PE Progressive Dance Courses

This course will build upon foundations of traditional and contemporary elements of African, Caribbean, and Dance Hall. There is the expectation that students will have some dance experience. Students will engage in full bodied physical movement, while developing confidence and subtle intricacies for a variety of hip hop styles. Students will learn progressions across the floor and choreography. This class will challenge dancers to fully express themselves and grow over the course of the semester.

*Please note that this is a performance-based class. Students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the semester show. Participation in the performance is optional.

Students registered for this class do not need to have any prior dance experience. If you DO have some dance experience and want a refresher course on basics, this is also the class for you. Each semester the pace of the class is very much determined by the level of the individuals in the class. Classes include a fast-pace warm-up, skills moving across the floor, and work on different styles of jazz choreography.

*Please note that this is a performance-based class. Students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the semester show. Participation in the performance is optional.

Students registered for this class should have some experience with jazz or equivalent dance training and understand the basics of jazz and ballet. Students’ technique and alignment will be continuously challenged, deepening the understanding of jazz vocabulary, exploring concepts within traditional and contemporary jazz styles, and mastering phrase work and choreography.

*Please note that this is a performance-based class. Students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the semester show. Participation in the performance is optional.

A funky combination of low-impact aerobics, hip-hop, and jazz dance. Designed to improve muscle tone and cardiovascular strength while learning the fundamentals of jazz dance and the latest dance club moves. No prior dance experience is necessary.

*Please note that this is a performance-based class. Students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the semester show. Participation in the performance is optional.

This class is designed for first time students of ballet or for students returning after several years without practice. The majority of course work is physical and experiential in nature and takes place during class time. The students are guided in movement exercises accompanied by live and recorded music. Students begin with exercises at the ballet barre designed to teach basic ballet technique and to build student’s strength, flexibility, control and alignment. As each class develops, the movement progresses to center practice and then to larger phrases across the floor. Each class will have live piano accompaniment.

This course is for students who have had some ballet training or who are returning to ballet. Students will learn the ballet stance along with combinations at the barre and in the center that focus on developing alignment, strength, endurance, flexibility, control, coordination, and musicality. Students will be introduced to muscular and skeletal alignment and how these work together to achieve bending and straightening of the legs, turn-out, fifth position, and carriage of the arms. The structure of each class, with a forty-five minute barre and a forty-five minute center, will give the student a full body work-out that will include pliés, tendus, dégagés, jetés, rond de jambe a terre, relevés, fondues, grand battements, adagios, waltzes, pirouettes, petit, medium, and grand allegro work that will incorporate large leaps and introduction to tours. The center phrases of movement will focus on the athleticism of ballet along with development of fluidity by use of port de bras and a sense of musicality. References to the history of ballet will be an ongoing part of the class. Each class will have live piano accompaniment.

This class is designed for those who have had some experience with classical ballet. The class requires a familiarity with basic ballet concepts such as the positions of the feet (first, second, fourth and fifth), basic port de bras, basic ballet terminology, and basic ballet steps. Low Intermediate Ballet is ideal for the student who is either returning to class after a hiatus, or for the student who has taken a Beginner Ballet class, either at BU or in another dance program or studio. The class follows the traditional classical ballet class model, beginning with barre exercises designed to increase strength and flexibility, and progressing to center work, including, but not limited to, adagio, pirouettes and other turns, petit and grand allegro, and beats. Particular attention will be placed on aligning the body safely within each student’s individual anatomical ability. The classroom combinations will build upon each other from week to week and are designed to improve your ballet “line”, enhance your musicality, and to develop your strength, coordination and balance — all in a supportive and fun environment. We will observe proper ballet class “etiquette” and end each class with a reverence. Each class will have live piano accompaniment.

This course is designed for the student who is familiar with the basics of ballet and who wishes to further develop their vocabulary and artistry. Class work will emphasize correct placement and proper use of turnout with attention to anatomy and physiology to promote more sophisticated technique. While the majority of course work is physical and experiential in nature and takes place during class time, references to the history of ballet as well as current events will be woven into class. Each class will have live piano accompaniment.

This course is designed for the student who has had an extensive ballet background. Students will continue to refine their alignment and placement and to increase their strength, endurance, flexibility, control, coordination, breath, and musicality at the barre and in the center. Students who are advanced may, with permission, take the class en pointe. As the semester progresses barre will include relevés, varying tempos, and weight transferences that will challenge and heighten the students’ technical growth. Center work will include adagios, tendus, allegros with beats, large sissone combinations, grand allegro and pirouettes in varying forms, and fouettés. Musicality and port de bras will be emphasized for both the barre and center work along with the use of turn-out to sustain movement. Movement patterns will focus on increasing movement range spatially and dynamically and on breadth of expression. Students are encouraged to learn from individual and collective corrections and to continue to increase their growth in ballet both technically and artistically. Historical references to ballet technique will be offered throughout the semester. Each class will have live piano accompaniment.

Pointe is open to all students who have had previous ballet experience and who are familiar with the ballet vocabulary. Pointe work is an extension of having developed a solid base of ballet technique. For the last half hour, following 1.5 hours of a full class (with High Intermediate Ballet), emphasis will be placed on developing ankle strength and leg and pelvis alignment through relevés, piqués, pas de bourrées, basic pirouettes, and bourrées. Center work will use basic phrases that are a continuation of the barre work. Attention will be placed on making certain the space and the floor is safely addressed for doing pointe. As a student progresses, and with the instructor’s permission, more of the class can be taken on pointe. Each class will have live piano accompaniment.

This course is designed as an introduction to the American Style Ballroom & Rhythm form of partner dancing. Students who have had little or no instruction in these styles of dance should begin their instruction here. The course is also in depth enough for students who may have taken previous Ballroom & Rhythm classes for the purpose of building confidence and gaining additional dance experience with a partner. Typically, there are 2-3 dances introduced per semester on a rotating basis. American Smooth includes: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Viennese Waltz. American Rhythm includes: Cha-cha, Rumba, Swing, Mambo, and Bolero.

This course is designed as an introduction to the American Style East Coast Swing combined with elements of Lindy. Combining the two will enhance one’s ability to dance, create and enjoy a wide range of Swing music. And introduction to the Foxtrot will expand the student’s experience of the music and the dance. Students who have had little or no instruction in these styles of dance should begin their instruction here. The course is also in depth enough for students who may have taken previous Swing classes for the purpose of building confidence and gaining additional dance experience with a partner. More time is devoted to exploring both East and West Coast Swings steps, rhythms and styling with the use of props. Prepare yourselves with a towel and an object that has two long scarves attached (for arms). The focus is to learn and laugh while developing enough skills to dance with a partner (as either follower or leader) when the time comes!

This course is designed as an introduction to the Latin Style of Ballroom dancing. Students who have had little or no instruction in this style of dance should begin their instruction here. The course is also in depth enough for students who may have taken previous Latin Style Ballroom classes for the purpose of building confidence and gaining additional dance experience with a partner. Typically, two dances per semester are introduced on a rotating basis: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cha Cha, Rhumba and/or Argentine Tango. More time is devoted to exploring all six dances: steps, rhythms and styling with the use of props. Prepare yourselves with a towel, a broom, and an object that has two long scarves attached (for arms). The focus is to learn and laugh while developing enough skills to dance with a partner (as either follower or leader) when the time comes!

This course is designed as an introduction to the American Style Tango. Students who have had little or no instruction in Tango should begin their instruction here. The course is also in depth enough for students who may have taken previous Tango classes for the purpose of building confidence and gaining additional dance experience with a partner.

This class is for those who’ve never taken a dance class before, those who have never studied modern before, or those returning to dance after a hiatus. The course is an overview of four modern dance techniques: Limon, Horton, Graham and Release. The basic concepts, theories, and vocabulary of each technique are explored as a way of engaging the students in a fun and supportive environment. Working initially with gross motor movement, the fine motor, nuanced movements and concepts are added and built upon as the semester progresses. As the course is only 50 minutes, the goal is to spend the first half of the class doing technique exercises focused on new vocabulary, strength, flexibility and coordination. The second half is building longer sequences, including patterns across the floor, that focus on spatial awareness, musicality, performance qualities and improvisation. Historical, anatomical, aesthetic and compositional information is interspersed to enhance skills in self-expression, injury prevention and putting dance in a cultural context.

Low Intermediate-level Modern Dance Technique is a fast-paced, exciting class that will push you to the next level in your dancing. The class focuses on building strength and endurance, working with weight, flow and suspension, exploring the opposing forces of stability/mobility, exertion/recuperation and internal connectivity/external expressivity, and finally developing musicality and artistry. Strong focus on head-tail connection and floor-work training through the practice of Capoeira; and spirals via Bartenieff Fundamentals. The focus of this class is on learning choreography; calling upon the full range of the dancer’s artistry by exploring musicality, timing, performance skills, and concepts of stage presence drawn specifically from Listening Strategies with Pauline Oliveros and One Thousand Voice with Paula Josa-Jones.

This class is for those with intermediate dance training be it in modern, contemporary, or another traditional style of dance. We will work to create a fun and supportive environment to enhance learning. The course is an overview of concepts, theories, and vocabulary of modern and contemporary technique. Individual and group corrections will be given as a way of engaging and encouraging students to become more inquisitive and thoughtful.

This course is designed as an introduction to Salsa & Merengue. Students who have had little or no instruction in Salsa or Merengue should begin their instruction here. The course is also in depth enough for students who may have taken previous Salsa & Merengue classes for the purpose of building confidence and gaining additional dance experience with a partner.

This class focuses on Salsa, Cha-Cha, Merengue and Bachata, night club style. Students will work on an easy-to-follow routine in both the leaders’ and followers’ part in each dance. These routines could be danced with a partner, as well. Character, balance, poise, styling and music of each dance will be discussed and taught. Time for questions, discussion and socialization will happen in each remote class. The last class will be a Latin Dance Party!

This course will explore different hip hop styles. There is the expectation that students will have some dance experience. Students will engage in full bodied physical movement, while developing confidence and subtle intricacies of hip hop style. This class will challenge dancers to learn increasingly lengthier combinations, fully express themselves, and grow over the course of the semester.

*Please note that this is a performance-based class. Students will have the opportunity to perform at the end of the semester show. Participation in the performance is optional.