dance for the first time or are seeking a dance experience without the time commitment of the formal training of our school division.
Hip-Hop 1A: (Ages 7 - 10) In this class, students will be introduced to the basics of a variety of hip-hop styles including street, basic breaking, beginning level tutting, free-form, and lyrical.
Class meets once a week on Tuesdays: 6:00-7:00 pm.
Hip-Hop 1B: (Ages 10+) This class is a blend of all kinds of different street dance styles. It combines hip-hop, popping, locking and waving to create a modern take on hip-hop. There will be a lot of energetic and funky moves.
Class meets once a week on Mondays : 5:30-6:30 pm.
Adult Ballet Basics: (Ages 18+) A welcoming and vibrant community environment for those who always wanted to try ballet or those who are returning to dance. Emphasis will be placed on the development of muscular strength, flexibility, and motor control.
Class meets once a week on Thursdays : 6:00-7:00 pm.
Adult Intermediate Ballet: (Ages 18+) This class provides a re-entry for dedicated dancers returning after an absence, those transferring from other programs who would like acclimation, or those who prefer not to enroll in the leveled program.
Class meets once a week on Wednesdays: 7:00-8:00pm.
Adult Tap Dance: (Ages 18+) Adult tap is a comprehensive collection of basic steps and techniques to learn and improve basic tap skills. You will learn a series of technique combinations that can be used in many styles of tap dancing, including musical theater, hoofing, and rhythmic tap. It’s a fun way to improve rhythm while getting exercise.
Class meets once a week on Thursdays : 7:00-8:00pm.
Essentrics®: Class A dynamic, full-body workout suitable for all fitness levels that simultaneously combines stretching and strengthening while engaging all 650 muscles. This class will increase flexibility and mobility for a healthy, toned, and pain-free body
Class meets once a week on Mondays : 7:00-8:00 pm.
Gyrokinesis®: (Ages 17+) Gyrokinesis is a gentle yet powerful system that blends elements of yoga, dance, tai chi, and swimming into flowing, circular movements that awaken your spine, joints, and breath. This class is designed for all ages and abilities—no experience needed. Whether you’re looking to increase mobility, improve posture, or simply feel more at home in your body, Gyrokinesis offers a supportive, uplifting environment to reconnect with movement and yourself. Come as you are and leave feeling refreshed, aligned, and energized.
Class meets once a week on Wednesdays : 6:00-7:00 pm.
Adult Belly Dancing: (Ages 16+ with parental consent) Join us to experience this beautiful and captivating style of Middle Eastern dancing, which gives women a platform for empowerment and self-expression. Using uplifting and healing techniques, this class will cover steps, movements, and postures for the entire body. Every skill level is welcome.
Class meets once a week on Saturdays : 12:00-1:00 pm.
School Division
School division classes begin at age 8 with Ballet Level 1. It is strongly recommended that students studying in the school division attend ballet classes a minimum of 3 times per week. Precise technique and proper alignment are the foundations to dancing safely.
Ballet 1: (Ages 7+ Prerequisite Pre-Ballet 3 or Consent of Instructor) Emphasis on alignment, placement, self-control, and ballet positions. This level marks the beginning of formal training in the art of ballet. Students begin practicing their turnout, formal barre work (plies, tendus, jetes, and ronde de jambe in their most basic forms), and begin to find stability and balance in the center of the room. Students must have pre-ballet or previous ballet experience.
Tuesdays: 4:00-5:00 pm or Thursdays : 4:00-5:00 pm
Ballet 2: (Prerequisite Ballet 1 or Consent of Instructor) Exercises learned in Ballet 1 are now performed in greater quantity and complexity at faster tempos. Students are expected to maintain consistent alignment throughout an exercise. Emphasis on strengthening the instep and foot and introduction of exercises on demi-pointe.
Tuesdays: 5:00 -6:00 pm and Thursdays: 5:00 -6:00 pm.
Ballet 3: (Prerequisite - Ballet 2 or Consent of Instructor) At this level, students are working on strength and stability in center exercises on demi pointe. Allegro work is faster and more complex. Turns and allegro with beats are also introduced. Students will begin pre-pointe work and progress to pointe as they attain the requisite strength and maturity.
Mondays: 4:00-5:30 pm and Thursdays: 4:00-5:30 pm
Ballet 4: (Prerequisite Ballet 3 or Consent of Instructor) Emphasis on strengthening stability in various positions and movements, delving into musicality and artistic expression, and further developing pointe work. Importance is placed on developing graceful transitions and suppleness while working to perfect performance quality.
Mondays: 6:30-8:00 pm, Wednesdays: 4:30-6:00 pm, Fridays 11:00 am -12:30 pm
Ballet 5 - 6: (Prerequisite Ballet 4 or Consent of Instructor) Emphasis on strengthening stability in various positions and movements, delving into musicality and artistic expression, and further developing pointe work. Importance is placed on developing graceful transitions and suppleness while working to perfect performance quality.
Mondays: 5:30-7:00 pm, Tuesdays: 6:30-8:00 pm, Wednesday: 5:00-6:30 pm, Fridays 11:00 am -12:30 pm, Saturdays: 10:00 am-11:00 am.
Ballet 7 - 8: (Prerequisite Ballet 6 or Consent of Instructor) The more difficult forms of adagio are introduced, while continuing to polish the technique of turns and more advanced forms of allegro (jumps). Further development of combinations in adagio, allegro, and exercises on pointe, with the use of both classical and contemporary music. The main focus is on the development of exceptional technique, artistry, and individualism
Tuesdays: 5:00-6:30 pm, Wednesdays: 6:30 -8:00 pm, Thursdays: 5:30-7:00 pm, Fridays 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Saturdays: 10:00 -11:00 am.
Hip-Hop 1A: (Ages 7 - 10) In this class, students will be introduced to the basics of a variety of hip-hop styles including street, basic breaking, beginning level tutting, free-form, and lyrical.
Class meets once a week on Tuesdays: 6:00-7:00 pm.
Hip-Hop 1B: (Ages 10+) This class is a blend of all kinds of different street dance styles. It combines hip-hop, popping, locking and waving to create a modern take on hip-hop. There will be a lot of energetic and funky moves.
Class meets once a week on Mondays: 5:30-6:30 pm
Contemporary 3: (Prerequisite Completion of Modern 2 and Jazz 2 coursework, previous level/Consent of Instructor) This class offers a more advanced and fast paced study of all modern styles with emphasis on contemporary movement. Focus is placed on the details of technique, consistency, and expression along with further mastery of turns, jumps, falls, and floor work.
Fridays : 2:30-3:30 pm
Jazz 1: (Prerequisite Enrolled in level Ballet 3 or Consent of Instructor) Students are expected to have reached at least Level 2 in ballet in order to take this class. Emphasis is placed on learning technique and terminology as exposure to various styles of jazz dance is explored. Curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with jazz movement and includes a warm-up, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and combinations.
Saturdays: 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Jazz 2: (Prerequisite Enrolled in level Ballet 4 or Ballet 5, Completion of Jazz 1/Consent of Instructor) Focus is placed on learning and improving jazz dance techniques such as body isolations, performance quality, and developing intricate rhythms and patterns. Class curriculum is based on ballet technique layered with traditional jazz styles and includes a warm-up, stretches, isolations, across-the-floor progressions, and combinations.
Saturdays: 12:00-1:00 pm
Jazz-3: (Prerequisite Enrolled in level Ballet 6-8, Completion of Previous Level/Consent of Instructor) Advanced jazz students will be expected to take risks and explore their own unique style as combinations become increasingly more complex.
Thursdays: 7:00 -8:00 pm.
Tap 1 - 2: (Ages 8+) This class teaches rhythm and musicality through tap technique and combinations. It's a fun and energetic class that doesn't require any previous experience.
Fridays: 9:00-10:00 am.
Modern 1: (Prerequisite Enrolled in Ballet 3 or Consent of Instructor) Students are expected to have reached at least Level 3 in ballet in order to take this class. Emphasis is placed on alignment, balance, strength, and flexibility to enhance proper dance technique. Cunningham, Horton and Hawkins techniques are referenced as students learn floor work, weight shifting, and traveling, as well as practicing dynamic and expressive interpretations of movement.
Fridays: 10:00-11:00 am
Modern 2: (Prerequisite Modern 1 or Consent of Instructor) Focuses on self-expression and further building of strength, flexibility, and musicality. Floor work, qualitative movement, improvisation, inversions, and beginner partnering skills are covered throughout the year. Cunningham, Horton and Hawkins are referenced as students develop floor work, weight shifting, and traveling, as well as practicing dynamic and expressive interpretations of movement.
Fridays: 1:30-2:30 pm.
Pre-Pointe/Pointe: (Prerequisite Consent of Instructor) Students need to have the consent of their instructor and attend at least three ballet classes per week in addition to this class. Pre-Pointe/Pointe class will focus on preparatory exercises to strengthen dancers for pointe work. Those en pointe will learn basic pointe technique beginning at the barre.
Pointe: (Prerequisite Consent of Instructor) Students in this class must attend at least three ballet classes per week in addition to this class. Specific pointe exercises are practiced to increase dancers' strength and precision.
Boy’s/Men's Ballet Technique: (Prerequisite Consent of Instructor) This course focuses more on the development of the jumps and turns usually employed in men’s variations. Athletes can expect a dynamic class designed to strengthen and define the main muscle groups.
*Students in Ballet 2 and above have the option to study other styles of dance including modern, jazz,and character.
Artistic Division
Partnering: (Open to Ballet Levels 6-8 only with Prerequisite Consent of Instructor) This class will focus on the technique of classical pas de deux as well as explore the weight-sharing and lifting techniques of contemporary dance partnering. In addition to learning the techniques needed to support, turn, and lift a partner; students will also learn the skills to carefully coordinate the shape and timing of their movement with their partner.
Saturdays : 11:00 am-12:00 pm.
Classical Variations: (Open to Ballet Levels 6-8 only, with Consent of Instructor Prerequisite Ballet 5 and above) Students are expected to have reached at least Ballet Level 5 or have consent of the instructor to take this class. Students learn the various solos presented throughout the classical ballet repertoire. Ballet history and the context of the variations in the storyline are discussed. This class requires strong pointe technique.
Character 1: (Ages 10+ Prerequisite Ballet 2/Consent of Instructor) Character Dance explores how classical ballet has presented and interpreted folk dance and other classical dance forms in the classical repertoire. Character dance encourages exuberant expression, greater understanding of line, and complex rhythmic structures. Most importantly, character dance requires the student to think about the cultural context of the dance and the responsibility of honoring that through their work. Character Dance Level 1 will focus on the basic forms presented at the barre and center exercises designed to increase understanding of different styles. Students will be introduced to the character dances in the classical ballets and their importance to the repertoire.
Friday : 1:30-2:30 pm.
Character 2: (Ages 13+ or consent of instructor) Character Dance explores how classical ballet has presented and interpreted folk dance and other classical dance forms in the classical repertoire. Character dance encourages exuberant expression, greater understanding of line, and complex rhythmic structures. Most importantly, character dance requires the student to think about the cultural context of the dance and the responsibility of honoring that through their work. Character Dance Level 2 will focus on the repertoire of character dances in the classical ballets and explore the ways in which character dance informs the future nuances of ballet.
Fridays: 2:30-3:30 pm
Character 3: (Prerequisite - Character 2 or Consent of Instructor) This class will focus on character-based solos and the more technically demanding character pieces, both repertoire and original works. Students will have the opportunity to create works in various character styles. Dancers will also examine and expand the basis for character dance based through exploration of various world traditional dance styles.
Fridays: 12:30-1:30 PM.