<p>I'm a rising junior in high school and this dance studio offers a combination dance class(Tap-Jazz-ballet) and i have basic training in ballet and jazz and I'm an intermediate level dance.....I'll probably be in class with kids years younger than me and, maybe more talented than me should i take this class? </p>
<p>They have different levels from 2-5 based on your experience....should i just start I'm level 2 with kids much younger than me? </p>
<p>Sent from my LG-E739 using CC</p>
<p>I can tell you what we have found helpful when looking for dance classes for our D, who is a rising Senior…</p>
<p>Usually combo classes don’t allow a long enough time for each style. If it is an hour class and includes a warmup, there just isn’t enough time for the combo class to have enough impact in any of the styles. You are much better off picking one style and growing as much as possible in that style. Everyone on CC says Ballet is most important for auditions, so if you can only choose one due to time and financial constraints, go with Ballet.</p>
<p>Call the dance studios around you to find out if they offer adult classes, or try to find classes that do not end up in a recital. Those classes don’t always appear on their primary class schedule, so it’s worth calling. Sometimes they end up putting a class together if enough people call. Many adult classes allow you to pay-as-you-go or buy a 10-class ticket which is great so you don’t have to worry about inevitable conflicts. If they offer many adult classes, you could try out different teachers or alternate between ballet and jazz.</p>
<p>My D ended up in a teen intermediate ballet class, with a 10-class ticket, that does not end up in a recital. It never has more than 3 students in it so she gets lots of individual attention. Then she takes Jazz master classes through MTCA whenever she can.</p>
<p>Good for you for working on those dance skills - it will pay off!!!</p>
<p>Many dance studios offer a first class free deal - then you and the teacher can decide if the level is appropriate. Agree that combo classes aren’t a great idea. Good for you! You’ll be glad you took class!</p>
<p>My D started formal dance training as a junior in HS last year. Yes, she was in a class when younger kids (middle schoolers) but the level of difficulty for all of them was correct. Did she dislike being in a class with kids that were younger and more experienced than her? Yes, but she survived and learned a lot. She took separate ballet, jazz and tap classes. This year is is going to try and add modern. At 3 am probably because I’m not sure when else it would fit in her schedule! Good luck and hang in there!</p>
<p>You also might want to consider private lessons for a while; you will progress much faster than in a class, and may eventually be able to catch up to kids more your age.</p>
<p>@onstage so if i take private lessons should I do ballet jazz or tap? I won’t be able to do all three.which would be the most beneficial? </p>
<p>Sent from my LG-E739 using CC</p>
<p>Tap won’t help at all for college auditions. Ballet is very important, and conventional wisdom says to put your time into learning this but, truthfully, most of the dance calls for college auditions were jazzy.</p>
<p>Emphasis on ballet and then jazz if you have time. Ballet gives you good solid basics and technique.</p>
<p>I understand the rationale for the above recommendations, but I beg to differ.</p>
<p>I think the combo class depends on the studio, the class, the student, and the teacher. At my kids’ studio, the combo classes were great because you did one warm up for 2 or 3 styles of dance. Plus, the teachers would not spend every class on every style - one class may be a warmup, quick ballet barre, then the rest of the time was spent on jazz or tap, another week may be the other style or a combo of styles. This is great, especially if the class focuses on learning to learn dance rather than learning a dance for recital - so more like if you went to a master class or took a class at Steps or BDC. This is also the set up of many college dance calls (tap is often optional but it’s one more skill to take to future auditions - i.e., tap shows).</p>
<p>There are pros and cons to both classes and private lessons:</p>
<p>While private lessons have their benefits, they may not be the best bang for your buck. A good private lesson is very intense, both physically and mentally, so be prepared to have your butt kicked (imho, if you don’t feel that way when you come out, you aren’t getting your money’s worth). You can typically take a weekly class for a month for what it costs for a single private lesson. Being in a class takes the focus off just you; you may feel self-conscious in a class, but others will feel the same way. In a private, it’s all you. In a private you will just go, go, go; a class gives you time to go and then process as others go (across the floor or alternating groups). </p>
<p>Classes are great for learning new dance styles because you have others to watch (kind of like when I sing much better at church when I stand next to my daughter and can hear what I should sound like ;)) Another aspect is that, for all dancers, but especially as a beginning dancer, a class will allow you to build on the basics and develop stamina - ballet gives you the technique for all other styles; tap strengthens your legs and core, helps you learn to isolate, and is great for developing musicality; jazz is great for letting yourself move, learning how to learn combinations quickly, getting comfortable going across the floor doing combinations including leaps and turns. If you are struggling with a move, watching and mimicking others while the teacher watches will be more productive than having the teacher have to demonstrate and correct in a private lesson (it’s great when a voice teacher can play for lessons, but lessons are often more productive with an accompanist). You may be the one who gets the move and by helping others break it down and showing them how you do it, you will improve yourself. </p>
<p>In any dance class, the expectation is that when the teacher corrects one student, every student takes that correction. You can learn to take corrections and self-adjust without the pressure of being the only one corrected and watched. If you are the one to get the correction in a class, the proper response is to thank the teacher - being corrected is a good thing, it means the teacher is watching you and that you are working in the right direction. </p>
<p>Most audition dance calls will be a class setting, so getting used to being is a dance class, learning the terminology and typical progression of a class will help you as much in auditions as knowing the steps. Learning how you react in a class when you get the combination or are completely lost will be valuable as you prepare for auditions. Depending on the dance call/audition, you may be at the top, middle, or bottom of the class, but take a page from many of the olympians that we would never see if they didn’t finish a decisive last, always do your personal best - those athletes show something as or more valuable than skill. Many, if not most, MT programs are not looking to cast a dance company; instead they are looking for a wide variety of dance skill levels, an ability to move and feel comfortable in your own skin, persistence and a good attitude.</p>
<p>At our studio, because private lessons were so expensive, they were reserved for advanced dancers and for beginning/intermediate dancers who needed to hone skills in a certain area. imho, you would do well to be in a ballet class so you can learn terminology, learn how to take a ballet class (it’s a pretty standard format), and on work your technique regularly. If the studio has a leaps and turns class, that could be very helpful as an alternate to a jazz class since the latter may be tied to a recital, whereas the former is technique based. Then schedule private lessons according to what you need to hone from classes rather than only doing privates.</p>
<p>Other options for beefing up your dance skills are dance conventions (search online to find ones that come to your area). They are often held on weekends with a variety of classes in the morning-afternoon and competition (you can leave or stay to watch) in the evening. Look for less advanced conventions that are geared toward beginning/intermediate dancers. Many dance studios have intensives and/or master classes - these may range from an hour or two up to a full day, and from a one-time class to a series of classes. If you are in NYC, Chicago or other large cities, you can take pay-as-you-go drop-in classes; they will have the perfect classes for you because they are geared toward teens-adults and typically offer classes for every level in every style. Ask at the desk what level you should take. Local colleges or community centers may offer a similar option or a series where you sign up for 4-6 weeks at a time. Another thing that can really help your dance is Yoga for flexibility and proprioception. Zumba is great for stamina, core, picking up combos, feeling comfortable moving in a class, and musicality.</p>
<p>Enjoy the process and break a leg!!!</p>
<p>I don’t know where you live, but if you live somewhere where there is a ballet company (professional) with a school associated with it, that would likely be a good bet place to take good quality ballet technique classes. </p>
<p>If a regular studio in your area offers jazz or ballet technique classes (rather than a regular dance studio class that quickly starts spending time learning a dance for an end of the year recital)-- take the technique classes!!!</p>