Primary Level: Walking – Age 5

Class Selections by age for dancers who are walking – age 5. Movement and concepts will be age appropriate, even for students of this age who have previous experience. Our curriculum builds on the basics and proper technique at the youngest ages. Variety each year in songs, dance combinations and recital routines keeps it fun while we focus on repetition of movement and skills which is key to progression. Our youngest students are introduced to French terminology, basic ballet, movement/place concepts, tap, jazz and hip hop dance starting at Discover Dance 1. Discover Dance Mix classes allow the dancers to learn core dance disciplines (ballet/tap/jazz/hip hop) within a 45 min class.

Discover With Me! (walking – Age 3 with Adult): Explore the joy of movement with your little one and discover the many benefits of early childhood dance classes. We will dance, sing and play in both one-on-one activities and group activities. Through circle songs, open exploration and gross motor development exercises, children will blossom with each passing class as they grow with their caregiver during this precious time together.

Discover TOTS (Ages 2-3): Watch your child’s independence and confidence soar, as our Discover TOTS explore and discover the benefits of a more structured dance class. Following directions, waiting for our turn and collectively problem solving will encourage emotional and social development. Live singing, musical play and sensory props will have these little ones moving and grooving with their friends and eager to return to class each week.

Discover Dance 1 (Ages 3-4): Discover the magic of imaginative play with live singing, structured explorations and skill development. Our DiscoverDance 1 classes offer an outlet for creative expression, physical growth and social interaction. Children will explore the essence of movement that will lead to the discovery of multiple styles of dance.

Discover Dance 2 (Ages 4-5): As a continuation of our DiscoverDance 1 classes, our DiscoverDance 2 dancers continue the exploration of concepts with more emphasis on physical growth, flexibility and coordination. Short choreographic combinations assist in memory development as structured explorations continue to encourage more advanced problem solving and social interaction with their dance friends.

 

Level 1: Beginner Dancers Ages 5+

Beginner dancers ages 5+ and/or who have completed all primary level classes at LOVV. Level 1 curriculum begins with a focus on proper posture, body alignment and simple coordination while introducing technique for beginner dancers.

Ballet: Age appropriate basic studies of classical ballet starting at the ballet barre. Positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) Proper technique in plies, tendus, degajes. Jumps in 1st and 2nd, eschappe, burre, chasse, chaine turns, ¼ and ½ pirouettes introduced.

Jazz/Tap: Mix discipline classes offered at Level 1. Basic technique in jazz introduced: jazz walks/runs, battements, chaine turns, grande jetes, progressions across the floor and pirouette prep technique. Tap: All single and double sound repetitions (more advanced/faster than Discover Dance levels) including: shuffles, flaps, combination of sounds (ex. flap heel, shuffle ball change), buffalos, running flaps, cramp roll, 3 and 4 count riff walks. Single time step introduced.

Acrobatic / Tumbling: Consists of learning basic acrobatic skills that involve the use of body for counterbalance while gaining strength and flexibility. Some strength skills are learned while using the wall for assistance.

Typical skills include (but are not limited to): Rolls forward and backward, bridges, complex bridge balances, inside-outs, tripods, headstands, handstands (against wall), splits, rollie pollies, crabwalk, bridge & walk, cartwheels.

Level 2: Low Intermediate Dancers Ages 7+

Low Intermediate dancers ages 7+ and/or who have completed Level 1 at LOVV. Curriculum advances into maintaining proper posture, body alignment and confidently dancing with simple coordination and age/maturity appropriate technique goals.

Ballet: Level 1 + Positions (5th introduced) Proper technique in rond de jambe, develop at 45 degrees, Single pirouettes and petite allegro in the centre. Building strength to maintain proper turnout and use of core strength for all movement.

Tap: Level 1+ Double/Triple time steps, Double buffalos, drawbacks, broadway/shirley temple, back essence, bombershay, alternating cramp rolls, maxie ford, double paradiddles and paradiddle combinations. Wings and pull backs and irish introduced.

Jazz/Tap: Level 1+ Knowledge of/working towards proper body alignment, core stability for control, lengthened lines, strong arm placement (jazz lines 2nd and 4th). Single/Double Pirouettes, Battments above 90 degrees, leaps (right/left and center jetes), leg extensions (devant/a la second/pitch/tilt), double chaine turns with preps from 2nd and 4th, more complex progressions and leg hold turns introduced.

Acrobatic / Tumbling: Level 2 students must be able to complete all Level 1 stunts. Level 2 structures itself on Advanced Beginning Acrobatic Skills that also involve the use of body for counterbalance while gaining strength and flexibility and include the introduction to running tumbling skills. Level 2 also includes the introduction to the opposite side tricks. Tumbling on both sides ensures balanced strength and agility in the body.

Skills learned at this level include (but are not limited to): One hand cartwheels, marching and various bridges, backbend and recover, standing round-offs, run around the head, various headstand balances, front and back fish, front overs, back walkovers, running cartwheels.

 

Level 3: Intermediate Dancers Ages 9+

Intermediate dancers ages 9+ and/or who have completed Level 2 at LOVV. Curriculum focuses on requiring proper posture, body alignment and more complex coordination while refining technique.

Ballet: Level 1, 2+ Students are able to maintain strong posture and turnout with one hand at the barre. Epaulement coordination of movement with head and arms. Exercises are executed at a slow pace in a methodical manner. Single and Double Pirouettes, Petite allegro jumps with beats are introduced. Adagio with develop in centre. Extensions are maintained at 90 degrees.

Tap: Level 1, 2+ maxie ford turn, 5 and 7 count riff walks. Pull backs/grab offs, wings and double irish required.

Lyrical/Jazz: Level 1, 2+ Working towards full height battments, extensions and leaps (right/left/center). Float leaps, chaine jete introduced. Double Pirouettes required.

Acrobatic / Tumbling: Level 1 and 2 skills must be accomplished to proceed into Level 3. Level 3 focuses on Intermediate Acrobatic and Tumbling Skills using both the left and right sides of the body while introducing running tricks on the student’s strong side.

Skills on the list for Level 3 include (but are not limited to): Various hand and head balances with wall support, various head balances (free of wall support), one-handed backbends, front and back limbers, front walkovers, cartwheel flips, handstand forward roll, back fish from handstand, turning cartwheels, back valdez, cartwheel flip, running cartwheels and roundoffs, preparation for headspring and nip-ups, tricks in succession, all basic tricks on both the right and left side, various partner skills, right – left – center splits.

Level 4: High Intermediate/Advanced Dancers Ages 11+

High Intermediate/Advanced dancers ages 11+ and/or who have completed Level 3 at LOVV. Curriculum challenges students to take individual responsibility for proper posture, body alignment and advanced/mature coordination, knowledge of and executing technique with precision and artistry.

Ballet: Level 1, 2, 3+ More complex coordination, maintaining proper technique with strong posture, turnout, correct placement, central line of balance, dynamic eye-line and comprehension of musicality in centre work. Triple Pirouettes and Fouttes introduced. Extensions required above 90 degrees. Some students at this level will be approved for work en pointe.

Tap: Level 1, 2, 3+ more complex combinations with clarity of sounds, traveling time step, toe stands, scuffle. Super shuffle, shiggidy bop, switching/separated/staggered and alternating wings introduced.

Lyrical/Jazz: Level 1, 2, 3+ Full height battments, extensions and leaps (right/left/center), Right/Left/Center Splits and triple pirouettes required. Fouettes/a la second turns, capezios and turning discs introduced.

Acrobatic / Tumbling: Level 4 students must be able to accomplish all tricks outlined in Levels 1-3. Level 4 is for the strong, Advanced-Intermediate Acro-Tumbler and includes the introduction to power tumbling.

Skills for Level 4 include (but are not limited to): Various balancing strength exercises (with and without support), handstand walks, elbow stands, back extensions, Arabian front and back limbers, scissor front and back walkovers, front limber with half twist, front and back walkovers with leg elevated, various revolving splits, handsprings, mule kicks, introduction to back handspring, various partner skills, right – left – center splits.

 

Level 5: Advanced Dancers Ages 14+

Advanced dancers ages 14+ and/or who have completed Level 4 at LOVV. Curriculum works at an advanced level of body awareness, quality of movement, setting new standards with artistry while maintaining proper posture, body alignment and defined technique.

Ballet: Advanced technique. Triple/Quad pirouettes and fouettes required. Extensions are maintained at full height. More complex Grande Allegro jumps are introduced. Partnering is introduced. All students at level 5 have been approved for work en pointe.

Tap: Levels 1, 2, 3, 4+ Knowledge and clean clarity of sounds for all advanced combinations of sounds and complex choreography.

Lyrical/Jazz: 1, 2, 3, 4+ Triple/Quad Pirouettes and solid fouette/a la second turn sets required. Capezio and turning discs at full height.

Acrobatic / Tumbling: Level 5 students must be able to accomplish all tricks outlined in Levels 1-4. Level 5 is for the strong and technical Advanced Acro-Tumbler and includes power tumbling and aerials.

Skills for Level 5 include (but are not limited to): Handstand walks, various balancing skills, complex basic skills, back walkover drop split, tinsicas forward and back, spotters, kip-ups, consecutive power tricks, diving walkovers, side – front – back – standing aerials, complex basic skills, back handsprings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are classes?
We use a sliding scale for tuition so the more classes a student takes, the cost per class decreases. One 45 min - 1 hour class costs $128 per session.
The class I’m interested in is 1.5 hours long, how much would that cost?
We use the lower hourly rate when a class falls between the 1 hour increments. So a 1.5 hour class would be $168 per session. 2 hours of class would be $248/session and 2.5 hours of class would be $300/session Detailed Tuition Scale can be found here
How long is a session?
2 months which includes 7-8 classes per session. Our full season runs from Sept 4 – June 12. It is broken up into 5 sessions for payment purposes. Once enrolled, a dancers place is held in applicable classes for the entirety of the season.
Can I cancel? Once I sign up, do I have to finish the whole year?
While we rarely have students who choose to discontinue their classes. Our sessions allow for someone to cancel their classes without any financial implications. We do require a 2 week notice if you will not be continuing through the next session. This is especially important when a class is full with waitlisted students. Without proper notice of cancelation, you will be responsible for paying the next session’s tuition even if the student stops attending.
When can I enroll?
Registration is open for our full season on August 1. We close registration when a class becomes full or by Jan 1. Because costumes need to be ordered for our recital, this is a strict cut-off date for enrollment.
Are there other fees in addition to tuition?
Full Season Registration Fee $35 per family. No registration fee for any summer dance classes or intensives. Recital fee $35 per dancer. Costume fees $75-95 per costume. One costume per class. If your dancer is in hip-hop and jazz, they would need 2 costumes – but only charged once for the show fee.
If my child is sick and has to miss, can they make up the class?
Of course! They are welcome to attend any other age/skill appropriate class during the week. While we are happy to offer this, consistency is where we see the most progress so frequent make ups are discouraged. After Jan 1, most classes are working on recital work in addition to class curriculum, so please note missing your child’s own class also has then missing out on recital choreography and practice for the week.
What holidays is the studio closed for?
Our holiday closings can be found here:
When can my child move up to the next level?
We give age guidelines for each level of classes available. However, we do not have dance levels that correspond with every school grade, so dancers will spend a few years in each level at the studio. For example, our Level 1 classes are for dancers ages 6-8 so those students have been taking Level 1 from about Kindergarten - 2nd grade. Dancing at the same level for multiple years doesn’t mean they’re not progressing or “moving up. There is so much to learn and the foundation of dance technique is repeated through every age and level. The plies and releves that our Tiny Dancing 2's and 3's learn are the same as our advanced students do each week in their ballet classes. The practice never changes, but the students learn and grow with each year of work. The recital pieces will always be new and different so while the class label may stay the same, our students not only continue to build their dance skills, french vocabulary, and strengthen proper technique, but they will learn a different dance for the recital each year.
What age can dancers start?
Our youngest class is Tiny Dancing Twos and Threes. We often have dancers start before the age of two! They should be willing to head in without a parent to enjoy the class with their friends. Dance is very fun and social. Don’t worry if there are tears at first. Sometimes it even takes a month or two for our youngest dancer to start fully enjoying themselves at the studio. Be patient. We are! Our teachers will hold your child hand or pick them up. It is a very loving environment and the music and movement makes everyone happy.
My dancer is 3 but will be 4 in January, what class should they attend?
The 3-4 year old class would be the perfect fit. This class is for dancers who are 3 turning four within the year or dancers who will be 4 the entire season and who are in their 1st year of preschool. The next primary level is for 4-5 year olds (4 turning 5 within the year or 2nd year preschool)
How can I volunteer to be a Room Mom or other studio jobs?
We are always looking for helping hands. Let us know if you would be willing to volunteer some time or if you have any special talents you would like to share with our studio.