2023-2024 Class Descriptions & Dress Code

It is required that your dancer appropriate dance attire to each class as listed below. Wearing proper dance attire will teach our students discipline, help them focus and reduce distractions, and create a sense of unity in the classroom. Hair must be pulled up in the appropriate fashion.

Tiny Toes

Age 2 by September 1, 2023

45 minute class

For the youngest dancer, Tiny Toes is a creative introduction to the basic movements of dance. At Palmetto Performing Arts, we believe in fostering creativity from a young age, which is why we offer a Creative Moment class specifically designed for toddlers. In this class, little ones ages 2 and 3 can explore their imaginations in a safe and nurturing environment. Led by our experienced teachers, the Creative Moment class encourages toddlers to express themselves through artistic dancing and storytelling. Through engaging games and interactive exercises, the class aims to develop their cognitive and motor skills, while also promoting social interaction and self-confidence. Our Tiny Toes class ensures that every toddler's unique creativity is embraced and celebrated.

Our Tiny Toes dancers will participate in the Recital at the end of our season. They will get the sweetest costume to show off what they’ve learned.

Class Attire: Any leotard, pink leather ballet shoes (exact style below), and hair pulled off shoulders and away from face. Skirt, tutu, and tights are optional. While tights are optional, we recommend pink footed or transitional tights to help with the comfort of their ballet shoes. Ballet shoes should be one of the following styles:

Bloch brand: “Dansoft”, “Belle”, “Bunny Hop”, “Giselle” or Capezio brand: “Daisy”, “Lily” . Tiny Toes dancers should have leather, full sole shoes in any of the styles listed above.

KinderMoves1

LEVEL 1: Ages 3.5-4.5
Age 3.5 by September 1, 2023

45 minute class

KinderMoves1 is an introduction to the basic fundamentals of tap and ballet. Students will participate in a formal class setting. Dancers will perform two dances in the Spring recital to show off their skills! At the KinderMoves level we want our young dancers to understand the importance of discipline by dressing appropriately. (tights and secured hair are required).

We focus on ballet and tap fundamentals, improving their coordination and understanding of dance technique! Each day they will work on tap and ballet in class.

Class Attire: Ballet Pink or Black leotard, shoes (see below), ballet pink transitional or footed tights are required every class. Hair should in a tight pony tail or pulled off the shoulders and out of the face. Boys should wear back lace up tap shoes and black leather ballet shoes. Our male dancers can wear any semi-fitted t-shirt or tank with athletic bottoms.

Ballet shoe requirements: Girls in Pink full sole - Bloch brand: “dansoft”, “Belle”, “Bunny Hop”, “Giselle” or Capezio brand: “Daisy”, “Lily”. Boys - any of the above styles in black in full sole.

Tap shoe requirements: Absolutely no tap shoes with velcro or traditional buckles (snaps or ribbons only) Girls - Black Bloch Brand: “Annie Tyette” or Capezio brand: “Jr Tyette”. Boys in black lace up tap shoes.

KinderMoves2

LEVEL 2: Ages 4.5-5.5 Age 4.5 by September 1, 2022

45 minute class

Level two will polish up on skills from level one. This class is 45minutes and dancers will perform a tap and a ballet dance in the recital. At the KinderMoves2 level we want our young dancers to understand the importance of discipline by dressing appropriately. (tights and secured hair are required)

Our experienced staff works with the dancers on dancing in different formations and learning how to transition from one place to another within the dance space. We will add on to steps they know from previous years continuing to improve their body awareness, coordination, balance, stretch and dance technique.

Primary Combo

Primary Combo: Ages 5-6.5 K-2nd grade

1 hour class

Primary combo is a great class for those that have done KinderMoves and new dancers what want to see what they’re interested in. This class is an hour long and will include tap and ballet each class and twice a month we will add acrobatics to our class. In acro they will work on their strength, stretch, balance and agility.

At the Primary Combo level, we are introducing more advanced skills, as the dancers are older and ready for more balance challenges while showing off their technique! This is a GREAT class for dancers entering K-2nd grade and often times dancers will take this class two seasons in a row.

All of our Primary Combo classes are an hour long for the 23-24 dance season, yay! In the recital these dancers will perform a tap dance and a ballet dance in the recital (just one costume fee).

Class Attire: Ballet Pink or Black leotard, shoes (see below), ballet pink transitional tights* are required every class. Hair should in a tight pony tail or pulled off the shoulders and out of the face. Boys should wear back lace up tap shoes and black leather ballet shoes. Our male dancers can wear any semi-fitted t-shirt or tank with athletic bottoms. *Transitional tights are required so they can pull their feet out of the tights for the acro portion of classes.

Ballet shoe requirements: Girls in Pink full sole - Bloch brand: “Dansoft”, “Belle”, “Bunny Hop”, “Giselle” or Capezio brand: “Daisy”, “Lily”. Boys - any of the above styles in black in full sole.

Tap shoe requirements: Black Tap Shoes. Absolutely no tap shoes with velcro or traditional buckles (snaps or ribbons only) Girls - Bloch Brand: “Annie Tyette” or Capezio brand: “Jr Tyette”. Boys in black lace up tap shoes.

Acro + Jazz

Tap + Acro

Tap + Jazz

Ages 6-9 1-3rd grade

Acro + Jazz combo is a fun high energy class! They will spend half of each class stretching, learning jazz combinations and technique across the floor. The other part of the class will be spend working on acrobatic skills. Dancers at this level are mastering cartwheels, bridges and limbers. Dancers will perform one dance combining all of their skills into one in our Spring Recital.

Tap + Acro is NON-stop! These dancers will work on acro skills like bridges, limbers, hand stands and cartwheels. These dancers will continue their tap basics from earlier combo classes and begin working on more intricate footwork. Dancers will perform an acro dance as well as a tap dance in the recital! Dancers should purchase Bloch brand “tap-on” shoes in Tan color.

Tap + Jazz is a fan favorite from last season. These dancers will spend 45min each week practicing tap and jazz technique. The focus will be on vocabulary for both styles, learning the fundamentals and building on skills each week! The jazz portion will include stretching and strengthening, increasing coordination along with learning how to pick up choreography. They will perform two dances in the recital a tap piece and a jazz piece.

Class Attire: Fitted dance tops, leotards, bike-tards, cami-tops, booty shorts, spandex/cotton dance pants or leggings. Really anything goes as long as it’s fitted and comfortable. Tights are not required for this class, if you do choose to wear tights, wear “transitional tights”. Hair should be pulled back and out of face each class!

Shoe Requirements:

Acro= no shoes, Jazz= no shoes, Tap= Bloch brand “tap-on” in tan color

Ballet Technique

Ballet Level1a: grades k-2nd

Ballet Level 1b: grades 1-3rd

Ballet Level2: grades 3rd-5th

Ballet Level3: grades 4th-6th

Ballet Level4: grades 7+ invite only (required of pointe students)

Beginning levels will learn ballet fundamentals and terminology while developing strength, confidence, balance, and flexibility. As our dancers progress into upper levels they will learn concentration and endurance and become proficient in fundamental dance movement and ballet technique. Upper levels are based on faculty placement and dance experience.

Class Attire: black leotard with NO attached skirt. Black leotards can have cut outs, or accents, but must be predominantly black in color. Pink footed or transitional tights, and hair MUST be in a slicked and secure bun. Hair that isn’t long enough for a bun should be secured and pulled away from the face.

Shoe Requirements:

Ballet 1a & Ballet 1b - Girls in Pink full sole - Bloch brand: “dansoft”, “Belle”, “Bunny Hop”, “Giselle” or Capezio brand: “Daisy”, “Lily”. Boys - any of the above styles in black in full sole.

Ballet2-Ballet4 - all dancers should be in leather or stretch canvas split sole shoes that are pink (or black for boys). It is required that you be fitted at a dance store to ensure you’re getting a shoe that fits your foot! Dancers at this level should be wearing split sole shoes!

Pointe

by invitation only

Because of the risk of injury, students must be physically ready for pointe; therefore, this class is by invitation only. Students must also be registered for two (2) ballet technique class in addition to the Pointe class.

Tap

Levels 1-4

This class is designed for our dancers that have completed the KinderMoves and Primary Combo levels or are 6 and older. The rhythm and movement of tap, created by the metal taps on the heels and toes of a dancer’s shoes, transforms the dancer into a percussive musician. Tap dance emphasizes the flow of movement by teaching the dancer to find rhythms and beats not only in music but in their own bodies. Tap is one of the most fun styles of dance. These dancers will perform a fun upbeat dance in our recital!

Class Attire: Any thing goes as far as attire, as long as it is fitted and makes your dancer feel confident!
*no shorts with built in briefs, only fitted dance shorts allowed, no t-shirts

Shoe Requirements:

Tap1 - Black Bloch Brand “Tap-On” in tan color

Tap2-4 - Black Bloch brand “Tap-flex”, “Sync”, or Capezio brand “fluid”, “cadence”, “flex-master”

Acrobatics

Preschool Acro: ages 3-5.5

Acro levels 1-4: 1st grade+ and based on placement

45 minute class (level 1) or 1 hour class (levels 2+)

It is a dance form that combines dance technique with acrobatic elements. Acro requires rhythm, strength, balance and agility. Acrobatics takes a lot of strength and concentration. This unique dance genre challenges the mind and body with control, flexibility and power.

These talented students in levels 1 and 2 will perform a routine at the recital to display their polished skills! Levels 3 and 4 are using this class strictly for skills, strength and stretch- they will not perform in our recitals.

Class Attire: any leotard, athletic bra tops, cami-tops, shorts, hair pulled up and out of the face. No attached leotard skirts & no shoes.

Jazz

Level2: grades 3rd-5th
Level3: grades 5th-7th Level4: grades 8+ (primarily high school age)

45 minute or 1 hour class

This is a technically demanding class that focuses on musicality, jazz vocabulary, artistry, and performance skills. They will learn basic ballet terminology along with jazz technique. Dancers will perform a high energy and entertaining dance at our May recital. Placement is based on age and dance experience.

Class Attire: Tan Bloch brand “Pulse” style shoes, Sneakers for the hip hop portion, fitted dance tops, leotards, cami-tops, booty shorts, spandex/cotton dance pants, leggings, athletic shorts*, and hair pulled back and out of face.

*Almost anything goes with jazz class attire; however, no lace up jazz shoes,
no t-shirts and athletic shorts must have built-in briefs.

Hip-Hop

Hip Hop1: grades 1st-3rd

Hip Hop2: grades 4th-6th

45min class

This is the perfect class for those energetic dancers who love to move to familiar music! At PPA, we only use age appropriate music and choreography to create a love for dance.

Class Attire: Converse (any color) for the recital or any sneakers for class. Fitted tank top, fitness top, and athletic shorts with built in briefs are great. Sweatpants and/or leggings are good too! Sneakers are required every class.

Contemporary + Lyrical

level 1: 5-7th grades

level 2: 8th grade +

45 minute or 1 hour class

Lyrical is a blend of ballet and jazz. Students will learn expressive movements that are often paired with moving music. Classes may include a warm up, improv exercises, progressions and dance technique. Lyrical builds confidence in dancers are they learn to perform while telling a story.

Contemporary will build from the pervious years and combinations will be more challenging. Contemporary challenges students as they improve their improvisational skills and ability to use the space around them in a new way. Placement will be based on years of experience and maturity.

Class Attire: Capezio, "Pirouette", or Bloch, "Eclipse" Canvas (Tan). Any leotard, dance bra-top, cami-top, yoga pants, tights or booty shorts. Tights are not required. Hair pulled up and out of face. Absolutely no t-shirts.

PPA's Performing Team & Competition Company

This team is made of dancers ages 5 and older that are ready for the next step and want to commit to dance more than once a week. These dancers are required to attend ballet and jazz classes weekly and have the opportunity to perform and compete locally. If you are interested please contact us!