Emirates School of Dance

PLEASE NOTE: For all Emirates School of Dance ballet classes, students must be assessed by our teachers prior to or during their first class and placed in the correct level for them to optimally enjoy and progress, regardless of age or prior experience.

Ballet 1 (no previous experience needed, but Dance Prep or equivalent is recommended; 45-75 minutes)

Ballet 1 is designed as the transition from the basic movement curriculum of Dance Prep into ballet-specific technique classes. Students continue to build on the basic concepts of dance (body/action, space, body awareness, rhythm, coordination, balance and social skills) while learning the fundamental elements of classical ballet technique with barre and center work. The goals of this class are to build correct alignment, strengthen the core, learn and execute key vocabulary and skills. This class prepares students to enter more advanced levels of ballet and serves to strengthen their skills in other dance styles. We also have a combo class of Ballet 1 and Tap 1 at the Saadiyat Beach Club location that includes 45 minutes of ballet and then 30 minutes of Tap for those students wishing to develop skills in tap as well.

Ballet 2 (Prerequisite: Ballet 1 or equivalent; 45 mins) Ballet 2 builds onto the foundation of the Ballet 1 class to introduce children to the structure of classical ballet including more advanced barre & center work. Goals of the class are to teach correct alignment, strengthen the core, learn and execute key vocabulary and skills in beginning ballet.

Ballet 3 (Prerequisite: Ballet 2 or equivalent; 55 mins) Ballet 3 builds on the barre and center work of Ballet 2. This level focuses on continuing to build classical technique and requires increased discipline & focus to allow the children to establish a base of ballet movement repertoire.

Ballet 4 (Prerequisite: Ballet 3 or equivalent; 55 mins, two classes per week is mandatory) Ballet 4 is a class that continues to build the barre work foundation developed in Ballet 3 and furthers the expectation of discipline & technique in classical ballet technique. Ballet 3 is a pre-pointe class that includes exercises to prepare students for pointe work if/when they are ready.

Ballet 5 (Prerequisite: Ballet 4 or equivalent; 55 min, two classes per week is mandatory) Ballet 5 is pre-professional technique class for accomplished teen dancers. This class includes barre and center work at the advanced level and work learning classical ballet choreography for performance opportunities. Ballet 5 students are generally expected to be taking pointe class and several other dance technique classes as well to build and maintain the strength and flexibility needed for this advanced technique class.

Beginning Pointe (ages 13+, Prerequisite: Ballet 4 or equivalent taken 2 times per week minimum; 30 mins) For students totally new to pointe work, this class provides dedicated time to begin developing the strength and technique needed to progress in classical ballet technique en pointe.

Hip Hop 1 (ages 5-7, no previous experience needed, but Dance Prep or equivalent is recommended; 45 mins) This is an introductory class accessible to younger dancers that teaches some of the fundamental movements and rhythms of hip hop set to fun pop music.

Hip Hop 2 (ages 8-10, no previous experience needed; 45-55 mins) This open-level class gives young dancers the opportunity to learn routines built for developing creativity, technical ability, strength, stage presence and teamwork. Designed for all abilities, the class is made to train students in a fun and engaging environment, setting high standards and enhancing performance ability.

Hip Hop 3 (ages 11-15, no previous experience needed; 55 mins) This open-level class gives young dancers the opportunity to learn routines built for developing creativity, technical ability, strength, stage presence and teamwork. Designed for all abilities, the class is made to train students in a fun and engaging environment, setting high standards and enhancing performance ability.

Jazz 1 (ages 6-7, no previous experience needed, but Dance Prep or equivalent is recommended; 45 mins) This beginning jazz class introduces students to basic jazz movement and musicality. Students will learn coordination and balance as well as space and body awareness in a fun and energetic environment

Jazz 2 (ages 8-10, Prerequisite: Jazz 1 or equivalent; 55 mins) For students who have at least one year of jazz dance training. Jazz 2 students will build on traditional and contemporary jazz technique further developing their flexibility, coordination, strength, and musical timing.

Jazz 3 (ages 11+, Prerequisite: Jazz 2 or equivalent; 55 mins) For intermediate jazz dancers who have completed at least 2 years of jazz dance. The class builds on fundamental technique and choreography, and helps dancers further develop strength, flexibility, coordination, rhythm, & style.

Commercial Jazz is a Street Jazz technique combined with Commercial Hip Hop, starting with a technical stretch and warm up, followed by a sassy routine, typically seen on theatre stages and music videos.

Dance Prep (ages 3 – 6, no previous experience needed) Dance Prep is our series of leveled movement classes designed to help younger children progressively master the fundamental movement and rhythm skills needed to begin more formal training in any style of dance. The series moves students through basic locomotor skills including walking, running, hopping, jumping, rolling, crawling, skipping, sliding, galloping and leaping.

By combining locomotor skills and creative movement with fun games and music in a thoughtful progression, students begin to create simple dances and continue to understand the basic concepts of dance: body/action, space, body awareness, rhythm, coordination, balance and social skills. By the end of the series they will have mastered the fundamental positions and rhythms of basic dance and be well-prepared to start more advanced training in any specific technique. The Dance Prep series serves as a gateway into more disciplined practice in all other styles of dance & movement in our program (including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, etc.).

• Dance Prep A (age 3, 30 minutes)
• Dance Prep B (age 4, 30 minutes)
• Dance Prep C (age 5, 45 minutes)
• Dance Prep D (age 6, 45 minutes)

Tap 1 (ages 5-7, no previous experience needed, but Dance Prep or equivalent is recommended; 30 mins) This is an introductory tap class suited to younger students that teaches fundamental rhythms and steps of tap dancing. We also have a combo class of Ballet 1 and Tap 1 at the Saadiyat Beach Club location that includes 45 minutes of ballet and then 30 minutes of Tap for those students wishing to develop skills in tap as well. In addition, two of our Dance Prep Classes (Prep C (age 5) and Prep D (age 6) are Dance Prep/Tap 1 combos that include 30 minutes of Dance Prep and then 30 minutes of beginning tap.

Tap 2 (ages 8+, Prerequisite: Tap 1 or equivalent; 45 mins) This class teaches the fundamentals of tap dancing to older students. It is open to beginner tappers but will progress more quickly than Tap 1 and include more complex rhythms and combinations as the term moves forward.

Contemporary 1 (ages 9-11, Prerequisite: no previous experience needed, but Ballet 1 or Jazz 1 or equivalent is recommended; 45 mins) This class teaches the basics of contemporary, modern, and lyrical techniques to beginning dancers. Elements of improvisation will also be introduced.

Contemporary 2 (ages 12+, Prerequisite: Contemporary 1 or equivalent; 55 mins) For students with at least one year of contemporary, jazz, or ballet, this class offers an introduction to Horton, Graham, & Limon modern and contemporary techniques while also encouraging dancers to develop a greater sense of artistry and self-expression. Work on improvisation will be further developed.

Contemporary/Lyrical fusion classes explore the various movement and expressive elements of each style, while placing focus on proper technique, body placement, alignment and control. With Contemporary being expressive and freeing, Lyrical serves as inspiration from music, with dance characterised by fluidity and grace.

Mummy & Me | Age 2 with parent

This class is designed for children to explore and learn new basic locomotor skills including walking, running, hopping, jumping, rolling, crawling, skipping, sliding, galloping and leaping. By combining these skills and creative movement, students develop simple dances and are introduced to the basic concepts of dance: body/action, space, body awareness, rhythm, coordination, balance and social skills. Dads and nannies are welcome too!

Stretch & Strengthen classes are highly recommended for all students! Proper stretching and limbering of all the joints and muscles is taught according to age and class level capabilities.  This helps in the development of high extensions and ease of movement quality as well as injury prevention.