MovementWorks Dance and Fitness
Classes & Dress Codes
All Required dance wear for every class will be used through the full season and also as pieces of costuming for the year end showcase. The lists of items for each class can be found and purchased at our dance wear shop linked below.
*** A note about hair & jewelry: all dancers, regardless of gender, are expected to have and keep hair out of the face. It is a distraction and often a hazard when dangling loose or insecurely pulled back. Bangs or pieces of hair hanging down into the face or covering eyes are not acceptable. Necklaces, bracelets, toe rings, and any earrings (aside from studs) are very dangerous in class to the dancer wearing them and the dancers around them. They could get caught and yanked off inadvertently, fall off and be stepped on, and/or be lost/broken.
Ballet Beginnings (ages 2.5-5yrs)
In the pre-ballet levels, our main focus is to introduce the student to dance through a variety of ways including a structured ballet class, creative movement opportunities (use of props, games, and imagery), and an individual artistic exploration of movement. Students are introduced to basic ballet terminology and steps in a nurturing and fun environment. Activities are designed to develop strength, coordination, creative thinking, and expression. Students will gain awareness of music, rhythm, and movement and will develop rhythm, motor skills, balance and coordination while learning the basic principles of ballet and the ballet class. This class is designed to meet the developmental needs of all students as they work through the creative process and refine motor skills to discover their natural skills and talent. These classes meet once a week for 45 minutes.
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Ballet (ages 5-Adult)
Ballet is the foundation of all dance forms. Students will learn discipline, grace, and movement, along with interpretation at each level. As the dancer masters the required skills and/or grows older, they will progress to the next appropriate level of ballet. These 60-minute classes meet once a week.
At the elementary ballet level, students will begin to refine and improve the skills learned from the pre-ballet classes. This progression will be gradual as they are introduced to more complicated ballet terms, technique, and steps. Barre work is introduced along with continued practice in center work, strength and flexibility, musicality and expression all designed with fun and age appropriate activities.
At the intermediate level, students will continue to sharpen their skills learned from the elementary level classes in addition to a continuous focus on body alignment, coordination, balance, strength, flexibility, rhythm, and musicality. Students will learn self-correction strategies and methods to help them build upon using accurate and precise classical ballet technique.
At the advanced ballet level, students have graduated from all levels of intermediate and students have a sound knowledge of ballet technique. Students will continue to focus on mastering and improving body alignment, coordination, balance, strength, flexibility, rhythm, in addition to refining their skills in expression and musicality as they continue to grow and evolve as dancers.
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Acro (ages 2.5yrs-25yrs)
In all Acro levels, our main focus will be to engage the student in tumbling, strength, and stretching activities which also strengthen and promote development in language, social and emotional skills, physical coordination, and creativity. Students learn basic tumbling, gymnastics vocabulary, and new climbing/mounting skills. Also, leaps, jumps and turns found in gymnastics floor routines.
Teachers use the curriculum of the Acro Dance Teachers Association. This curriculum focuses on training methods that develop strength, flexibility, stamina, and confidence in students. The ADTA program is broken down into three divisions: Junior, Intermediate, and Advanced and students will progress through each of these levels as they master each skill set.
These classes provide a great basic skill set and complementary experiences for dancers, tumblers, and cheerleading tryouts. (Check current schedule for class availability)
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Creative Movement (ages 2.5-8) (Check schedule for current class availability)
In creative movement class, our focus is to help the student develop physical skills, stamina, creativity, expression and musicality using a wide range of exercises, activities, and musical styles. Students are introduced to rhythm, song, body awareness and locomotive skills and all activities are designed to meet the developmental needs of all students as they work through the creative process and refine motor skills to discover their natural skills and talent.
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Hip-hop/Jazz (ages 2.5-adult)
In all levels of Hip-Hop/Jazz, our main focus is to introduce students to the many forms/styles of both hip-hop and jazz dance while also having students develop basic dance skills and steps. Students will gain awareness of music, rhythm and movement, motor skills, balance and coordination all while learning the basic styles of hip-hop and jazz dance.
Jazz dance, primarily based in ballet technique, is a form of high-energy dance commonly used in Broadway shows and movies. The essence of Jazz dance is a highly entertaining form of movement featuring improvisation that is easy to understand and enjoy. Combining both African and European dance styles, today’s jazz includes a variety of styles including Broadway, Hip-Hop, funk, Afro-Caribbean, Latin, pop, and tap dance. This form of dance develops style, strength, flexibility, coordination and technique.
Hip-Hop is a contemporary form of dance combining some of today's high-energy "street style" movements like jazz, funk, krumping, popping/locking, and break-dancing and also mixes movement elements from swing dancing, modern jazz, and even ballet. Typically performed to "popular music", this style of dancing can be seen in movies, television commercials and music videos. Sought after by kids of all ages including the "young at heart", the style boasts that everyone is capable of having fun while moving at a fast pace.
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Modern/Contemporary (ages 8-adult)
In all levels of modern/contemporary dance, our focus is to first introduce and expose the student to all forms/types of modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance. Within this environment students will explore the elements of modern and contemporary dance forms such as shape, time, space, and energy all while building, expanding, and refining their dance skill set. Through the creative dance process students will develop their movement vocabulary and find their own individual artistic expression of movement.
Modern and Contemporary dance styles are theatrical dance forms that combine the techniques of both ballet and jazz into an expressive art form. Modern and contemporary dance employ manipulations of shape, time, space, & energy to build a foundation for creative exploration and development of movement vocabulary. Choreographers often turn to contemporary social themes for choreographic inspiration. It is an expressive form of dance conveying many emotions and innovative movements. These forms of dancing can be seen on the hit television show "So You Think You Can Dance".
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Pointe (ages 12 and up)
Ballet is the foundation of all dance forms. Students will learn discipline, grace, and movement, along with interpretation at each level. As the dancer masters the required skills and/or grows older, they will progress to the next appropriate level of ballet. As the ballet dancer progresses in their ballet technique and masters all previous levels of ballet, they may begin preparatory work for pointe work and then start beginner pointe work. This course is available after teacher evaluation and assessment.
Dress Code: Same items as ballet
Tap (ages 6-adult)
In all levels of Tap dance, our main focus is to introduce students to the many forms/styles of tap dance while also having students develop basic dance skills and steps. Students will gain awareness of music, rhythm and movement, motor skills, balance and coordination all while learning the basic principles of tap dance. Students interested in learning a fun, challenging, and stimulating form of dance will enjoy tap dancing. This form of dance teaches musicality, timing, synchronization, and rapid mental response. Movement memory is stressed and advanced in tap classes.
Tap dancing includes rhythmically complex movements that use the sounds of tap shoes hitting the floor as a form of percussion. It is often performed to music, however can also be a cappella (without music).
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your chosen web browser.*****
Musical Theater (ages 8 and up) *Check schedule for available classes*
In all levels of Musical Theatre dance, our main focus is to introduce students to the style of Musical Theatre dance while also having students develop basic dance skills and steps. All dancers work as actors by using their bodies to communicate a story and this class will teach students how to perform and communicate these stories through movement, emotion, and exaggerated facial expressions. Dancers will learn about many key musicals and through this along with stretching and conditioning they will begin to execute turns, leap, expressions, and other movements that are key to great theatrical choreography in a fun and exciting environment.
Primarily based in jazz, Musical Theatre is a style of theatrical performance that merges songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. Storytelling and emotions are conveyed through words, music, movement in a high-energy, entertaining, expressive way. Examples can be seen through the mainstream musicals and on Broadway that we have today such as West Side Story, Les Miserables, Wicked, and Hamilton to name a few.
Dress Code: *****See our required class wear list and shop for required items that will also be used for our year end show case by clicking and/or copy and paste the link below into your web browser. *****
Registration and Tuition Payments
To register your dancer please print and fill out the registration form from the above link.
MovementWorks offers two payment options. 1) Pay the complete dance season's tuition in full with the option to pay cash, check, PayPal or Credit card. (specific tuition amounts can be located in our class schedule tab) 2) Monthly payment plan; to register with this option a credit card must be enrolled in auto pay. The first and last months' tuition payments (September and May) and registration fee are due at the time of registration.
To withdraw a student who is registered with auto pay, 14days written notice must be submitted and received prior to the next monthly billing cycle otherwise payment for that billing cycle will be charged.
You will complete the online registration form. If you are paying in full the check may be mailed to the studio at the following address: MovementWorks 12077 Leavitt Road Oberlin, Ohio 44074
You will receive an email/text confirmation when your registration and payment are received.
It is recommended that registrations are turned in as soon as possible as class spaces are limited to fit proper ODJFS adult to child ratios and fill quickly. Should a registration form be turned in for a class that is already full you will be contacted immediately with additional options.
We value you and your children as students and friends of the studio. Thank you so much for your support of MovementWorks! We look forward to seeing you and your dancers very soon.