Ballet
Ballet is the basis for most dance forms, and is absolutely necessary if you intend to become a professional dancer or a teacher. We teach the Cecchetti Method at our school which is the style that is used by the National Ballet of Canada. The Cecchetti Society of Canada is a student-focused, national organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Cecchetti Method of classical ballet and committed to the highest standards of training for dancers and teachers. Galen Lessels is currently the sitting ONTARIO REPRESENTATIVE for all members in our province, and is has her ASSOCIATE DIPLOMA certification. There are also open classes which use the theory of the method but with more freedom and creative choreography. We also offer exam classes, which I would recommend to anyone. These exam classes must be taken throughout the year to meet the very high standards of the The Cecchetti Society for students to pass. Exams take place in the spring.
Jazz
Jazz dancing is a form of dance that showcases a dancer’s individual style and originality. Every jazz dancer interprets and executes moves and steps in their own way. This type of dancing is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick turns. To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong background in ballet, as it encourages grace and balance. We teach contemporary, modern, and musical theatre style jazz in all jazz classes so that the dancers, can be well rounded and technically strong. It is highly recommended that you take ballet along with the jazz classes. Jazz exam classes are offered in the summer programs.
Lyrical
Lyrical dance is a dance style that blends ballet and jazz dance. Lyrical is generally smoother and a bit faster than ballet, but not quite as fast as jazz. A lyrical dancer uses movement to express strong emotions such as love, joy and anger. Lyrical dancers usually perform to music with lyrics…the lyrics of the chosen song serve as inspiration for movements and expressions. Lyrical is a very mature style of dance and requires the ability to relate to the music, with the lyrics, the phrasing, and the rhythm. You must then be able to take all of that and show the appropriate emotions, and dramatic effect to communicate with the audience. Ballet is also highly recommended to be able to perform this style well.
Contemporary
This dance form requires a lot of maturity and strength in technique. It is very expressive and uses abstract movements to create interesting images, and to tell the story. Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. This dance genre is often done in bare feet. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music. Ballet and jazz/modern are a must before you can really excel in contemporary.
Acrobatics
Though the two share similar skill sets, gymnastics and acrobatic dance (or acro for short) are very different in how the subject trains, executes the material and the overall “look” of a performance.
In terms of training, gymnasts work on a spring floor that is designed with actual coils embedded in the mat for optimal rebound and protection during hard-hitting tumbling passes. Acro dance is designed as a supplement to dance training and is usually taught in a dance studio with a sprung floor that is designed for shock absorption beneath a hard surface like wood. Another difference between gymnastics and acro is the use of certain apparatus like beams or bars to assist in creating challenging and visually stunning routines. In acro dance there is no use of apparatus, the dancers ARE the apparatus. It is very common to “stack” or build platforms out of dancers through partnering to create exciting layers within a performance.
The focus in both acro and gymnastics is strength, balance and flexibility but the difference in execution lies in the transition of movement. A gymnast may run into a round-off back handspring full-twisting back lay-out, while an acro dancer may perform a softer, more lyrical line, such as an illusion swinging into a cartwheel, back handspring to a heel stretch and tilt a la seconde. Two very impressive passes, with two very distinct “looks” and intentions. For many the difference is described as “Gymnastics is a sport and Acrobatics is an art”. Galen is certified to examine and train her dancers in Acro.
Tap
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. The sound is made by shoes that have a metal “tap” on the heel and toe. There are several major variations on tap dance including: rhythm (jazz) tap. classical tap, Broadway tap and post-modern tap. Galen was trained by Bill Orlowsky, and is certified to examine and train her dancers in Tap.
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles primarily breaking which was created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States. Galen made her break into the dance world as a hip-hop dancer with the Raptors Dance Crew, the Toronto Argonauts Dance Team, and The Phantoms Fantasy Girls.
Adult Classes
- Zumba
- Salsa
- Tap
- Ballet
- Hip-Hop
- Zumba
Our award winning adult hip-hop team added men to our group this past season and received the “Show Stopper” award! The demand for more adult classes is increasing so keep checking the schedule for more opportunities this coming season.
We can teach all genres of adult dance, ask if what you want is not here!
Martial Arts
Maizis Martial Arts are taught here as well, under the direction of Soke Michelle Maizis, a world-class martial artist with over 40 years of experience.
A eighth degree black belt in Chinese Kempo, she has also studied various styles including Jiu Jitsu, Sankudo, Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Hapkido, Chito Ryu, and Tai Chi C'huan.