Why dance with us?

BALLET

The intention of our ballet classes is to deliver both a recognised, and distinctive product to our students. (Penny Gurner, Director)

The ballet program at New England Dance Theatre balances use of the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus (RAD) with our signature priorities:

• cross training, conditioning, creativity and free movement

• dance with theatrical intent.

The resulting product is characteristic and distinctive.

Why the RAD syllabus?

The RAD is a renovated syllabus. It has been tailored to the modern student, and the changed market-place.
Exercises are more like mini-performances to encourage the development of performance skills along-with the young technician. Consequently the student’s mental, emotional and physical resources are more equally engaged. The student then has the scope to learn according to their developmental profile. A happy more relaxed environment that respects differences, results.

The Royal Academy of Dance is an international syllabus so keeping pace with ballet training world-wide is guaranteed. This is very important for maintaining eligibility for other training opportunities where and when they arise.

Any other important considerations in working with the RAD syllabus?

Also important is to match the child’s mental and physical readiness with their starting point in the syllabus. As the syllabus is quite sophisticated and every child is an individual, trial and error may be required to get this right. As before there is a character dance component in the graded syllabus which enhances the teaching of musicality, style, and presentation. There is an extra uniform requirement for this which may be hired from the school in most cases.

Students interested in an Exam or Class Award should attend 2 syllabus classes weekly from the point they are made available to be adequately prepared.
From grade 1 onwards, it is strongly recommended students do 2 syllabus lessons/week to make enough progress to maintain enjoyment, even if not participating in an Exam/Class Award.

Junior ballet: What further characterises junior ballet at New England Dance Theatre?

There is a strong creative emphasis to the junior ballet classes. Improvisations and performance material are worked on throughout the year as well as the
Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. This allows students to inspire themselves with their own creativity while learning to work with their individual physicalities.

Long-term results are techniques that appear more natural than forced, and a stronger sense of self.

Senior ballet: What characterises Senior Ballet at New England Dance Theatre?

In the older grades there is also alternative work to the syllabus within the ballet class; most often in the form of contemporary dance. This serves as cross-training to refresh focus and improve movement quality. Working towards two routines per level of ballet if possible also maximises performance
opportunities and learning at the end of the year.

For more information see:

Ballet enrolment and payment information

RAD Exams and Class Awards

Uniform information

CONTEMPORARY/JAZZ

Why combine the dance styles of contemporary and jazz?

The hybrid class supports NEDT ethos of doing more with less time and training. The work-in-progress consolidates the learning of ballet while developing key skills and movement qualities from both contemporary and jazz techniques.

Learning the styles together sets up a deeper understanding of the individual techniques through contrast; while making the lesson dynamic and fun.

Presentation: an overview

A work in progress which aims to impart a broad movement vocabulary while exploring creatively stimulating principles of movement: impetus, ricochet, momentum, gravity, suspension, and more. The current presentation works with the strengths of the teachers involved to maximise benefits to students and is primed to sophisticate as participants evolve their technical development.

The 4 classes

Levels 1, 2, and 3 are training benchmarks with a skill development emphasis designed to compliment and build on the foundations of the ballet program.

Levels 1 and 2 are taught within the 2nd weekly (ballet-related) class for RAD ballet students alongside Character dance.

Level 3 is an independent Contemporary-Jazz training session. It is also the compulsory warm-up for the following Pre-pointe/Pointe class.

Open Contemporary-Jazz (14+ years/adult/experienced) also identified as Industry Repertoire emphasises a range of commercial styles popular now. Through engulfing students with multiple choreographies, it enhances mental agility/choreographic memory, and technical versatility.

JAZZ (10-14 years, Recreational) has been created for those younger students who need a lesser level of commitment to dance skill development for various reasons. It is also a platform for late-starters to prepare to join the training classes if interested.

For more information see:

Jazz/Contemporary Enrolment Information

Uniform information

Dance/Fitness CLASSES

There are 5 styles of class offered in this category:  Adult Ballet, Progressing Ballet Technique;  Pilates Matwork, Barre Class, and Expresso Yoga Plus.

Please ensure medical clearance is acquired prior to enrolment in these modalities (where relevant.)

Adult Ballet catering to a predominantly beginner contingent is also a useful bridging class for younger students (10+ years) to gain experience in order to join their age group’s RAD syllabus classes. Ballet shoes are required for Adult ballet.

Progressing Ballet Technique features a use of props which adds focus, intensity and entertainment. Designed to enhance efficiency of ballet training it is a fun way to enhance physical health in non-dancers as well.

Pilates Matwork classes are now a world-wide phenomenon, having gained a strong presence in physiotherapy settings. They are adaptable to a broad range of clientele even within the one class promoting physical health through improvements in posture and movement pathways.

Barre Class uses a reinforced fitness Barre to deliver a punishing resistance training session which will push your limits to new thresholds weekly.

Adult Contemporary: The equivalent of Adult Ballet in making dance training accessible to a range of experience via keystones of this style; floor-work, conditioning, creative movement to music.

Expresso Yoga Plus: Combines the healing, earthing power of Vinyasa Flow Yoga with a light-hearted exploration of movement options starting with Beginner Tap. Tap shoes (see Info About > Uniforms) or hard-soled/character shoes (secondary option) are required.

Fitted/comfortable exercise-wear for viewing sight-lines and making corrections are preferable for all classes.

Payment by the term. Casual payment for trial classes is available.

WHAT ARE “SHORT-TERM PROJECTS”

This is an invitation to dance practitioners of various backgrounds to propose a project which enhances our local dance community.  From a short series of specialised workshops, to a piece for workshop or performance; ideas are welcome which with some support, can educate and inspire our environment.