Ballet

Ballet is a traditional form of dance which developed in Europe.  Ballet trains the body to be flexible, strong, and expressive.  Our Ballet curriculum focuses on safe anatomical alignment and a deep understanding of technical principles.

Students at ACCSD are highly encouraged to take ballet, as it is the foundation for most Western dance traditions (jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, etc.).

We make ballet fun and accessible for all ages, and are grateful to pass on this age old tradition to the next generation of young dancers.

CONTEMPORARY

Contemporary derives from a wide range of techniques and choreographic influences such as Martha Graham, Lester Horton, José Límon, William Forsythe, and others. Our contemporary curriculum allows for a great deal of exploration in the creative process with a strong focus on technique.

Contemporary involves learning combinations, interpreting choreography, improvisation, and other ways to explore movement.

JAZZ

Jazz focuses on style, clean lines, sharpness, softness, and character. It has many influences from Broadway to the Ragtime era. Our founder, Ann Catherine Cross, spent many years studying under the great Jazz innovator Luigi (Eugene Louis Faccuito). She has spread his work, and the work of other great Broadway artists with her children, teachers, and students.

Our Jazz classes cover many styles of Jazz. Apart from Jazz choreography, students will learn strength, conditioning, and flexibility exercises.

TAP

Tap is all about rhythm, using metal "taps" as an instrument and a dance shoe. Tap teaches musicality, dexterity, and a strong sense of balance & coordination.

Tap has many styles. Broadway tap focuses on the choreography of the whole body in conjunction with rhythmic tap steps. Rhythm tap focuses on creating interesting and challenging rhythms.

HIP-HOP

Hip hop is a high-energy class that infuses the latest styles of street dancing, breaking, popping, and locking. Classes will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements.

The class includes upper and lower body conditioning as well as a rigorous warm-up to help prepare students for more intense movements.

MUSICAL THEATRE

Musical Theatre teaches the fundamental skills necessary to deal with both music and acting within broadway-style shows and performances.

At ACCSD, we teach the children how to embody different types of characters and how those characters express themselves through voice, music, and dance. 

ACRO Flexibility & Handbalancing

Acro Flexibility & Hand Balancing includes elements of calisthenics, yoga, and circus-style handstanding/arm balancing. Students will learn to strengthen their balance, focus, alignment, as well as learn the proper techniques to prevent injury and overuse of sensitive joints.

This class is also great for building upper body & core strength. It includes a mix of static balances and dynamic exercises across the mat.

Acro

Acro focuses on dynamic acrobatic skills like cartwheels, round-offs, front and back walkovers, rolls, tumbling (for advanced students) as well as general conditioning and stretching.

Acro is a fast paced class with lots of energy and movement.

High Energy

High Energy is a mix of jazz, conditioning, stretching, and acro. This class is all about big movement, fun combinations, turning, leaping, jumping, and more. It is a great all-around class for dancers who love to move!

This class performs choreography for our opening and closing dances in the winter and spring performances.