Center Stage offers quality dance classes, from beginner through professional level, in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, voice, and musical theatre for children and adults. Center Stage also offers a wide variety of drama classes and voice lessons for children of all ages. A professionally staged dance recital is presented in late June of every year. The professional Center Stage Dance Company, directed by Ms. Sherri Shortell, is in residence at the studio.
Ballet Classes
Classical technique is taught in our ballet classes with emphasis on proper body, foot, and arm placement. As a student progresses, more complicated combinations, turns, and leaps are included in the program. Ballet students will perform at the annual Dance Revue in June. Students who compete must be enrolled in at least one ballet class at Center Stage.
Jazz Dance Classes
Our jazz dance classes teach jazz, ballet, and contemporary converge with an emphasis on proper technique in turns, leaps, stretch, and alignment. Dancers will use their technical foundation to fuse movement with music and progress to more intricate combinations. For serious jazz students and those interested in participating in Dance Team competition, ballet is required. Jazz students will participate in the annual Dance Revue in June.
Tap Classes
Tap class students will master basic tap steps and rhythms and progress to more complicated, intricate combinations and patterns as their skills increase. The emphasis is on developing proper tap technique and producing clean, clear tap sounds. For those tap students interested in participating in Dance Team competition, ballet here at Center Stage is required. All students may participate in the annual Dance Revue in June.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop technique is taught in these exciting, upbeat classes. As with any other dance form, hip hop has its own technical steps and body placement, which are emphasized and perfected in these classes. All students may participate in the annual Dance Revue in June.
Contemporary Dance Classes
With an emphasis on proper technique in alignment, turns, leaps, and movement, contemporary dance classes bridge ballet and jazz techniques and utilize elements of story telling and expression. For serious contemporary students and those interested in participating in Dance Team competition, ballet is required. Contemporary dancers will perform at the annual Dance Revue in June.
Musical Theatre Classes
Musical theatre classes will focus on developing the skills necessary for the musical theatre stage, including proper vocal technique, dancing, acting, auditioning, and stage presence, through song and dance, theater games, and scene work appropriate to age and ability levels. In order to participate in a musical theatre performing team, a student must be enrolled in the studio dance program and at least one ballet class at Center Stage. Musical Theater performing team members participate in the Song & Dance, vocal, and musical theater categories in competition. Students may also have the opportunity to perform at the annual Dance Revue in June.
Voice Lessons
Proper vocal technique is taught in our voice lessons. Individual as well as group instruction is given in classes. Students will participate in the annual Dance revue in June and our “Sunday Afternoon at the Theatre”.
Dance Teams
Enrollment in Dance Team classes are by invitation of Ms. Shortell, Ms. Klett, and Ms. Milhouse. Students are required to take a corresponding technique class during the week as well. Students enrolled in a Competition Dance Team are also required to take a ballet class at Center Stage. Dance Teams perform in competitions and other Metropolitan area dance productions.